16 The Wine-Dark Sea - Libro della tutto

Patrick O'Brian The Wine-Dark Sea
'I do not believe those ships were his convoy:
I believe there was a chance meeting in say
the river Plate, no more. But it makes little
odds, since I am convinced he will protect
them now. My dear, you look sadly done up;
and your appetite has failed you. Drink up
another glass of wine and breathe as deeply
as you can. I shall give you a comfortable
dose tonight.'
'No, Stephen: many thanks, but it would not
do. I shall not turn in; nor I shall not heave to,
neither. I dare not let that cove – a determined
and bloody-minded cove if ever there was one
– creep up on me in the night. Coffee is more
the mark than a dose, however comfortable
and kindly intended. Let us toy with these
chops. I do love a dry chop, a really well-dried
mutton chop, turned twice a day.'
The well-dried chops sustained him all that