The Bomb Vessel Read Online Free PDF Page A

latter revelation.
    â€˜How interesting, Mr Jex. If I recollect aright,
Conquistador
remained guardship at the Nore for several years. Your experience in dealing with the shore must, therefore be quite considerable.’ Drinkwater marked the slightest tightening of the lips. ‘I do not expect to see seamen on deck without proper clothing, Mr Jex. An officer of your experience should have attended to that.’Jex opened his mouth to protest. ‘If you can see to the matter for me and, tomorrow morning, bring me a list of all the stores on board we may discuss your future aboard this ship.’ Indignation now blazed clearly from Jex’s eyes, but Drinkwater was not yet finished with him. In as pleasant a voice as he could muster he added.
    â€˜In the meantime I shall be delighted to allow you to retain your wife on board. Perhaps she will dine with all of the officers. It will give us the opportunity to discuss the progress of commissioning the ship, and the presence of a lady is always stimulating.’ Jex’s eyes narrowed abruptly to slits. Drinkwater had laid no special emphasis on the word ‘lady’ but there was about Mrs Jex’s behaviour something suspicious.
    â€˜That will be all, Mr Jex. And be so kind as to pass word for Mr Willerton.’
    Several days passed and Drinkwater kept Jex in a state of uncertainty over his future. The men appeared in guernseys and greygoes so that it was clear Jex had some influence over the dockyard suppliers. Drinkwater was pleased by his first victory.
    He listened in silence as Rogers told of the usual dockyard delays, the unkept promises, the lack of energy, the bribery, the venality. He listened while Rogers hinted tactfully that he lacked the funds to expedite matters, that there were few seamen available for such an unimportant vessel and those drafted to them were the cast-offs from elsewhere. Drinkwater was dominated by the two problems of want of cash and men. He had already spent more of his precious capital than he intended and as yet obtained little more than a smartened first lieutenant, a few documents necessary to commission his ship, only obtained by bribing the issuing clerks, and victuals enough for the cabin for a week. Apart from the imposition of further bribing dockyard officials for the common necessities needed by a man of war, he had yet to purchase proper slops for his men, just a little paint that his command might not entirely disgrace him, a quantity of powder for practice, and a few comforts for his own consumption: a dozen live pullets, a laying hen, a case or two of blackstrap. He sighed, listening again to Rogers and his catalogue of a first lieutenant’s woes. As he finished Drinkwater poured him a glass of the cheap port sold in Chatham as blackstrap.
    â€˜Press on Samuel, we do make progress.’ He indicated the litter of papers on the table. Rogers nodded then, in a low voice andleaning forward confidentially he said, ‘I, er, have found a little out about our friend Jex.’
    â€˜Oh?’
    â€˜More of his wife actually. It seems that after the last war Jex went off slaving. As purser he made a deal of money and accustomed himself to a fine time.’ There was a touch of malice in Rogers as he sipped the wine, he was contemplating the fate of another brought low by excess. ‘I gather he invested a good bit of it unwisely and lost heavily. Now, after some time in straightened circumstances, he is attempting to recoup his finances from the perquisites of a purser’s berth and marriage to his lady wife.’ Rogers managed a sneer. ‘Though not precisely a trollop she did run a discreet little house off Dock Road. Quite a remunerative place, I am led to believe.’
    â€˜And a berth in a King’s ship purchases
Madame
Jex a measure of respectability. Yes, I had noticed an assumption of airs by her ladyship,’ concluded Drinkwater, grinning as an idea occurred to him.