Спрут: Калифорнийская история
Chapter VIII
“Bytheway,”saidCedarquist,“whathaveyouonhandfor,letussay,Fridayevening?Won’tyoudinewithusthen?ThegirlsaregoingtothecountryMondayofnextweek,andyouprobablywon’tseethemagainforsometimeifyoutakethatoceanvoyageofyours.”
“I’mafraidIshallbeverypoorcompany,sir,”hazardedPresley.“There’sno’go,’nolifeinmeatallthesedays.Iamlikeaclockwithabrokenspring.”
“Notbroken,Pres,myboy;”urgedtheother,“onlyrundown.Tryandseeifwecan’twindyouupabit.Saythatwecanexpectyou.Wedineatseven.”
“Thankyou,sir.TillFridayatseven,then.”
Regainingthestreet,Presleysenthisvalisetohisclub(wherehehadengagedaroom)byamessengerboy,andboardedaCastroStreetcar.BeforeleavingBonneville,hehadascertained,bystrenuousenquiry,Mrs.Hooven’saddressinthecity,andthitherwardhenowdirectedhissteps.
WhenPresleyhadtoldCedarquistthathewasill,thathewasjaded,wornout,hehadonlytoldhalfthetruth.Exhaustedhewas,nerveless,weak,butthisapathywasstillinvadedfromtimetotimewithfierceincursionsofaspiritofunrestandrevolt,reactions,momentaryreturnsoftheblind,undirectedenergythatatonetimehadpromptedhimtoavastdesiretoacquithimselfofsometerribledeedofreadjustment,justwhat,hecouldnotsay,someterrifyingmartyrdom,someawe-inspiringimmolation,consummate,incisive,conclusive.
