Herrick's furniture had been removed and there were many chairs, even benches, all of which appeared to be filled with naval uniforms, some civilians, and one or two of the Argonautes own company. He saw Stayt, who still managed to stay apart from all the others, Keen with Paget sitting beside him. The latter was not required to attend, but Bolitho was glad he had made the choice.
Athwartships was a long table, its chairs backing on the stern windows, so that the few officers already seated there were silhouettes against the sunny panorama beyond.
All heads turned as Bolitho entered, and as he walked down to an empty chair at the front he saw their searching glances. Awe, pity, curiosity. There would be some who would be glad to see a flaw in his record if only because Keen was under his command. Keen looked at him and gave a brief nod. Their glances held and spanned the years, midshipman and captain, now together once more. Fear, love, tragedy, they had both shared it, just as the girl Zenoria had seen and understood. She would, more than most.
From a vast distance Bolitho heard four bells chime. Ten o' clock exactly, to coincide with Herrick's arrival aft.
Bolitho stood with the others as the court found their seats. Herrick in the centre, grave-faced but very calm. Sir Marcus Laforey took some time to settle down at one end of the table while his servant adjusted a wooden gout-stool beneath his bandaged foot. Bolitho saw a young lieutenant nudge his companion. If Laforey caught them at it they would think the world had toppled on them. Mr Pullen from the Admiralty, still dressed in black, his face severe, two other captains whom Bolitho did not recognize, and lastly Captain the Hon. Sir Hedworth Jerram. Laforey's flag-captain was tall and thin with a long nose to match his haughty demeanour. As he rose now, he looked along his nose like a man who had discovered something unsavoury.
Herrick said shortly, 'This court of inquiry at the direction of their lordships is open. Those advised of the content of the inquiry will be required to answer questions. Some written statements may be used, but the court is gathered mainly to discuss the behaviour of Captain Valentine Keen of His Britannic Majesty's ship Argonaute, at the times and dates as specified.'
He looked at Keen for the first time. 'Please be seated. You are not on trial here.'
Bolitho looked at Captain Jerram. His expression clearly said, Not yet.
The captain stood facing the cabin, some papers grasped loosely in his bony fingers. In a penetrating tone he described the squadron's departure from Spithead, and its eventual meeting with the convict transport ship Orontes.
'At some time during this operation we are to understand that several attempts were made to take this vessel in tow, she having lost steerage-way. For some reason the squadron's flagship decided to take control of the damaged vessel, although prior to that the Helicon,' he glanced sharply at his papers, 'under Captain Inch, had already achieved some success.'
Keen said, 'The reason for that-'
Herrick tapped the table. 'Later, Captain Keen.'
Bolitho looked at Herrick's eyes. He was unhappy about this, but there had been no recognition in his voice.
'Shortly afterwards Captain Keen went in person to the Orontes.' His eyes fixed on Keen as if he expected an argument. He continued, 'And this is where the captain's behaviour becomes a matter for the court and perhaps a more serious one at a later stage.'
In the cabin you could have heard a pin drop. Even the ship was unusually silent. Just the creak of wood and the lap of water below the counter.
The Hon. Sir Hedworth Jerram said in his precise voice, 'A woman being transported to New South Wales was removed from that ship by the-by Captain Keen.'
Bolitho clenched his fist. Jerram had all but called him 'the accused.'
'Argonaute's surgeon is present. Please stand.'
Tuson rose above the other heads and shoulders, his hair very white against his plain blue coat.
Jerram said, 'The woman in question had been punished?'
Tuson eyed him bleakly. 'Beaten, sir, yes. Whipped, sir, yes.'
Jerram snapped, 'Punished. How bad was the injury?'
Tuson described the cut on the girl's back in his usual controlled voice. If they had been expecting the average ship's surgeon the court was soon made to realize they were mistaken.
Jerram persisted, 'But she was in no danger of dying?'
Tuson stared at him. 'If she had been returned to that ship-'
'Answer the question, if you please.' 'Well, no, sir, but-' 'Stand down.'
Jerram dabbed his mouth with a handkerchief. Bolitho watched Keen's profile. He looked pale beneath his bronzed skin. Bitter too.
Stayt was called next. As it was only an inquiry the court could ask what it liked through Jerram. No sort of cross-examination was permitted.
Bolitho gripped his sword until his fingers felt numb. A gathering of facts, it said in the book. An exclusion of others.
'You boarded the Orontes, Lieutenant Stayt. What happened?'
Stayt began, 'The ship's crew were in disarray and had been drinking.'
'Who said so?'
'I assumed that for myself.'
'I shall overlook your impertinence.' Jerram added, 'A punishment was being executed, I believe?' Before Stayt could reply he said sharply, 'And you were ordered to shoot the man carrying out the punishment, I understand, shoot him dead if he continued? Am I correct?'
Stayt said hotly, 'It was an ugly situation, Sir Hedworth. We were without support.'
'Or many reliable witnesses, it would seem?' He nodded.
'Sit.'
Jerram looked at his papers momentarily, although Bolitho had the feeling he knew every detail by heart.
Bolitho accepted that the procedure was right, but, without any mention of what had happened before and since-the loss of Supreme, of the squadron's vice-admiral too-and without Keen's appraisal of what had happened, the evidence was meaningless.
Jerram continued, 'No attempt was made to return the woman to the transport. Orontes' captain was treated shamefully in front of his company.' He walked to the opposite side, his feet tapping on the canvased deck. 'At Gibraltar, when other women were landed, the prisoner was retained on board in Captain Keen's care.'
Someone at the rear of the crowd tittered. 'In fact a native girl was taken on board to look after this prisoner.'
His gold-laced sleeve shot out. 'Please stand, Captain Keen! Do you deny any of this? That you removed a female prisoner from Orontes for your own purposes, which we can only guess at?'
Keen said bitterly, 'Yes, I took her off that ship. She was being treated like an animal!'
'And that upset you, a King's officer!'
Bolitho stood up; he was on his feet before even Jerram had noticed him.
Herrick looked at him, seemingly for the first time. 'Yes, Sir Richard?'
'How dare this officer sneer at my flag-captain! I will not sit here and tolerate one more insult, do you hear?'
Keen was looking at him, imploring him to stop. But Bolitho did not, nor did he want to. All the frustration and disappointment had moulded together and he no longer cared what they might do, not even Herrick.
Jerram said, 'This is most unorthodox.' He was looking at Laforey.
Laforey grunted. 'Well, let's get on with it, what? Say your piece, Sir Richard, if you must. You are known as something of a firebrand, I believe.'
It was quite unintentional but his remark seemed to take the edge out of the confrontation.
Bolitho said in a calmer voice, 'Captain Keen is a fine and brave officer.' He turned and saw their eyes shift to the gold medal on his chest, the same one that Nelson wore with pride. 'I chose him as my flag-captain because of his record, and because I know him.' He sensed Jerram's restored confidence, as he had known it would return. Jerram would be quick to point out that his choice of a flag-captain, even his record, was irrelevant. If he got the chance. Bolitho was a good swordsman, his father had seen to that. He had never done well with any other
