‘Just this minute, Sir Hugo. I saw him to the door myself.’

Pilchard grinned, entering the room fully as Sir Hugo waved him forward. He laid the document before his employer like a great trophy. "Here it is, Sir Hugo. And considering his vulnerable state and the witnesses against him, I anticipate no problem there.. ‘. ’Excellent, Pilchard, excellent! Everything is in order, then.’

’All but young Alan's signature, Sir Hugo.’

’I wish you to make an addition to this, Pilchard.’

’Sir? ‘

‘Have a brandy and sit down, for God's sake," Sir Hugo ordered, irritated at the outre deference his solicitor always showed him but secretly still pleased that he could engender that sort of deference. Pilchard obeyed the instructions and took a seat on a settee, perched on the edge of the cushion with knees close together. ’The vicar came up with a most interesting suggestion, Pilchard. And a perfect excuse for Alan not to be present when this matter comes to its fruition.’

’And that is, Sir Hugo, if I may inquire?’

‘Naval service, Pilchard, naval service!" Sir Hugo boomed it with a hearty chuckle. "The boy is not come to his majority, and is overseas, preferably far overseas, on the King's business, when we enter the court. Write it up so that I am his guardian or whatever, so that his signature, which you assure me of, gives me total control over everything he is due, in the first instance, and hang the rest of what you had planned.’

’But if he survives to return to England, Sir Hugo, he is then heir, and can take you to court for all of it. I believe he should sign away all claims, as we initially laid out.’

’Now what are the odds of a midshipman returning?" Sir Hugo stood to refill his glass. "Off to the Americas, the Fever Islands, or the East Indies among all those pagan Hindoos?’

‘Not good, sir, but not certain, I'm afraid.’

’But no problem until the war is over, at any rate. He knows nothing now, and can learn nothing thousands of miles away. It strengthens our appearance, does it not, safeguarding the interests of my… son, as he fights for England, his King? Oh, shout Harroo for England and St. George! And should he survive and return, it will be much too late to do anything.’