Серце темряви
Chapter 1
Butthereisawayoflookingatahalterthatwouldprovokethemostcharitableofsaintsintoakick.
"Ihadnoideawhyhewantedtobesociable,butaswechattedinthereitsuddenlyoccurredtomethefellowwastryingtogetatsomething—infact,pumpingme.HealludedconstantlytoEurope,tothepeopleIwassupposedtoknowthere—puttingleadingquestionsastomyacquaintancesinthesepulchralcity,andsoon.Hislittleeyesglitteredlikemicadiscs—withcuriosity—thoughhetriedtokeepupabitofsuperciliousness.AtfirstIwasastonished,butverysoonIbecameawfullycurioustoseewhathewouldfindoutfromme.Icouldn’tpossiblyimaginewhatIhadinmetomakeitworthhiswhile.Itwasveryprettytoseehowhebaffledhimself,forintruthmybodywasfullonlyofchills,andmyheadhadnothinginitbutthatwretchedsteamboatbusiness.Itwasevidenthetookmeforaperfectlyshamelessprevaricator.Atlasthegotangry,and,toconcealamovementoffuriousannoyance,heyawned.Irose.ThenInoticedasmallsketchinoils,onapanel,representingawoman,drapedandblindfolded,carryingalightedtorch.Thebackgroundwassombre—almostblack.Themovementofthewomanwasstately,andtheeffectofthetorchlightonthefacewassinister.
"Itarrestedme,andhestoodbycivilly,holdinganemptyhalf-pintchampagnebottle(medicalcomforts)withthecandlestuckinit.TomyquestionhesaidMr.
