Ледяной сфинкс
Chapter IV. From the Kerguelen Isles to Prince Edward Island
“Andnow,”heresumedinasharpertoneandwithashakeinhisvoicewhichdenotedacertainamountofnervousirritation,“itispossiblethatyoudidnotknowthePymfamily;thatyouhavenevermetthemeitheratProvidenceoratNantucket—”
“Orelsewhere.”
“Justso!Butdon’tcommityourselfbyassertingthatthePymfamilyneverexisted,thatArthurGordonisonlyafictitiouspersonage,andhisvoyageanimaginaryone!Doyouthinkanyman,evenyourEdgarPoe,couldhavebeencapableofinventing,ofcreating—?”
TheincreasingvehemenceofCaptainLenGuywarnedmeofthenecessityoftreatinghismonomaniawithrespect,andacceptingallhesaidwithoutdiscussion.
“Now,”heproceeded,“pleasetokeepthefactswhichIamabouttostateclearlyinyourmind;thereisnodisputingaboutfacts.Youmaydeduceanyresultsfromthemyoulike.IhopeyouwillnotmakemeregretthatIconsentedtogiveyouapassageontheHalbrane.”
Thiswasaneffectualwarning,soImadeasignofacquiescence.Thematterpromisedtobecurious.Hewenton,—
“WhenEdgarPoe’snarrativeappearedin1838,IwasatNewYork.IimmediatelystartedforBaltimore,wherethewriter’sfamilylived;thegrandfatherhadservedasquarter-master-generalduringtheWarofIndependence.Youadmit,Isuppose,theexistenceofthePoefamily,althoughyoudenythatofthePymfamily?”
Isaidnothing,andthecaptaincontinued,withadarkglanceatme,—
“IinquiredintocertainmattersrelatingtoEdgarPoe.
