Кінець рабства
IX
Massy,sir,Icould...”
“Youareasneak,”interruptedMassyinagreathurry,andevenmanagedtogetsofarastorepeat,“acommonsneak,”beforethematehadbrokeninargumentatively—
“Now,sir,whatisityouwant?Youwant...”
“Iwant—Iwant,”stammeredMassy,infuriatedandastonished—“Iwant.HowdoyouknowthatIwantanything?Howdareyou?...Whatdoyoumean?...Whatareyouafter—you...”
“Promotion.”Sternesilencedhimwithasortofcandidbravado.Theengineer’sroundsoftcheeksquiveredstill,buthesaidquietlyenough—
“Youareonlyworryingmyheadoff,”andSternemethimwithaconfidentlittlesmile.
“AchapinbusinessIknow(wellupintheworldheisnow)usedtotellmethatthiswastheproperway.‘Alwayspushontothefront,’hewouldsay.‘Keepyourselfwellbeforeyourboss.Interferewheneveryougetachance.Showhimwhatyouknow.Worryhimintoseeingyou.’Thatwashisadvice.NowIknownootherbossthanyouhere.Youaretheowner,andnooneelsecountsforthatmuchinmyeyes.See,Mr.Massy?Iwanttogeton.ImakenosecretofitthatIamoneofthesortthatmeanstogeton.Thesearethementomakeuseof,sir.Youhaven’tarrivedatthetopofthetree,sir,withoutfindingthatout—Idaresay.”
“Worryyourbossinordertogeton,”mumbledMassy,asifawestruckbytheirreverentoriginalityoftheidea.“Ishouldn’twonderifthiswasjustwhattheBlueAnchorpeoplekickedyououtoftheemployfor.
