Кінець рабства
X
”
Then,whentheSeranghadmadehisanswer,thelowtonesonthebridgewouldcease,andeverythingroundSterneseemedtobecomemorestillandmoreprofoundlysilent.Slightlychilledandwithhisbackachingalittlefromlongimmobility,hewouldstealawaytohisroomontheportsideofthedeck.Hehadlongsincepartedwiththelastvestigeofincredulity;oftheoriginalemotions,setintoatumultbythediscovery,sometraceofthefirstawealoneremained.Nottheaweofthemanhimself—hecouldblowhimupsky-highwithsixwords—ratheritwasanawestruckindignationattherecklessperversityofavarice(whatelsecoulditbe?),atthemadandsomberresolutionthatforthesakeofafewdollarsmoreseemedtosetatnaughtthecommonruleofconscienceandpretendedtostruggleagainsttheverydecreeofProvidence.
Youcouldnotfindanothermanlikethisoneinthewholeroundworld—thankGod.Therewassomethingdevilishlydauntlessinthecharacterofsuchadeceptionwhichmadeyoupause.
Otherconsiderationsoccurringtohisprudencehadkepthimtongue-tiedfromdaytoday.Itseemedtohimnowthatitwouldyethavebeeneasiertospeakoutinthefirsthourofdiscovery.Healmostregrettednothavingmadearowatonce.Butthentheverymonstrosityofthedisclosure...Why!Hecouldhardlyfaceithimself,letalonepointingitouttosomebodyelse.Moreover,withadesperadoofthatsortoneneverknew.Theobjectwasnottogethimout(thatwasaswellasdonealready),buttostepintohisplace.Bizarreasthethoughtseemedhemighthaveshownfight.
