'And from this you deduce . . . ?'
'That the motive cause of the assault was not the theft of the documents. These was incidental. The real motive was money. Gold, that an officer might have carried in his purse.'
'But what the devil was Captain Marles about, late at night in the Point?'
'The district is notorious, ain't it? There is your answer.'
'Notor— Ah. Yes. You think that he had visited an harlot there?'
'Almost certainly, don't you think so? And was waylaid, and his throat cut, coincidental.'
'So that is the finish of our inquiry, sir?'
'In course I will write an account of it, a report, you know. The magistrate will wish to pursue the matter, I am in no doubt, but for myself I can see no purpose in further investigation. Captain Marles was simply unlucky, having satisfied his lust, and there's an end to it. Hey?'
James joined Catherine in their suite, and had many questions to ask – but did not ask them at once.
An hour passed, and another hour – and then he did ask them.
'Your mother has been very kind.' Catherine in answer, her hair spread on the pillow.
'Yes, she is very kind, always. She dotes on the boy.'
'I do not mean just that she will always like us to stay with her at Melton. I mean that she has been generous. She has given me the means to come here.'
'Ah.' Propping himself on an elbow to gaze at her.
'More than that, you know.' A smile.
'More than what?' Sitting up. 'How d'y'mean?'
'She knew of your financial difficulty, and – '
'She knew! How did she know? I did not wish her to know, neither she nor my father was to know anything about it! Surely you did not – '
'Darling, darling, my love. I have said nothing. She knew, that is all. Mothers often do know these things, do not they?'
'Damnation, I don't know. Has she said anything to my father, I wonder. My mother may have been in sympathy with you, and given you a few guineas to come to me, but by God my father would be wholly unforgiving if ever he discovered my folly.'
'He has not, I know that he has not. Lady Hayter has kept it from him.'
'Ah. Well.'
'And she has done more. A great deal more, James.'
Another smile. Answered by a frown.
'Done more?'
'Nay, do not frown.' Smoothing his brow with her fingers.
'Then tell me what it is. I do not like all this female mystery.'
'She has paid your debt.'
'What?' Staring at her.
'Yes, she has paid it off, altogether. And she has given us the residue, five hundred pound.'
'Paid out my debt?' Staring round the bedchamber, then again at his wife, in a whirling confusion of thoughts and emotions. 'Residue? What residue? I do not understand.'
'She has sold a parcel of land at Leicestershire, that under her marriage settlement remained hers, and some farms. She had always meant to leave the land to you, knowing that you would get nothing from Melton on your father's death. It will not affect her income greatly, so she decided in the goodness of her heart to make you this gift now, and clear you of all anxieties.'
'Mr Birch . . .'
Rennie sat alone in the dining room at the Mary Rose, eating his dinner. He drank off his wine.
'Mr Birch . . . may I join you a moment?'
Rennie became aware of a figure in front of his table. He frowned and looked up, and saw Lieutenant Hayter.
'James! There you are. At first I did not recall my other name, you know. Sit, sit, my dear fellow. I had thought you was returned to Hawk by this.' Glancing at the longcase clock by the door at the end of the room. It was seven o'clock.
'No, sir. Catherine has come, she is here at Portsmouth.' Sitting down.
'Catherine? Why did not you bring her with you to supper? I will always like to see your beautiful wife.'
'She is resting, at present.'
'What will you like to eat?' Looking round for the servant girl.
'Nay, nothing, thank you. I return to the Marine Hotel to dine with Catherine there.'
'Oh.' Disappointed.
'In course, we shall dine together very soon, but I wish to deal with another matter now, sir, if I may.'
'Another matter?' Looking at him. 'You are going to weigh without me, is that the fact of it?'
'No, sir, no indeed.' A breath. 'It is the matter of my debt to you. The draft you gave me for two hundred pound, drawn on your bank.'
'Surely they have not refused – '
'Nothing like that, nothing like that. No – I will like to return it to you. I have no need of it, now.' He took the folded draft from his coat, and put it on the table by Rennie's dish of roasted meat.
'No need of it?' Rennie peered at him.
'I am most grateful to you, sir, very grateful, and I thank you with all my heart for your kindness, when I was in grave difficulty.'
'No need of it? What has – '
'My difficulty has been – settled.'
'Settled. Ah.' Raising his eyebrows, making a face. 'Ah.'
'I am most grateful for your kindness, and will never forget it.'
'Ah. Hm.' Touching the draft, opening it, folding it again, and leaving it there by his plate. 'You are certain? Entirely certain?'
'I am, sir, thank you. All is settled.'
'Very good. Hm.' A sniff. 'Well well, let us drink a glass of wine to acknowledge your good fortune, James. Hey?'
'That is kind in you, sir, but I must return to the Marine Hotel – to Catherine.'
'Will you not drink one glass with me, James?' Injured.
'Forgive me, I am remiss. Certainly I will, sir, thank you.' Seating himself again – he had got up on his legs.
Rennie nodded, signalled, and the servant girl came. 'Another bottle of the claret. Best claret, you mind me?'
'Yes, sir.'
'And another glass for my guest.'
The girl bobbed, and retired.
'A pretty girl,' said Rennie. 'Broad in the beam, but pretty. But you will not like to think of servant girls, James, when you have Catherine, hey?'
'No.' A smile.
'No. Bachelors, however, and widowers . . . well, we notice such creatures.'
'I expect so.'
'I met a very handsome woman . . . recent.'
'Did you, sir? Is she here? At Portsmouth?'
'No no. No, it was – we travelled in the same coach, you know, to London. Her name is Mrs Townend. She is a naval widow . . .' Looking into the distance in his head, a musing look.
'And will you meet her again, sir?'
'Eh?' Returning to the present. 'No, I shouldn't think so. I expect she is well fixed in her life, and has no need of fellows like me. One post captain dead is enough, I reckon, for her. She will not like another – alive, but on the beach – making himself a nuisance.'
'You said she was handsome, though . . .'
Their wine came, and glasses were filled. 'I did, I did. She is handsome, James. But the fellow y'see before you ain't, and knows he ain't. Well well, we will not drink to handsome widows, but to good fortune.'
'To good fortune.'
Two days passed, during which Lieutenant Hayter – staying ashore with his wife at the Marine Hotel – twice visited his senior midshipman Mr Holmes at the Haslar. On the first occasion he learned that Dr Wing had decided, in consultation with Dr Stroud, that to operate was essential in order to attempt the restoration of the ruptured bowel, else Mr Holmes would die. On the second occasion Lieutenant Hayter learned of the death of young Holmes, before the surgery could be done. Dr Wing was greatly disturbed.
'Good heaven, he was only a boy. What business has a boy dying? What a waste of life, entirely and utterly a waste! Where is the sense in it?'
'I am surprised that you talk like this, Thomas.' James and Dr Wing had come out of the hospital to get a sniff of fresh air. 'As if the poor fellow had willed his own death.'
'I
n course he did not! In course he did not!' A furious sigh. 'It is just misfortune, villainous misfortune. There is no blame can be attached to anyone.'
'Not even the Almighty?'
With quiet vehemence: 'That wretch has enough to answer for, without I blame him for this.'
'Wretch?'
'Aye. I do not much hold with the notion of a benign and loving Creator, ordering all life according to his own design. If there is such a creature at all, he strikes me as a petulant, destructive, cruel, intemperate fellow, a foul and bloodyfingered tyrant. But I fear I do not think that there is such a creature, neither in the heavens nor anywhere in the universe.' A glance. 'Do I shock you, James?'
'Nay, you don't. I am of the same opinion exact.' They walked on a few steps on the gravelled path, towards the gates. 'I must write to the boy's family. His mother will take it hard.'
'You know the family?'
'No, I do not. But I know that all mothers, everywhere, will weep for a dead son, Thomas. That is a universal truth.'
'Yes.' Quietly.
'I must think of his replacement.'
'So soon?'
'It is never too soon to think of efficient working at sea, Thomas. That is my duty as commanding officer. If I did not think of it I should be a damned poor one.' Speaking harshly to hide his own gloom, aware that he had contradicted his own opinion of only a few days ago, and was airing that of his erstwhile commander.
Thomas Wing made a face, nodded, and: 'Yes, I expect you are right. You return to Hawk?'
'At once. I am out of her too long.'
'I will come with you.'
James called at the Marine Hotel to say goodbye to Catherine, and sent a message to Mr Birch at the Mary Rose Inn to join him at the Hard without the loss of a moment. When Captain Rennie came to the Hard all three men embarked in the jollyboat, and returned to their ship.
As they came aboard to Mr Dench's call, James had reached his decision.
'Mr Abey!'
'Sir?' Attending.
'Mr Abey, you will be my new senior mid. We will apply for a junior to aid you, but in the interim you'll choose the brightest and ablest boy from among the volunteers to act as your second. Ye'll have to apply a good deal of close instruction, and knock common sense and seamanship into his head, and teach him quarterdeck manners. Can y'do it?'
'Oh, certainly! I mean, yes, sir.'
'Very good.' Turning away aft.
'May I ask news of Mr Holmes, sir?'
'He is dead.'
'Oh. I am – I am very sorry, sir.'
'Indeed. We are all sorry. Mr Dench!'
'I am here, sir.'
'We will weigh at once, if y'please.' Striding to the tafferel.
The call, and: 'Stand by to weigh! Hands to make sail! Cheerly now!'
And presently HM Hawk cutter, ten, put to sea into a steady westerly breeze.
Daylight still, at two bells of the second dog watch, and Hawk standing to the south-west, the wind abating and the swell gentler. At an early supper in the cramped great cabin, in which neither officer could stand erect, Lieutenant Hayter confided in Captain Rennie.
'To say the truth I have been so confused and discomfited since I was first informed I was to have this command, that I had nearly decided it was nonsense.'
'Nonsense, James? By the by, I do not mean to be ungrateful, but is this really your best wine?'
'It's a claret. It's what I could afford when we provisioned.'
'Claret? You think?' Sipping, frowning. 'Well well . . .'
'I was not greatly particular about my store of wine, sir. I had other things was occupying my attention.'
'Yes, in course, I do not mean – I do not wish to give offence. But I hope you will allow me, when next we go ashore, to introduce into the ship a case or two of best claret, from the Marine Hotel cellars. Or even the Mary Rose cellars, that are tolerable.'
'As you wish, sir.'
Rennie saw that he had interrupted his friend's train of thought, and caused him more discomfort, instead of helping to allay it.
'You said you was confused . . . ?'
'Yes, yes – I was. Everything about this command suggested it, don't you think so?' Without waiting for a response: 'Look at the facts. The master of the Lark ain't her master, after all, he is dead, a thousand leagues distant, and has never been aboard her since a twelvemonth. Contrary to what was suggested my commission came to me because my father wished it, not because Their Lordships thought to reward me when first they took Hawk away from the Excise and brought her to Portsmouth. Then Captain Marles, that was to guide and advise me, had his throat cut and the pertinent documents stole. Documents not strictly and properly issued by Their Lordships, but given under Earl Chatham's private seal, instructing me to take a vessel and her people – for what purpose? I was not vouchsafed the reason. Like edible fungus I was kept in the dark, and fed upon manure. Made into a mushroom!'
'You was never a mushroom, James.'
'Ain't I, though? I have thought more than once these last few hours, since young Holmes's death – that I should resign my commission.'
'What? Resign!' Very severe.
'Yes, resign it, because it was a damned foolish nonsense of a duty, incapable of success, or any kind of adequate result. Why should I not return to a quiet life at Winterborne, a quiet pleasant family life? However . . .'
'Yes? However?'
'I am a sea officer.'
'Aye.' A nod.
'A commissioned sea officer, in his first command.'
'You are.' A further nod.
'Whatever I may think of my instructions, it is my obligation to carry them out. Or in least make my best attempt. Further, I am free of financial burden, and have you with me, sir. Taken together these things are a blessing, and I am a lucky man.'
'Cutter approaching, sir.' Mr Abey, at the door.
'Cutter! Where away?' James, jumping up and bumping his head.
'On our larboard quarter, sir, tacking up from the southeast in light airs. I believe her to be an Excise cutter, sir. Her signal halyard says she wishes to speak.'
'I will come on deck at once.' Stooping, buckling on his sword.
'May I come with you, James?' Rennie got up on his legs.
'Yes yes, by all means. You have no sword?'
'Nay, it is at home in Norfolk.'
'Take one from the rack.' Indicating a low rack above the lockers, with two blades.
'Surely we will not need swords to speak to an Excise vessel, James – '
'As you wish. But I am not altogether sure of anything in this commission, and I do not trust a vessel that comes at me as dusk falls. I will like my sword at my side if this is some damned piratical smuggler's trick!'
Rennie shrugged, took up a sword, and they went on deck.
She was the Excise Board cutter Pipistrel, a twelve-gun four-pounder, tall-masted, carrying a great quantity of number six canvas. She came up on Hawk very smart, even in light airs, and hove to, as Hawk had already done. Her master was Commander Renfrew Carr, and he came to Hawk by boat, with one of his two mates. He had thirty-two souls aboard. When James saw Commander Carr's blue Excise coat, and his bluff, confident, officerlike demeanour, he thought that nothing could be amiss, and invited him below to the great cabin. But first impressions can be misleading, as James soon discovered.
'I have no steward at present, and must make do with a servant boy. Will you drink a glass of something, Commander?'
'Thank you, no.' Laying his hat on the table. 'Look here, Hayter, I must talk pretty direct to you, I think. – Who is this fellow?' Noticing Rennie for the first time.
'Who am I? I am – ' Rennie began indignantly, but James, over him:
'This is Mr Birch, that is assisting me.' They sat down. 'How may I be of assistance to you?'
'May I speak in front of him, though?'
'You may, indeed. He is, so to say, my right hand. You said that you wished to be direct? Pray proceed.' Affably enough. Rennie
sat bristling on one of the lockers at the side, and banged his sword back in the rack.
Commander Carr took a breath, pursed his lips in a none too friendly fashion, and: 'Y'have been advised, have not you, to take the Lark? Take her, and bring her in, with all hands?'
'Where have you heard this?'
'Allow me to say that I have heard it, and I must always say to you – '
'Before y'do, pray allow me to say something. I do not know the – Lark, is it? – I have never seen her, and do not know her. You are misinformed, Commander.'
'Nay, I am not. I know very well that she is your intended prize, and I am obliged to say – '
'Commander, I will not like you to call me a liar in my own ship, you know.' James smiled at him, and spoke quietly, but there was menace in every syllable.
'Liar? I have not called you a liar.'
'Haven't you? Ah. Then we are not at odds.'
'I do not wish to be at odds with the Royal Navy. I wish merely to say that it cannot be part of the navy's duties to trouble itself with minor matters in coastal waters – Excise matters.'
'Whatever the Royal Navy's duties may be, and my own duties within that service, I think that they cannot be the concern of the Excise Board, can they?'
Commander Carr's face darkened a little, and his mouth became a line. 'Do not make a nuisance in these waters, sir, that is my advice. Do not blunder off course and take my wind. The Lark belongs to me, d'y'see. She is my prize. Mine.'
'Prize, sir?' Raising an eyebrow. 'You are not attached to the Royal Navy, are you? We are not at war, are we? On neither count, therefore, could you fairly expect to take prizes – could you?'
'Do not attempt to blackguard me, sir. Stay clear of my patrols, and leave the Lark alone. Leave her to me. D'y'hear?'
'What is your weight of metal broadside, Commander?'
'Eh?'
'Twenty-four pound, at a guess? Six four-pounders per side?'
'What of it?'
'I am ninety pound. Five eighteen-pound smashers per side. I will not like to mention matchwood – except in passing.'
'You wish to threaten me, damn you? You, a sea officer RN, when you are on your oath to defend your country and your King?'
'I have not threatened you, Commander. You may be sure that if I had, you would by now be floundering in your own wreckage. And since we are dispensing advice between us, mine to you is this: return to your own quarterdeck, make sail, and stand well away. I am minded to exercise my great guns, directly. Good evening.'
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