Hornblower and the Atropos

Highlights

Page 301

‘One of those German princes. Boney chased him out of his principality last year, on his way to Austerlitz. Country’s brimful of German princes chased out by Boney. The point is that this one’s the King’s great-nephew, as you heard.’ ‘And he’s to be one of my midshipmen?’ ‘That is so. He’s young enough to learn sense, not like most of ’em. Most of ’em go in the army. On the staff, God help the staff. But now the navy’s fashionable—first time since the Dutch Wars. We’ve been winning battles, and God knows the soldiers haven’t. So all the ne’er do well young lords join the Navy nowadays instead of the Light Dragoons. It was His Majesty’s own idea that this young fellow should do the same.’ ‘I understand, my lord.’ ‘It won’t do him any harm. Atropos won’t be any palace, of course.’ ‘That’s what I was thinking, my lord. The midshipmen’s berth in Atropos——’ ‘You’ll have to put him there, all the same. Not much room in a flush-decked sloop. If it were a ship of the line he might berth by himself, but if it’s to be Atropos he’ll have to take what comes. And it won’t be caviar and venison, either. I’ll send you orders on the subject, of course.’ ‘Aye aye, my lord.’