13It was some hours after the Santa Perpetua and the Sea Hawk had arrived at Plymouth before Rodney realised that Lizbeth had gone.
He saw to the mooring of the ship, interviewed numerous officials, told the story of his voyage a dozen times, and had his hand shaken again and again by people he had never seen before and whom he felt would have had little interest in him had his voyage not proved successful.
Finally the tumult and excitement died down a little and when Hapley told him that dinner was served he walked into the aft cabin expecting to find Lizbeth waiting for him. He had refused several invitations to eat ashore, saying that first he must make arrangements for the removal of the cargo.
Feasting and celebration banquets lay ahead of him, and for the moment he wanted nothing
