The Surgeon’s Mate: Aubrey/Maturin series, book 7

‘Maybe, maybe; but a good many of these omens are all cry and no wolf.’

‘Come, come, Mr Pellworm,’ said Jack, laughing aloud. ‘Who would cry wool too often? What would be the point of crying wool? There is no danger in wool, you know; indeed, London Bridge is founded on it, and you cannot say fairer than that, I believe. No, no: your omens keep threatening

tame surrender: anything was

Question and answer has never seemed to me a liberal form of conversation,’