04 The Mauritius Command by Patrick O'Brian

Author:Patrick O'Brian [O'Brian, Patrick]
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Tags: Retail
ISBN: 9780007429318
Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
Published: 1996-11-28T08:00:00+00:00

Yet although Stephen kept Clonfert decently in countenance, mutely acquiescing in the unicorn and a variety of unlikely feats, he did not put such violence upon himself as to encourage a very long continuation; eventually Clonfert grew conscious that he had somehow missed the tone, that his audience was not impressed, was not with him, and an anxious look came into his eye. He laid himself out to be more agreeable, speaking once again of his gratitude for Stephen’s care of him during his seizure. ‘It is a wretched unmanly kind of disease,’ he said. ‘I have begged McAdam to use the knife, if it would do any good, but he seems to think it nervous, something like a fit of the mother. I do not suppose the Commodore ever suffers from anything of that kind?’

‘If he did, I should certainly not speak of his disorder, nor the disorder of any other patient under my hands,’ said Stephen. ‘But,’ he added more kindly, ‘you are not to suppose that there is anything in the least discreditable in your malady. The degree of pain exceeds anything I have seen in any tormina, whatever their origin.’ Clonfert looked pleased, and Stephen went on, ‘It is a grave matter, indeed; and you are fortunate in having such an adviser as Dr McAdam in daily reach. I believe, with your leave, that I shall wait upon him presently.’

‘Honest McAdam, yes,’ said Clonfert, with a return to his former manner. ‘Yes. He may be no Solomon, and we must overlook certain frailties and an unfortunate manner; but I believe he is sincerely devoted to me. He was somewhat indisposed this morning, or he would have paid his respects when you came aboard; but I believe he is up and about by now.’

McAdam was in his sick-bay, looking frail. Fortunately for the Néréides his mate, Mr Fenton, was a sound practical ship’s surgeon, for McAdam had little interest in physical medicine. He showed Stephen his few cases, and they lingered a while over a seaman whose inoperable gummata were pressing on his brain in such a manner that his speech followed an inverted logic of its own. ‘The sequence is not without its value,’ said McAdam, ‘though it is scarcely in my line. For that matter there is little scope for my studies in a ship of war. Come away below, and we will take a drop.’ Far below, in the smell of bilge-water and grog, he went on, ‘Mighty little scope. The lower deck is kept far too busy for much to develop apart from the common perversions. Not that I would have you understand that I agree for a moment with the wicked old Bedlam chains and straw and cold water and whipping; but there may be some fancies that in the egg cannot stand a wee starting with a rope’s end, nor close company. At any rate I have not had a decent melancholia from the lower deck this commission. Manias, yes; but they are two a penny.

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