16 The Wine-Dark Sea - Libro della tutto

Patrick O'Brian The Wine-Dark Sea
'Where have you been?'
'I have been in my cabin downstairs, contemplating
on mercury.'
'A delightful occupation. But he is not to be
seen now, you know: he is too near the sun.
And to tell you the truth he is neither much of
a spectacle nor a great help in navigation,
though charming from the purely astronomical
point of view.'
'I meant the metallic element. In its pure state
quicksilver is perfectly neutral; you may swallow
half a pint without harm. But in its various
combinations it is sometimes benign – where
would you portly men be without the blue pill?
– and sometimes, when exhibited by inexpert
hands, its compounds are mortal in doses so
small they can hardly be conceived.'
'So you know nothing of what is going forward?'