The Closed Harbour Read Online Free PDF Page A

yesterday. There are no vacancies, and indeed we of the Heros like to keep the concern a family affair, we do not like strangers—"
    Follet smiled. "Quite so. What sort of job, Philippe."
    "Commander."
    "Nothing less than that?" Follet roared. "Indeed, with his record."
    "With his record, sir," Philippe replied, wiping his hands carefully on his napkin.
    "I've never seen him. What's he like. I've heard of him, of course, and indeed I may say that I've the strongest feelings I've met people of that name, years ago of course."
    "I never looked, sir," Philippe said.
    "And he standing in front of you?"
    "What could happen if I'd looked at him? A miracle? There are no berths, our ships are manned. Isn't that correct, sir?"
    "Why yes, of course, of course. And there are other Lines," said Follet.
    "Then let him try them," said Philippe.
    "Quite so."
    Follet began wiping his mouth, he looked towards the high desk, smiled, received one back, the cheese was coming.
    "He asked for you, sir," Philippe said, "but he always does."
    "Naturally. Everybody asks for me, Philippe. But one is far too busy. It's a long way to come looking for a ship, anyhow, a long way—"
    "If one comes to Marseilles looking for a ship the circumstances may be exceptional, sir," said Philippe.
    "That is very true. I gather his people are here, too. Am I correct?"
    "They say his mother and sister followed him here."
    "Intriguing, but far too hot to-day to pursue anything."
    "The family is quite respectable, I understand that the father was a Commander in the Navy, went down with the Croilus in the First World War—"
    "That's it. I remember now, I met a Madame Marius and her husband years ago, at a launching, so long ago I've almost forgotten it."
    "I wonder he did not follow in the father's footsteps, sir," Philippe said.
    "Well, as to that, I could tell you that his own father had the Admiralty turn the son down, the father didn't think he was good enough for the Navy, not French enough if I may say so, a stuffy, thick-headed provincial but a thorough good fellow, and loyal, that counts; there's little loyalty about to-day, Philippe," and Philippe nodded an immediate approval.
    "He'd a suspension some years ago, too."
    "Yes. A heavy loss for her owners, a very young Captain, twenty five or six, no more, at the time."
    "A heavy loss to her owners?"
    "It was indeed. Marius did well in the Marine, but somehow he always steered clear of decent owners, the riff-raff attracted, I've heard tales about him, seeing sailors every day of one's life—"
    "Yes yes, of course. His stock fell."
    "Then you have this other affair, the Corsican. There was supposed to have been an enquiry about it—"
    "It didn't happen, hardly the time, people were too busy killing each other ... the war."
    "That's true."
    "But it hasn't been forgotten, sir," said Philippe.
    "By whom?"
    "Sailors."
    "Is he a heavy drinker?"
    "They say he likes his drop, but he's no exception. He's a splendid sailor. Yet they say there's a contradiction in him, a sort of flaw. A good commander but not always able to carry the authority of one. He is a proud man, too, and a jealous one."
    "You seem to know a hell of a lot about this man, and you seem to be making an exception of him."
    "You asked me about him, sir and I'm telling you. I'm seeing sailors in the office every day of my life, stories get about, it's natural, some say they wouldn't ship with a man like Marius, call him a Jonah. That's what is hurting him to-day. Nobody questions him, nobody enquires, companies just ignore him, it's worse than a direct kick."
    "I should say so. Poor swine. How long's he been calling on us?"
    "Almost daily, well at least three times a week for the past four months ... "
    "It almost makes me feel ashamed," replied Follet.
    "The rule of iron is the one hold on a powerful element, and men are dependent on it," said Philippe.
    This made Follet burst out laughing, "now you're talking like an actor, Philippe, please keep to