Кінець рабства
III
Tokeeptheshipgoinghehadbeeninvolvinghimselfdeepereveryyear.Hewasdefenselessbeforetheinsidiousworkofadversity,towhosemoreopenassaultshecouldpresentafirmfront;likeacliffthatstandsunmovedtheopenbatteringofthesea,withaloftyignoranceofthetreacherousbackwashunderminingitsbase.Asitwas,everyliabilitysatisfied,herrequestanswered,andowingnomanapenny,thereremainedtohimfromtheproceedsasumoffivehundredpoundsputawaysafely.Inadditionhehaduponhispersonsomefortyodddollars—enoughtopayhishotelbill,providinghedidnotlingertoolonginthemodestbedroomwherehehadtakenrefuge.
Scantilyfurnished,andwithawaxedfloor,itopenedintooneoftheside-verandas.Thestragglingbuildingofbricks,asairyasabird-cage,resoundedwiththeincessantflappingofrattanscreensworriedbythewindbetweenthewhite-washedsquarepillarsofthesea-front.Theroomswerelofty,arippleofsunshineflowedovertheceilings;andtheperiodicalinvasionsoftouristsfromsomepassengersteamerintheharborflittedthroughthewind-sweptduskoftheapartmentswiththetumultoftheirunfamiliarvoicesandimpermanentpresences,likerelaysofmigratoryshadescondemnedtospeedheadlongroundtheearthwithoutleavingatrace.
