A clerk came out carrying a ledger. ‘You can go in now.’

Mr Freeman leaned back in his chair and regarded them testily. ‘What is it this time, May? And who is this?’

‘This is my brother Gus, sir.’

‘Your brother? I thought he was at sea.’

‘Not since the Shenandoah surrendered, sir,’ Gus said. ‘I didn’t want to go back to sea after that.’

‘I see. So what can I do for you?’

In as few words as she could manage, May explained the situation.

Mr Freeman heaved a deep sigh. ‘What did I do when I took you out of my house and gave you a position here? You have caused me more trouble than anyone else on my staff.’ He looked at her with his head on one side. ‘Well, you certainly make life interesting. I never know what you are going to come up with next. So, you want me to find your brother a job.’ He turned his gaze to Gus. ‘What can you do, young man? What skills can you offer?’

‘He can write sir,’ May said.

‘Let him speak for himself.’

‘I can write a good hand, sir, and I’m good with numbers.’

‘Anything else?’

‘I know about ships, and the sea. I’ve been all round the world. And I’ve seen the cargoes that come into the port and where they go from there.’ He hesitated and ploughed on. ‘I like to think about where they came from, what they’re used for.’

‘In other words, trade between nations, import and export.’

‘Yes, I suppose that is it.’

Mr Freeman passed a sheet of paper and an inkstand across the desk. Then he swung round in his seat and reached up to a shelf of books. He ran a finger along the spines and selected a copy of the Bible, which he opened. ‘Copy out those two verses in your best hand,’ he said, pointing.

Gus drew his chair up to the desk, flexed his fingers and took up the pen. He was reminded of his lessons in the workhouse school and could still feel the sting of the ruler across his knuckles when he made a blot or a mistake. He had resented the time spent on what seemed a pointless activity but he had learned in spite of himself. He bent his head and copied the verses in his best copperplate hand. When he finished he passed the sheet of paper back to Mr Freeman, who glanced at it.

‘Good. That’s quite …’ His expression changed. ‘These are the verses I pointed out to you?’

‘Yes, sir.’

‘May, you saw that I opened the book at random?’

‘Yes, sir,’ she replied, puzzled.

‘Gus, read out what you have written there.’

Gus took back the sheet of paper and read: ‘And in the same house remain, eating and drinking such things as they give: for the labourer is worthy of his hire …’