Read Online An Awkward Commission by David Donachie - Free Book Online
Authors: David Donachie
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suggest that you move along, for I see Captain Orde approaching, who is on the list of invites, an’ we has no mind to keep him waiting for the likes of you.’
It was only curiosity that kept Pearce there until this officer was greeted and passed inside, that and a feeling of certainty that he would witness what he did, the passing of coin from this Captain Orde to the two now utterly obsequious, forelock-tugging doormen, which only served to underline his need for money. His next call was to see about getting some.
‘Mr Davidson will see you now, Lieutenant.’
Pearce rose from the chair which he had occupied this last half hour and followed the fellow who had summoned him into a large office, leaving behind him an impressive bustle of activity, of the kind that convinced him that he was about to deal with a serious man of business, for he had been listed in the newspapers as the agent handling the prize fund due from the capture of the Valmy . The first thing thatstruck him about Davidson’s appearance was his apparent youthfulness; such an enterprise as the one he had observed surely should have someone of more age and gravity at its head. Yet the smile was disarming, the welcome genuine on a young, attractive face, but the news the prize agent had to impart, once he had identified himself and where he came from, was far from encouraging, all hinging on the fact that the French 74 had been taken through the efforts of two vessels, with two commanders.
‘I represent Captain Marchand of HMS Centurion , while your superior officer, Mr Colbourne, is represented by the company of Ommaney & Druce. It is they who have questioned the distribution, which has a share allotted to Mr Colbourne as being that of a lieutenant, instead of as a captain.’
Pearce knew all about that dispute, and the way he had referred to Marchand by his post rank, while calling Colbourne a mere Mister was revealing; Davidson was far from being a non-partisan representative.
‘He was captain of the Griffin ,’ Pearce insisted.
‘Master and Commander at a stretch, though an armed cutter does not carry the rank, Mr Pearce, but not made post and on the captain’s list. You must understand, to acknowledge that Lieutenant Colbourne, as he was at the time of the capture, shares in a captain’s rank and entitlements would cost Captain Marchand several thousand pounds. At present, since Captain Marchand was under Admiralty orders he has three-eights of the total, with no commanding admiral to satisfy. Were he to accede to Mr Colbourne’s demands, half of that would be forfeit, and the complications of dealing with the senior officer who wrote out orders for HMS Griffin would just add another layer of difficulty.’
Pearce knew that whatever the arguments, they had noeffect on him except delay. His share would be fixed whatever the outcome of the dispute. ‘How long before it is decided?’
‘A piece of rope is a fair guide,’ Davidson replied, with an almost embarrassed shrug. ‘Lawyers do not rush in these matters. I have known such cases take years to resolve.’
‘I need money now.’
Seeing the enquiring look, he decided not to mention Nerot’s Hotel, which had provided him with a good night’s sleep, and that morning with a sturdy breakfast. But he had no trouble thinking of a reason that would make sense to the man on the other side of the desk, even if it was a stretching of the truth.
‘I have expectations of a place and I need to buy the necessities an officer requires for sea service. Everything I owned went down with the ship.’
‘You were a midshipman, my clerk informed me.’ Davidson smiled as Pearce nodded, with a clear air of sympathy. ‘I fear a mid’s cut will scarce suffice to provide for the whole of your needs, sir.’
‘It will go some way to offsetting the costs,’ Pearce replied, without certainty, for he had no real idea of what he needed to go to sea, only that he might require money to pay for
It was only curiosity that kept Pearce there until this officer was greeted and passed inside, that and a feeling of certainty that he would witness what he did, the passing of coin from this Captain Orde to the two now utterly obsequious, forelock-tugging doormen, which only served to underline his need for money. His next call was to see about getting some.
‘Mr Davidson will see you now, Lieutenant.’
Pearce rose from the chair which he had occupied this last half hour and followed the fellow who had summoned him into a large office, leaving behind him an impressive bustle of activity, of the kind that convinced him that he was about to deal with a serious man of business, for he had been listed in the newspapers as the agent handling the prize fund due from the capture of the Valmy . The first thing thatstruck him about Davidson’s appearance was his apparent youthfulness; such an enterprise as the one he had observed surely should have someone of more age and gravity at its head. Yet the smile was disarming, the welcome genuine on a young, attractive face, but the news the prize agent had to impart, once he had identified himself and where he came from, was far from encouraging, all hinging on the fact that the French 74 had been taken through the efforts of two vessels, with two commanders.
‘I represent Captain Marchand of HMS Centurion , while your superior officer, Mr Colbourne, is represented by the company of Ommaney & Druce. It is they who have questioned the distribution, which has a share allotted to Mr Colbourne as being that of a lieutenant, instead of as a captain.’
Pearce knew all about that dispute, and the way he had referred to Marchand by his post rank, while calling Colbourne a mere Mister was revealing; Davidson was far from being a non-partisan representative.
‘He was captain of the Griffin ,’ Pearce insisted.
‘Master and Commander at a stretch, though an armed cutter does not carry the rank, Mr Pearce, but not made post and on the captain’s list. You must understand, to acknowledge that Lieutenant Colbourne, as he was at the time of the capture, shares in a captain’s rank and entitlements would cost Captain Marchand several thousand pounds. At present, since Captain Marchand was under Admiralty orders he has three-eights of the total, with no commanding admiral to satisfy. Were he to accede to Mr Colbourne’s demands, half of that would be forfeit, and the complications of dealing with the senior officer who wrote out orders for HMS Griffin would just add another layer of difficulty.’
Pearce knew that whatever the arguments, they had noeffect on him except delay. His share would be fixed whatever the outcome of the dispute. ‘How long before it is decided?’
‘A piece of rope is a fair guide,’ Davidson replied, with an almost embarrassed shrug. ‘Lawyers do not rush in these matters. I have known such cases take years to resolve.’
‘I need money now.’
Seeing the enquiring look, he decided not to mention Nerot’s Hotel, which had provided him with a good night’s sleep, and that morning with a sturdy breakfast. But he had no trouble thinking of a reason that would make sense to the man on the other side of the desk, even if it was a stretching of the truth.
‘I have expectations of a place and I need to buy the necessities an officer requires for sea service. Everything I owned went down with the ship.’
‘You were a midshipman, my clerk informed me.’ Davidson smiled as Pearce nodded, with a clear air of sympathy. ‘I fear a mid’s cut will scarce suffice to provide for the whole of your needs, sir.’
‘It will go some way to offsetting the costs,’ Pearce replied, without certainty, for he had no real idea of what he needed to go to sea, only that he might require money to pay for
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