Richard Bolitho was twenty-two years old and had been in the King's Navy since the age of twelve. But as he stared fixedly at the gilt door handle he felt more like a frightened midshipman than the man who was about to receive the most coveted gift to be bestowed on any living creature. x command of his own?

The marine sergeant stared at him woodenly." When you're ready, sir. Cap'n Colquhoun will see you now."

"I'm ready, thank you."

The marine eyed him with the merest hint of a smile?

"He'll be glad to know that, I'm sure, sir."

Bolitho did not hear a word. Following the sergeant he strode out into the passageway, and another world?

Captain Vere Colquhoun rose briefly from behind a large desk, made as if to offer his hand, and then sank back into his chair?

"Pray be seated, Bolitho."

He had his back to a window and it was impossible to see his expression. But as Bolitho arranged himself into a narrow, high-backed chair he was well aware of the other man's scrutiny?

Colquhoun said, "You have a good report." He opened a canvas folder and ran his eyes across the attached papers." I see that you were commissioned lieutenant in 'seventy-four." He glanced up sharply? "Well?"

Bolitho replied, "Yes, sir. The Destiny, frigate."

He had been long enough in the Navy to realise that interviews with superior officers took time. Each had his own way, but all seemed to result in being kept hanging on a thread of uneasy expectation. He tried to ignore Colquhoun's bowed head and made himself look instead at the room. White walls and a colourful tiled floor. Some pieces of dark, heavy furniture and one table which was almost covered with handsome decanters. Colquhoun, it appeared, enjoyed life. He shifted his gaze to his new superior. At a guess he was about thirty, and from what he could see from the sunlit window he had finely cut features with a smalls aggressive chin. He had fair hair, pulled back to the nape of his neck like his own, in the current fashions and Bolitho noticed that in spite of his service on the station his skin was remarkably pale?