Конец рабства

XIII

           

           “Hold!Enough!”CaptainWhalleydidnotchangehisattitudeorraisehisvoice.“Saynomore!Icanmakeyounoreturn.Iamtoopoorevenforthatnow.Youresteemisworthhaving.Youarenotamanthatwouldstooptodeceivethepoorestsortofdevilonearth,ormakeashipunseaworthyeverytimehetakeshertosea.”

           Mr.VanWyk,leaningforward,hisfacegonepinkallover,withthestarchedtable-napkinoverhisknees,wasinclinedtomistrusthissenses,hispowerofcomprehension,thesanityofhisguest.

           “Where?Why?InthenameofGod!—what’sthis?Whatship?Idon’tunderstandwho...”

           “Then,inthenameofGod,itisI!Aship’sunseaworthywhenhercaptaincan’tsee.Iamgoingblind.”

           Mr.VanWykmadeaslightmovement,andsatverystillafterwardsforafewseconds;then,withthethoughtofSterne’s“Thegame’sup,”heduckedunderthetabletopickupthenapkinwhichhadslippedoffhisknees.Thiswasthegamethatwasup.AndatthesametimethemuffledvoiceofCaptainWhalleypassedoverhim—

           “I’vedeceivedthemall.Nobodyknows.”

           Heemergedflushedtotheeyes.CaptainWhalley,motionlessunderthefullblazeofthelamp,shadedhisfacewithhishand.

           “Andyouhadthatcourage?”

           “Callitbywhatnameyoulike.Butyouareahumaneman—a—a—gentleman,Mr.VanWyk.YoumayhaveaskedmewhatIhaddonewithmyconscience.”

           Heseemedtomuse,profoundlysilent,verystillinhismournfulpose.

           “Ibegantotamperwithitinmypride.Youbegintoseealotofthingswhenyouaregoingblind.Icouldnotbefrankwithanoldchumeven.

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