Кінець рабства

           Attheheadofthestepsthepatriarchalfigure,whowasthenewcaptainoftheSofalaapparently(hehadseenarounddozenofthem,butnotoneofthatsort),toweredwithoutadvancing.Thelittledogbarkedunceasingly,tillaflickofMr.VanWyk’shandkerchiefmadehimspringasideintosilence.CaptainWhalley,openingthematter,wasmetbyapunctiliouslypolitebutdeterminedopposition.

           Theycarriedontheirdiscussionstandingwheretheyhadcomefacetoface.Mr.VanWykobservedhisvisitorwithattention.Thenatlast,asifforcedoutofhisreserve—

           “Iamsurprisedthatyoushouldintercedeforsuchaconfoundedfool.”

           Thisoutbreakwasalmostcomplimentary,asifitsmeaninghadbeen,“Thatsuchamanasyoushouldintercede!”CaptainWhalleyletitpassbywithoutflinching.Onewouldhavethoughthehadheardnothing.Hesimplywentontostatethathewaspersonallyinterestedinputtingthingsstraightbetweenthem.Personally...

           ButMr.VanWyk,reallycarriedawaybyhisdisgustwithMassy,becameveryincisive—

           “Indeed—ifIamtobefrankwithyou—hiswholecharacterdoesnotseemtomeparticularlyestimableortrustworthy...”

           CaptainWhalley,alwaysstraight,seemedtogrowaninchtallerandbroader,asifthegirthofhischesthadsuddenlyexpandedunderhisbeard.

           “Mydearsir,youdon’tthinkIcameheretodiscussamanwithwhomIam—Iam—h’m—closelyassociated.”

           Asortofsolemnsilencelastedforamoment.Hewasnotusedtoaskingfavors,buttheimportanceheattachedtothisaffairhadmadehimwillingtotry....Mr.