Конец рабства
XIV
HecouldnotbelieveCaptainWhalleytobesoconfoundedlydestituteasnottohavesomemoremoneyputawaysomewhere.Ifhe,Massy,couldgetholdofit,thatwouldpayfortheboilers,andeverythingwentonasbefore.Andifshegotlostintheend,somuchthebetter.Hehatedher:heloathedthetroublesthattookhismindoffthechancesoffortune.Hewishedheratthebottomofthesea,andtheinsurancemoneyinhispocket.Andas,baffled,heleftCaptainWhalley’scabin,heenvelopedinthesamehatredtheshipwiththeworn-outboilersandthemanwiththedimmedeyes.
Andourconductafterallissomuchamatterofoutsidesuggestion,thathaditnotbeenforhisJack’sdrunkengabblehewouldhavethereandthenhaditoutwiththismiserableman,whowouldneitherhelp,norstay,noryetlosetheship.Theoldfraud!Helongedtokickhimout.Butherestrainedhimself.Timeenoughforthat—whenheliked.Therewasafearfulnewthoughtputintohishead.Wasn’theuptoitafterall?HowthatbeastJackhadraved!“Findasafetricktogetridofher.”Well,Jackwasnotsofarwrong.Averyclevertrickhadoccurredtohim.Aye!Butwhatoftherisk?
Afeelingofpride—theprideofsuperioritytocommonprejudices—creptintohisbreast,madehisheartbeatfast,hismouthturndry.Noteverybodywoulddare;buthewasMassy,andhewasuptoit!
Sixbellswerestruckondeck.Eleven!Hedrankaglassofwater,andsatdownfortenminutesorsotocalmhimself.Thenhegotoutofhischestasmallbull’s-eyelanternofhisownandlitit.
