The Corvette by Richard Woodman Read Free Book Online

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    am I, er
    ?’
    ‘I think,’ said Drinkwater swiftly, avoiding a falsehood, ‘I think that you had better tell me the precise origin of the quarrel. It seems scarcely to contribute to the service if the commander of the escort is to be called out by the masters he is sent to protect.’
    ‘Well, sir, I er, it was difficult for me
    ‘
    ‘I would rather the truth from you, Mr Germaney,’ said Drinkwater quietly, ‘than rumour from someone else. You should remember that Hill and I are old messmates and I would not want to go behind your back because you concealed information from me.’
    Germaney was pallid. The Royal proscription against duelling or participating in such affairs could be invoked against him. Palgrave had abandoned him and his thoughts would not leave the discomfort in his loins. Palgrave had his share of the responsibility for that too.
    ‘There was an altercation in public, sir. An exchange of insults ashore between Captain Palgrave and the captain of one of the whaleships.’
    ‘How did this happen? Were you present?’
    Germaney nodded. ‘Sir James met Captain Ellerby, the master of the Nimrod, in the street. Ellerby was out walking with his daughter and there had previously been some words between him and Sir James about the delays in sailing. It is customary for the whaleships to sail in early April to hunt seals before working into the ice in May
    ‘
    ‘Yes, yes, go on.’
    Germaney shrugged. ‘Sir James paid some exaggerated and, er, injudicious compliments to the daughter, sir, to which Ellerby took exception. He asked for a retraction at which Sir James, er
    ‘
    ‘Sir James what?’
    ‘He was a little the worse for liquor, sir
    ‘
    ‘I should hope he was, sir, I cannot think an officer would behave in that manner sober. But come, what next? What did Sir James say?’
    ‘He made the observation that a pretty face was fair game for a gentleman’s muzzle.’
    ‘Hardly an observation, Mr Germaney. More of a highly offensive double-entendre, wouldn’t you say?’
    ‘Yes, sir.’
    ‘Then what happened?’
    ‘Ellerby struck him with his stick and Sir James was restrained by myself and Mr Mount. Sir James said he would call for satisfaction if Ellerby had been a gentleman and Ellerby shouted that he would meet him if only to teach a gentleman manners
    And so the unhappy affair progressed. Sir James was not entirely well the following morning and though he fired first his ball miscarried. Ellerby’s ball took him in the spleen.’
    ‘So the affair was public hereabouts?’
    ‘As public as a Quaker wedding, sir,’ concluded Germaney dejectedly.
    ‘And hushed up, I don’t doubt, with public sympathy supporting Ellerby and the town council firmly behind the move, eh?’
    ‘Yes, sir. They provided a doctor and a chaise to convey Sir James away to his seat as fast as possible. It was not difficult to persuade him to resign, though damnably difficult to stop Macpherson leaving with him. But the city fathers would not hear of it. Macpherson had become too well-known in the taverns for a loud-mouthed fool. Until you told me I had supposed the matter hushed outside the town. I stopped all shore-leave, though I expect that by now the water-folk have spread the news among the men.’
    ‘I don’t doubt it. You and Mount stood seconds, did you?’
    ‘Mount refused, sir.’
    ‘Ahhh.’ Mount’s conduct pleased Drinkwater. It must have taken considerable moral courage. ‘Well, Mr Germaney, your own part in it might yet be concealed if we delay no further.’
    ‘Thank you, sir
    About the surgeon, sir. It is not right that we should make a voyage to the Arctic with such a man.’
    ‘No.’ Drinkwater refilled the glasses. Germaney’s explanation made him realise the extent of his task. The whaleship captains, already delayed by government proscription pending the outcome of developments with France, had been further held up by Palgrave’s dilatoriness, to say nothing of his