Сердце тьмы

           InaveryfewhoursIarrivedinacitythatalwaysmakesmethinkofawhitedsepulchre.Prejudicenodoubt.IhadnodifficultyinfindingtheCompany’soffices.Itwasthebiggestthinginthetown,andeverybodyImetwasfullofit.Theyweregoingtorunanover-seaempire,andmakenoendofcoinbytrade.

           "Anarrowanddesertedstreetindeepshadow,highhouses,innumerablewindowswithvenetianblinds,adeadsilence,grasssproutingrightandleft,immensedoubledoorsstandingponderouslyajar.Islippedthroughoneofthesecracks,wentupasweptandungarnishedstaircase,asaridasadesert,andopenedthefirstdoorIcameto.Twowomen,onefatandtheotherslim,satonstraw-bottomedchairs,knittingblackwool.Theslimonegotupandwalkedstraightatme—stillknittingwithdowncasteyes—andonlyjustasIbegantothinkofgettingoutofherway,asyouwouldforasomnambulist,stoodstill,andlookedup.Herdresswasasplainasanumbrella-cover,andsheturnedroundwithoutawordandprecededmeintoawaiting-room.Igavemyname,andlookedabout.Dealtableinthemiddle,plainchairsallroundthewalls,ononeendalargeshiningmap,markedwithallthecoloursofarainbow.Therewasavastamountofred—goodtoseeatanytime,becauseoneknowsthatsomerealworkisdoneinthere,adeuceofalotofblue,alittlegreen,smearsoforange,and,ontheEastCoast,apurplepatch,toshowwherethejollypioneersofprogressdrinkthejollylager-beer.However,Iwasn’tgoingintoanyofthese.