"Don't tell me you went off and searched for this ship?”
"Yes, sir."
"But you didn't find her! I've been waiting here day after day, waiting and worrying! What a damned waste of time! ”
"I think Ramage did find her, " Edwards said mildly. “What was she carrying?"
"A quantity of pearls and emeralds consigned to the Spanish Crown, " Ramage said in a flat voice.
The Admiral sat bolt upright. "A quantity?"
"Yes, sir."
"Why the devil didn't you tell me this at the beginning?" The surprise had angered the Admiral, and Ramage looked at Edwards helplessly.
"I think it was my fault, sir, " Edwards said smoothly. "I kept telling him to make his report in sequence, and -"
"Yes, the poor fellow didn't get a chance. Well, don't keep on interrupting, Edwards, you confuse Ramage. Where are all these pearls and emeralds now?"
"On board the Jocasta, sir."
"Why didn't you bring them over with you?"
"With me, sir?" Ramage said, startled.
"Yes, with you. You can carry that dam' pouch of papers; surely you could have put a bag of gems in your pocket?"
The Admiral was obviously interested in his eighth share of the value and wanted to see them.
Ramage looked the Admiral straight in the eye. "There are nine crates of pearls, two years' output from the Pearl Island, and eleven crates of emeralds, two years' output from the mines of the province of Columbia, sir. The crates weigh more than a ton, complete with royal seals."
For a full minute there was complete silence in the cabin. Ramage saw the Admiral trying to put a value on them, until finally he took a deep drink and then smiled happily, suddenly comfortable in the knowledge that his share of the prize money would make him a rich man. "Orders should never be too rigid, " he said. "One must be careful not to stifle initiative. Remember that, Edwards."