The commodore does not reply for a long moment. He seems to be weighing Norrington's words; one can almost hear the delicate sound of a settling balance in the silence.

'Your current employers -- our current employers, for that matter -- know the cards in your hand, and they likely have a far better idea than you do of precisely how those cards may be played in any given situation. There may come a moment where your only recourse will be to change the rules of the game as best you can...if it is in your power to do so.'