Спрут: Калифорнийская история
Chapter VI
“Now,MagnusDerrick.”
“Gentlemen,”begantheGovernor,oncemorerising,“Ibegofyoutoallowmefurtherconsideration.Gentlemen—”
Hewasinterruptedbyrenewedshouting.
“No,no,nowornever.Sign,jointheLeague.”
“Don’tleaveus.Welooktoyoutohelp.”
ButpresentlytheexcitedthrongthatturnedtheirfacestowardstheGovernorwereawareofanewfaceathiselbow.ThedooroftheharnessroomhadbeenleftunboltedandMrs.Derrick,unabletoenduretheheart-breakingsuspenseofwaitingoutside,hadgatheredupallhercourageandhadcomeintotheroom.Trembling,sheclungtoMagnus’sarm,herprettylight-brownhairindisarray,herlargeyounggirl’seyeswidewithterroranddistrust.Whatwasabouttohappenshedidnotunderstand,butthesemenwereclamouringforMagnustopledgehimselftosomething,tosometerriblecourseofaction,someruthless,unscrupulousbattletothedeathwiththeiron-heartedmonsterofsteelandsteam.Nervedwithacoward’sintrepidity,she,whosoeasilyobliteratedherself,hadfoundherwayintothemidstofthisfranticcrowd,intothishot,closeroom,reekingofalcoholandtobaccosmoke,intothisatmospheresurchargedwithhatredandcurses.Sheseizedherhusband’sarmimploring,distraughtwithterror.
“No,no,”shemurmured;“no,don’tsign.”
Shewasthefeathercaughtinthewhirlwind.Enmasse,thecrowdsurgedtowardtheerectfigureoftheGovernor,thepeninonehand,hiswife’sfingersintheother,therollofsignaturesbeforehim.Theclamourwasdeafening;theexcitementculminatedbrusquely.
