The Corvette by Richard Woodman Read Free Book Online

Things were turning a little in his favour. ‘I regret to say that that is most usually the case, sir. There is no confidence in him among the people.’
    â€˜That does not surprise me. His instruments were filthy with rust and his loblolly boys looked perilous close to being gangrenous themselves. Come, another glass of this excellent malmsey . . .’ Drinkwater watched the first lieutenant shrewdly. In the few hours he had been aboard much had already been made clear. He did not find the weakness of his three lieutenants comforting.
    â€˜What made your late captain leave such a taut ship, Mr Germaney?’
    Germaney was beginning to relax. Captain Drinkwater seemed amiable enough; a trifle of a democrat, he suspected, and he had a few bees in his bonnet, to which his rank entitled him. But there was little to mark him as special, as Templeton had intimated. If anything he seemed inclined to tipple. Germaney drained his glass and Drinkwater refilled it.
    â€˜Oh, er, he resigned, sir. He was a man of some wealth as you see,’ Germaney indicated the richness of the cabin furnishings and the french-polished panels of the forward bulkhead.
    â€˜An odd circumstance, wouldn’t you say, to resign command of such a ship on the outbreak of war?’
    Germaney shrugged, aware of the imputed slight. ‘I was not a party to Sir James’s affairs, sir.’
    â€˜Not even those most touching his honour, Mr Germaney?’
    Germaney moved uneasily. ‘I . . . I do not understand what you mean, sir.’
    â€˜I mean that I doubt if Captain Palgrave engaged in an affair of honour without the support of yourself as his second.’
    â€˜Oh, you know of that . . . some damned gossip hereabouts I . . .’
    â€˜I learned at the Admiralty, Mr Germaney, and I do not need to tell you that the news was not well received.’ The implication went home. It was fairly logical to suppose that Germaney would have served as Palgrave’s second in the duel. Often a first lieutenant was bound to his commander by greater ties than mere professional loyalty. It wasinconceivable that a peacetime captain like Palgrave would not have had such a first lieutenant.
    Germaney regretted his gossiping letter to Templeton and swore to have his cousin answer for this indiscretion. ‘Was my name . . . am I, er . . .?’
    â€˜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.’
    â€˜Well sir, I er, it was difficult for me . . .’
    â€˜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.
    â€˜There was an altercation in public, sir. An exchange of insults ashore between Captain Palgrave and the captain of one of the whale-ships.’
    â€˜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 whale-ships to sail in early April to hunt seals before working into the ice in May . . .’
    â€˜Yes, yes, go on.’
    Germaney shrugged. ‘Sir James paid some exagerrated