Кінець рабства
XIII
Thesoundofasoftlyknowinglaughnearlydrovehimtodespair.Hesworeviolentlyunderhisbreath.Thefoolwouldkeephimawakeallnightnowforcertain.Hecursedhisluck.Hewantedtoforgethismaddeningtroublesinsleepsometimes.Hecoulddetectnomovements.Withoutapparentlymakingtheslightestattempttogetup,Jackwentonsniggeringtohimselfwherehelay;thenbegantospeak,wherehehadleftoffasitwere—
“Massy!Ilovethedirtyrascal.HewouldliketoseehispooroldJackstarve—butjustyoulookwherehehasclimbedto.”...Hehiccoughedinasuperior,leisurelymanner....“Ship-owningitwiththebest.Alotteryticketyouwant.Ha!ha!Iwillgiveyoulotterytickets,myboy.Lettheoldshipsinkandtheoldchumstarve—that’sright.Hedon’tgowrong—Massydon’t.Nothe.He’sagenius—thatmanis.That’sthewaytowinyourmoney.Shipandchummustgo.”
“Thesillyfoolhastakenittoheart,”mutteredMassytohimself.And,listeningwithasoftenedexpressionoffaceforanyslightsignofreturningdrowsiness,hewasdiscouragedprofoundlybyaburstoflaughterfullofjoyfulirony.
“Wouldliketoseeheratthebottomofthesea!Oh,youclever,cleverdevil!Wishhersunk,eh?Ishouldthinkyouwould,myboy;thedamnedoldthingandallyourtroubleswithher.Rakeintheinsurancemoney—turnyourbackonyouroldchum—all’swell—gentlemanagain.”
AgrimstillnesshadcomeoverMassy’sface.Onlyhisbigblackeyesrolleduneasily.Theravingfool.Andyetitwasalltrue.Yes.Lotterytickets,too.Alltrue.
