‘Do you follow me, Dr Maturin?’

‘I do indeed, sir, and am much obliged to you for your candor in telling me this: it confirms what was in my mind and I shall do all I can to make him conscious of the delicacy of his position. Though upon my word,’ he added with a sigh, ‘there are times when it seems to me that nothing short of a radical ablation of the membrum virile would answer, in this case.’

‘That is very generally the peccant part,’ said Mr Florey.

Master and Commander – Patrick O’Brian