Таємний спільник
II
IfhehadonlyknownhowafraidIwasofhisputtingmyfeelingofidentitywiththeothertothetest!But,strangelyenough—(Ithoughtofitonlyafterwards)—Ibelievethathewasnotalittledisconcertedbythereversesideofthatweirdsituation,bysomethinginmethatremindedhimofthemanhewasseeking—suggestedamysterioussimilitudetotheyoungfellowhehaddistrustedanddislikedfromthefirst.
Howeverthatmighthavebeen,thesilencewasnotveryprolonged.Hetookanotherobliquestep.
“IreckonIhadnomorethanatwo-milepulltoyourship.Notabitmore.”
“Andquiteenough,too,inthisawfulheat,”Isaid.
Anotherpausefullofmistrustfollowed.Necessity,theysay,ismotherofinvention,butfear,too,isnotbarrenofingenioussuggestions.AndIwasafraidhewouldaskmepoint-blankfornewsofmyotherself.
“Nicelittlesaloon,isn’tit?”Iremarked,asifnoticingforthefirsttimethewayhiseyesroamedfromonecloseddoortotheother.“Andverywellfittedout,too.Here,forinstance,”Icontinued,reachingoverthebackofmyseatnegligentlyandflingingthedooropen,“ismybathroom.”
Hemadeaneagermovement,buthardlygaveitaglance.Igotup,shutthedoorofthebathroom,andinvitedhimtohavealookround,asifIwereveryproudofmyaccommodation.Hehadtoriseandbeshownround,buthewentthroughthebusinesswithoutanyraptureswhatever.
“Andnowwe’llhavealookatmystateroom,”Ideclared,inavoiceasloudasIdaredtomakeit,crossingthecabintothestarboardsidewithpurposelyheavysteps.
