The Devil to Pay (John Pearce series) by David Donachie

Author:David Donachie [Donachie, David]
Language: eng
Format: azw3
ISBN: 9780749016586
Publisher: Allison & Busby
Published: 2014-11-20T05:00:00+00:00

The channel between the Italian mainland and the islands of Sardinia and Corsica was a busy one and thus well patrolled by warships of both Naples and Britain, added to which the benign weather and the tedium of exchange with his host meant Pearce spent a lot of time on deck. It was there that he was approached by a party of the crew, half a dozen tars who for some reason had chosen Todger as their spokesman, probably because they reckoned him favoured by their captain.

‘Savin’ your presence, your honour, but we has come to ask for a favour.’

Well aware, after his conversation with his friends, of what it must be, Pearce adopted a grave facial expression. ‘I hope you know that as of this moment I am in a poor position to grant anyone anything.’

‘It be more in the nature of a request,’ said Pardew, no longer hobbling with his stick.

Silence fell as Pearce waited for one of them to continue, Todger finally giving a nervous knuckle to his forehead before speaking, while what came out was hesitant and mumbling, to which their officer listened with seeming interest, all the while wondering if Charlie Taverner had the right of it; that it was better to raise hopes than dash them.

‘Be assured that I feel I owe you to a man for the loss of the ship. If it is in my power to do what you ask I will bend every ounce of my being to that goal.’

Todger smiled, Pardew nearly genuflected, the rest murmuring various expressions of gratitude, all of which combined to make John Pearce feel like a scrub.

‘Then we, for the rest of our shipmates, are charged to say that we is sorry for the way we went against you.’

Some might mean it, others would say anything to get their way, but there was no point it stating that. ‘The best thing we can do with that matter is let it rest. Now would you oblige me by asking Mr Dorling, who I feel has been avoiding me since we departed Naples, to join me on deck.’

‘The warrants feel as we do, your honour,’ Todger insisted.

‘Where they go is not really in my gift or even that of the C-in-C. They are granted their warrants by the Navy Board.’

Pearce wanted to speak to him on another matter entirely, being well aware of why Dorling was keeping a wide berth, a point he came to when the young master appeared.

‘I am aware that you disapproved of my decision to depart Palermo with HMS Larcher in the condition in which she existed.’ Dorling did not speak, but he would not catch Pearce’s eye. ‘I assume you noted your reservations in your log?’

The response was a long time in coming. ‘Had to write what I held to be the truth, sir.’

‘Well you will be questioned both at my court martial and no doubt before by the Master of the Fleet. I can only advise you, Mr Dorling, to be honest, even if you have an inclination to protect me.

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