Кінець рабства
V
”Heswaggeredandstruttedbetweenthedesks,talkingatthetopofhisvoice,andtremblinglikealeafallthewhile,sothatthecurrentbusinessoftheofficewassuspendedforthetimehewasinthere,andeverybodyinthebigroomstoodopen-mouthedlookingathisantics.Afterwardshecouldbeseenduringthehottesthoursofthedaywithhisfaceasredasfirerushingalongupanddownthequaystolookathisshipfromdifferentpointsofview:heseemedinclinedtostopeverystrangerhecameacrossjusttoletthemknow“thattherewouldbenolongeranyoneoverhim;hehadboughtaship;nobodyonearthcouldputhimoutofhisengine-roomnow.”
Goodbargainasshewas,thepriceoftheSofalatookupprettynearallthelottery-money.Hehadlefthimselfnocapitaltoworkwith.Thatdidnotmattersomuch,forthesewerethehalcyondaysofsteamcoastingtrade,beforesomeofthehomeshippingfirmshadthoughtofestablishinglocalfleetstofeedtheirmainlines.These,whenonceorganized,tookthebiggestslicesoutofthatcake,ofcourse;andby-and-byasquadofconfoundedGermantrampsturnedupeastofSuezCanalandsweptupallthecrumbs.Theyprowledonthecheaptoandfroalongthecoastandbetweentheislands,likealotofsharksinthewaterreadytosnapupanythingyouletdrop.Andthenthehigholdtimeswereoverforgood;foryearstheSofalahadmadenomore,hejudged,thanafairliving.
