one's
shares is as good as signing one's own death warrant. But I'm lacking a soul to
assign them to—being without family or connections."
"And I'm in a like case," returned
Fitz. "For I can't believe that those at Fairleigh will ever have need of
cash; and as for my father's kin "
"No, the Earl of Starr would never need a
privateers-man's gains to help line his deep pockets."
Fitz's fingers curled into fists. "How
did you know?"
"By that," Watts put out a long finger and tapped the ring
on Fitz's left hand. "One of my hobbies is heraldy. Four stars above a
lion's head is an easy crest to remember. And your house has often been in the
public eye—and ear—in the past."
"I know nothing about the Lyons of
Starr," Fitz said between set teeth, "and care less!"
"Is this soup or stew?" He turned
with relief to the vast bowl the waiter had just placed before him.
"A little of both and
fit for all the godlings of Olympus !" Watts sniffed the fragrant steam. "I think I detect the lordly crab, among other
things."
Fitz was already spooning up his portion. The
tang of unfamiliar herbs laced the smoothness of the fish. And he was not above
wiping the soon-emptied bowl with a piece of bread in order to mop up the last
of its rich contents.
Watts had
ordered a bottle of wine and now sipped delicately at a glass of his choice.
Once the first taste slipped across his tongue he relaxed.
"Pirates' port, indeed. This is fit for fat George's own cellars—it is."
Fitz sighed and fingered the catch of the belt
which supported his hanger.
"How long do we roost here?" he
wanted to know.
"Until our worthy Captain unloads his
tobacco, plugs a few shot holes, and gathers some lead pills for the Channel
work. Though I won't deny that I could find a short visit
ashore here a pleasant excursion. Do you care to inspect the ramparts,
the venerable church of Saint
Sauveur , the fifteenth-century towers, or the Castle? I would not deprive a
young and growing mind of these rich treats."
"What I'd chiefly like," Fitz
returned frankly, "is to see some of these wild Malouin privateersmen
you've been telling me about. Biggs said were short of men
"
"And you'd like to present him with a
couple. Why? Is it our worthy marine lieutenant's birthday?" inquired the
surgeon lazily. "Not that we would find the Malouin brand of marine
especially useful, I am afraid. They have a certain untamed freedom which would
not appeal to our Captain, liberal minded as he is upon such subjects. But
never fear , my young friend, if you wish to be Jack
ashore then we shall play that role. And better in the company of such an
elderly, steady hand as myself, than under the wing of some brave spirits I
could name. Don't guzzle that, boy— it's golden nectar
to be sipped more genteelly—not poured down the throat as if it were Jamaica rum!"
Fitz hurriedly lowered his glass. Watts had praised the wine, but to his
semi-educated palate it didn't taste much different from the two bottles of
stuff they had served to them in mess to celebrate their first prize taking.
"And don't fidget," warned his
companion. "I've reached that comfortable age when the delights of the
table have begun to mean something. I will not be hurried from them and it will
do you no good to squirm on the edge of your chair. Settle back and look about
you, sop up some of the atmosphere of this strange new world. Why must women
make themselves so hideous?" He indicated with an upraised fingertip a
city miss mincing along, footman and maid at her heels,
shares is as good as signing one's own death warrant. But I'm lacking a soul to
assign them to—being without family or connections."
"And I'm in a like case," returned
Fitz. "For I can't believe that those at Fairleigh will ever have need of
cash; and as for my father's kin "
"No, the Earl of Starr would never need a
privateers-man's gains to help line his deep pockets."
Fitz's fingers curled into fists. "How
did you know?"
"By that," Watts put out a long finger and tapped the ring
on Fitz's left hand. "One of my hobbies is heraldy. Four stars above a
lion's head is an easy crest to remember. And your house has often been in the
public eye—and ear—in the past."
"I know nothing about the Lyons of
Starr," Fitz said between set teeth, "and care less!"
"Is this soup or stew?" He turned
with relief to the vast bowl the waiter had just placed before him.
"A little of both and
fit for all the godlings of Olympus !" Watts sniffed the fragrant steam. "I think I detect the lordly crab, among other
things."
Fitz was already spooning up his portion. The
tang of unfamiliar herbs laced the smoothness of the fish. And he was not above
wiping the soon-emptied bowl with a piece of bread in order to mop up the last
of its rich contents.
Watts had
ordered a bottle of wine and now sipped delicately at a glass of his choice.
Once the first taste slipped across his tongue he relaxed.
"Pirates' port, indeed. This is fit for fat George's own cellars—it is."
Fitz sighed and fingered the catch of the belt
which supported his hanger.
"How long do we roost here?" he
wanted to know.
"Until our worthy Captain unloads his
tobacco, plugs a few shot holes, and gathers some lead pills for the Channel
work. Though I won't deny that I could find a short visit
ashore here a pleasant excursion. Do you care to inspect the ramparts,
the venerable church of Saint
Sauveur , the fifteenth-century towers, or the Castle? I would not deprive a
young and growing mind of these rich treats."
"What I'd chiefly like," Fitz
returned frankly, "is to see some of these wild Malouin privateersmen
you've been telling me about. Biggs said were short of men
"
"And you'd like to present him with a
couple. Why? Is it our worthy marine lieutenant's birthday?" inquired the
surgeon lazily. "Not that we would find the Malouin brand of marine
especially useful, I am afraid. They have a certain untamed freedom which would
not appeal to our Captain, liberal minded as he is upon such subjects. But
never fear , my young friend, if you wish to be Jack
ashore then we shall play that role. And better in the company of such an
elderly, steady hand as myself, than under the wing of some brave spirits I
could name. Don't guzzle that, boy— it's golden nectar
to be sipped more genteelly—not poured down the throat as if it were Jamaica rum!"
Fitz hurriedly lowered his glass. Watts had praised the wine, but to his
semi-educated palate it didn't taste much different from the two bottles of
stuff they had served to them in mess to celebrate their first prize taking.
"And don't fidget," warned his
companion. "I've reached that comfortable age when the delights of the
table have begun to mean something. I will not be hurried from them and it will
do you no good to squirm on the edge of your chair. Settle back and look about
you, sop up some of the atmosphere of this strange new world. Why must women
make themselves so hideous?" He indicated with an upraised fingertip a
city miss mincing along, footman and maid at her heels,
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