16 The Wine-Dark Sea - Libro della tutto

Patrick O'Brian The Wine-Dark Sea
see Mr Raleigh, who had travelled out with us,
and who is a Roman, in case he could persuade
them – he lectures on law at the university:
an influential man. But no, no and no.
They gave him a bottle or two of excellent
wine, as I dare say you noticed, but they
would not yield. On the way from Lima he told
me that he did not expect to succeed, their
memory of the buccaneers, the sacking of
churches and so on being so very vivid; and
he was right, I suppose. At all events they do
not choose to have anything to do with me or
my patient.'
'Then I am afraid my case is hopeless, for my
patient is not only a Protestant but a clergyman
too. Come and drink a cup of coffee with
me.'
'I should be very happy. But your case would
have been hopeless had he been the Pope.
The place is so low and airless and fetid, the