Спрут: Каліфорнійська історія

           Tofurtherloosenhismuscles,hetookacoupleofturnsthelengthofheroom,notingwithsatisfactionitsfineappointments,thepaddedredcarpet,thedullolivegreentintofthewalls,thefewchoiceengravings—portraitsofMarshall,Taney,Field,andacolouredlithograph—excellentlydone—oftheGrandCanyonoftheColorado—thedeep-seatedleatherchairs,thelargeandcrowdedbookcase(toppedwithabustofJamesLick,andahugegreenishglobe),thewastebasketofwovencolouredgrass,madebyNavajoIndians,themassivesilverinkstandonthedesk,theelaboratefilingcabinet,completeineveryparticular,andtheshelvesoftinboxes,padlocked,impressive,grave,bearingthenamesofclients,casesandestates.

           Hewasbetweenthirty-oneandthirty-fiveyearsofage.UnlikeHarran,heresembledhismother,buthewasmuchdarkerthanAnnieDerrickandhiseyesweremuchfuller,theeyeballprotruding,givinghimapop-eyed,foreignexpression,quiteunusualandunexpected.Hishairwasblack,andheworeasmall,tight,pointedmustache,whichhewasinthehabitofpushingdelicatelyupwardfromthecornersofhislipswiththeballofhisthumb,thelittlefingerextended.Asoftenashemadethisgesture,heprefaceditwithalittletwistinggestureoftheforearminordertobringhiscuffintoview,and,infact,thismovementbyitselfwashabitual.

           Hewasdressedcarefully,histrouserscreased,apinkroseinhislapel.Hisshoeswereofpatentleather,hiscutawaycoatwasofveryroughblackcheviot,hisdouble-breastedwaistcoatoftancoveredclothwithbuttonsofsmokedpearl.