Кінець рабства
XIII
“Hold!Enough!”CaptainWhalleydidnotchangehisattitudeorraisehisvoice.“Saynomore!Icanmakeyounoreturn.Iamtoopoorevenforthatnow.Youresteemisworthhaving.Youarenotamanthatwouldstooptodeceivethepoorestsortofdevilonearth,ormakeashipunseaworthyeverytimehetakeshertosea.”
Mr.VanWyk,leaningforward,hisfacegonepinkallover,withthestarchedtable-napkinoverhisknees,wasinclinedtomistrusthissenses,hispowerofcomprehension,thesanityofhisguest.
“Where?Why?InthenameofGod!—what’sthis?Whatship?Idon’tunderstandwho...”
“Then,inthenameofGod,itisI!Aship’sunseaworthywhenhercaptaincan’tsee.Iamgoingblind.”
Mr.VanWykmadeaslightmovement,andsatverystillafterwardsforafewseconds;then,withthethoughtofSterne’s“Thegame’sup,”heduckedunderthetabletopickupthenapkinwhichhadslippedoffhisknees.Thiswasthegamethatwasup.AndatthesametimethemuffledvoiceofCaptainWhalleypassedoverhim—
“I’vedeceivedthemall.Nobodyknows.”
Heemergedflushedtotheeyes.CaptainWhalley,motionlessunderthefullblazeofthelamp,shadedhisfacewithhishand.
“Andyouhadthatcourage?”
“Callitbywhatnameyoulike.Butyouareahumaneman—a—a—gentleman,Mr.VanWyk.YoumayhaveaskedmewhatIhaddonewithmyconscience.”
Heseemedtomuse,profoundlysilent,verystillinhismournfulpose.
“Ibegantotamperwithitinmypride.Youbegintoseealotofthingswhenyouaregoingblind.Icouldnotbefrankwithanoldchumeven.
