Кінець рабства
XII
Hemanagedtokeepanalmostmilitarydisciplineamongstthecooliesoftheestatehehaddraggedintothelightofdayoutofthetangleandshadowsofthejungle;andthewhiteshirtheputoneveryeveningwithitsstiffglossyfrontandhighcollarlookedasifhehadmeanttopreservethedecentceremonyofevening-dress,buthadwoundathickcrimsonsashabovehishipsasaconcessiontothewilderness,oncehisadversary,nowhisvanquishedcompanion.
Moreover,itwasahygienicprecaution.Wornwideopeninfront,ashortjacketofsomeairysilkenstufffloatedfromhisshoulders.Hisfluffy,fairhair,thinatthetop,curledslightlyatthesides;acarefullyarrangedmustache,anungarnishedforehead,thegleamoflowpatentshoespeepingunderthewidebottomoftrowserscutstraightfromthesamestuffasthegossamercoat,completedafigurerecalling,withitssash,apiratechiefofromance,andatthesametimetheeleganceofaslightlybalddandyindulging,inseclusion,atasteforunorthodoxcostume.
Itwashiseveningget-up.ThepropertimefortheSofalatoarriveatBatuBeruwasanhourbeforesunset,andhelookedpicturesque,andsomehowquitecorrecttoo,walkingatthewater’sedgeonthebackgroundofgrassslopecrownedwithalowlongbungalowwithanimmenselysteeproofofpalmthatch,andcladtotheeavesinfloweringcreepers.WhiletheSofalawasbeingmadefasthestrolledintheshadeofthefewtreesleftnearthelanding-place,waitingtillhecouldgoonboard.Herwhitemenwerenotofhiskind.
