16 The Wine-Dark Sea - Libro della tutto

Patrick O'Brian The Wine-Dark Sea
acting first lieutenant he said, 'Mr Grainger sir,
you will forgive me if I leave you at this point.
Yet before I go, before I sling my hook, allow
me to propose a toast to Shelmerston. Bumpers,
gentlemen, if you please; and no heeltaps.
Here's to Shelmerston, and may we soon
sail in over her bar with never a scrape.'
'Shelmerston, Shelmerston, Shelmerston for
ever,'they cried as he walked off, returning to
the great cabin and feeling the ship's much
stronger pitch and roll as he went. He found
Jack well into his dinner and sat down beside
him. 'Will I confess a grave sin?' he asked.
'Do, by all means,' said Jack, looking at him
kindly. 'But if you managed to commit a grave
sin between the gunroom and here you have a
wonderful capacity for evil.'
Stephen took a piece of biscuit, tapping it
mechanically, brushed away the weevil-frass,