Кінець рабства
XI
Butwhatcouldtherebebehind?
Beforetheyhadparted,afterappointingameetinginasolicitor’sofficeearlyonthemorrow,Massywasaskinghimself,Whatishismotive?Hespentthenightinhammeringouttheclausesoftheagreement—auniqueinstrumentofitssortwhosetenorgotbruitedabroadsomehowandbecamethetalkandwonderoftheport.
Massy’sobjecthadbeentosecureforhimselfasmanywaysaspossibleofgettingridofhispartnerwithoutbeingcalleduponatoncetopaybackhisshare.CaptainWhalley’seffortsweredirectedtomakingthemoneysecure.WasitnotIvy’smoney—apartofherfortunewhoseonlyotherassetwasthetime-defyingbodyofheroldfather?Sureofhisforbearanceinthestrengthofhisloveforher,heaccepted,withstatelyserenity,Massy’sstupidlycunningparagraphsagainsthisincompetence,hisdishonesty,hisdrunkenness,forthesakeofotherstringentstipulations.Attheendofthreeyearshewasatlibertytowithdrawfromthepartnership,takinghismoneywithhim.Provisionwasmadeforformingafundtopayhimoff.ButifhelefttheSofalabeforetheterm,fromwhatevercause(barringdeath),Massywastohaveawholeyearforpaying.“Illness?”thelawyerhadsuggested:ayoungmanfreshfromEuropeandnotoverburdenedwithbusiness,whowasratheramused.Massybegantowhineunctuously,“Howcouldhebeexpected?...”
“Letthatgo,”CaptainWhalleyhadsaidwithasuperbconfidenceinhisbody.“ActsofGod,”headded.
