"Nevertheless, you'll write down each question and pass it to me to ask."
Ramage took a deep breath and stared straight at Goddard. "In that case, sir, I have no defence to offer, and I insist that this dialogue be recorded in the minutes."
"You can't insist on anything," Goddard sneered. "You are the prisoner on trial for your life."
Swinford said unexpectedly: "Sir, as the senior of the captains forming this court - of which you are president - I must insist that Captain Ramage's request be granted. He has decided not to offer a defence because you insist on examining his interrogatories and asking them yourself. Your decision and his are both part of the trial and must be recorded. And if you'll forgive me, sir, Captain Ramage is correct about the court-martial statutes. This business of written interrogatories started to help deputy judge advocates write the minutes. In fact, it is bad because it gives a dishonest witness plenty of time to think of a way to prevaricate. We must remember the courts were set up to administer justice, not the comfort and convenience of deputy judge advocates."
Goddard was quick enough to know he was beaten on that point, and with a defensive half-smile at all the captains he said: "Of course, of course. I was simply trying to speed up the proceedings: we are now in our second day and only just beginning the defence." He turned to Ramage, his smile twisted and artificial, like the powder daubed on the face of a raddled old trull.
"Mr Aitken," Ramage said, "you have already deposed that during July last you were the last lieutenant of the Calypso, and now I want you to tell the court what you consider to be the beginning of the series of circumstances which has led to you appearing here as a witness in my trial."
Ramage looked round at Goddard. He had worked very carefully on that question because basically it asked an officer for his professional opinion on a relevant subject. Goddard could not object that the question had nothing to do with the charge or witness. But Ramage could see that as Jenkins wrote down the question, while he waited for the answer Goddard was trying to see what hidden significance might lie behind it.
Aitken saw Jenkins' pen stop moving and said: "Sighting a sail to windward which afterwards proved to be the Jason, sir."
"What in your view was the situation of the Calypso, with a strange sail sighted to windward?"
"Because the Calypso was escorting a large West Indian convoy, sir, she had to take immediate steps to be ready to defend the ships if necessary."
Goddard interrupted. "Pray tell me what has all this to do with the charges against you, Mr Ramage?"
"Only this, sir," Ramage said, not troubling to hide the sarcasm in his voice, "I am charged over matters concerning the Jason frigate and Captain Shirley. It seems relevant to my defence to introduce both of them."
Both Captain Swinford and, sitting opposite him, Captain Huggins, simultaneously coughed. Goddard glanced at each of them and then nodded to Ramage. "Carry on, then."
"Mr Aitken, what steps were taken that immediately concerned you, or which you initiated yourself?"
"Acting on your orders, I had the drummer beat to quarters. I then asked you for the day's challenge, and as soon as you gave it to me, I had the appropriate flags hoisted, along with our pendant numbers."
"You did not order any alteration of course or sail trimming?"
"No, sir. While I was attending to my duties, the master gave the orders which started us stretching up to windward."
So far, so good, Ramage thought. Goddard has at last woken up to the fact that some of the members of the court are concerned that the trial should be conducted according to the court-martial statutes. That did not mean they were on his side, but at least it hinted that they would listen to evidence fairly and give a verdict based on it. Yet, yet, yet. . . Would Goddard suddenly change his aim? No, there was no chance of that.
"What did you do after that?"
"I was concerned first with identifying the strange sail, and having done that, taking the appropriate steps to meet her."
"How did you identify her, and what steps did you take?"
Ramage saw that Goddard was looking worried. There was no way he could rule the questions out of order, in the light of Swinford's and Huggins's discreet coughs, providing Ramage was careful. But let Goddard object to one question and the flood would start . . .
"As we approached we (the officers and several seamen) recognized her as a British-built frigate, and her sails had an English cut. Then we saw she had a challenge hoisted, and read her pendant numbers."
Ramage waited until Jenkins indicated he had copied the answer down and then asked Aitken casually: "It was, of course, the correct challenge?"
"No, sir."
"What," demanded Goddard, "has this to do with the charges?"
"In my view, sir, it has a vital bearing on all the charges."
"In the court's view it has none. Strike it out, Mr Jenkins. Carry on, Mr Ramage."
"Having inspected the flags of the Jason's challenge," Ramage asked, watching Goddard and ready with his protest should the admiral interrupt, "what did you then do?"
"I looked up her pendant numbers in the signal book and saw she was the Jason. As there was no need for the men to remain at quarters, I gave them the orders for them to secure the guns."
"What did you observe about the Jason at this time?"
"She was steering directly for us and I concluded she was going to pass within hail."
Ramage saw that Goddard was now tense, his eyes flickering from Ramage to Aitken and back. He knew that the time was fast approaching when Ramage would be asking about one of the critical parts of the case, the broadside, and knew he had to stifle the questions without being too obvious.
"Did she pass within hail?" Ramage asked again casually.
"No, sir, within gunshot, though."
"Wait," shouted Goddard. "Mr Jenkins, do not write that down. What has this to do with the charge?"
"I was just establishing a distance, sir. Pistol shot, musket shot, gunshot - these are all very well known distances and immediately recognized by seamen."
Goddard glanced at Captain Swinford before nodding: "Very well, carry on."
At once Ramage asked: "How do you know she was within gunshot of the Calypso?"
"She fired a raking broadside at us, sir."
"Stop! Silence, I say!" Goddard shouted. "Strike that out, both question and answer."
"Sir," Ramage said quietly, "if that question and that answer are struck out, clearly the court is being prevented from hearing this witness's evidence, and there is no point in me asking further questions. I request it be recorded in the minutes."
"If you choose to ask no more questions that is your affair," Goddard said bluntly. "As president of the court it is my affair that the proceedings be conducted as laid down in the court-martial statutes."
Ramage stared at him open-mouthed. The man's hypocrisy was unbelievable. "In view of that, I have no more questions to ask this witness," he said.
Aitken signed the minutes and Goddard said in a friendly voice: "You may stay in the court now you are not required again as a witness."
Aitken gave a deep bow. "You are too kind, sir," he said ironically, and walked over to the row of chairs.