Кінець рабства
XIV
Hehadsaidhislastgood-bytoit.Butwhatbelongedtoher,thathemeanttosave.Onlyalittlemoney.Hewouldtakeittoherinhisownhands—thislastgiftofamanthathadlastedtoolong.Andanimmenseandfierceimpulse,theverypassionofpaternity,flamedupwithalltheunquenchedvigorofhisworthlesslifeinadesiretoseeherface.
JustacrossthedeckMassyhadgonestraighttohiscabin,struckalight,andhuntedupthenoteofthedreamednumberwhosefigureshadflamedupalsowiththefiercenessofanotherpassion.Hemustcontrivesomehownottomissadrawing.Thatnumbermeantsomething.Butwhatexpedientcouldhecontrivetokeephimselfgoing?
“Wretchedmiser!”hemumbled.
IfMr.Sternecouldatnotimehavetoldhimanythingnewabouthispartner,hecouldhavetoldMr.Sternethatanotherusecouldbemadeofaman’safflictionthanjusttokickhimout,andthusdeferthetermofadifficultpaymentforayear.Tokeepthesecretoftheafflictionandinducehimtostaywasabettermove.Ifwithoutmeans,hewouldbeanxioustoremain;andthatsettledthequestionofrefundinghimhisshare.HedidnotknowexactlyhowmuchCaptainWhalleywasdisabled;butifitsohappenedthatheputtheshipashoresomewhereforgoodandall,itwasnottheowner’sfault—wasit?Hewasnotobligedtoknowthattherewasanythingwrong.Butprobablynobodywouldraisesuchapoint,andtheshipwasfullyinsured.Hehadhadenoughself-restrainttopayupthepremiums.Butthiswasnotall.
