Мартін Іден

Chapter 25

           Heopenedhiseyestoescapeit,butthewhitelightoftheroomseemedtoseartheballsandforcedhimtoclosehiseyes,whenthe"$3.85"confrontedhimagain. 

           Fivedollarsforfivethousandwords,tenwordsforacentthatparticularthoughttookupitsresidenceinhisbrain,andhecouldnomoreescapeitthanhecouldthe"$3.85"underhiseyelids. Achangeseemedtocomeoverthelatter,andhewatchedcuriously,till"$2.00"burnedinitsstead. Ah,hethought,thatwasthebaker. Thenextsumthatappearedwas"$2.50." Itpuzzledhim,andhepondereditasiflifeanddeathhungonthesolution. Heowedsomebodytwodollarsandahalf,thatwascertain,butwhowasit? Tofinditwasthetasksethimbyanimperiousandmalignantuniverse,andhewanderedthroughtheendlesscorridorsofhismind,openingallmanneroflumberroomsandchambersstoredwithoddsandendsofmemoriesandknowledgeashevainlysoughttheanswer. Afterseveralcenturiesitcametohim,easily,withouteffort,thatitwasMaria. Withagreatreliefheturnedhissoultothescreenoftormentunderhislids. Hehadsolvedtheproblem; nowhecouldrest. Butno,the"$2.50"fadedaway,andinitsplaceburned"$8.00." Whowasthat? Hemustgothedrearyroundofhismindagainandfindout. 

           Howlonghewasgoneonthisquesthedidnotknow,butafterwhatseemedanenormouslapseoftime,hewascalledbacktohimselfbyaknockatthedoor,andbyMaria’saskingifhewassick. 

Налаштування
Фон сторінки
Розмір шрифту
Міжрядковий інтервал
Фразові дієслова
Показати / Приховати меню
Шрифт
Roboto Lora
Уведомления
Сторінка 272 з 527