Скорбь сатаны

Chapter 1

           WhatshouldIdothen?HowshouldIbeginthejesuiticalbusinessofcommittingevilthatgood,personalgood,mightcomeofit?SoIthought,dully,ifsuchstrayhalf-stupefiedfanciesasIwascapableof,deservedthenameofthought.

           Thenightwasbittercold.Myhandswerenumbed,andItriedtowarmthemattheoil-lampmylandladywasgoodenoughtostillallowmetheuseof,inspiteofdelayedcash-payments.AsIdidso,InoticedthreelettersonthetableoneinalongblueenvelopesuggestiveofeitherasummonsorareturnedmanuscriptonebearingtheMelbournepostmark,andthethirdathicksquaremissivecoronetedinredandgoldattheback.Iturnedoverallthreeindifferently,andselectingtheonefromAustralia,balanceditinmyhandamomentbeforeopeningit.Iknewfromwhomitcame,andidlywonderedwhatnewsitbroughtme.SomemonthspreviouslyIhadwrittenadetailedaccountofmyincreasingdebtsanddifficultiestoanoldcollegechum,whofindingEnglandtoonarrowforhisambitionhadgoneouttothewiderNewworldonaspeculativequestofgoldmining.Hewasgettingonwell,soIunderstood,andhadsecuredafairlysubstantialposition;andIhadthereforeventuredtoaskhimpoint-blankfortheloanoffiftypounds.Here,nodoubt,washisreply,andIhesitatedbeforebreakingtheseal.

           "Ofcourseitwillbearefusal,"Isaidhalf-aloud"Howeverkindlyafriendmayotherwisebe,hesoonturnscrustyifaskedtolendmoney.

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