‘There you are,’ said he softly. ‘How are you getting on, old girl?’
‘Very well, Will. I have slept right through the night, and very comfortably. Give me all the news.’
‘You may hear it,’ said he, laughing. ‘The crew are aboard, drunk as casks. A sweet and noble lot of hearts. You never saw such a crew. The most ruffian-looking convicts are gentlemen beside some of them. The crimp who brought them down fished every gutter ’twixt Houndsditch and Limehouse Hole, and rejected half he hooked as not bad enough.’
‘Then we’re off Gravesend?’
‘Ay.’
‘When do we start?’
‘The tug will be catching hold of us before dark. Any rats here, Marian?’
‘None, so far. Have you seen anything of Tom, dear?’
‘Nothing.’
He stepped to the lantern and held it to my face to look at me.