Спрут: Калифорнийская история
Chapter V
“Butyouwon’t,willyou?Youwon’tlistentohimagain;youwon’tsomuchasallowhim—anybody—toevensupposeyouwouldlendyourselftobribery?Oh,Magnus,Idon’tknowwhathascomeoveryoutheselastfewweeks.Why,beforethis,youwouldhavebeeninsultedifanyonethoughtyouwouldevenconsideranythinglikedishonesty.Magnus,itwouldbreakmyheartifyoujoinedMr.AnnixterandMr.Osterman.Why,youcouldn’tbethesamemantomeafterward;you,whohavekeptyourselfsocleantillnow.Andtheboys;whatwouldLymansay,andHarran,andeveryonewhoknowsyouandrespectsyou,ifyouloweredyourselftobejustapoliticaladventurer!”
Foramoment,Derrickleanedhisheaduponhishand,avoidinghergaze.Atlength,hesaid,drawingadeepbreath:“Iamtroubled,Annie.Thesearetheevildays.Ihavemuchuponmymind.”
“Evildaysornot,”sheinsisted,“promisemethisonething,thatyouwillnotjoinMr.Annixter’sscheme.”Shehadtakenhishandinbothofhersandwaslookingintohisface,herprettyeyesfullofpleading.
“Promiseme,”sherepeated;“givemeyourword.Whateverhappens,letmealwaysbeabletobeproudofyou,asIalwayshavebeen.Givemeyourword.IknowyouneverseriouslythoughtofjoiningMr.Annixter,butIamsonervousandfrightenedsometimes.Justtorelievemymind,Magnus,givemeyourword.”
“Why—youareright,”heanswered.“No,Ineverthoughtseriouslyofit.Onlyforamoment,Iwasambitioustobe—Idon’tknowwhat—whatIhadhopedtobeonce—well,thatisovernow.
