Серце темряви

           AndlateronIseemedtoseehiscollectedlanguidmanner,whenhesaidoneday,‘Thislotofivorynowisreallymine.TheCompanydidnotpayforit.Icollecteditmyselfataverygreatpersonalrisk.Iamafraidtheywilltrytoclaimitastheirsthough.H’m.Itisadifficultcase.WhatdoyouthinkIoughttodo—resist?Eh?Iwantnomorethanjustice.’...Hewantednomorethanjustice—nomorethanjustice.Irangthebellbeforeamahoganydooronthefirstfloor,andwhileIwaitedheseemedtostareatmeoutoftheglassypanel—starewiththatwideandimmensestareembracing,condemning,loathingalltheuniverse.Iseemedtohearthewhisperedcry,"Thehorror!Thehorror!"

           "Theduskwasfalling.Ihadtowaitinaloftydrawing-roomwiththreelongwindowsfromfloortoceilingthatwerelikethreeluminousandbedrapedcolumns.Thebentgiltlegsandbacksofthefurnitureshoneinindistinctcurves.Thetallmarblefireplacehadacoldandmonumentalwhiteness.Agrandpianostoodmassivelyinacorner;withdarkgleamsontheflatsurfaceslikeasombreandpolishedsarcophagus.Ahighdooropened—closed.Irose.

           "Shecameforward,allinblack,withapalehead,floatingtowardsmeinthedusk.Shewasinmourning.Itwasmorethanayearsincehisdeath,morethanayearsincethenewscame;sheseemedasthoughshewouldrememberandmournforever.Shetookbothmyhandsinhersandmurmured,‘Ihadheardyouwerecoming.’Inoticedshewasnotveryyoung—Imeannotgirlish.