Лорд Джим

Chapter 14

           Friendofmine,CaptainRobinson.”

           ‘Anemaciatedpatriarchinasuitofwhitedrill,asolahtopiwithagreen-linedrimonaheadtremblingwithage,joinedusaftercrossingthestreetinatrottingshuffle,andstoodproppedwithbothhandsonthehandleofanumbrella.Awhitebeardwithamberstreakshunglumpilydowntohiswaist.Heblinkedhiscreasedeyelidsatmeinabewilderedway.“Howdoyoudo?howdoyoudo?”hepipedamiably,andtottered.“Alittledeaf,”saidChesteraside.“Didyoudraghimoversixthousandmilestogetacheapsteamer?”Iasked.“Iwouldhavetakenhimtwiceroundtheworldassoonaslookathim,”saidChesterwithimmenseenergy.“Thesteamerwillbethemakingofus,mylad.IsitmyfaultthateveryskipperandshipownerinthewholeofblessedAustralasiaturnsoutablamedfool?OnceItalkedforthreehourstoamaninAuckland.‘Sendaship,’Isaid,‘sendaship.I’llgiveyouhalfofthefirstcargoforyourself,freegratisfornothingjusttomakeagoodstart.’Sayshe,‘Iwouldn’tdoitiftherewasnootherplaceonearthtosendashipto.’Perfectass,ofcourse.Rocks,currents,noanchorage,sheerclifftolayto,noinsurancecompanywouldtaketherisk,didn’tseehowhecouldgetloadedunderthreeyears.Ass!Inearlywentonmykneestohim.‘Butlookatthethingasitis,’saysI.‘Damnrocksandhurricanes.Lookatitasitis.There’sguanothereQueenslandsugar-planterswouldfightforfightforonthequay,Itellyou.’...

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