Master and Commander. Patrick O’Brian

      ‘In that case,’ said Stephen, taking the envelope, ‘I shall undoubtedly comply with it: I certainly should not wish to look singular: I am most obliged to you. May I indeed have one of your men? A violoncello is a bulky object: as for the rest there is only a small chest and some books.’

      ‘Then let us meet again at a quarter past the hour at the steps,’ said Jack. ‘Lose not a moment, I beg, Doctor; for we are extremely pressed. Shannahan, you look after the Doctor and trundle his dunnage along smartly. Bussell, you come along with me.’

      As the clock struck the quarter and the note hung up there unresolved, waiting for the half, Jack said, ‘Stow the chest in the fore-sheets. Mr Ricketts, you stow yourself upon the chest. Doctor, you sit down there and nurse the ’cello. Capital. Shove off. Give way together, and row dry, now.’

      They reached the Sophie, propelled Stephen and his belongings up the side – the larboard side, to avoid ceremony and to make sure they got him aboard: they had too low an opinion of landmen to allow him to venture upon even the Sophie’s unaspiring height alone – and Jack led him to the cabin. ‘Mind your head,’ he said. ‘That little den in there is yours: do what you can to make yourself comfortable, pray, and forgive my lack of ceremony. I must go on deck.

      ‘Mr Dillon,’ he said, ‘is all well?’

      ‘All’s well, sir. The twelve merchantmen have made their signal.’

      ‘Very good. Fire a gun for them and make sail, if you please. I believe we shall just get down the harbour with topgallants, if this fag-end of a breeze still holds; and then, out of the lee of the cape, we may make a respectable offing. So make sail; and by then it will be time to set the watch. A long day, Mr Dillon?’

      ‘A very long day, sir.’

      ‘At one time I thought it would never come to an end.’