Кінець рабства
XII
VanWyk,favorablyimpressed,andsuddenlymollifiedbyadesiretolaugh,interrupted—
“That’sallrightifyoumakeitapersonalmatter;butyoucandonolessthansitdownandsmokeacigarwithme.”
Aslightpause,thenCaptainWhalleysteppedforwardheavily.Astotheregularityoftheservice,forthefuturehemadehimselfresponsibleforit;andhisnamewasWhalley—perhapstoasailor(hewasspeakingtoasailor,washenot?)notaltogetherunfamiliar.Therewasalighthousenow,onanisland.MaybeMr.VanWykhimself...
“Ohyes.Ohindeed.”Mr.VanWykcaughtonatonce.Heindicatedachair.Howveryinteresting.ForhisownparthehadseensomeserviceinthelastAcheenWar,buthadneverbeensofarEast.WhalleyIsland?Ofcourse.Nowthatwasveryinteresting.Whatchangeshisguestmusthaveseensince.
“Icanlookfurtherbackeven—onawholehalf-century.”
CaptainWhalleyexpandedabit.Theflavorofagoodcigar(itwasaweakness)hadgonestraighttohisheart,alsothecivilityofthatyoungman.Therewassomethinginthataccidentalcontactofwhichhehadbeenstarvedinhisyearsofstruggle.
Thefrontwallretreatingmadeasquarerecessfurnishedlikearoom.Alampwithamilkyglassshade,suspendedbelowtheslopeofthehighroofattheendofaslenderbrasschain,threwabrightroundoflightuponalittletablebearinganopenbookandanivorypaper-knife.And,inthetranslucentshadowsbeyond,othertablescouldbeseen,anumberofeasy-chairsofvariousshapes,withagreatprofusionofskinrugsstrewnontheteakwoodplankingallovertheveranda.
