16 The Wine-Dark Sea - Libro della tutto

Patrick O'Brian The Wine-Dark Sea
edge, and to Jack's astonishment he was not
even aware that Dutourd had been refused
leave to go to Callao in the Surprise with his
former shipmates – did not even know that he
had asked for permission. No one could
swear to having seen him on the quarterdeck
after the Franklin had parted company: none
could swear to the contrary: most had the impression
that he was keeping his cabin, studying
or sick.
There were several possibilities, and Jack
turned them over in his mind as he sat, alone
at last, in the Franklin's stern window: Dutourd
might have brought his belongings over from
the Surprise to the Franklin, returning on some
pretext and there concealing himself. He
might have walked into the Alastor when she
was alongside, transferring stores: the same
applied to the whaler. And there was the
launch, sent in to bring hands from Callao.