Луна и грош

Chapter XX

           Thereweredeephollowsathistemples.Hisbodywascadaverous.HeworethesamesuitthatIhadseenhiminfiveyearsbefore;itwastornandstained,threadbare,andithunguponhimloosely,asthoughithadbeenmadeforsomeoneelse.Inoticedhishands,dirty,withlongnails;theyweremerelyboneandsinew,largeandstrong;butIhadforgottenthattheyweresoshapely.Hegavemeanextraordinaryimpressionashesatthere,hisattentionrivetedonhisgame—animpressionofgreatstrength;andIcouldnotunderstandwhyitwasthathisemaciationsomehowmadeitmorestriking.

           Presently,aftermoving,heleanedbackandgazedwithacuriousabstractionathisantagonist.Thiswasafat,beardedFrenchman.TheFrenchmanconsideredtheposition,thenbrokesuddenlyintojovialexpletives,andwithanimpatientgesture,gatheringupthepieces,flungthemintotheirbox.HecursedStricklandfreely,then,callingforthewaiter,paidforthedrinks,andleft.Stroevedrewhischairclosertothetable.

           "NowIsupposewecantalk,"hesaid.

           Strickland’seyesrestedonhim,andtherewasinthemamaliciousexpression.Ifeltsurehewasseekingforsomegibe,couldthinkofnone,andsowasforcedtosilence.

           "I’vebroughtanoldfriendtoseeyou,"repeatedStroeve,beamingcheerfully.

           Stricklandlookedatmethoughtfullyfornearlyaminute.Ididnotspeak.

           "I’veneverseenhiminmylife,"hesaid.

           Idonotknowwhyhesaidthis,forIfeltcertainIhadcaughtagleamofrecognitioninhiseyes.IwasnotsoeasilyabashedasIhadbeensomeyearsearlier.

           "Isawyourwifetheotherday,"Isaid

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