'I am here on parole. I gave my word before I left the beach.'
'You did? That alters the case. You were within your rights, of course.'
The giving of parole by captive British officers was so usual as to excite no comment.
'It was in the usual form, I suppose?' went on Crome. 'That you would make no attempt to escape?'
'Yes, sir.'
'Then what do you decide as a result?'
Of course Crome could not attempt to influence a gentleman's decision on a matter as personal as a parole.
'I must go back, sir,' said Hornblower, 'at the first opportunity.'
He felt the sway of the ship, he looked round the homely cabin, and his heart was breaking.
'You can at least dine and sleep on board to-night,' said Crome. 'I'll not venture inshore again until the wind moderates. I'll send you to Corunna under a flag of truce when I can. And I'll see what the Instructions say about those prisoners.'