Лорд Джим

Chapter 34

           Hecommencedbybeingabjectlylachrymose.Hisgreatmisfortuneshadaffectedhishead.HehopedIwouldkindlyforgetwhatnothingbuthistroublesmadehimsay.Hedidn’tmeananythingbyit;onlythehonourablesirdidnotknowwhatitwastoberuined,brokendown,trampledupon.Afterthisintroductionheapproachedthematternearhisheart,butinsucharambling,ejaculatory,cravenfashion,thatforalongtimeIcouldn’tmakeoutwhathewasdrivingat.HewantedmetointercedewithJiminhisfavour.Itseemed,too,tobesomesortofmoneyaffair.Iheardtimeandagainthewords,“Moderateprovision—suitablepresent.”Heseemedtobeclaimingvalueforsomething,andheevenwentthelengthofsayingwithsomewarmththatlifewasnotworthhavingifamanweretoberobbedofeverything.Ididnotbreatheaword,ofcourse,butneitherdidIstopmyears.Thegistoftheaffair,whichbecamecleartomegradually,wasinthis,thatheregardedhimselfasentitledtosomemoneyinexchangeforthegirl.Hehadbroughtherup.Somebodyelse’schild.Greattroubleandpains—oldmannow—suitablepresent.Ifthehonourablesirwouldsayaword....Istoodstilltolookathimwithcuriosity,andfearfullestIshouldthinkhimextortionate,Isuppose,hehastilybroughthimselftomakeaconcession.Inconsiderationofa“suitablepresent”givenatonce,hewould,hedeclared,bewillingtoundertakethechargeofthegirl,“withoutanyotherprovision—whenthetimecameforthegentlemantogohome.

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