Кінець рабства
VII
Ontheseoccasionshereturnedonboardatanearlierhourthanusual;ranacrossthedeckbalancinghimselfwithhisspreadarmslikeatight-ropewalker;andlockingthedoorofhiscabin,hewouldconverseandarguewithhimselfthelivelongnightinanamazingvarietyoftones;storm,sneer,andwhinewithaninexhaustiblepersistence.Massyinhisberthnextdoor,raisinghimselfonhiselbow,woulddiscoverthathissecondhadrememberedthenameofeverywhitemanthathadpassedthroughtheSofalaforyearsandyearsback.Herememberedthenamesofmenthathaddied,thathadgonehome,thathadgonetoAmerica:herememberedinhiscupsthenamesofmenwhoseconnectionwiththeshiphadbeensoshortthatMassyhadalmostforgottenitscircumstancesandcouldbarelyrecalltheirfaces.Theinebriatedvoiceontheothersideofthebulkheadcommenteduponthemallwithanextraordinaryandingeniousvenomofscandalousinventions.Itseemstheyhadalloffendedhiminsomeway,andinreturnhehadfoundthemallout.Hemuttereddarkly;helaughedsardonically;hecrushedthemoneafteranother;butofhischief,Massy,hebabbledwithanenviousandnaiveadmiration.Cleverscoundrel!Don’tmeetthelikesofhimeveryday.Justlookathim.Ha!Great!Shipofhisown.Wouldn’tcatchhimgoingwrong
