16 The Wine-Dark Sea - Libro della tutto

Patrick O'Brian The Wine-Dark Sea
but the nature of the present feast was entirely
different. For one thing the ship was still a
great way from her settled routine; there was
still a great deal to be done aboard the frigate
and in the Franklin, and this could not be the
leisurely ceremony with which Grainger had
been welcomed. For another the atmosphere
was much more like that of a civilian gathering,
three of the eight people having nothing
whatsoever to do with the Navy: at the foot of
the table, on either side of Mr Adams, sat two
ransomers, men taken from her prizes by the
Franklin as security for the sum the ships had
agreed to pay for their release; in Pullings' absence
Grainger was at the head, with Stephen
on his right and Vidal on his left, while in the
middle of the table Martin sat opposite Dutourd,
invited by Adams on a hint from the
Captain.
It was therefore much less of an ordeal for