16 The Wine-Dark Sea - Libro della tutto

Patrick O'Brian The Wine-Dark Sea
ton when I was a boy.'
'Very well. Now I understand you helped Mr
Martin when he was aboard your ship.'
'Yes, sir. Since the surgeon and his mate were
both killed I was all he could find.'
'But I am sure you were very useful to him,
with your experience as an apothecary: indeed
I seem to remember his mentioning you with
commendation, before he grew so ill.'
'It did not amount to much, sir: most of my
time in the shop I spent skinning or stuffing
birds, or drawing them, or colouring plates.
Yet I did learn to make up the usual prescriptions
– blue and black draught – and I did
help Monsieur Duvallier in his practice – just
the simple things.'
'In New Orleans, is it customary for apothecaries
to stuff birds?'
'No, sir. Some like to have rattlers in the win-