In Patrick O'Brian's "Post Captain," a character expresses relief upon encountering someone, suggesting they had a prior concern about their whereabouts, thinking they may have gone off to engage with stoats again. This establishes a playful dynamic, indicating a familiarity between the characters.

The conversation takes a turn when one character mentions that a carrier has delivered an ape, prompting a curious response regarding the type of ape. The use of the phrase "damned ill-conditioned sort" hints at the ape's troublesome nature, setting the stage for further humorous or chaotic developments in the story.