16 The Wine-Dark Sea - Libro della tutto

Patrick O'Brian The Wine-Dark Sea
and he was particularly attentive in laying out
the sheets, pouring Stephen another glass of
wine, and, when they began, in so playing
that his violin helped the 'cello, yielding to it in
those minute ways perceptible to those who
are deep in their music if to few others.
They played on, and only once did Jack raise
his head from the score: the ship was leaning
half a strake, and beneath their strings the
sound of the rigging could just be heard. At
the end of the allegro he said, turning the
page with his bow, 'She is making four knots.'
'I believe we may attack the adagio directly,'
said Stephen. 'The wind is in our poop, and
we have never played better.'
They swept into the next movement, the 'cello
booming nobly, and carried straight on without
a pause, separating, joining, answering
one another, with never a hesitation nor a