16 The Wine-Dark Sea - Libro della tutto

Patrick O'Brian The Wine-Dark Sea
served, if not downright chuff, on Monday.
The ship-chandlers and the dockyard people
had become very eager for their money. On
the other hand three considerable merchants
had come to see him after dark (most visiting
took place by night at present) and had asked
him to carry treasure down to Valparaiso. Mr
Adams, who spoke Spanish almost as well as
the Doctor and who managed all business affairs,
said that when the Viceroy came back
there would be a fine old rumpus, all Hell to
pay, with people copping it right and left.
Quite why he could not tell, there being so
many different rumours; but it seemed that the
soldiers had been misbehaving, and perhaps
some civilians too.
He reached his boat – the Doctor's skiff,
newly painted green – shoved off and made
his way through some small-craft setting lobster-pots.
He had noticed a good many a mile