The Corvette by Richard Woodman Read Free Book Online Page A

and, er, injudicious compliments to the daughter, sir, to which Ellerby took exception. He asked for a retraction at which Sir James, er . . .’
    â€˜Sir James what?’
    â€˜He was a little the worse for liquor, sir . . .’
    â€˜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?’
    â€˜He made the observation that a pretty face was fair game for a gentleman’s muzzle.’
    â€˜Hardly an observation, Mr Germaney. More of a highly offensive
double-entendre
, wouldn’t you say?’
    â€˜Yes, sir.’
    â€˜Then what happened?’
    â€˜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.’
    â€˜So the affair was public hereabouts?’
    â€˜As public as a Quaker wedding, sir,’ concluded Germaney dejectedly.
    â€˜And hushed up, I don’t doubt, with public sympathy supporting Ellerby and the town council firmly behind the move, eh?’
    â€˜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.’
    â€˜I don’t doubt it. You and Mount stood seconds, did you?’
    â€˜Mount refused, sir.’
    â€˜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.’
    â€˜Thank you, sir . . . About the surgeon, sir. It is not right that we should make a voyage to the Arctic with such a man.’
    â€˜No.’ Drinkwater refilled the glasses. Germaney’s explanation made him realise the extent of his task. The whale-ship 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 arrogance and offensiveness. He knew from his own orders that the Customs officers would issue the whale-ships their clearances at a nod from
Melusine
’s captain, and he had no more desire than the whalers to wait longer. Delay increased the risk of getting fast in the ice. If that happened
Melusine
would crack like an egg-shell.
    â€˜But there is now no alternative. We will sail without delay. Now I desire that you send a midshipman to visit each of the whale-ships, Greenlanders they call ’emselves, don’t they? He is to invite them torepair on board tomorrow forenoon and we can settle the order of sailing and our private signals. And tell the young gentleman that I would have the invitation made civilly with my cordial compliments.’
    â€˜Yes, sir,’ said Germaney unhappily, ‘and the surgeon?’
    â€˜Tell the surgeon,’ said Drinkwater with sudden ferocity, ‘that if I find him drunk I shall have him at the gratings like any common seaman.’
    Two hours later Drinkwater received a round-robin signed by a dozen names stating that the whale-ship commanders ‘Would rather their meeting took place ashore at the Trinity House of Kingston-upon-Hull . . .’
    Drinkwater cursed Sir James Palgrave, annoyed that he must first