Спрут: Каліфорнійська історія
Chapter VIII
Nostandardsofmeasurementinhismentalequipmentwouldapplytotheactualman,anditbegantodawnuponhimthatpossiblyitwasnotbecausethesestandardsweredifferentinkind,butthattheywerelamentablydeficientinsize.Hebegantoseethatherewasthemannotonlygreat,butlarge;many-sided,ofvastsympathies,whounderstoodwithequalintelligence,thehumannatureinanhabitualdrunkard,theethicsofamasterpieceofpainting,andthefinancieringandoperationoftenthousandmilesofrailroad.
“Ihadneverlookedatitinjustthatlight,”repeatedPresley.“Thereisagreatdealinwhatyousay.”
“IfIamtolisten,”continuedShelgrim,“tothatkindoftalk,Iprefertolistentoitfirsthand.IwouldratherlistentowhatthegreatFrenchpainterhastosay,thantowhatYOUhavetosayaboutwhathehasalreadysaid.”
Hisspeech,loudandemphaticatfirst,whentheideaofwhathehadtosaywasfreshinhismind,lapsedandlowereditselfattheendofhissentencesasthoughhehadalreadyabandonedandlostinterestinthatthought,sothattheconcludingwordswereindistinct,beneaththegreybeardandmustache.Alsoattimestherewasthefaintestsuggestionofalisp.
“Iwrotethatpoem,”hazardedPresley,“atatimewhenIwasterriblyupset.Ilive,”heconcluded,“ordidliveontheLosMuertosranchinTulareCounty—MagnusDerrick’sranch.”
“TheRailroad’sranchLEASEDtoMr.Derrick,”observedShelgrim.
Presleyspreadouthishandswithahelpless,resignedgesture.
“And,”continuedthePresidentoftheP.andS.W.
