Кінець рабства
XIII
Isee,andhehimselfiswellaware—IassumeIamspeakingtoamanofsense—heiswellawarethathislegsaregivingout.”
“Hislegs—ah!”Mr.Sternewasdisconcerted,andthenturnedsulky.“Youmaycallithislegsifyoulike;whatIwanttoknowiswhetherheintendstoclearoutquietly.That’sagoodone,too!Hislegs!Pooh!”
“Why,yes.Onlylookatthewayhewalks.”Mr.VanWyktookhimupinaperfectlycoolandundoubtingtone.“Thequestion,however,iswhetheryoursenseofdutydoesnotcarryyoutoofarfromyourtrueinterest.Afterall,Itoocoulddosomethingtoserveyou.YouknowwhoIam.”
“EverybodyalongtheStraitshasheardofyou,sir.”
Mr.VanWykpresumedthatthismeantsomethingfavorable.Sternehadasoftlaughatthispleasantry.Heshouldthinkso!Totheopeningstatement,thatthepartnershipagreementwastoexpireattheendofthisverytrip,hegaveanattentiveassent.Hewasaware.Oneheardofnothingelseonboardalltheblesseddaylong.AstoMassy,itwasnosecretthathewasinajollydeepholewiththeseworn-outboilers.Hewouldhavetoborrowsomewhereacoupleofhundredfirstofalltopayoffthecaptain;andthenhewouldhavetoraisemoneyonmortgageupontheshipforthenewboilers—thatis,ifhecouldfindalenderatall.Atbestitmeantlossoftime,abreakinthetrade,shortearningsfortheyear—andtherewasalwaysthedangerofhavinghisconnectionfilchedawayfromhimbytheGermans.Itwaswhisperedaboutthathehadalreadytriedtwofirms.Neitherwouldhaveanythingtodowithhim.
