Таємний спільник
II
Iknewwhatthatmeant.Hewasmakingforthecompanion;andpresentlyhisvoicewasoutsidemydoor.
“Wearedrawinginprettyfast,sir.Landlooksratherclose.”
“Verywell,”Ianswered.“Iamcomingondeckdirectly.”
Iwaitedtillhewasgoneoutofthecuddy,thenrose.Mydoublemovedtoo.Thetimehadcometoexchangeourlastwhispers,forneitherofuswasevertoheareachother’snaturalvoice.
“Lookhere!”Iopenedadrawerandtookoutthreesovereigns.“Takethisanyhow.I’vegotsixandI’dgiveyouthelot,onlyImustkeepalittlemoneytobuysomefruitandvegetablesforthecrewfromnativeboatsaswegothroughSundaStraits.”
Heshookhishead.
“Takeit,”Iurgedhim,whisperingdesperately.“Noonecantellwhat—”
Hesmiledandslappedmeaninglytheonlypocketofthesleepingjacket.Itwasnotsafe,certainly.ButIproducedalargeoldsilkhandkerchiefofmine,andtyingthethreepiecesofgoldinacorner,presseditonhim.Hewastouched,Isupposed,becausehetookitatlastandtieditquicklyroundhiswaistunderthejacket,onhisbareskin.
Oureyesmet;severalsecondselapsed,till,ourglancesstillmingled,Iextendedmyhandandturnedthelampout.ThenIpassedthroughthecuddy,leavingthedoorofmyroomwideopen....“Steward!”
Hewasstilllingeringinthepantryinthegreatnessofhiszeal,givingarub-uptoaplatedcruetstandthelastthingbeforegoingtobed.Beingcarefulnottowakeupthemate,whoseroomwasopposite,Ispokeinanundertone.
Helookedroundanxiously.
