There was white spittle at his mouth and he was breathing very hard. Stephen nodded to his men and they sidled away towards St Michael’s. As they reached the church its clock struck the quarter, and Mr Essex gave the word at last.
Jack was led out of the dark room into the strong light, and as they guided him up the steps he could see nothing for the glare. ‘Your head here1 sir, if you please,’ said the sheriff’s man in a low, nervous, conciliating voice, ‘and your hands just here.’
The man was slowly fumbling with the bolt, hinge and staple, and as Jack stood there with his hands in the lower half-rounds, his sight cleared: he saw that the broad street was filled with silent, attentive men, some in long togs, some in shore-going rig, some in plain frocks, but all perfectly recognizable as seamen. And officers, by the dozen, by the score: midshipmen and officers. Babbington was there, immediately in front of the pillory, facing him with his hat off, and Pullings, Stephen of course, Mowett, Dundas. . . He nodded to them, with almost no change in his iron expression, and his eye moved on: Parker, Rowan, Williamson, Hervey . . . and men from long, long ago, men he could scarcely name, lieutenants and commanders putting their promotion at risk, midshipmen and master’s mates their commissions, warrant-officers their advancement.
‘The head a trifle forward, if you please2 sir,’ murmured the sheriff’s man, and the upper half of the wooden frame came down, imprisoning his defenceless f ace. He heard the click of the bolt and then in the dead silence a strong voice cry ‘Off hats’. With one movement hundreds of broad-brimmed tarpaulin-covered hats flew off and the cheering began, the fierce full-throated cheering he had so often heard in battle.
CHAPTER TEN
‘It is understood, then,’ said Mr Lowndes of the Foreign Office, ‘that you proceed to no action at present, but that unless circumstances are extraordinarily favourable you confine yourself to making contacts in Valparaiso and Santiago; and that the aggregate prizes taken, less ten per cent, shall be deducted from the agreed daily subvention, and that there shall be no other claims on His Majesty’s Government.’
‘There is also half the fair wear and tear,’ said Stephen. ‘In a ship of such immense value, and in seas of such unparalleled turbulence, the fair wear and tear is reckoned at a hundred and seventy pounds a month, a hundred and seventy pounds a lunar month: I must insist upon this point; I must insist that it be specifically set down.’
‘Very well,’ said Mr Lowndes sulkily. He made a note and continued, ‘Here you have a list of the notables and military men recommended by the Chilean Council for Liberation and by our own sources of information; and here you have the statement of what munitions and what sums of money the Council may provide. It is also understood that these sums and this material will invariably be assumed to emanate from the Council itself and in no
way from His Majesty’s Government. And since it is surely unnecessary for me to repeat that in the event of any unsuccessful conflict with the local authorities the whole undertaking will be disavowed and that you will receive no official support whatsoever, I believe that is all, apart from what Colonel Warren and Sir Joseph may have to add.’
‘For my part,’ said Colonel Warren, who was speaking not as a soldier but as a member of the Committee, to
which all three belonged, ‘I have only to give Dr Maturin the relevant codes and the names of the people with whom he may communicate. Perhaps you will check them, sir,’ he added, passing the packet to Stephen.
‘On the naval side there are these two documents,’ said Sir Joseph, tapping them with his spectacles. ‘A letter of exemption that will prevent the pressing of Dr Maturin’s people, and another that will allow him to refit and obtain supplies at His Majesty’s yards, paying by ninety-day bills on London at no more than prime cost.’
‘In that case,’ said Mr Lowndes, standing up, ‘it only remains for me to wish Dr Maturin every success.’
‘And a happy return – a very happy return,’ said the huge colonel in his strange shrill voice, shaking Stephen by the hand with a kindly look.
Sir Joseph saw them to the street door, and as soon as it closed behind them he directed his voice down the back stairs and called out ‘Mrs Barlow, you may dish up as soon as you please.’
‘I am so sorry, Maturin,’ he said, returning to the room, ‘it was inhuman of Lowndes to go on so long. He might have been settling a treaty with a hostile power rather than• – how I hope he did not destroy your appetite. Knowing that you people of the old faith are required to mortify your flesh today, I went down early and found some really fresh oysters, a couple of hen lobsters, and such a bold turbot! If he is overcooked I shall never forgive the Foreign Office, never as long as I live.’ He poured two glasses of sherry. ‘But I must say I did admire your tenacity about the financial side.’
‘It is wealth that does it,’ said Stephen. ‘Ever since I had a great deal of money I have found that I much dislike being parted from it, particularly in a sharp or overbearing manner. Whereas formerly I would meekly allow myself to be choused or bullied or put down, I now counter-attack with a confidence and an asperity that quite surprises me and that nearly always answers.’ He raised, his glass and
said ‘I drink to your complete and early success.’
‘Thank you,’ said Blaine. ‘Warren and I believe we are fairly close behind our fox. It is very high treason indeed and only about twenty men are capable of committing it
– I mean, are in a position to commit it. This twentieth man is very wary and cunning, but I think Warren, with all the resources at his disposal, will find him out. Warren is much more
intelligent than you might suppose from his military face and his shape; he is a eunuch, you know, and a man without -,
‘If you please, sir,’ said Mrs Barlow severely, at the door, and Sir Joseph, blushing, led Stephen to the dining-room. ‘What news of poor Aubrey?’ he asked, as they sat down.
‘He has all the hands he wants – has turned many away and has accepted others only on liking – and means to make a short cruise in the Bay for a month or so, to see how they shake down and whether any fail to give satisfaction. I am to join him on Saturday, taking the early coach tomorrow.’
‘I am glad he is so fortunate with his crew: the cleverer men would of course come in droves to sail with such a captain, such a prize-taker. A wonderful change from having to rely on the receiving-ships! He does deserve some good luck after so much wretchedness. And yet, you know, that vile job did the ministry no good. Quinborough is perhaps the most unpopular man in the nation at present; he is hooted in the street, and the Radicals are clean forgotten in the general outcry against the sentence and the conduct of the trial. The town is full of praise for the officers and men at the Exchange and their cheering:
Government completely mistook the feeling of the country. People enjoy seeing a short-weight baker pilloried, or a fraudulent stock-jobber, but they could not bear a naval officer being set up in the machine.’
‘The seamen were indeed a glorious sight. I was astonished and delighted to see so many.’
‘Government could scarcely have mismanaged the business worse. They delayed the execution of the sentence until the whole island was filled with indignation and until there happened to be a strong squadron in the Downs and several ships at the Nore, together with far more than usual in the Medway and the upper reaches of the Thames. All these ships present, to say nothing of the large floating population of seamen, at a time when tide and wind were perfect for bringing them up the river and taking them down again. Of course many officers came up and of course large parties were given leave – I am told that even the press-tender’s crew appeared, on the pretence of looking for deserters. And now Quinborough and his friends are reduced to having pamphlets written to defend their conduct.’
The bold turbot came in, together with a bottle of Montrachet, and after a busy pause Stephen said ‘I believe you may forgive Mr Lowndes after all.’
‘A wordy animal,’ said Sir Joseph, but without animosity; and then, ‘Speaking of pamphlets, what did you think of your friend’s? Of Mr Martin’s?’