16 The Wine-Dark Sea - Libro della tutto

Patrick O'Brian The Wine-Dark Sea
and closely related to the creature's flight.'
'It is of some interest, if your example was not
a sport,' said Martin, 'and perhaps it justifies
taking the bird's life away. But how often have
we seen hecatombs that yield nothing of significance
– hundreds and hundreds of stomachs
opened, all with much the same result.
Even Mr White of Selborne shot very great
numbers. Sometimes I feel that the dissection
may take place merely to warrant the killing.'
Stephen had often known patients eager to
be disagreeable: a common morbid irritability,
especially in putrid fevers. But it was almost
invariably kept for their friends and relations,
rarely extending to their medical men. On the
other hand, although Martin was undoubtedly
sick, Stephen was not in fact his physician; nor
was it likely that Martin would consult him. He
made no reply, turning to Mr Grainger with
praise of the squid soup; but he was