Спрут: Калифорнийская история
Chapter IV
“Youknowthatallwasfairandaboveboard.”
“Liar,”shoutedAnnixter;“liar,bribe-eater.Youwereboughtandpaidfor,”andwiththewordshisarmseemedalmostofitselftoleapoutfromhisshoulder.Lymanreceivedtheblowsquarelyinthefaceandtheforceofitsenthimstaggeringbackwardstowardthewall.Hetrippedoverhisvaliseandfellhalfway,hisbacksupportedagainstthecloseddooroftheroom.Magnussprangforward.Hissonhadbeenstruck,andtheinstinctsofafatherroseupininstantprotest;roseforamoment,thenforeverdiedawayinhisheart.Hecheckedthewordsthatflashedtohismind.Heloweredhisupraisedarm.No,hehadbutoneson.Thepoor,staggeringcreaturewiththefineclothes,whiteface,andblood-streakedlipswasnolongerhis.Ablowcouldnotdishonourhimmorethanhehaddishonouredhimself.
ButGethings,theolderman,intervened,pullingAnnixterback,crying:
“Stop,thiswon’tdo.Notbeforehisfather.”
“Iamnofathertothisman,gentlemen,”exclaimedMagnus.“Fromnowon,Ihavebutoneson.You,sir,”heturnedtoLyman,“you,sir,leavemyhouse.”
Lyman,hishandkerchieftohislips,hissmartcravatindisarray,caughtuphishatandcoat.Hewasshakingwithfury,hisprotrudingeyeswereblood-shot.Heswungopenthedoor.
“Ruffians,”heshoutedfromthethreshold,“ruffians,bullies.Doyourowndirtybusinessyourselvesafterthis.I’mdonewithyou.
