Сердце тьмы

           Irathersuspecthewantedmetotakecareofanotherbatchofhispaperswhich,afterhisdeath,Isawthemanagerexaminingunderthelamp.Andthegirltalked,easingherpaininthecertitudeofmysympathy;shetalkedasthirstymendrink.IhadheardthatherengagementwithKurtzhadbeendisapprovedbyherpeople.Hewasn’trichenoughorsomething.AndindeedIdon’tknowwhetherhehadnotbeenapauperallhislife.Hehadgivenmesomereasontoinferthatitwashisimpatienceofcomparativepovertythatdrovehimoutthere.

           "‘...Whowasnothisfriendwhohadheardhimspeakonce?’shewassaying.‘Hedrewmentowardshimbywhatwasbestinthem.’Shelookedatmewithintensity.‘Itisthegiftofthegreat,’shewenton,andthesoundofherlowvoiceseemedtohavetheaccompanimentofalltheothersounds,fullofmystery,desolation,andsorrow,Ihadeverheard—therippleoftheriver,thesoughingofthetreesswayedbythewind,themurmursofthecrowds,thefaintringofincomprehensiblewordscriedfromafar,thewhisperofavoicespeakingfrombeyondthethresholdofaneternaldarkness.‘Butyouhaveheardhim!Youknow!’shecried.

           "‘Yes,Iknow,’Isaidwithsomethinglikedespairinmyheart,butbowingmyheadbeforethefaiththatwasinher,beforethatgreatandsavingillusionthatshonewithanunearthlyglowinthedarkness,inthetriumphantdarknessfromwhichIcouldnothavedefendedher—fromwhichIcouldnotevendefendmyself.