Серце темряви
Chapter 1
Fivesuchinstalmentscame,withtheirabsurdairofdisorderlyflightwiththelootofinnumerableoutfitshopsandprovisionstores,that,onewouldthink,theywerelugging,afteraraid,intothewildernessforequitabledivision.Itwasaninextricablemessofthingsdecentinthemselvesbutthathumanfollymadelooklikethespoilsofthieving.
"ThisdevotedbandcalleditselftheEldoradoExploringExpedition,andIbelievetheyweresworntosecrecy.Theirtalk,however,wasthetalkofsordidbuccaneers:itywasrecklesswithouthardihood,greedywithoutaudacity,andcruelwithoutcourage;therewasnotanatomofforesightorofseriousintentioninthewholebatchofthem,andtheydidnotseemawarethesethingsarewantedfortheworkoftheworld.Toteartreasureoutofthebowelsofthelandwastheirdesire,withnomoremoralpurposeatthebackofitthanthereisinburglarsbreakingintoasafe.WhopaidtheexpensesofthenobleenterpriseIdon’tknow;buttheuncleofourmanagerwasleaderofthatlot.
"Inexteriorheresembledabutcherinapoorneighbourhood,andhiseyeshadalookofsleepycunning.Hecarriedhisfatpaunchwithostentationonhisshortlegs,andduringthetimehisganginfestedthestationspoketonoonebuthisnephew.Youcouldseethesetworoamingaboutalldaylongwiththeirheadsclosetogetherinaneverlastingconfab.
"Ihadgivenupworryingmyselfabouttherivets.One’scapacityforthatkindoffollyismorelimitedthanyouwouldsuppose.IsaidHang!—andletthingsslide
