16 The Wine-Dark Sea - Libro della tutto

Patrick O'Brian The Wine-Dark Sea
to obtain it and now she called out from her
corner, 'She is always saying Monsieur Turd.
Mr Grainger checked her for saying it only
yesterday: he declared it was wicked to speak
so of such a benevolent gentleman.'
'Heave that tentacle taut,' said Stephen.
'Never mind your pinafores.' He knew the
squid's destination and he was working fast,
with great concentration. Yet well before the
description was complete there was a gunroom
cook's mate begging his pardon, but so
horny an old bugger, if his honour would excuse
the word, needed a good hour in the
pot: his honour sighed, quickly removed one
last ganglion and sat back. 'Thank you, my
dears,' he said to the little girls. 'Give Nicholson
a hand with the longer arms. And Sarah,
before you go, pass me the frigate-bird, will
you, now?'
He was pretty well acquainted with frigate-