Bolitho read quickly through the neat lettering and said gravely, "You have a further duty while you hold command here, Val." He tossed the letter on to the table. "There has been a court of enquiry at the Governor's house here in Portsmouth. Their lordships have decided that RearAdmiral Herrick must stand trial at a court martial on the prescribed date."

Keen picked up the letter. "Misconduct and neglect of duty…" He did not continue. "My God, sir."

"Read on. The court martial will be held here in Black Prince, your command and my flagship."

Keen nodded, understanding at last. "Then I am eager for the Cape, sir." He finished with sudden bitterness, "I will not be needed here."

Bolitho took his hat from the cabin servant. Then he said, "When you are ready, Val, please tell me… tell us. It is what true friends are for."

Keen seemed to search his face for something.

"That I shall never forget."

"I am depending on it." He hesitated, hearing the marine guard stamping into line at the entry port. "Your pain is mine, as mine has too often been yours."

Ebenezer Julyan, the sailing-master, was loitering by the wheel, and Bolitho guessed he had been waiting purposely to see him. As though it were yesterday, he recalled Julyan's grin of pleasure as they had sailed to meet the towering San Mateo, when Bolitho had given him his own gold-laced hat to wear to make the enemy believe that Black Prince was a Danish prize.

He called, "Did you give that hat to your boy, Mr Julyan?"

The man laughed. "I did that, sir. It made a rare stir in th' village! It be good to see 'ee again, Sir Richard!"

Bolitho looked round at other familiar faces, who had also faced death that day. He thought too of Keen's bitter comments; then he touched the silver locket through his shirt, the one she had fastened around his neck this morning as she always did when they were to be parted, even for a few hours.