The woman working on deck that S. describes could have been inspired by a variety of people. A few possibilities are Mary Queen of Scots, Zelda Fitzgerald, and Grand Duchess Tatiana. When speaking to the woman, S. notes how sickly she looks and suggests she have a lime. S.’s intuition is coming through again. He somehow knows that limes cure scurvy just as he can recognize a xebec design. This gives the reader insight into his past, it is likely that he is familiar with ships.

Mary, Queen of Scots

Grand Dutchess Tatiana