[For Norrington the relief comes in the form of a renewed belief in the English navy. Under Beckett, the navy was a tool of heedless ambition and merciless persecution. Pellew sounded like a hero indeed. If the navy of the future could foster men like him and Hornblower, if it valued men like these enough to raise them to positions of command, perhaps it would yet be redeemed. For the first time in a long time, then, he finds himself looking fondly into the past. It is a queer feeling indeed.]

At the height of my career, I commanded both the HMS Interceptor and the HMS Dauntless. The Interceptor was the fastest ship in all the Caribbean - Dauntless was unmatched for her strength.

[He had been Commodore, then, and would yet attain the rank of Admiral, but to be an admiral in a corrupt navy stirred no pride in him.]