anchored ships, the air in the sealed cabin was warm and humid. Bolitho had put on his coat to receive Probyn, but was wishing that he was still in his shirt. He watched the brandy moving into Probyn' s eyes and voice, blurring and distorting as he repeated, almost word for word, how his sailing master and the officer of the watch, a-young booby if ever I saw one, the leadsman in the chains, I had him seized up and flogged double quick, I can tell you, and several others had made the grounding inevitable.
Bolitho waited until there was a pause while Ozzard filled the goblet again. The servant's eyes Were lowered, but he could not hide his interest. His experience as a lawyer's clerk was probably too much for his normal reserve.
Then Bolitho said calmly, 'so you were not actually there when it happened?'
'There?' The red-rimmed eyes fixed on him with obvious effort. 'Of course I was there!' 'I’ll trouble you to keep a civil tongue in your head,
Captain.' Bolitho kept his tone level, even gentle, but saw a warning show itself on Probyn's reddened*features.
'Yes. Yes, I apologise. It's been troubling me, thinking you might blame me in some way for what-'
'Well, Captain, where were you in Nicator when she struck?'
'Let me see now.' He pouted heavily. 'Must be exact, eh? Like we used to be in the old Trojan when we were lieutenants together.'
Bolitho remained very still, watching the emotions and blurred memories on Probyn's heavy features.
He said, 'That was a long time ago. '
Probyn leaned forward, his sleeve knocking over the empty goblet. 'Not so long, surely? It's like a dog watch ago to me. She was a fine old ship.'
'Trojan?' Bolitho nodded to Ozzard who brought a full goblet for the captain. 'she was hard and demanding, as I remember. A good school for those who wanted to learn, but hell on earth for the laggard. Captain Pears was never a one to tolerate fools.'
Probyn looked at him, his eyes glazed. 'Of course, I was that bit senior to you. Knew a bit more, so to speak. Saw through their little game. '
'Game?'
Probyn tapped the side of his nose. 'Y'see? You didn't even suspect. The first lieutenant was always on at me. The captain's lickspittle. And that other lieutenant, the one who got killed, he was a crawler.'
Bolitho stood up and walked to the wine cabinet, seeing Kate's face and hearing her infectious laugh when she had given it to him. She would laugh at him now, if she were here. How she despised the ways of true authority.
He said sharply, 'Apart from the very junior lieutenants then, that only left you and me.' He poured himself a glass of claret, waving Ozzard away as he continued. 'I remember that ship in many ways, but one of the things which I recall most clearly, and which has come back to me during this last week, was the way you drank.' He swung round, seeing the sudden alarm on Probyn' s face. 'several times that I knew of, men were flogged because of things which you had done wrong. Do you remember the night watches which others had to perform because you were too much in your cups to get on deck? That lickspittle you just mentioned saw to it that the captain knew nothing about it. But by God, Probyn, if I’d been your captain, I’d have made certain you never did it twice!'
Probyn lurched to his feet, his great shadow reaching towards Bolitho like a curtain.
'Indeed you would! Like the time we took two prizes! I was put in charge of the first. A rotten, worm-infested hulk, that's all she was! I never stood a chance when the enemy ship came after me!' He was squinting with fierce concentration, his face and throat wet with sweat. 'It was deliberate, to get rid of me!'
'You were senior to me. The prize was yours by right.
What about a previous one? A little schooner? You were supposed to take her into New York, but a master's mate went in your place. '
He watched his words slamming home, the fuddled way which Probyn' s eyes were swivelling around the cabin as if to discover answers.
Bolitho said harshly, 'You were drunk then. Admit it, man.'
Probyn sat down very slowly, his hands shaking as he supported himself on the arms of the chair.
'I’ll admit nothing.' He looked up, his reddened eyes filled with hate. 'sir.'
'so you’ve nothing more to tell me about Nicator's grounding?'
The question seemed to take him momentarily off guard.
Then Probyn said, 'I have made a full and proper report.' He thrust his hands under the table. 'And I have taken sworn statements from those of the watch who were involved.' He leaned forward, his drink-sodden face crafty as he added, 'If there is a court of enquiry, I will produce those statements. One of which may incriminate the officer of the watch, an admiral's nephew, by the way. And it may be thought that you were not unbiased, sir. That you were levelling old scores by having my reputation tarnished.'
He fell back, startled, as Bolitho stood up, his eyes blazing with contempt.
'Don’t you bargain with me! A week back we struck a blow against the enemy, but the harm which was done to our people was more deeply felt! But for Lysander's arrival, and Buzzard's support, yours would be the only ship afloat today! Think on these things the next time you dare to talk of bias or honour!'
He called for Ozzard and added, 'You may return to your ship now. But remember, what cannot be proved is nevertheless between us. The squadron is undermanned, and officered for the most part by inexperienced youngsters. For that reason alone, I am not holding an official court of enquiry. '
Herrick appeared in the door with Ozzard, but stayed very still as Bolitho said, 'But hear me, Captain Probyn. If I ever discover that your failure to give support was deliberate, or that at any time in the future you act against the interests of this squadron, I will see you hanged for it!'
