"I thought it was on the dresser," Renzi said absently.
"No matter," Kydd said. "It'll turn up."
He reflected for a moment. "An' it must be admitted, anything of employment as takes me back t' sea is not t' be considered—I'd then be removed fr'm here an' couldn't find m' man."
Renzi smiled briefly. "As one of Neptune's creatures, there's little enough for you on terra firma, so completely out of your element."
"I shall think on't," Kydd answered stiffly. "May I know, then, what it is you're proposin' to do, Nicholas?"
"It does set a challenge," Renzi admitted, "my qualifications being of the most cursory. I do suggest we devote this day to a reconnaissance of prospects, each being free to follow our independent course and exchange our experiences later tonight."
Kydd headed down to the busy quayside and found the little octagonal building that had been pointed out to him. The genial harbour-master greeted him and made room for him among the charts and thick-bound books. "What is it I c'n do for ye, Mr Kydd?"
"Kind in you t' see me, Mr Collas. Er, I'd have y' know that I've seen m' share o' sea service—"
"Oh, aye?"
"But at th' moment I find m'self without a ship, an' I thought it might be time t' swallow th' anchor an' take employment ashore, if y' see what I mean."
There was a careful silence.
"That is t' say, if there's a position open in th' harbour authority t' a man o' the sea that ye'd recommend, I'd be grateful t' hear it."
"Y' mean a harbour commissioner, inspector sort o' thing?"
"I do."
"Then I have t' disappoint ye, Mr Kydd. We runs things differently here. No King's men pokin' into our affairs an' that. An' no Customs an' Excise neither. In th' islands trade is king. So it's leave 'em at it to get on wi' their business.
"Now, the most important thing we does is the piloting. T' be a Guernsey pilot is t' be at the top o' th' profession, Mr Kydd. An' afore ye ask, there's none but a Guern' will have th' knowledge t' do it. See, there's nothing like here anywheres in Creation f'r rocks 'n' shoals, and then we adds in the tidal currents, and it's a rare place indeed f'r hazards. Y' learn about a rock—it looks like quite another when th' tide state's different. Y' come upon it in th' fog, see it just the once—which rock are y' going t' tell y'r ship's master it is?"
He went on: "Currents about here c'n be faster'n a man can run but they'll change speed 'n' direction with the tide as well. It's right scareful, th' way it can be well on th' make in one part an' at the same time only at slack in another. Why, springs in the Great Russel y' can hear th' overfalls roaring—does y' know how t' navigate the far side of an overfall in spate? An' then there's the seamounts. Nasty beasts they are, currents over them are wicked and they change—"
"—with th' tide," Kydd said hastily. "I did hear as ye've bought a patent lifeboat." "We did. A Greathead thirty-footer, cost us a hundred and seventy pounds so we takes good care of it."
"And does it need—"
"We keep it at St Sampson."
Clearly it was of small interest and tucked away safely out of harm's way. Kydd was running out of ideas. "Do ye conduct hydrographical surveys hereabouts? I'm doubting th' Admiralty has the time."
"No need. We're well served b' the private charts, all put out b' local mariners as we know 'n' trust. Dobrée an' others, rutters by Deschamps . . ."
"Then buoyage an' lighthouses—surely Trinity House can't be expected—"
"But they do an' all! Ye've probably seen our Casquet light— remarkable thing! Three towers, an' Argand oil wi' reflecting metal—"
Kydd stood up. "Aye. Thank ye, Mr Collas. Good day t' ye."
Renzi waited patiently in the foyer of the imposing red-brick building on St Julian's Avenue. The clerk appeared again, regarding him doubtfully. "Mr Belmont is very busy, but c'n find you fifteen minutes, Mr, er, Renzi."
A thin and bespectacled individual looked up as he entered. "Yes?"
The man was irritable in his manner but making an effort to be civil, so Renzi pressed on: "Sir, at the moment I'm to seek a position in Guernsey that will engage my interests and talents to best advantage.
"My experience in marine insurance will not be unknown to the profession—the barratry case of the Lady of Penarth back in the year 'ninety-three, in which I might claim a leading role, has been well remarked." It would probably not help his case to mention that at the time he had been a common foremast hand in the old Duke William with Kydd.
"Since those days I have occupied myself as an officer in the King's service, lately invalided out, and it struck me that I should perhaps consider turning my experience to account and—"