He was in a high state of nervous excitement — any sailor waiting to see the First Lord must be in a high state of nervous excitement — yet the surface of his mind was taken up less with his coming interview than with getting the utmost possible service from a single handkerchief and with vague darting reflections upon poverty — an old acquaintance, almost a friend — a more natural state for sea-officers than wealth — wealth very charming — should love to be rich again; but there was the loss of all those little satisfactions of contriving — the triumph of a guinea found in an old waistcoat pocket — the breathless tension over the turn of a card.

Post Captain – Patrick O’Brian