Ледяной сфинкс
Chapter IV. From the Kerguelen Isles to Prince Edward Island
HelivedinthehamletofVandalia;Iwentthere,andmetwithaseconddisappointment.Hewasnotthere,orrather,Mr.Jeorling,hewasnolongerthere.SomeyearsbeforethisDirkPetershadleftIllinois,andeventheUnitedStates,togo—nobodyknowswhere.ButIhavetalked,atVandaliawithpeoplewhohadknownhim,withwhomhelived,towhomherelatedhisadventures,butdidnotexplainthefinalissue.Ofthathealoneholdsthesecret.”
What!ThisDirkPetershadreallyexisted?Hestilllived?IwasonthepointoflettingmyselfbecarriedawaybythestatementsofthecaptainoftheHalbrane!Yes,anothermoment,and,inmyturn,Ishouldhavemadeafoolofmyself.ThispoormadfellowimaginedthathehadgonetoIllinoisandseenpeopleatVandaliawhohadknownDirkPeters,andthatthelatterhaddisappeared.Nowonder,sincehehadneverexisted,saveinthebrainofthenovelist!
NeverthelessIdidnotwanttovexLenGuy,andperhapsdrivehimstillmoremad.AccordinglyIappearedentirelyconvincedthathewasspeakingwordsofsoberseriousness,evenwhenheadded,—
“YouareawarethatinthenarrativementionismadebythecaptainoftheschooneronwhichArthurPymhadembarked,ofabottlecontainingasealedletter,whichwasdepositedatthefootofoneoftheKerguelenpeaks?”
“Yes,Irecalltheincident.”
“Well,then,inoneofmylatestvoyagesIsoughtfortheplacewherethatbottleoughttobe.Ifounditandtheletteralso.
