Лорд Джим

Chapter 13

           Hehaddeliveredhimselfofallthisasimmovablyasthoughhehadbeenthemouthpieceofabstractwisdom,butatthispointheheightenedtheeffectofdetachmentbybeginningtotwirlhisthumbsslowly.“It’sevident—parbleu!”hecontinued;“for,makeupyourmindasmuchasyoulike,evenasimpleheadacheorafitofindigestion(underangementd’estomac)isenoughto...Takeme,forinstance—Ihavemademyproofs.Ehbien!I,whoamspeakingtoyou,once...”

           ‘Hedrainedhisglassandreturnedtohistwirling.“No,no;onedoesnotdieofit,”hepronouncedfinally,andwhenIfoundhedidnotmeantoproceedwiththepersonalanecdote,Iwasextremelydisappointed;themoresoasitwasnotthesortofstory,youknow,onecouldverywellpresshimfor.Isatsilent,andhetoo,asifnothingcouldpleasehimbetter.Evenhisthumbswerestillnow.Suddenlyhislipsbegantomove.“Thatisso,”heresumedplacidly.“Manisbornacoward(L’hommeestnepoltron).Itisadifficulty—parbleu!Itwouldbetooeasyotherwise.Buthabit—habit—necessity—doyousee?—theeyeofothers—voila.Oneputsupwithit.Andthentheexampleofotherswhoarenobetterthanyourself,andyetmakegoodcountenance....”

           ‘Hisvoiceceased.

           ‘“Thatyoungman—youwillobserve—hadnoneoftheseinducements—atleastatthemoment,”Iremarked.

           ‘Heraisedhiseyebrowsforgivingly:“Idon’tsay;Idon’tsay.

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