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have been at sea for at least a year, some for near eighteen months, with theconcomitant wear that implies. Our allies choose to stay too far off to give us immediate support, while we are ill placed to sustain any losses. It is an undeniable fact that every vessel in the fleet is short on hands.’
    ‘That is so, and many of our ships may be in need of a dockyard, but the French are not worked up as we are, having barely been at sea. They will not sail their vessels with a proficiency that can match our own, added to which they cannot handle their guns with anything like the skill our fellows can bring to bear. Cease to worry about the state of your timbers, Sir William, or the whereabouts of the Spanish fleet and put yourself and
my
fleet alongside the enemy should the opportunity present itself, and that, sir, can be taken as a direct order.’
    Hood looked at his clerk to make sure that was noted, gratified by the nod.
    Parker, hitherto silent and not entirely lacking in sympathy for Hotham, spoke up in order to bring an end to what was beginning to sound like a baiting. ‘I think we can assume, milord, that
Lutine
brings us positive news from Calvi.’
    ‘Very likely, Admiral Parker,’ Hood replied, with a wicked twinkle in his eye, added to which came a twitch of those straggly, prominent eyebrows. ‘Perhaps it calls for a toast to celebrate, one in which Sir William will no doubt join us, given he was so positive in his support for that particular operation.’
    If Hotham was furious, and to Parker’s mind he had a right to be, he hid it well, the only sign a clenching into fists of those fidgeting hands. It had to be admitted, though, that if he carried questionable ability as a fighting sailor he had never lacked the skills of the natural courtier. He stood and smiled, as if he had not just been reminded of his real position on Calvi, and spoke with an even voice.
    ‘Settle for my congratulations, milord, if indeed such news is in the offing, but do not let me dampen any high spirits that ensue. Also, before I return to my own ship let me offer you my hope that you have a safe passage home and a good and fruitful period of leave.’
    He might as well have said, ‘I hope you damn well drown!’

    ‘Mr Burns,’ Horatio Nelson cried, his normally high-pitched voice made even more so by his obvious delight, ‘you have no idea how it pleases me to see you alive and well. We were sure you had made the sacrifice.’
    Greedily drinking from a butt, Toby Burns had water dripping from his chin as he looked up and responded, his glance automatically taking in the half-closed right eye, still showing signs of bruising. ‘You did not know I was captured, sir?’
    ‘No we did not, young sir, for our French friends did not see fit to tell of anyone they had taken, although we forbore to pronounce you were definitely dead as we were lacking a corpse. But let us say it was assumed to be true and I was mightily cast down by the fact, blaming myself entirely.’
    There was a moment then, a flash of a thought – that, had he known, he could have just disappeared – one that had to quickly be buried regardless of how it momentarily lifted his spirits. That was replaced with one of annoyance; he was indeed being hailed by the very man who had put him at risk of being killed. If Nelson observed the look that crossed Toby’s face it did not register; he had come closer and as he did so his nose twitched, followed by a look he made no attempt to hide, one that took in the state of the midshipman’s clothing.
    ‘I see that the French adhered to their normal standardsof cleanliness.’ Nelson turned and called to another officer. ‘Lieutenant Farmiloe, be so good as to escort your old friend to a place where he can certainly wash and get his breeches cleaned, and on my purse let us advance him a new shirt.’
    ‘Lieutenant, Dick?’ Burns asked, as an arm shepherded him in the direction of Farmiloe.
    ‘Newly minted this