Спрут: Калифорнийская история
Chapter V.
Thenthelittletrickstodeceivethecrowd,thelittlesubterfuges,thelittlepretencesthatkeptupappearances,thelies,thebluster,thepose,thestrut,thegasconade,whereoncewasironauthority;theturningoftheheadsoasnottoseethatwhichcouldnotbeprevented;thesuspicionofsuspicion,thehauntingfearoftheManontheStreet,theuneasinessofthedirectglance,thequestioningastomotives—whyhadthisbeensaid,whatwasmeantbythatword,thatgesture,thatglance?
Wednesdaypassed,andThursday.Magnuskepttohimself,seeingnovisitors,avoidingevenhisfamily.Howtobreakthroughthemeshofthenet,howtoregaintheoldposition,howtopreventdiscovery?Iftherewereonlysomeway,somevast,superhumaneffortbywhichhecouldriseinhisoldstrengthoncemore,crushingLymanwithonehand,Genslingerwiththeother,andforonemoremoment,thelast,tostandsupremeagain,indomitable,theleader;thengotohisdeath,triumphantattheend,hismemoryuntarnished,hisfameundimmed.Buttheplague-spotwasinhimself,knittedforeverintothefabricofhisbeing.ThoughGenslingershouldbesilenced,thoughLymanshouldbecrushed,thougheventheLeagueshouldovercometheRailroad,thoughheshouldbetheacknowledgedleaderofaresplendentvictory,yettheplague-spotwouldremain.Therewasnosuccessforhimnow.Howeverconspicuoustheoutwardachievement,he,hehimself,MagnusDerrick,hadfailed,miserablyandirredeemably.
Petty,materialcomplicationsintruded,sordidconsiderations.
