Луна и грош

Chapter XLVII

           Amotleycrowdsauntersalongthestreets—LascarsoffaP.andO.,blondNorthmenfromaSwedishbarque,Japanesefromaman-of-war,Englishsailors,Spaniards,pleasant-lookingfellowsfromaFrenchcruiser,negroesoffanAmericantramp.Bydayitismerelysordid,butatnight,litonlybythelampsinthelittlehuts,thestreethasasinisterbeauty.Thehideouslustthatpervadestheairisoppressiveandhorrible,andyetthereissomethingmysteriousinthesightwhichhauntsandtroublesyou.YoufeelIknownotwhatprimitiveforcewhichrepelsandyetfascinatesyou.Hereallthedecenciesofcivilisationaresweptaway,andyoufeelthatmenarefacetofacewithasombrereality.Thereisanatmospherethatisatonceintenseandtragic.

           InthebarinwhichStricklandandNicholssatamechanicalpianowasloudlygrindingoutdancemusic.Roundtheroompeopleweresittingattable,herehalfadozensailorsuproariouslydrunk,thereagroupofsoldiers;andinthemiddle,crowdedtogether,couplesweredancing.Beardedsailorswithbrownfacesandlargehornyhandsclaspedtheirpartnersinatightembrace.Thewomenworenothingbutashift.Nowandthentwosailorswouldgetupanddancetogether.Thenoisewasdeafening.Peopleweresinging,shouting,laughing;andwhenamangavealongkisstothegirlsittingonhisknees,cat-callsfromtheEnglishsailorsincreasedthedin.Theairwasheavywiththedustbeatenupbytheheavybootsofthemen,andgraywithsmoke.Itwasveryhot.Behindthebarwasseatedawomannursingherbaby.

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