 at C.S. Forester's Indomitable Man of the Sea, Horatio Hornblower. On the murder of the Spanish master's mate, at all costs, I must not fall out with supremo or his followers while my orders remain uncompleted. As I reach my own deck, the boom of a gun from the Natividad was answered by one from the Lidia. A new flag was flying from the peak of the Natividad, blue with a yellow star. It was possible because it pleases me to be soft. I do not understand. It was probably the finest diver and swimmer, and in my pleasure, I so far forgot myself as actually to converse with Lieutenant Bush. Captain Manuel Diaz, at your service. I have to welcome you and see you for the past four days. Last month, Napoleón Bonaparte, in consequence the Spanish government, assigned a treaty of perpetual alliance. I understood that, Mr. Raya, here are some letters. One from your admiral in the Leewood Islands, sent over land from Portobello. One from his excellency, the Viceroy Perú, and one from... I retire to study these documents. Mr. Bush, you will entertain Captain Diaz until my return. Ah, I need you to tell the Spanish captain about receiving one shot, nor to explain that the ship was now under the flag of El Supremo. Then... Back to fight the Natividad. Thank you, Captain. You will call at Panama first to consult the Viceroy? Yes. Then I will bid you goodbye for the time being. If I reach Panama first, I will arrange your welcome. Who are the cause of such trouble, Mr. Bush? One more pressing matter. Lady Barbara Wilsley is at Panama and desires a passage in the Lidia to Europe. It is what I shall have to point out to the lady, though if she has the normal Wilsley blood in her, I suspect I shall be wasting my time. Internal struggle. I disliked the aristocracy. I could not forget that as a doctor's son, I had had to touch my hat to the local squire. The captain was no influence to offend a member of such a family as the Wilsley. For the present, I decided on icy formality. Are you the captain of this ship, sir? Captain Hornblower, that's your service, ma'am. Well, I am Lady Barbara Wilsley. I wrote you a note requesting a passage to England. I trust you received it. I did, ma'am, but I do not think it wise for your ladyship to join this vessel. Please tell me why, sir. Because, ma'am, we shall shortly be in action with the enemy. Also, we shall have to return to England via Cape Horn. Your ladyship would be well advised to make your way to Portobello. From there, you could reach Jamaica email, hasn't it? I have informed you, sir, that there is yellow fever in Portobello. Yes, ma'am. Some persons died of it last week. That is why I removed to Panama. May I ask why your ladyship was in Portobello? Because, sir, the West Indian packet in which I was a female passenger was captured by a Spanish privateer and brought there. I see. I regret, sir, that I cannot tell you the name of my grandmother's cook. But I shall be glad to answer any further questions which a gentleman of breeding would ask. But we are going out to fight. To fight a ship of price our forces will be dangerous. I would rather be on your ship, whomever you have to fight than to be in Panama with a yellow fever. Uh-huh. Get Horn, ma'am. Well, I have no knowledge of it. But I have twice rounded the Cape of Good Hope during my brother's governor-general ship. And I have never yet been seasick. Uh-huh. Well, soon, Captain, I will come to think that I shall be on welcome aboard. I can hardly imagine that a gentleman holding the King's commission would be discourteous to a woman, especially to a woman with my name. I was only doing my duty, ma'am, and pointing out the dangers to which you will be exposed by self, um, nothing would give me greater pleasure than your presence. I was thirty-seven and not more than one-eighth of the way up the captain's list. That enabled me to reach flag rank. Begging it, Papa, ma'am, but your luggage is aboard. Oh, thank you. Be so kind as to give this to the boat school. But, ma'am, there will be no room in your cabin for a tenth of that luggage. I am aware of that, sir. I have dwelt in a cabin before. That sea chest will hold all I acquire. The rest can be put way away. And now, may I see my cabin? It was scandalous that a king's officer should be given such quarters. And as I left to pay my call, I'm defy sir Roy. Where shall I serve my ladies? It's dinner, sir. I don't know, sir.