The Passengers' Cabins

Wonderful, Padstowe thought bitterly as he undid his trousers. A few minutes later he said that it was safe to come back in again.

Stephen picked up the pot. "I will empty this, and then we shall help you up. You do not want it going everywhere."

"Indeed, no."

When he had returning, looked displeased, Stephen said to Raoul. "Capitaine, if you could support his chest - be careful of the left shoulder - I will take his arms. Stand up, Captain."

Padstowe complied, and with only a minor amount of discomfort was heaved into the cot.

He did wonder why Stephen had looked displeased after he returned from emptying the pot, though he was somewhat disinclined to enquire, should it only be a displeasure at having to perform such a menial task.

"I expect to begin seeing a marked improvement in your recovery from now on, Captain. Tomorrow you will walk the length of the ship and back; I do not care how long it takes you. Passivity will no longer serve you well, but an active recovery."

It was a very sudden change in tack, but Padstowe nodded his assent all the same.

"I shall endeavour to, if you are sure I will not get in the way."

"The fatigue is a result of your desanguination, and so you will also eat a full breakfast tomorrow."

The captain's stomach gave a protesting gurgle at this, but he kept his gaze with the doctor's.

"I will eat what I can," Padstowe returned levelly.

"You will eat a full breakfast," Stephen repeated dangerously. "I have said it before, sir, this spoilt attitude does you no credit at all. I will ask Mister Croizer tomorrow if I might have a run of his dispensary, and make up a blood-thickening physic."

"I did not think it would be considered 'spoilt' not to attempt to stuff your guts with more than you can hold," Padstowe retorted, trying not to let the threat of physik frighten him into submission. He was fed up of being bullied by Maturin. "I will eat what I can, and I will take exercise, and take your physik as required. I do not need food rammed down my throat, thank you."

"No, but this petulant, put-upon nausea, this sulking whenever medicine is mentioned, that is. You should have been walking about, unaided, for these past three days or more - instead there is this fatigued malingering, which I can only attribute to a lack of blood and an plethora of black bile to fill the void left by it."

Padstowe did not have anything to say to that, so decided to just give up. He did not know how taking laudenum would have helped him heal any faster anyway.

Besides, he had not been feeling the least nauseous since he had settled on board...

Stephen waited for Padstowe to say something, anything, and when he did not, he admitted defeat. "Goodnight, Captain," he said, ushering des Sablières to the door.

"Goodnight, doctor - and thank you," Padstowe said. "Goodnight, capitaine; I hope you will rest comfortably."

Raoul bowed. "Good night, Captain. I will see you in the morning."

Outside, he looked at Dr Maturin with some disquiet. "Does he need physic? He is ... more fractious than I was as a sick child."

"Good night," Stephen said to Padstowe firmly, shutting the door behind him. "A blood-thickening agent, as I said, Capitaine."

"And the benefits of exercise and sea air. For all of us." Raoul glanced back at the remainder of the supper party - the Lieutenants engaged in talk, the midshipman already leaving. "Will you rejoin them? I think - for various reasons - it will be better if I do not. I have enjoyed myself, I assure you." He thought about a breath of fresh air, but did not like to suggest it. On his own - he remembered the scowls of the Marines, now free from their duty.

"I do not think so. I do not think I would be very agreeable company..." He sighed, and looked up at des Sablières hopefully. "You have? I find myself hoping that you will feel welcome here, as a guest should, as I did when I found myself in a French captain's... I do not know. Forgive me."

"There were - I do not expect to be liked by everyone. And for some, the fact that I am a Frenchman will mean that any kindness shown to me by others is an affront. And ... they have a right to that view. They are asked to risk their lives for small reward, to kill people no different from me. Why should they be required to extend to me the courtesy they have to show to Captain Padstowe?"

He glanced again at the officers remaining in the Wardroom. "But everyone at supper was very kind, and - yes, welcoming. I will not worry about it in future - although we have yet to meet Lieutenant Bush."

"I am sure he will be the very model of civility," said Stephen wearily. "But they have indeed been most kind - so very kind. I feel a little recovered after our time in Lisbon."

"Yes," Raoul was concerned. "I did not mean to imply..." Dr Maturin was tired, and stressed. He had already had problems enough without Raoul's attempts at levity. "You have no reason to receive anything but kindness from anyone here," he said. "And you will feel even more recovered after a good night's rest - which you will have, I am sure."

"I am sure as well," Stephen said with an attempt at a smile. He had the means to make sure. "Forgive me, Capitaine - I have never been a good conversationalist. Goodnight to you."

Raoul bowed his head. "Good night. And - I have enjoyed some of our conversations, doctor."

Stephen's smile softened into something more genuine. "God bless you, Capitaine - you are easily pleased, if I remember most of our conversations."