Кінець рабства
XIII
Anintrigueofthatsortwashardlyworthtroublingabout,hejudged;butstill,withsuchafoolasMassytodealwith,Whalleyoughttoandmustbewarned.
AtthismomentCaptainWhalley,boltupright,thedeepcavitiesoftheeyesoverhungbyabushyfrown,andonelargebrownhandrestingoneachsideofhisemptyplate,spokeacrossthetableclothabruptly—“Mr.VanWyk,you’vealwaystreatedmewiththemosthumaneconsideration.”
“Mydearcaptain,youmaketoomuchofasimplefactthatIamnotasavage.”Mr.VanWyk,utterlyrevoltedbythethoughtofSterne’sobscureattempt,raisedhisvoiceincisively,asifthematehadbeenhidingsomewherewithinearshot.“AnyconsiderationIhavebeenabletoshowwasnomorethantherightfuldueofacharacterI’velearnedtoregardbythistimewithanesteemthatnothingcanshake.”
Aslightringofglassmadehimlifthiseyesfromthesliceofpine-applehewascuttingintosmallpiecesonhisplate.InchanginghispositionCaptainWhalleyhadcontrivedtoupsetanemptytumbler.
Withoutlookingthatway,leaningsidewaysonhiselbow,hisotherhandshadinghisbrow,hegropedshakilyforit,thendesisted.VanWykstaredblankly,asifsomethingmomentoushadhappenedallatonce.Hedidnotknowwhyheshouldfeelsostartled;butheforgotSterneutterlyforthemoment.
“Why,what’sthematter?”
AndCaptainWhalley,half-averted,inadeadened,agitatedvoice,muttered—
“Esteem!”
“AndImayaddsomethingmore,”Mr.VanWyk,verysteady-eyed,pronouncedslowly.
