Кінець рабства
XII
Thefloweringcreepersscentedtheair.Theirfoliageclippedoutbetweentheuprightsmadeasifseveralframesofthickunstirringleavesreflectingthelamplightinagreenglow.ThroughtheopeningathiselbowCaptainWhalleycouldseethegangwaylanternoftheSofalaburningdimbytheshore,theshadowymassesofthetownbeyondtheopenlustrousdarknessoftheriver,and,asifhungalongthestraightedgeoftheprojectingeaves,anarrowblackstripofthenightskyfullofstars—resplendent.Thefamouscigarinhandhehadamomentofcomplacency.
“Atrifle.Somebodymustleadtheway.Ijustshowedthatthethingcouldbedone;butyoumenbroughtuptotheuseofsteamcannotconceivethevastimportanceofmybitofventuresomenesstotheEasterntradeofthetime.Why,thatnewroutereducedtheaveragetimeofasouthernpassagebyelevendaysformorethanhalftheyear.Elevendays!It’sonrecord.Buttheremarkablething—speakingtoasailor—Ishouldsaywas...”
Hetalkedwell,withoutegotism,professionally.Thepowerfulvoice,producedwithouteffort,filledthebungalowevenintotheemptyroomswithadeepandlimpidresonance,seemedtomakeastillnessoutside;andMr.VanWykwassurprisedbytheserenequalityofitstone,liketheperfectionofmanlygentleness.Nursingonesmallfoot,inasilksockandapatentleathershoe,onhisknee,hewasimmenselyentertained.
