16 The Wine-Dark Sea - Libro della tutto

Patrick O'Brian The Wine-Dark Sea
There was no Dutourd: nor could his servant
be found though the ship, the prize and the
schooner-rigged launch towing astern were
searched through and through with all the skill
of those accustomed to hiding goods from
customs officers and men from impressment.
His sea-chest, with the plate reading Jean du
Tourd, was in his cabin, and all his clothes;
his writing-desk, open and disordered, with
some papers presumably taken from it; but his
purse, which Jack had restored, was not to be
seen.
The testimonies were extraordinarily varied:
they agreed only in that Dutourd had not
dined in the gunroom for quite a while and
that he had seemed to be offended – was
thought to be messing by himself. But how
long that time was no one could tell for certain.
Even Killick, the most inquisitive man
aboard, had no sure, clearly-dated knowl-