“Please do.”
The man searched. And searched. Graham shifted his weight from one foot to the other, impatience rising like a blister.
Finally, Williams returned to the counter. “Unfortunately, there is nothing under that name.”
Graham shook his head, unwilling to admit defeat. “But the other instruments clearly arrived from said ship. I saw them with my own eyes.”
The clerk shrugged. “If you should like to wait until my supervisor relieves me in a half hour, then you may take the matter up with him.”
Graham glanced at the clock. Ten thirty already. Thunderation! Without this delay, they could have finished the surgery by now. Balfour should already be on his way to recovery. But what else could he do other than remain here until the harbourmaster arrived?
Gripping his hat, he forced out words through clenched teeth. “Thank you. I shall wait.”
He planted himself on one of the few chairs lined against the wall. Each tick of the clock grated. So did the way the low-backed wooden chair cut into his spine. Amelia would be disappointed the surgery would have to be postponed until tomorrow, but it would be worth it to keep Colin safe from an overuse of gas. Gas! To the dogs with Peckwood and his innovative ideas—the very ideas Graham had once thought bold and brave.
At last the door opened, and in strode a tall fellow in a long, dark coat. He was a quintessential old salt, legs bowed from riding the waves on a cargo tub, smelling of kippers and stockings that’d been worn one too many times.
Losing interest in him, Graham glanced at the clock yet again. A quarter past eleven. Dash it!
“Morning, Mr. Henry.” The clerk greeted the older fellow, then nodded towards Graham. “This gent here would like to have a word with you.”
This worn piece of flesh and bone was the harbourmaster? Then again, with so much obvious maritime experience, he must know this waterway like none other. Graham shot to his feet. “Sir, it is with the utmost urgency I ask you to locate the paperwork on theMary Campbell.”
A frown dug deeper ruts into his brow. “Mind if I take off my coat first?”
Graham clenched his hat all the tighter, the felt nearly dry from his long wait. Though he wanted to leap over the counter and flip through the files himself, he merely nodded. “By all means.”
Mr. Henry took his time unfastening the long row of pewter buttons on his coat. Eventually, he shrugged one arm out of his sleeve, followed by the other. After hanging the coat upon a hook, he removed a cloth from his pocket and brushed away the leftover dampness along the length of the fabric. Graham ground his teeth. If this snail’s pace was the man’s standard, no wonder he’d arrived so late.
An eternity later, Mr. Henry stalked towards the clerk, who visibly shrank the closer the man drew. “So, Williams, you were unable to find the paperwork this gentleman seeks? Were you not listening when I trained you in the filing system?”
“Yes, sir. Of course I was, but…” The clerk’s head drooped, as did his shoulders. “I beg your pardon, Mr. Henry. It won’t happen again.”
“No, it will not.” The harbourmaster’s threat hung thick on the air.
Graham stepped to the counter. Though Mr. Williams hadn’t been particularly helpful, neither did he deserve to lose his job over the matter. “Pardon, but to his credit, your clerk here gave it a good try.”
Williams shot him a glance, gratitude gleaming in his dark eyes.
The harbourmaster hmphed.“You may leave, Mr. Williams, though I shall expect you back at two o’clock.”
The clerk gave a sharp nod, and without another word, he snagged his own dingy brown cloak off a hook and disappeared into the late-morning gloom.
Mr. Henry’s gaze followed the man, but as soon as the door shut, he faced Graham. “All right, Mr.… Who did you say you are?”
“Mr. Lambert, associate of Mr. Peckwood, a surgeon over on—”
“Corn Street. Yes, yes. I know. The doctor has had equipment shipped here before. Now then, what is the vessel you are after?”
“TheMary Campbell.”He spoke the name crisply, leaving no chance for an error of hearing.
“MaryCampbell.”Mr. Henry repeated the name just as his clerk had, then sucked on his teeth as if he might dislodge some information without even looking at the files. “Never heard of her.”
Graham crushed his hat to keep from throttling the man. “Will you not even look for documentation?”
The harbourmaster shook his head. “No need.”
Queen and country! This fellow was less help than Williams. He slammed his fist on the counter, tired of these games. “Why the devil not?”
