– political and family influence have more, sometimes much more; and Jack Aubrey has not always been politically wise. He is very much afraid of picking up the Gazette in the next few months and of seeing men junior to himself being given their flag, a blue flag to be hoisted at the mizzen, if my memory serves: a piece of bunting extraordinarily important to a man who has pursued it with such ardour for so many years. And now that we are no longer at war, now that there is virtually no chance of his distinguishing himself, it is understandable that his light should at least grow dim: there is the real possibility that it should go out entirely. And there is nothing that can restore it, nothing but that piece of cloth. Nothing.’ A pause, and he went on, ‘The malady, the state of mind, is called flag-sickness in the Navy, and it affects almost all ambitious post-captains as they approach the decisive period. I have rarely seen it close at hand, since all my service has been
under one commander, but I have often spoken of it to my colleagues, and they agree in saying that those affected – that is to say, all but the few officers whose achievements, family connexions or immediate political influence make their promotion sure -suffer from anxiety, loss of appetite and joie de vivre, while often the essentially masculine functions are disturbed, so that medical men have observed either a virtual impotence or an unwholesome activity. Here there is nothing so extreme; but there is an oppression: little or no music, and he will play chess, cards or backgammon only out of complaisance.’
They returned to their coffee and sat considering for a while. Then Stephen said, ‘Amos, at one time there were several Syrians and Armenians here: men of business, agents. Do you know any at present? It is of no vital importance, but I should like to know about a large Portuguese Guineaman bound for England, a vessel in which a lady, a friend of mine, is to take passage.’
‘Dear me, yes,’ said Amos, amused. ‘Is not my own cousin Lloyd’s representative in this port? Shall I take you to him?’
Stephen felt for his watch – no watch of course, but a jet of delight: and a church clock told him that it was nine. ‘You are very good. But would he, or one of his clerks, undertake so small a commission? I only wish to fill her cabin with flowers, or rather to have it so filled.
And since we sail tomorrow and the Guineaman does not touch here for a great while, clearly the flowers must be procured by proxy.’
‘I am quite certain that he would be delighted. Another pot?’
‘Thank you, but I believe I should go down as soon as we have seen your amiable cousin.’
‘I shall come with you, if I may: your seniority, your austere countenance, may be something of a protection against rude mirth; and in any case this morning they mean to renew their pugilism, so we may have serious casualties to attend to.’
The two medicos, their errand happily accomplished, set off from the mole during a lull in the roaring aboard Surprise, the calls of ‘Break him and tear him, mate’, and the dull sound of impassioned blows given and received. Some of their friends gave them a hand up the side. ‘Thank you, Mr. Hanson,’ said Stephen, safely on deck. ‘But,’ he went on, looking at the youth, ‘I am afraid you have been in the wars.’ Certainly he had one eye thoroughly blacked, and there was dried blood on his lower face; while one ear was visibly swelling.
‘Oh, sir,’ replied Hanson, with a cheerful and full-toothed smile, ‘it was only a little sparring.’
‘Still, you had better come below and let me put a stitch or two in that eyebrow.’
Sitting there on a stool while the needle was preparing, Hanson explained that his adversary, a master’s mate from Hector, though heavy and a thoroughly game chicken, had no notion of the long straight left to the throat. Not to the point, sir, but to the throat.
Nothing settled your cove quicker than a determined blow to the throat.
‘I should think not, indeed,’ said Stephen. ‘Now pray lean over, and do not start away at the prick: there. Well done. Are you to fight again?’
‘Not until after dinner, sir: and he is said not to be truly wicked.’
‘Yet even so, should he aim a blow at your head, you would be well advised to avert this eyebrow and face him crabwise. Now I must go and see the Captain. In the cabin, I presume?’
‘Yes, sir: and thank you very much for your care of me.’
Captain Aubrey was indeed in the cabin, leaning over some bundles of official papers tied with black tape or red. ‘There you are,’ he cried, raising his head with a smile; and having looked attentively at Stephen’s face he went on, ‘I do hope you have had some really prodigious good news?’
‘I have, too,’ said Stephen. ‘Not quite so prodigious as I could have wished, since the lady, not surprisingly, declined my proposal; but she did say she would consider it while we were away. And she did offer to carry our letters back to England. She is going to visit cousins near Bridport: so may I beg you, dear Jack, to write to Sophie urging her to invite Mrs. Wood? I should very much like her to become well-acquainted not only with Sophie and her children but also with my Brigid: it would give me the utmost pleasure if they were to love one another.’
‘There is no reason why they should not. I am quite sure that Sophie, bless her, and Mrs.
Wood could not fail to get along famously; while Brigid is a dear, affectionate little creature, and she is grateful for quite a little kindness and attention. My girls, being older, do not regard her as much as they should … I have often thought of mentioning it; but as Sophie says, rating has never yet begot tenderness. And they tend to be somewhat jealous … it is delicate ground to venture on. A stranger can sometimes do more than either parent. I have no doubt that Brigid and Mrs. Wood will be friends: after all, I do know Mrs. Wood quite well, and I esteem her immensely – admire her too, if I may say so.
Should Sophie ask her to stay until we come back? We have quantities of room, now that Clarissa is married and gone.’
‘That would be more than kind, but she also means to go up to Northumberland to see her brother Edward, my particular friend, a natural philosopher whom you must have seen from time to time at the meetings of the Royal Society; and I doubt if she would choose to leave her African house for so long. She travels with singular ease, quite alone or with just one or two servants. She means to take the Gaboon next month, a comfortable Portuguese Guineaman she has sailed in before, which will take her to London, carrying at least some of our letters: there she will stay a few days and then head south in a post-chaise. Purely between ourselves, I may add that she is rather wealthy.’
‘So much the better: it does ease travelling so. Lord, Stephen, I am so pleased with what you tell me. You will take a glass of wine, will you not?’
‘If you please. I should be very happy to drink a glass of wine with you, my dear. But first, Jack, let me say that a Government packet is leaving at high tide the day after tomorrow, and if it could carry your letter to Sophie together with one of mine, I should be most singularly obliged.’
Jack touched the bell, and without much surprise he saw the door instantly fly open, showing an ugly, inquisitive face vainly attempting to conceal a grin. ‘Killick,’ he said, ‘what have we got in the net under the counter?’
‘Three of hock, sir, and half a dozen of champagne.’
‘Rouse out a couple of champagne, will you, and light along my best writing-paper and a fresh ink-pot.’
‘Aye-aye, sir: champagne it is. Paper, best. Which Mr. Hanson is now stripping for his fight with that dogged Polyphemus reefer.’
‘Should you like to watch, Stephen, just for a round or two?’ asked Jack.
‘Certainly: and you will tell me about the finer points. But do not let us cause the wine to lose what coolness it may have.’
On the fo’c’sle, by a gross abuse of cordage, equipment and stanchions, a tolerable ring had been improvised. Both young men were in their corners, listening to their battered old seconds’ advice. Then at the bell they leapt up, toed the imaginary line in the middle, and set about one another with a singular ferocity. This was the light-weight final bout and each burned to win it for his own ship – for himself too, but this was less evident.