yippee (and FINALLY)...Maturin seems to be so popular because he is "complex" but I am like you : too unkempt and too secretive for my tastes. Per Miss Smith : DON'T I KNOW IT!! OOOo...I thought Diana was a sad case until she showed up...and was a bit annoyed with Maturin for not encouraging Diana to go warn Jack or to even step in himself...and then he goes all moral and fusses at Jack for 'not knowing chastity.'
Spoilers...highlight this space....
I wish I could be in that book so I could trip Miss Smith up or send her off on a goose-chase to get her out of the way. Funny how I am willing to blame the woman...but only because I would want a go at him myself...arent I sick!? I'd squash her dancing shoes REAL quick in order to save Jack the horrors of her sluttiness.
<shudder>Complex is fine ... but you can be clean, too!
<chuckling>But what about Sophie, she who does not cater to the Captain's "animal senses"?