Кінець рабства
XII
VanWykwoulddescendthestepsoftheverandaandstrolloverthegrassplotinfrontofhishouse,downtothewaterside,withafrownonhiswhitebrow.
“You’vebeenlaidupafteranaccident,Ipresume.”
Headdressedthebridge,butbeforeanybodycouldanswerMassywassuretohavealreadyscrambledashoreovertherailandpushedin,squeezingthepalmsofhishandstogether,bowinghissleekheadasifgummedalloverthetopwithblackthreadsandtapes.Andhewouldbesoenragedatthenecessityofhavingtooffersuchanexplanationthathismoaningwouldbepositivelypitiful,whileallthetimehetriedtocomposehisbiglipsintoasmile.
“No,Mr.VanWyk.Youwouldnotbelieveit.Icouldn’tgetoneofthosewretchestotaketheshipout.Notasingleoneofthelazybeastscouldbeinduced,andthelaw,youknow,Mr.VanWyk...”
Hemoanedatgreatlengthapologetically;thewordsconspiracy,plot,envy,cameoutprominently,whinedwithgreaterenergy.Mr.VanWyk,examiningwithafaintgrimacehispolishedfinger-nails,wouldsay,“H’m.Veryunfortunate,”andturnhisbackonhim.
Fastidious,clever,slightlyskeptical,accustomedtothebestsociety(hehadheldamuch-enviedshoreappointmentattheMinistryofMarineforayearprecedinghisretreatfromhisprofessionandfromEurope),hepossessedalatentwarmthoffeelingandacapacityforsympathywhichwereconcealedbyasortofhaughty,arbitraryindifferenceofmannerarisingfromhisearlytraining;andbyasomethinganenemymighthavecalledfoppish,inhisaspect—likeadistortedechoofpastelegance.
