16 The Wine-Dark Sea - Libro della tutto

Patrick O'Brian The Wine-Dark Sea
tive. Gayongos had a powerful, well lathered
stone-horse in his hand: the animal had
clearly come up the road at a great pace.
'A man called Dutourd has reached Lima
from Callao,' he said in a low tone as they
walked the horse up and down. 'He is running
about saying that he was ill-treated as a prisoner
in the Surprise: ill-treated and robbed,
that Captain Aubrey is not what he seems, that
the Surprise is not a privateer but a King's
ship, and that you are probably a British
agent. He has found out some of the French
mission and he harangued them in a loud
voice in Julibrissin's crowded coffee-house until
they became uneasy and walked off. Then
he told another tale about an ideal projected
republic. He makes a great deal of noise. His
Spanish is incorrect but ready enough. He
says he is an American, and he had a privateer
sailing under American colours.'