Ледяной сфинкс
Chapter III. Captain Len Guy
”
“DoyouknowNantucketIsland?”
“Ihavevisiteditseveraltimes.”
“Youknow,Ithink,”saidthecaptain,lookingstraightintomyeyes,“thatNantucketIslandwasthebirthplaceofArthurGordonPym,theheroofyourfamousromance-writerEdgarPoe.”
“Yes.IrememberthatPoe’sromancestartsfromNantucket.”
“Romance,yousay?Thatwasthewordyouused?”
“Undoubtedly,captain.”
“Yes,andthatiswhateverybodysays!But,pardonme,Icannotstayanylonger.IregretthatIcannotaltermymindwithrespecttoyourproposal.But,atanyrate,youwillonlyhaveafewdaystowait.Theseasonisabouttoopen.TradingshipsandwhalerswillputinatChristmasHarbour,andyouwillbeabletomakeachoice,withthecertaintyofgoingtotheportyouwanttoreach.Iamverysorry,sir,andIsaluteyou.”
WiththesewordsCaptainLenGuywalkedquicklyaway,andtheinterviewendeddifferentlyfromwhatIhadexpected,thatistosayinformal,althoughpolite,fashion.
Asthereisnouseincontendingwiththeimpossible,IgaveupthehopeofapassageontheHalbrane,butcontinuedtofeelangrywithherintractablecaptain.AndwhyshouldInotconfessthatmycuriositywasaroused?Ifeltthattherewassomethingmysteriousaboutthissullenmariner,andIshouldhavelikedtofindoutwhatitwas.
Thatday,AtkinswantedtoknowwhetherCaptainLenGuyhadmadehimselflessdisagreeable.
