Спрут: Калифорнийская история
Chapter IX
Behrmansalutedbothmenaffablyandsatdownnearthedesk,drawingthelinksofhisheavywatchchainthroughhisfatfingers.
“Therewasn’tanybodyoutsidewhenIknocked,butIheardyourvoiceinhere,Governor,soIcamerightin.Iwantedtoaskyou,Governor,ifmycarpenterscanbeginworkinheredayafterto-morrow.Iwanttotakedownthatpartitionthere,andthrowthisroomandthenextintoone.IguessthatwillbeO.K.,won’tit?You’llbeoutofherebythen,won’tyou?”
TherewasnovaguenessaboutMagnus’sspeechormannernow.Therewasthatsamealertnessinhisdemeanourthatoneseesinatamedlioninthepresenceofitstrainer.
“Yes,yes,”hesaidquickly,“youcansendyourmenhere.Iwillbegonebyto-morrow.”
“Idon’twanttoseemtohurryyou,Governor.”“No,youwillnothurryme.Iamreadytogonow.”
“AnythingIcandoforyou,Governor?”
“Nothing.”
“Yes,thereis,Governor,”insistedS.Behrman.“Ithinknowthatallisoverweoughttobegoodfriends.IthinkIcandosomethingforyou.Westillwantanassistantinthelocalfreightmanager’soffice.Now,whatdoyousaytohavingatryatit?There’sasalaryoffiftyamonthgoeswithit.Iguessyoumustbeinneedofmoneynow,andthere’salwaysthewifetosupport;whatdoyousay?Willyoutrytheplace?”
Presleycouldonlystareatthemaninspeechlesswonder.Whatwashedrivingat?Whatreasonwastherebackofthisnewmove,andwhyshoulditbemadethusopenlyandinhishearing?Anexplanationoccurredtohim.WasthismerelyapleasantryonthepartofS.
