Arthur did not answer Blackwell's question; at the moment, he didn't have the time or mind to teach students.
His pipe wandered over the military map, finally resting at the Kerch Strait: "How often does the Tsar's naval patrol search merchant ships now?"
"Since Russia discovered two years ago that the Polish rebels were transporting military supplies through the Black Sea, all foreign-flagged cargo ships passing through the Black Sea must open their holds for inspection." Blackwell circled three ports with a red pen.
Arthur's pipe traced a silver line on the map: "Looks like we need to prepare some special surprises for the gentlemen in St. Petersburg. Do you remember the Polish exile government's bills of exchange that the Banque de France refused to pay last year?"
Blackwell instantly understood: "Turn those scraps of paper into ironclad evidence of French intervention? But how to explain the Orleans Dynasty funding Caucasus rebellion?"
