Black Ship Read Online Free PDF Page B

that.”
    “And I guess you’re too important to disturb for a pickpocket. A bobby took a report and said they’d get in touch ifmy passport was found, but I couldn’t tell them where I’d be at because I didn’t have—”
    “Money for a hotel,” Daisy put in.
    “You got it, ma’am. So seeing I had your address, I asked the way to your home. He gave me directions and a dime—a shilling?—for the bus ride, and here I am. I’m mighty sorry to intrude like this, Mrs. Fletcher, but I didn’t know what else to do.”
    He was so disconsolate, Daisy hadn’t the heart to say anything but that he was more than welcome and she’d have Mrs. Dobson make up a bed. “I expect you haven’t eaten,” she said kindly. “If you wouldn’t mind coming to the kitchen, I’m sure Mrs. Dobson will find you something.”
    Lambert followed her docilely, and she left him in the cook-housekeeper’s competent hands.
    Returning to the sitting room, she sank into a chair. “Well! Still singularly lacking in eptness.”
    “
Eptness
, darling?” said Madge.
    “Should it be
eptitude
, do you think, like
aptitude?
”
    “He’s not merely inept,” Alec snorted, “he’s incompetent. I can’t imagine how he got another government job after leaving the FBI, except that I’ve heard that Prohibition agents are exempted from the usual civil service requirements.”
    “It sounds,” Tommy remarked, “as if someone didn’t want them to be too efficient! Come along, Madge, we really must be going.” The Pearsons left.
    “Two unexpected American visitors within just a few days,” Daisy mused.
    Surprised, Alec asked, “Have we had a visitor you haven’t mentioned?”
    “No, darling, the Jessups, remember? Our neighbours-to-be. I told you.”
    “None of our business.”
    “Don’t you think it’s an odd coincidence?”
    “Coincidences happen. Perhaps Lambert called on them, too.”
    “No, it wasn’t him. I caught a glimpse of the man’s face. You don’t doubt Lambert’s story, do you?”
    “Great Scott no. If I were a pickpocket, he’s just the sort of feckless-looking mark I’d head straight for. Besides, I don’t believe he has the wits to invent it.”
    “True. He’ll have to have Bel’s room tonight.”
    Alec sighed. “I suppose you expect me to take him with me tomorrow and sort him out.”
    “After all, he did
try
to protect me in New York,” said Daisy.
    SECOND SEA INTERLUDE
    Then they let him lie for a very long time
Till the rain from heaven did fall,
Then little Sir John sprung up his head,
And soon amazed them all.
They let him stand till midsummer
Till he looked both pale and wan,
And little Sir John he growed a long beard
And so became a man.
    The dark of the moon, and not a lamp showed on either vessel, yet Patrick could see the motor launch bobbing alongside
Iphigenia
as clearly as if they were sailing the Solent on a sunny Sunday afternoon. By the starlight reflected off the inky, satin-smooth swells, he watched the last sack lowered to the deck of the inshore boat and hastily stowed by the men below. She was considerably lower in the water than when she had arrived at Rum Row.
    “Your turn, lad, if you’re up for it.”
    “I’m ready, Captain.” Patrick slung his kit over his shoulder.
    “Just sign my copy of the manifest here—the true manifest, not the one we show the Yanks if they stop us.” White teeth glinted in a grin. “So there’s no trouble when we get back to Blighty.”
    Shading the torch beam with his hand, he pointed to the spot on the top sheet of his sheaf of papers. Patrick scribbled his name.
    “Thanks, Captain. You may be sure I’ll tell my father he can rely on you in any future business of this kind.”
    “You’ve not done too badly yourself. Watch your back when you get among those cutthroat bootleggers. They owe you plenty, and who knows how keen they are to pay. Right, over you go.”
    The bo’sun himself took charge of the sling to which Patrick now