16 The Wine-Dark Sea - Libro della tutto

Patrick O'Brian The Wine-Dark Sea
wounded, deeply disappointed, far from
pleased.
Opposite him sat Dutourd, apparently in
much the same unenviable state of mind. Both
men however kept up a creditable appearance
of urbanity for some time: they even exchanged
remarks about the squid, though it
was clear to most of the table that not only
was Dutourd's nose out of joint but that he
held the Doctor in some degree responsible.
For Grainger, Vidal and the rest, privateers or
man-of-war's men, taking or being taken was
as much part of sea-going life as fair weather
or foul and they accepted these things as they
came; but they knew that this was the first time
Dutourd had been stripped – relatively
stripped – and they treated him with a particular
deferential gentleness, rather as though he
were recently bereaved. This had the effect of
making him more loquacious than usual: to-