Серце темряви
Chapter 3
"Herustledoneoftheletters,andlookingstraightinmyfacesaid,‘Iamglad.’Somebodyhadbeenwritingtohimaboutme.Thesespecialrecommendationswereturningupagain.Thevolumeoftoneheemittedwithouteffort,almostwithoutthetroubleofmovinghislips,amazedme.Avoice!avoice!Itwasgrave,profound,vibrating,whilethemandidnotseemcapableofawhisper.However,hehadenoughstrengthinhim—factitiousnodoubt—toverynearlymakeanendofus,asyoushallheardirectly.
"Themanagerappearedsilentlyinthedoorway;Isteppedoutatonceandhedrewthecurtainafterme.TheRussian,eyedcuriouslybythepilgrims,wasstaringattheshore.Ifollowedthedirectionofhisglance.
"Darkhumanshapescouldbemadeoutinthedistance,flittingindistinctlyagainstthegloomyborderoftheforest,andneartherivertwobronzefigures,leaningontallspears,stoodinthesunlightunderfantastichead-dressesofspottedskins,warlikeandstillinstatuesquerepose.Andfromrighttoleftalongthelightedshoremovedawildandgorgeousapparitionofawoman.
"Shewalkedwithmeasuredsteps,drapedinstripedandfringedcloths,treadingtheearthproudly,withaslightjingleandflashofbarbarousornaments.
