Голод
Part IV
Apolicemanisstandingafewstepsaway,watchingme.Heisstandinginthemiddleofthestreet,andheonlypaysattentiontome.AsIliftmyhead,oureyesmeet.Maybehehasbeenstandingthereforalongtimewatchingme.Ipickupmyhat,putiton,andgoovertohim.
"Doyouknowwhattimeitis?"Iask.Hepausesabitashehaulsouthiswatch,andnevertakeshiseyesoffmethewholetime.
"Aboutfour,"hereplies.
"Accurately,"Isay,"aboutfour,perfectlyaccurate.Youknowyourbusiness,andI’llbearyouinmind."ThereuponIlefthim.Helookedutterlyamazedatme,stoodandlookedatme,withgapingmouth,stillholdinghiswatchinhishand.
WhenIgotinfrontoftheRoyalHotelIturnedandlookedback.Hewasstillstandinginthesameposition,followingmewithhiseyes.
Ha,ha!Thatisthewaytotreatbrutes!Withthemostrefinedeffrontery!Thatimpressesthebrutes—putsthefearofGodintothem....Iwaspeculiarlysatisfiedwithmyself,andbegantosingalittlestrain.Everynervewastensewithexcitement.Withoutfeelinganymorepain,withoutevenbeingconsciousofdiscomfortofanykind,Iwalked,lightasafeather,acrossthewholemarket,turnedroundatthestalls,andcametoahalt—satdownonabenchnearOurSaviour’sChurch.
