16 The Wine-Dark Sea - Libro della tutto

Patrick O'Brian The Wine-Dark Sea
though Wilkins, whose watch had just been relieved,
could be heard snoring in the aftermost
larboard dog-hole; yet at four bells the
table would be lined with men eager for their
supper. Dutourd was likely to be invited, and
he was certain to talk: the ransomers were
nearly always noisy: it was no place for a sick
man. He walked into Martin's cabin and sat
down by his cot. Since Martin had retired by
order their relations were now changed to
those between physician and patient, the physician's
authority being enormously enhanced
by the Articles of War. In any case a certain
frontier had been crossed and at present
Stephen felt no more hesitation about dealing
with this case than he would have done if
Martin had all at once run mad, so that he
had to be confined.
Martin's breathing was now easy, and he appeared
to be in a very deep, almost comatose