16 The Wine-Dark Sea - Libro della tutto

Patrick O'Brian The Wine-Dark Sea
three orders at all times) and setting an inordinate
value on pedigree: he took more
pleasure in recounting the stages of his descent,
through his maternal grandmother,
from Wilfred the Shaggy than in speaking of
the four brilliant victories he had won as
commander or the other battles in which he
had served with such distinction. On all other
subjects however he was not only a rational
being but one with an unusually acute and
ready mind: an active man, a born organizer,
and an uncommonly effective ally in such a
concern. His abilities, his known honesty, his
high reputation in the army, and his influence
throughout Peru made him the most valuable
friend that ever Stephen could have found.
The white milestones filed by, and many
crosses commemorating death by earthquake,
murder, accident. For some little while the
mule had not been pacing uphill with the