Full of disquietude and misgiving the Surgeon left the cabin. Was Captain
Vere suddenly affected in his mind, or was it but a transient excitement,
brought about by so strange and extraordinary a happening? As to the drum-head
court, it struck the Surgeon as impolitic, if nothing more. The thing to do, he
thought, was to place Billy Budd in confinement and in a way dictated by usage,
and postpone further action in so extraordinary a case to such time as they
should rejoin the squadron, and then refer it to the Admiral. He recalled the
unwonted agitation of Captain Vere and his excited exclamations so at variance
with his normal manner. Was he unhinged? But assuming that he is, it is not so
susceptible of proof. What then can he do? No more trying situation is
conceivable than that of an officer subordinate under a Captain whom he suspects
to be, not mad indeed, but yet not quite unaffected in his intellect. To argue
his order to him would be insolence. To resist him would be mutiny.
In obedience to Captain Vere he communicated what had happened to the
lieutenants and Captain of Marines; saying nothing as to the Captain's state.
They fully shared his own surprise and concern. Like him too they seemed to
think that such a matter should be referred to the Admiral.
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