16 The Wine-Dark Sea - Libro della tutto

Patrick O'Brian The Wine-Dark Sea
forget your horizon-glass, I beg.'
In his role of virtually omnipotent captain
Jack could be deaf to a hint, particularly if it
reached him indirectly: Stephen was less well
placed, and two days later when Dutourd,
having wished him a good morning and having
spoken of the pleasure it had given him to
linger on the quarterdeck all the time they
played, went on to say, with an ease that surprised
Maturin until he recalled that wealthy
men were used to having their wishes regarded,
'It would perhaps be too presumptuous
in me to entreat you to let Captain Aubrey
know that it would give me even greater
pleasure to be admitted to one of your sessions:
I am no virtuoso, but I have held my
own in quite distinguished company; and if I
were allowed to play second fiddle we might
embark upon quartets, which have always
seemed to me the quintessence of music.'