Конец рабства
VIII
ItseemedinconceivablethatCaptainWhalleyshouldnotlaughattheexpressionofdisgustthatoverspreadtheheavy,yellowcountenance.ButCaptainWhalleyneverraisedhiseyes—sittinginhisarm-chair,outraged,dignified,andmotionless.
“Muchgooditwastome,”Massyremonstratedmonotonously,“toinsertaclausefordismissalforintemperanceagainstamanwhodrinksnothingbutwater.Andyoulookedsoupset,too,whenIreadmydraftinthelawyer’sofficethatmorning,CaptainWhalley,—youlookedsocrestfallen,thatImadesureIhadgonehomeonyourweakspot.Ashipownercan’tbetoocarefulastothesortofskipperhegets.Youmusthavebeenlaughingatmeinyoursleevealltheblessedtime....Eh?Whatareyougoingtosay?”
CaptainWhalleyhadonlyshuffledhisfeetslightly.AdullanimositybecameapparentinMassy’ssidewaysstare.
“Butrecollectthatthereareothergroundsofdismissal.There’shabitualcarelessness,amountingtoincompetence—there’sgrossandpersistentneglectofduty.Iamnotquiteasbigafoolasyoutrytomakemeouttobe.Youhavebeencarelessoflate—leavingeverythingtothatSerang.Why!I’veseenyoulettingthatoldfoolofaMalaytakebearingsforyou,asifyouweretoobigtoattendtoyourworkyourself.
