A Certain Threat (The Merriman Chronicles Book 1) by Roger Burnage Page A

more to learn.”  He paced up and down, hands clasped behind his back..
    “ If you were to go back, do you think that by spending time in the inns along the coast there, perhaps pretending to be the worse for drink, you might overhear odd snatches of conversation which might give us some clue?”
    “ Maybe Sir,” said Owen doubtfully, “But me bein’ a stranger to most folks, there’s some as would wonder why I was there.”
    “ You could say that you were on the run.  That when you got back here you were shown no sympathy and you determined to be finished with the navy for good.  You would need to be careful though, for if you do come across people who know something or who are involved, your life could be in danger.”
    Owen stood in silence for a few moments, then he straightened up with a determine d look on his face.  “Be no more dangerous than furling frozen tops’l canvas in a gale Sir, or boarding an enemy ship.  I’ll do it. I’ll feel better knowin’ I might be able to do somethin’ to help.”
    “ Very good!  You’re a sensible man Owen, I rely on you to be careful, but if you think, at anytime, that you are in danger, get away immediately and come back here.  Remember, discretion is the better part of valour.  Now then, you had better have some money with you, in small coins.  It would be better if you hid some of the money, otherwise it might be wondered why a “run” seaman had so much about him.  I suggest you go in the middle of the night as though you’d left without leave and with stolen money in your pocket.”
    He thought hard, “As for a weapon, you will have to make do with your knife, You cannot be seen with a pistol.  Can you think of anything else?”
    “ No Sir, and thank you for giving me this chance Sir.  I’ll not let you down Sir.”
    “ Never thought you would Owen, here is some money, ask in the kitchen for food to take, but tell no-one where you are going.  Now good luck to you and, I emphasize, be careful.”
    A brief “Aye-Aye Sir,” and Owen was gone.

Chapter 5: A chance meeting in Chester
     
    The next morning, Merriman’s parents announced that they would be going into Chester the following day to allow the ladies to look round the shops and possibly to visit friends.
    “ We’ll probably stay at the White Lion in Northgate Street if Mr Paul has room for us, or The Feathers in Bridge Street.  We’ll see what entertainment there is at the New Theatre or any of the Assembly rooms in the evening,” said Captain Merriman, rubbing his hands together in anticipation.  “After a good dinner, of course.”
    Merr iman recalled the invitation to dinner from his friend Captain Saville and determined to send a message to him immediately by one of the stable boys.
    He told his parents about Captain Saville saying, “I’ll go with you to town.  If my friend cannot meet me for dinner, I’ll go to the theatre with you.”
    “ Excellent, good idea, send the boy right away.   He can also go to the White Lion to reserve rooms for us.”
    So, next day they set off.  Merriman ’s mother and sister excitedly chattering about laces, ribbons, silks and dresses, whilst Matthew kept on finding questions to ask about life in the navy.
    In the late 18 th Century, Chester was a bustling city of some fourteen to fifteen thousand people, well known for the quality of the products produced by its clockmakers, pewterers, cutlers and silversmiths and famous for the ‘Rows’ which had existed from medieval days, consisting of two rows of shops, one above the other.  The upper row was set back with a walkway over the lower row.  From that upper walkway people could look down upon the crowds in the street below.
    There were delivery boys, street traders ringing bells and shouting to attract custom, servants on errands, apprentices rubbing shoulders with ostlers and stable hands and here an d there the inevitable painted whore trying to elicit business, to entice