Сердце тьмы

           ‘Ihavealittletheorywhichyoumessieurswhogoouttheremusthelpmetoprove.Thisismyshareintheadvantagesmycountryshallreapfromthepossessionofsuchamagnificentdependency.ThemerewealthIleavetoothers.Pardonmyquestions,butyouarethefirstEnglishmancomingundermyobservation...’IhastenedtoassurehimIwasnotintheleasttypical.‘IfIwere,’saidI,‘Iwouldn’tbetalkinglikethiswithyou.’‘Whatyousayisratherprofound,andprobablyerroneous,’hesaid,withalaugh.‘Avoidirritationmorethanexposuretothesun.Adieu.HowdoyouEnglishsay,eh?Good-bye.Ah!Good-bye.Adieu.Inthetropicsonemustbeforeeverythingkeepcalm.’...Heliftedawarningforefinger...‘Ducalme,ducalme.Adieu.’

           "Onethingmoreremainedtodo—saygood-byetomyexcellentaunt.Ifoundhertriumphant.Ihadacupoftea—thelastdecentcupofteaformanydays—andinaroomthatmostsoothinglylookedjustasyouwouldexpectalady’sdrawing-roomtolook,wehadalongquietchatbythefireside.InthecourseoftheseconfidencesitbecamequiteplaintomeIhadbeenrepresentedtothewifeofthehighdignitary,andgoodnessknowstohowmanymorepeoplebesides,asanexceptionalandgiftedcreature—apieceofgoodfortunefortheCompany—amanyoudon’tgetholdofeveryday.Goodheavens!andIwasgoingtotakechargeofatwo-penny-half-pennyriver-steamboatwithapennywhistleattached!Itappeared,however,IwasalsooneoftheWorkers,withacapital—youknow.