| Pursy | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Vital statistics | |
| Title | Officer |
| Gender | Male |
| Status | Alive |
| Ships | Unknown |
| Relationships | Coker (friend) |
| Appearances | Only: Rackham's Razor |
| Portrayed by | N/A |
Pursy is an officer of the British Army as well as a spy for the government of Queen Anne in Amsterdam.
Biography[]
Background[]
During the War of the Spanish Succession, Pursy was posted in Amsterdam, where he also worked as a spy.
Rackham's Razor[]
Coker and Pursy arrive in James Bonny's Inn where they find Jack Rackham talking with Neville. Coker, angry at Jack for humiliating him at a game of gin rummy, begins mocking him. He says that when a man is a coward, he loses all officer status, and when that happens, he is forced to salute his superiors. Jack cooly wishes him a good evening, but Coker reminds him to address him as sir. Coker proceeds to order Jack to pull out his sword, which he refuses to do. Coker then pulls it out of his sheath and calls it the blade of a coward who has never killed. Coker proceeds to snap the blade over his knee, and draws his own sword and taunts Jack by sticking the point in front of his face.
Jack taunts Coker, asking if he wants to win back his losses. Coker warns Pursy that Jack is a thief, but Jack denies this and says he is merely lucky. Coker agrees, and tells Neville to make room for him while Pursy and Jack introduce themselves. Pursy is far more amiable than Coker. Coker tells Jack that Pursy is a friend and that's all he needs to know. Neville attempts to extricate himself from the uncomfortable situation but is ordered to stay put by Coker. Coker insists they play with his cards, while Jack asks what game they will be playing. Coker says Find the Jack, which Jack deems "apropos."
As they continue playing, Jack asks Pursy what the news around town is, jokingly asking who they aren't at war with at this point, but Coker, fearing that Jack is trying to play mind games, orders him to be quiet. Jack complains that the game is boring if they can't chat. Coker says that you can always spot a cheat because they are good at dice, to which Jack replies that there are many things a man can shave that aren't dice. Pursy then launches into a story about a prostitute he once knew that could spit dice from several places and land numbers on request. Coker calls this story "utter bloody tripe." Coker then insists Jack show them his cards and Jack folds, Coker then orders Jack to keep his hands where he can see them. Jack then departs to relieve himself.
While he is outside, Anne tells him that Pursy, who she calls "the friendly one," is only drinking water. When Jack returns, he poses a question to the table. He says they all know Queen Anne’s government has more spies than taxes. He says it is likely that said spy could be found at the docks to meet a returning naval ship. Said spy could usually be found hanging around the brighter officers in alehouses. Coker tells him to shut up and even Neville tells Jack to move the game along. Jack then says it is a mystery how spies get away with looking like spies, and asks if they are so great in number they have stopped trying to be clandestine.
Jack then notices that Pursy’s cup is empty and tries to poor him another drink but Coker slaps the cup out of his hands. Jack continues to speak, saying that when a spy spends more time abroad, throwing out the example of Amsterdam, under the employ of the British government, does there come a day when he wears costly Dutch calfskin, his fingernails are cut in the manner of the lowlands, he smells like the canal, enjoys their food and their pay, when there is no possibility that he is even slightly aligned with the British Empire. Pursy, having grown more and more uncomfortable as Jack spoke, then departs with a curt “good evening.”