Killigrew's RunThe Baltic, 1854. Navies, like armies, have camp followers, and the British fleet that sails to the Baltic on the eve of the Crimean War is no exception. Along with the floating grog shops and brothels come the 'war tourists' aristocratic gentlemen of leisure travelling in their luxurious yachts to see the war first hand. When Viscount Bullivant and his family are taken prisoner by the Russians, it falls to Commander Kit Killigrew to negotiate their

But the date of his death is surprising

freedman and pavement-maker

For at midnight

he turns away from his friends

When a burglary goes wrong on the opening night of his new restaurant

His marvellously funny - though characteristically unsparing - view is combined with his vivid realisation of the dust

where flowers appear mysteriously on doorsteps and people look at her twice

Ballista is called to muster the forces and the courage to stand first and to stand hard against the greatest enemy ever to confront the Imperium

One wonders where they find time for so much mischief

Philippa Palfrey fantasizes that she is the daughter of an aristocrat and a maid

and ultimately the town

or there was this clock inside of me