Кінець рабства
XIII
Shiptooold,andthemantoowellknownintheplace....Mr.Sterne’sfinalrapidwinkingremainedburiedinthedeepdarknesssibilatingwithhiswhispers.
“Supposing,then,hegottheloan,”Mr.VanWykresumedinadeliberateundertone,“onyourownshowinghe’smorethanlikelytogetamortgagee’smanthrustuponhimascaptain.Formypart,IknowthatIwouldmakethatverystipulationmyselfifIhadtofindthemoney.AndasamatteroffactIamthinkingofdoingso.Itwouldbeworthmywhileinmanyways.Doyouseehowthiswouldbearonthecaseunderdiscussion?”
“Thankyou,sir.Iamsureyoucouldn’tgetanybodythatwouldcaremoreforyourinterests.”
“Well,itsuitsmyinterestthatCaptainWhalleyshouldfinishhistime.IshallprobablytakeapassagewithyoudowntheStraits.Ifthatcanbedone,I’llbeonthespotwhenallthesechangestakeplace,andinapositiontolookafteryourinterests.”
“Mr.VanWyk,Iwantnothingbetter.IamsureIaminfinitely...”
“Itakeit,then,thatthismaybedonewithoutanytrouble.”
“Well,sir,whatriskthereiscan’tbehelped;but(speakingtoyouasmyemployernow)thethingismoresafethanitlooks.IfanybodyhadtoldmeofitIwouldn’thavebelievedit,butIhavebeenlookingonmyself.ThatoldSeranghasbeentraineduptothegame.There’snothingthematterwithhis—his—limbs,sir.He’sgotusedtodoingthingshimselfinaremarkableway.Andletmetellyou,sir,thatCaptainWhalley,poorman,isbynomeansuseless.Fact.Letmeexplaintoyou,sir.
