The Black Moon by Winston Graham Read Free Book Online Page B

the line and a French frigate. I' do not know how' they compare as to size, but I imagine the French ship of the line was very much the largest of the vessels engaged. The outcome was a desperate battle in which both French ships were driven ashore and ended as total wrecks, We lost one of our ships.'
    `Lost? Sunk, do you mean?'
    `Driven ashore in the gale like the Frenchies. The Arethusa and the other frigate came safely away. The whole town was full of it yesterday. Every ale house was crammed with common people drinking Ned Pellew's health.'
    `I have several friends,' Caroline said, `in the Western Squadron, and one or two I believe were on the Arethusa or her accompanying ships. Do you know the names of the accompanying, ships?'
    Unwin finished his brandy. `I heard: They were ment ioned more than once. But it is hard to remember. The name of one ship is so much like' another.'
    The sun was out now, shining on wet slate and bough and flagstone. Under them, in the stable directly below this room; they heard a horse whinny and snort: `Wait;' said Unwin. `I have it. One was the Travail, under Ca ptain Harrington; the other was the Mermaid, but I don't recall the captain's name. Banks, was it? I'm not sure.'
    `And which was wrecked?'
    `The Travail, I think. Yes, that must be it, because Harrington was killed in the action, and Mermaid hazarded herself trying to pick up survivors My dear Caroline; was there someone well known to you on board? I trust I have not upset you'
    'No no,' said Caroline thoughtfully, after a long' moment. `I believe it was just someone walking over my grave.'
     
    In her small porticoed house a t the end of the main street of Falmouth overlooking the open mouth o f the bay, Verity Blarney, nee Poldark, was putting her child to bed when there was a knock at her front door. The sun had recently dipped and flared behind the land and a night wrack of cloud had gathered over St Mawes. The water had lost all its colour and gli ttered like a tarnished pewter dish. Lights were beginning to wink in windows and at mastheads.
    Mrs Stevens had popped out to see a neighbour, so Verity was alone in the house. Before going downstairs she peered through the p arlour window and saw that her caller was a tall young woman leading a horse. She thought she recognized the co lour of the hair. She went down and opened the door, `Mrs Andrew Blarney?'
    `Miss Penvenen, isn't it? What is wrong? Are you unwell?'
    `May I come in? My horse will be safe here?'
    'Yes, yes. Do come in, please.'
    The tall girl followed Verity up the stairs and into the parlour. There were pink spots in her cheeks which made Verity think at first that she had an inflammatory fever.
    `We've not m et.' said Caroline bluntly and without preliminary. `All these years. Although we have so many friends. need help, So I thought I would come to you. Isn't that strange?'
    `Of course not. You have been such a friend to Ross. Anything I can do. First sit down, and then, some refresh ment.’
     
    'No.' Caroline stood by the window holding her riding crop. `What I want to know - I don't know if you can help me. I have j ust ridden from Killewarren.
    `From Killewarren? Unaccompanied?'
    `Oh, that.' She dismissed it. `Have we ever met? Officially, I mean. You seemed to know who I was ’ `I have seen you twice. The first time was in Bodmin four years ago.'
    `But you know of me, as I know of you. Ross will have talked of me and of my friendship with Dwight Enys.' `Yes. Oh,' yes: ‘
    `Has he told you that at Christmas I became engaged to marry Dwight?'
    Verity buttoned the neck of her plain linen frock. She did not know quite what distressed Caroline but the sudden arrival of this brightly coloured, elegant young woman made her feel dowdy, as if a butterfly had come in and was bea ting its wings beside a brown mo th. She knew Caroline's reputation for unconventional behaviour, for dramatic actions, and she wondered in what way she was to be concerned in this latest