We could do business first, going post-haste, and they would follow us the next day, do you see?’
‘That of course is the answer. Well done, Thomas Pullings. But tell me now, will you, just how disreputable is it, to go a-privateering? And which sounds least offensive to the naval ear, privateer or corsair?’
‘They are both pretty low, but since that chap Mowett is always talking about – grandson of the Admiral -,
‘Byron.’
‘Aye, Byron – wrote his piece, I dare say some young fellows had rather be called corsair.
J3ut the Captain would certainly prefer the old-fashioned letter of marque. As for being disreputable, why, it has a bad name, to be sure, like sodomy; but I remember how you told the master of the Defender when he was going on about how they all ought to be burnt alive rather than just hanged – how you told him that there were many good, brave and gifted men among them. And so there are among privateers: some of their ships are run Navy-fashion, so you would hardly know the odds, but for no man-of-war’s pennant and no regular uniforms.’
‘But in general the word privateer is a reproach in the service, is it not? So do you think that commanding one
would he very repugnant to Captain Aubrey? I mean, supposing he were cast out of the Navy.’
‘He might find it hard in home waters, among those in the service that don’t like him: and there are a good many jealous un-officerlike lubbers he has offended one way or another.
Any jumped-up lieutenant commanding a cutter could order him to come aboard and show
his papers, and maybe keep him waiting about on deck; any King’s officer could press his men and ruin his voyage, if he fell unlucky; any ill-conditioned scrub with a commission might check him and he could not reply. But was he to go far foreign, Madagascar, say, or the Spanish Main, he would either be among friends or, if there were any awkward commanders on the nearest station, he could keep his distance. There is nothing in her class nor near it can catch Surprise when he is sailing her. And any rate, even in home waters it would be better than eating his heart out on shore.’ They both looked absently out at the traffic for a while, and then Pullings said in a low and almost secret voice,
‘Doctor, how likely is it he will be – what shall I say – be undone?’
‘My opinion is not worth the breath to utter it:
nothing do I know of the law at all. But I do remember that the Bible likens human justice to a woman’s unclean rag – quasi pannus menstruate – and I have little faith in truth as an immediate safeguard, in this world.’
‘What I am so afraid of is that they may catch him on a false muster.’
‘A false muster, Thomas?’
‘It is when you put a friend’s son’s name down in your ship’s books so as to gain him some sea-time, when in fact he is at home, still in petticoats or at school. Then when he comes to pass for lieutenant he can show certificates of having been at sea the full six years.
Everyone does it – I could name half a dozen captains offhand – but if some ugly swab with a grudge swears to the fact, swears that the boy never appeared when all hands were piped for muster, why then you are dismissed the service, just as though it were a real false muster – I mean bearing men on your books that don’t exist, merely to draw their wages and victuals.’
‘Yet surely that is an entirely naval, maritime offence, is it not? Whereas this is a trial by land: a false muster could not affect the Stock Exchange.’
‘I don’t know, I’m sure. But Captain Dundas will tell us.’
Captain Dundas, however, was not to be seen on the Eurydice’s busy quarterdeck when Stephen went aboard her, and the officer of the watch was ‘by no means sure he would be at leisure’.
‘Perhaps you would be so good as to mention my name, however: Maturin, Dr Maturin.’
‘Very well,’ said the lieutenant coldly: he called a youngster and then walked off, leaving Dr Maturin by himself. The Navy, upon the whole, liked its visitors to be neat, trim, and reasonably well-dressed: Stephen had not shaved for some time; he had used his rolled-up coat as a pillow during the later part of the journey, and now it was strangely wrinkled and dusty; and his breeches were unbuckled at the knee. Yet none of this made any difference to Captain Dundas’s welcome. He came hurrying out of his cabin, dressed in civilian clothes, and cried ‘My dear Maturin, how happy I am I was delayed
–
another five minutes and I should have missed you – I am just off to town.’ He led Stephen below, asked most anxiously after Jack Aubrey, and dismissed the notion of false muster as irrelevant: what did Maturin think of the case – was there any real danger from the civilian point of view?
‘Looking at it from a distance I should have said there was none, but looking at counsel’s face, and remembering what has happened in trials with a political side to them, I fear for the outcome. So much so that I am on my way to buy the Surprise.’
‘Are you, by God?’ cried Dundas, who instantly took
the point. ‘But, you know,’ he said, looking doubtfully at Stephen, ‘she is likely to fetch a pretty penny, an uncommon pretty penny, as a private man-of-war.’
‘So I was told by a great man at the Admiralty; hut even so I think it can be encompassed.
Would it be possible for you to lend us an able hand or two, to help move her to Shelmerston? They could come down in the coach with Bonden and my servant, while Tom Pullings and I go ahead in the chaise and transact the business.’
‘You shall have a party at once. The sale is tomorrow, I believe? Dear me, you have no time to spare. If you are to be there before nightfall you must be on your way directly. Let me pull you ashore. My barge is alongside, and as soon as I have given orders about your men we can shove off. You must not be late for the fair, whatever happens. How glad I am that you have Tom Pullings with you Had you been alone I should certainly have accompanied you,
by way of protection against the shoals and the sharks -ship-buying calls for expert knowledge, just like cutting off a leg – a pair of legs – and I have absolutely engaged to go up to town, to see the young person I was telling you about I shall be at Durrant’s -‘
‘Not at your brother’s?’
‘No. Melville and I ain’t on speaking terms. You cannot abuse another man’s children or their mother
without expecting to be kicked And I shall still be there when you come back. Pray let me know how things have gone, will you? You do not mean to be at the trial, I collect?’
‘I do not, unless I am called as a witness on the third day.’
‘No, no,’ said Dundas, shaking his head ‘A great deal of muck-raking, no doubt. Perhaps I shall just lurk in a passage and come in to cheer at the end. You will not forget to give my very best wishes to Tom Pullings?’
For this purpose Stephen could not in fact have had a
better ally than Tom Pullings. They came out of their inn as the sky cleared after a rainy night and walked down over the shining cobbles towards the quay, and time and again he responded to ‘Captain Pullings, sir, good day to you,’ or greetings of that kind; he was well known in the town and obviously respected, and Stephen observed that as the sea came nearer so Captain Pullings became more and more wholly adult. There was a brief lapse into the young fellow Stephen had known so long ago when they turned a corner and the long harbour came into sight, with the Surprise lying against the quay on the far side, lit by
a clear sea-light and a high, gently dappled sky as though for her portrait. ‘There she lays,’
he cried. ‘Oh there she lays! Ain’t she the loveliest thing you ever saw?’
‘She is, too,’ said Stephen, for even to his profound ignorance she stood out among the common workaday vessels like a thoroughbred in a troop of carthorses.
But apart from that enthusiastic cry, the Pullings who guided him to the steps was a grave, obviously capable officer, possessed of great natural authority. His London diffidence had quite gone by the time they were sitting in the boat that was to carry them to the far side, and it was clear to Stephen that Tom could deal with any commander in the service, let alone a gathering of marine brokers, ship breakers, auctioneers and the like.