16 The Wine-Dark Sea - Libro della tutto

Patrick O'Brian The Wine-Dark Sea
that he might turn in.
'Well, now, Sam,' said Jack. 'You must know
that when the Doctor goes ashore it is not always
just for botanizing or the like. Sometimes
it is rather more in the political line, if you follow
me. For example, he is very much against
slavery; and in this case he might encourage
people of the same opinion here in Peru. Certainly,
by all means, very praiseworthy: but the
authorities might take it amiss – the authorities
in a slave-state might take it amiss. So when
he said it would perhaps be impolitic for Dutourd,
who knows his opinions, to be set
ashore he may very well have seen the man as
an informer. And there are other aspects that I
will not touch upon: shoal water that I am not
acquainted with, shoal water and no chart.
But to come to the point at last – Sam, you
must forgive me for being so slow, roundabout
and prosy: I find it hard to concentrate