16 The Wine-Dark Sea - Libro della tutto

Patrick O'Brian The Wine-Dark Sea
'My authorities speak of it, but I do not recall
that they name its principle.'
'It is the murias hydrargi corrosivus.'
'The phial next to the myrrh? I have never
known it used.'
'Just so. I reserve it for the most obdurate
cases: there are grave disadvantages... Now,
Padeen, what is amiss?'
Padeen's stammer, always bad, grew worse
with emotion, but in time it appeared that
there had been ten glasses in the cupboard an
hour ago, not even an hour ago, and they
shining: now there were only nine. He held up
his spread hands with one finger folded down
and repeated 'Nine.'
'I am so sorry, sir,' said Martin. 'I broke one
when I was mixing the draughts, and I forgot
to tell Padeen.'