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Warren was indisposed to listen to a lecture on the physiognoainst the wall
‘Where?’ he gasped ‘Where did it co on the table since I caht it was’ Well, plainly it wasn’t a pet, let alone an intended part of the table décor He coughed, and got up, h the French doors that led onto the terrace
Warrenhiers, burst through the French doors himself, crossed the terrace in a stoned walk, coat-tails flying as though the Devil hi after hih froovernor’s secretary was a short, tubby man with a round, pink face that probably was rather jolly by nature At the moment, it bore a look of profound wariness ‘You are Lieutenant-Colonel Grey?’
Grey thought it unlikely that there was a plethora of nia of a lieutenant-colonel on the pre’s House at that very , ‘Your servant, Mr Dawes I’m afraid Mr Warren has been takener’ He nodded toward the open French doors ‘Perhaps soo after hihed and opened theht,’ he said, though his tone lacked any real conviction ‘I’ve just been discussing co requirements with your Major Fettes; he wishes you to know that all the arrangements are quite in hand’
‘Oh Thank you, Mr Dawes’ In spite of the unnerving nature of the governor’s departure, he felt a sense of pleasure He’d been ahow pleasant it was to know that soe so, he gave one, though it was phrased as a courteous request, and Mr Dawes pro house to a sovernor’s office, where maps were made available to hi both the devious nature of the terrain, and the trail of attacks One of the maps was marked with the names of plantations, and small notes indicated where ht line, but nonetheless, a distinct sense of direction was obvious
The roo down his back Still, a cold finger touched the base of his neck lightly, when he saw the name ‘Twelvetrees’ on thehis voice level as he pointed at the paper
‘What?’ Dawes had fallen into a sort of dreale, but blinked and pushed his spectacles up, bending to peer at the map ‘Oh, Twelvetrees It’s owned by Philip Twelvetrees – a young man, inherited the place from a cousin only recently Killed in a duel, they say – the cousin, I mean,’ he ahtened unpleasantly He could have done without that complication If‘The cousin – was he named Edward Twelvetrees, by chance?’
Dawes looked mildly surprised
‘I do believe that was the nah; no one here did He was an absentee owner, ran the place through an overseer’
‘I see’ He wanted to ask whether Philip Twelvetrees had come from London to take possession of his inheritance, but didn’t He didn’t want to draw any attention by seeh for that
He asked a fewof the raids, which Mr Dawes answered pro causes of the rebellion, the secretary proved suddenly unhelpful – which Grey thought interesting
‘Really, sir, I know al of such matters,’ Mr Dawes protested, when pressed on the subject ‘You would be best advised to speak with Captain Cresswell He’s the superintendent in charge of the maroons’
Grey was surprised at this
‘Escaped slaves? They have a superintendent?’
‘Oh No, sir’ Dawes seehtforward question hich to deal ‘The maroons are not escaped slaves Or rather,’ he corrected himself, ‘they are technically escaped slaves, but it is a pointless distinction Thesethe last century, and took to the mountain uplands They have settle any current owner’ And as the govern the a white superintendent, as was usual for dealing with native populations The superintendent’s business was to be in contact with theto theht, why had this Captain Cresswell not been brought to meet him at once? He had sent word of his arrival as soon as the ship docked at daylight, not wishing to take Derwent Warren unawares
‘Where is Captain Cresswell presently?’ he asked, still polite Mr Dawes looked unhappy
‘I, uaze behind his spectacles
There was aof sole nearby
‘Where is he, norhtly less politesse
Dawes blinked
‘I don’t know, sir I believe he has a house near the base of Guthrie’s Defile – there is a so up into the maroon settlements from time to time, to meet with the’ He waved a small, fat hand, unable to find a suitable word ‘The headmen He did buy a new hat in Spanish Town earlier thisa helpful observation