Сердце тьмы

           WhennearthebuildingsImetawhiteman,insuchanunexpectedeleganceofget-upthatinthefirstmomentItookhimforasortofvision.Isawahighstarchedcollar,whitecuffs,alightalpacajacket,snowytrousers,acleannecktie,andvarnishedboots.Nohat.Hairparted,brushed,oiled,underagreen-linedparasolheldinabigwhitehand.Hewasamazing,andhadapenholderbehindhisear.

           "Ishookhandswiththismiracle,andIlearnedhewastheCompany’schiefaccountant,andthatallthebook-keepingwasdoneatthisstation.Hehadcomeoutforamoment,hesaid,‘togetabreathoffreshair.Theexpressionsoundedwonderfullyodd,withitssuggestionofsedentarydesk-life.Iwouldn’thavementionedthefellowtoyouatall,onlyitwasfromhislipsthatIfirstheardthenameofthemanwhoissoindissolublyconnectedwiththememoriesofthattime.Moreover,Irespectedthefellow.Yes;Irespectedhiscollars,hisvastcuffs,hisbrushedhair.Hisappearancewascertainlythatofahairdresser’sdummy;butinthegreatdemoralizationofthelandhekeptuphisappearance.That’sbackbone.Hisstarchedcollarsandgot-upshirt-frontswereachievementsofcharacter.Hehadbeenoutnearlythreeyears;and,later,Icouldnothelpaskinghimhowhemanagedtosportsuchlinen.Hehadjustthefaintestblush,andsaidmodestly,‘I’vebeenteachingoneofthenativewomenaboutthestation.Itwasdifficult.Shehadadistasteforthework.’Thusthismanhadverilyaccomplishedsomething.