A murmuring outside resolved in to the anxious features of Ellicott, the purser. "We should set th' books straight now, sir," he said, holding a pack of well-thumbed papers.

"We will," Kydd promised. He knew the reason for the haste: Standish had no doubt fudged the signing-off on some accounts. Ellicott feared that until Kydd signed them into his charge he, as purser, would be held responsible for any deficiencies in the boatswain's store, gunner's allowance and so forth.

Before Kydd started on the paperwork, though, there were a few things he must attend to first. "Is the ship's clerk in attendance?" he asked carefully. It was a delicate matter: his friend Renzi had been acting in that role while Kydd was captain but had given up the post and gone ashore with Kydd when he had been dismissed from his ship. But if the new one was . . .

"Larkin, sir," Ellicott said apologetically, ushering an elderly seaman inside.

"You!" Kydd said in surprise.

"Aye, sir," Larkin mumbled. Kydd was taken aback: he knew him to be a fo'c'sleman with an unusual attachment to poetry. In the dogwatches it was his practice to copy out verse from books in large, beautifully formed copperplate. Clearly he had been "volunteered" for the task by the previous captain.

"This is no task for a prime sailorman, Larkin," Kydd said briskly. "I'll see if Mr. Renzi is at leisure to relieve ye, an' then your part o' ship shall be fo'c'sleman again."

The man beamed.

"So, Mr. Ellicott, I'm your man in one hour." He turned to Tysoe. "Now then, I'd like t' hear as how you think we should best fit out the cabin. Then ye're to step off an' secure it all. Oh, an' at six bells ye'll find Mr. Renzi on North Pier with his books. He'll want hands to bear a fist in swaying 'em aboard."

In the afternoon the men settled to their make-and-mend, a time set aside for leisure and attention to sea-worn clothing or the crafting of a smart step-ashore rig. It was also a fine opportunity not only to make discreet survey of how his ship had fared out of his hands but as well to bring Hallum to a closer appreciation of Teazer's character. It would be a welcome respite, too, from the welter of paperwork that Ellicott seemed intent on drowning him in.