16 The Wine-Dark Sea - Libro della tutto

Patrick O'Brian The Wine-Dark Sea
ties.
'I look forward to seeing him,' said Stephen;
and after a pause in which he drank yet another
cup of tea, 'I believe I shall walk along
the road to Lima and meet him half way. Who
knows but what I may see a condor?' He
hailed William Grimshaw, Killick's mate, who
had been detached to look after him, in spite
of the fact that Tom Pullings had a perfectly
good steward of his own. 'William Grimshaw,'
he said, 'pray desire the Franklin the Captain
sent to step below.' And when the Franklin appeared,
a tall, thin, nervous young man with
receding hair, he went on, 'Fabien, sit down
on that locker. I understand you were an
apothecary's assistant in New Orleans – but
first tell me which language you speak more
readily.'
'They are much the same, sir,' said Fabien. 'I
was apprenticed to a horse-leech in Charles-