Ледяной сфинкс
Chapter XVIII. A Revelation
“Iwanttotellyousomething—becauseitseemswellthatyoushouldknowit,andyouonly.Inthecrew—theymustneverknowit.”
“Ifitisagravematter,andyoufearanyindiscretion,DirkPeters,whydoyouspeaktome?”
“If!—Imust!Ah,yes!Imust!Itisimpossibletokeepitthere!Itweighsonmelikeastone.”
AndDirkPetersstruckhisbreastviolently.
Thenheresumed:
“Yes!Iamalwaysafraiditmayescapemeduringmysleep,andthatsomeonewillhearit,forIdreamofit,andindreaming—”
“Youdream,”Ireplied,“andofwhat?”
“Ofhim,ofhim.ThereforeitisthatIsleepincorners,allalone,forfearthathistruenameshouldbediscovered.”
Thenitstruckmethatthehalf-breedwasperhapsabouttorespondtoaninquirywhichIhadnotyetmade—whyhehadgonetoliveattheFalklandsunderthenameofHuntafterleavingIllinois?
Iputthequestiontohim,andhereplied,—
“Itisnotthat;no,itisnotthatIwish—”
“Iinsist,DirkPeters,andIdesiretoknowinthefirstplaceforwhatreasonyoudidnotremaininAmerica,forwhatreasonyouchosetheFalklands—”
“Forwhatreason,sir?BecauseIwantedtogetnearPym,mypoorPym—becauseIhopedtofindanopportunityattheFalklandsofembarkingonawhalingshipboundforthesouthernsea.”
“ButthatnameofHunt?”
“Iwouldnotbearmyownnameanylonger—onaccountoftheaffairoftheGrampus.
