Спрут: Калифорнийская история

           Well,Magnus,”hesaid,turningoncemoretotheGovernor.“Well,I’llthinkoverwhatyousay,andletyouknowifIcangettheplaceforyouinadayortwo.Yousee,”headded,“you’regettingprettyold,MagnusDerrick.”

           Presleyflunghimselffromtheroom,unableanylongertowitnessthedepthsintowhichMagnushadfallen.Whatotherscenesofdegradationwereenactedinthatroom,howmuchfurtherS.Behrmancarriedthehumiliation,hedidnotknow.Hesuddenlyfeltthattheairoftheofficewaschokinghim.

           Hehurrieduptowhatoncehadbeenhisownroom.Onhiswayhecouldnotbutnotethatmuchofthehousewasindisarray,agreatpacking-upwasinprogress;trunks,half-full,stoodinthehallways,cratesandcasesinalitterofstrawencumberedtherooms.Theservantscameandwentwitharmfulsofbooks,ornaments,articlesofclothing.

           Presleytookfromhisroomonlyafewmanuscriptsandnote-books,andasmallvalisefullofhispersonaleffects;atthedoorwayhepausedand,holdingtheknobofthedoorinhishand,lookedbackintotheroomaverylongtime.

           Hedescendedtothelowerfloorandenteredthedining-room.Mrs.Derrickhaddisappeared.Presleystoodforalongmomentinfrontofthefireplace,lookingabouttheroom,rememberingthescenesthathehadwitnessedthere—theconferencewhenOstermanhadfirstsuggestedthefightforRailroadCommissionerandthenlatertheattackonLymanDerrickandthesuddenrevelationofthatinconceivabletreachery.ButashestoodconsideringthesethingsadoortohisrightopenedandHilmaenteredtheroom.