"I do, sir," the man said miserably, in barely a whisper.

"Did you or did you not give Mr. Kydd to understand that it was part of his orders from this office?"

"I did."

Carthew turned pale.

"Under whose instructions?" Saumarez continued.

"Mr. Carthew's, sir," Prosser muttered.

"This you will swear in court?"

After a tense silence he replied, "I—I will."

Saumarez took a sharp breath. "You shall have your chance to rebut in due course, Mr. Carthew. I find that this matter shall go forward in law.

"You, Mr. Prosser, may consider yourself under open arrest. Mr. Carthew, your case is more serious and I can see no alternative but—"

Carthew's chair crashed to the ground as he leaped up, chest heaving, crazed eyes fixed on Kydd. "You—I'll see you in hell—" With a panicked glance at Saumarez, he pushed wildly away.

"Commander! Return at once, sir!"

At the door Carthew knocked aside the flag-lieutenant and ran down the stairs.

"Stop that officer!" Saumarez roared.

Kydd leaped to his feet and followed. Shocked faces peered out of offices at the commotion. The sound of footsteps stopped, and when Kydd reached the main entrance Carthew was nowhere in sight.

"Where did the officer go?" he demanded, of a bewildered sentry.

"Well, an' I was salutin', like," the man said. Even a hurrying officer still required the stamp and flourish of a musket salute, with eyes held rigid to the front in respect.

Two marines with ported muskets appeared. "Too late. He's gone," Kydd snapped, and returned to Saumarez. "Nowhere to be found, sir."

"Then I take it he's absconded. Flags, do alert the provost. He's to be returned here without delay." He turned to Prosser. "You, sir, will hold yourself in readiness to make deposition concerning this lamentable business. Now leave us.

"Mr. Kydd," Saumarez began gravely, "I'm faced with a dilemma. By his actions Commander Carthew stands condemned, and will answer for it at his court-martial, as will Lieutenant Prosser. I am concerned that you, Mr. Kydd, do see justice. In fine, a public disgrace—losing your ship—should at the least deserve a public restoring. Yes, that must be the right and proper thing to do."