Quote Originally Posted by OC Richard View Post
Dr Maturin, upon seeing Lieutenant Jack Aubrey in his new uniform: "Jack, you appear to be missing one of your pretty epaulettes."

Jack: "I intend to attend to that, in time."

The joke is that Lieutenants wore a single epaulette, Captains two, of which the civilian Dr Maturin was not aware. Jack also reveals an ambition for promotion.

(Paraphrased, as I don't have the book in front of me.)
May I ask....what book are you referencing?