Part 9 (1/2)

The door swung open. 'In there, both of you!'

Polly and Kirsty, both in their orange-sellers' outfits, and holding their trays of oranges before them, walked into the room followed by the Sergeant, who grabbed each by the arm. The Sergeant was the same one who had pursued the girls on the moor. 'Come over and see the officer, both of you,' he said.

As they made their way across the room, the Doctor looked up from his beer and recognised them. He looked down again immediately in case they saw him and gave away his presence.

The Sergeant pushed the girls before him through the room amidst the murmurs and comments of the troops and townsfolk to Algernon's booth.

Algernon opened his eyes wearily. 'Oh, Sergeant,' he said in a bored voice, 'w-w-what is it now?'

'Take your hands off me,' snapped Kirsty.

'Kirsty, be quiet,' said Polly.

Kirsty shook her head. 'I'm not going to have a great ignorant Englishman laying hands on me.'

The Sergeant gave Polly and Kirsty a final shove, then saluted Algernon.

Polly saw Algernon and clapped her hands in pleasure, almost upsetting the orange tray around her neck in the process. 'Algernon,' she cried, 'Algernon.'

Algernon looked up in dawning horror. 'What... what?'

'These two look like the rebels we was hunting yesterday, Sir,' said the Sergeant.

Polly sat down in the seat beside Algernon and rested her head against his shoulder. 'Tell the nasty man we're not those rebels, Algy dear.'

Algernon drew back. 'Now just a moment,' he said.

Kirsty swung herself into the seat opposite. 'Aye,' she said, 'we're old friends, aren't we, Lieutenant!'

The Sergeant glanced from one to the other. He knew the Lieutenant's ways with women and these obviously were very familiar with him. 'I can see that,' he said.

Algernon looked up. 'That's all, Sergeant,' he said, 'go about your business.'

Some of the men standing close by began to laugh, much to Algernon's discomfiture, but the Sergeant turned and withered them with a glance. 'Right,' he said, 'time you men were back in barracks. Do you think the King pays you to idle here all night? Come on, come on... the last man out gets three lashes.'

The soldiers yawned, protesting, and rose to their feet as the Sergeant almost pushed them out of the room.

Once the soldiers had gone, the room was a lot quieter.

The Doctor s.h.i.+fted from the bench he was sitting at over to the booth next to the Lieutenant and the two girls, and leaned forward to hear better.

Algernon looked from one to the other. 'This is really t-t-too much,' he said.

Polly pouted. 'Oh, Algy,' she said, 'we thought you might have been flattered. We turned to you for help immediately we were in trouble, didn't we Kirsty?'

Kirsty had now picked up something of the easy banter of the London girl. 'Aye,' she said, 'just the kind of person two defenceless girls would turn to in trouble.'

'I can have you thrown in prison,' threatened Algernon, trying to be fierce.

Polly looked up at the ceiling, quoting from his ident.i.ty disc. 'Lieutenant Algernon Thomas Alfred Ffinch of the '

'Stop! Stop!' Algernon looked around, and the Doctor withdrew back into his part.i.tion to keep out of sight.

'What more do you want of me,' he said, feeling very sorry for himself. 'You've got my money. I haven't even got the price of a gla.s.s of wine on me.'

Polly's voice and manner changed. 'I don't suppose the Doctor and the others have water to drink, never mind wine. Now, where are the prisoners?' she said, in a hard, business-like tone of voice.

Algernon shrugged his shoulders unhappily. 'How should I know? In prison, I expect. Where they belong.'

Kirsty shook her head. 'They're no there, we've checked. Now where are they?'

Algernon spread his hands. 'I don't know. I just round them up. You have to ask Solicitor Grey, he's the Commissioner in charge of prisoners.'

'Where can we find him?' said Polly.

'He has a room here in the inn. Now please, can I go?

It's been a very long day. I had to fight a battle this morning, and now there's you two...'

'Oh, poor little fellow,' said Polly sarcastically. 'Go on then.'

She got up and allowed Algernon Ffinch to ease out of the part.i.tion and straighten himself. 'But mind,' she warned, 'not a word to anyone or you-know-what.'

Algernon nodded and started making his way to the door. As he went the Doctor rose to join Polly and Kirsty, but suddenly the door opened and in came Perkins. The Doctor abruptly sat down again, lowering his head so that his face was covered by the large mob-cap.

Algernon nodded to Perkins at the door. 'Two wenches over there,' he said, pointing over to Polly and Kirsty, 'to see the Solicitor.' He then leaned forward and added, 'Frankly, he's welcome to them.' He then went out, slamming the door behind him.

Perkins glanced over and seeing two pretty girls in the booth, smiled. Despite his years and his egg-like appearance, he fanced himself as something of a ladies'

man. He waddled across the room to the girls and looked from one to the other. 'Cedric Perkins, Solicitor's Clerk, at your service, ladies. What can I do for you?' There was something over-familiar and insinuating in Perkins' voice and manner that made the two girls draw back slightly.

'Where is Mr Grey?' said Polly.

'The Commissioner,' Perkins said with dignity, 'is seeing to his duties, Miss. He's giving some rebel prisoners the choice between life and death.'

In the hold of the brig, Solicitor Grey stood by the ladder leading down to the crowded hold, some parchments in his hand. Standing beside him, Trask, more threatening than ever, was playing with a long cat-o'-nine-tails whip a collection of knotted strips of leather bound to a wooden handle, and the most feared means of punishment at sea.

'Silence, you bilge rats,' Trask shouted. 'The Solicitor has news for ye.'

The men in the hold who had been muttering to themselves now fell silent.

'Rebels,' said Grey, 'your attention, please. I have an offer of clemency from his Gracious Majesty King George.'

There was a murmur of protest at this.