Таємний спільник
II
Hefollowedmeinandgazedaround.Myintelligentdoublehadvanished.Iplayedmypart.
“Veryconvenient—isn’tit?”
“Verynice.Verycomf...”Hedidn’tfinishandwentoutbrusquelyasiftoescapefromsomeunrighteouswilesofmine.Butitwasnottobe.Ihadbeentoofrightenednottofeelvengeful;IfeltIhadhimontherun,andImeanttokeephimontherun.Mypoliteinsistencemusthavehadsomethingmenacinginit,becausehegaveinsuddenly.AndIdidnotlethimoffasingleitem;mate’sroom,pantry,storerooms,theverysaillockerwhichwasalsounderthepoop—hehadtolookintothemall.WhenatlastIshowedhimoutonthequarter-deckhedrewalong,spiritlesssigh,andmumbleddismallythathemustreallybegoingbacktohisshipnow.Idesiredmymate,whohadjoinedus,toseetothecaptain’sboat.
Themanofwhiskersgaveablastonthewhistlewhichheusedtowearhangingroundhisneck,andyelled,“Sephora’saway!”Mydoubledownthereinmycabinmusthaveheard,andcertainlycouldnotfeelmorerelievedthanI.Fourfellowscamerunningoutfromsomewhereforwardandwentovertheside,whilemyownmen,appearingondecktoo,linedtherail.Iescortedmyvisitortothegangwayceremoniously,andnearlyoverdidit.Hewasatenaciousbeast.Ontheveryladderhelingered,andinthatunique,guiltilyconscientiousmannerofstickingtothepoint:
“Isay...you...youdon’tthinkthat—”
Icoveredhisvoiceloudly:
“Certainlynot....Iamdelighted.Good-by.
