The Devil Within
Captain Pellew looked at the young man standing before him – still a boy by all accounts – and then over at Mr Simpson. Young as he was, and with still a lot to learn, Mr Hornblower had all the makings of a very fine officer destined for a promising career if he should be willing to work hard enough for it. Already distinguished in battle he'd proven himself brave in the line of duty, and to have a clear and steady head upon his young shoulders. He was also gentle of heart – when he looked into Mr Simpson's eyes however he saw only cold, calculating ambition and contempt – there was genuine evil in the older man's eyes.
He was quite prepared to believe Mr Hornblower's version of the events which had transpired following the boarding of the Papion the previous evening – that being that Mr Simpson had indeed shot him with the intent to kill during the crew's assault. The near fatal shot was too close to having being perfect to be a coincidence – and what was the man doing firing up into the ship's mast anyway, knowing full well that there was only Mr Hornblower up there? He asked himself.
Even so the Captain could not afford to judge any man by anything other than what he saw him do.
He'd placed an impediment upon Mr Hornblower when he'd first joined his ship's crew as a warning to all men that he would not tolerate fighting amongst themselves – especially when personal vendettas could too easily lead to the loss of life. There was quite enough of that already, he thought, and he did not take the subject of his crew solving petty squabbles amongst themselves by taking pot shots at each other lightly.
The young Midshipman had however kept his word to his Captain, and had proven himself to be of quite a different character to that which had preceded him. He did not seem to Pellew to be the type of man to ask for satisfaction from another readily – but this was a matter of the young man's honour, and even Captain Pellew had to admit to himself that honour had to be satisfied. The merit of a good name could not be underestimated when it came to the impact it had upon a man and his work – lack of which could lead many down a trail of resentment and bring upon them a plague of self-doubt.
On the other hand if Mr Hornblower lost it would undoubtedly bring about the end a very promising career before it had even chance to begin, for if Mr Simpson won Captain Pellew could see in his eyes that he was not a man who was likely to let Hornblower live.
He sighed – it was an impossible position for him to find himself placed in – but even so he knew in his heart what had to be done. He had no real right to refuse the young man his request.
"Very well Mr Honrnblower, I remove that impediment…" He gave the two men his answer, hesitant only in heart and thought and not entirely convinced that he was doing the right thing.
Still, at least the impending duel would sort the real men from the boys, he thought, and if there was really any justice in the world then Mr Hornblower would be the one to come out on top.