Таємний спільник
II
“Whatwasthecauseofit—somedisease?”heinquired,withouttheleastsympathyandasifhethoughtthat,ifso,I’dgotnomorethanIdeserved.
“Yes;disease,”Iadmittedinacheerfultonewhichseemedtoshockhim.Butmypointwasgained,becausehehadtoraisehisvoicetogivemehistale.Itisnotworthwhiletorecordhisversion.Itwasjustovertwomonthssinceallthishadhappened,andhehadthoughtsomuchaboutitthatheseemedcompletelymuddledastoitsbearings,butstillimmenselyimpressed.
“Whatwouldyouthinkofsuchathinghappeningonboardyourownship?I’vehadtheSephoraforthesefifteenyears.Iamawell-knownshipmaster.”
Hewasdenselydistressed—andperhapsIshouldhavesympathizedwithhimifIhadbeenabletodetachmymentalvisionfromtheunsuspectedsharerofmycabinasthoughheweremysecondself.Therehewasontheothersideofthebulkhead,fourorfivefeetfromus,nomore,aswesatinthesaloon.IlookedpolitelyatCaptainArchbold(ifthatwashisname),butitwastheotherIsaw,inagraysleepingsuit,seatedonalowstool,hisbarefeetclosetogether,hisarmsfolded,andeverywordsaidbetweenusfallingintotheearsofhisdarkheadbowedonhischest.
“Ihavebeenatseanow,manandboy,forseven-and-thirtyyears,andI’veneverheardofsuchathinghappeninginanEnglishship.Andthatitshouldbemyship.Wifeonboard,too.”
Iwashardlylisteningtohim.
