Кінець рабства
III
Hecouldrememberasaboyhowfrequentlywaitersattheinns,countrytradesmenandsmallpeopleofthatsort,usedto“Mylord”theoldwarrioronthestrengthofhisappearance.
CaptainWhalleyhimself(hewouldhaveenteredtheNavyifhisfatherhadnotdiedbeforehewasfourteen)hadsomethingofagrandairwhichwouldhavesuitedanoldandgloriousadmiral;buthebecamelostlikeastrawintheeddyofabrookamongsttheswarmofbrownandyellowhumanityfillingathoroughfare,thatbycontrastwiththevastandemptyavenuehehadleftseemedasnarrowasalaneandabsolutelyriotouswithlife.Thewallsofthehouseswereblue;theshopsoftheChinamenyawnedlikecavernouslairs;heapsofnondescriptmerchandiseoverflowedthegloomofthelongrangeofarcades,andthefieryserenityofsunsettookthemiddleofthestreetfromendtoendwithaglowlikethereflectionofafire.Itfellonthebrightcolorsandthedarkfacesofthebare-footedcrowd,onthepallidyellowbacksofthehalf-nakedjostlingcoolies,ontheaccoutermentsofatallSikhtrooperwithapartedbeardandfiercemustachesonsentrybeforethegateofthepolicecompound.Loomingverybigabovetheheadsinaredhazeofdust,thetightlypackedcarofthecabletramwaynavigatedcautiouslyupthehumanstream,withtheincessantblareofitshorn,inthemannerofasteamergropinginafog.
CaptainWhalleyemergedlikeadiverontheotherside,andinthedesertshadebetweenthewallsofclosedwarehousesremovedhishattocoolhisbrow.Acertaindisreputeattachedtothecallingofalandladyofaboarding-house.
