Крижаний сфінкс
Chapter II. The Schooner Halbrane
”
“Idon’tdrink.”
“Well,then,I’lldrinkforbothofus.Oh!don’timagineyouaredealingwithasot!No!nevermorethanisgoodforme,butalwaysasmuch!”
Ifollowedthemantothetavern,andwhileAtkinswasbusyonthedeckoftheship,discussingthepricesofhispurchasesandsales,wetookourplacesintheeatingroomofhisinn.AndfirstIsaidtoHurliguerly:“ItwasonAtkinsthatIreckonedtointroducemetoCaptainLenGuy,forheknowshimveryintimately,ifIamnotmistaken.”
“Pooh!Atkinsisagoodsort,andthecaptainhasanesteemforhim.Buthecan’tdowhatIcan.Letmeactforyou,Mr.Jeorling.”
“Isitsodifficultamattertoarrange,boatswain,andistherenotacabinonboardtheHalbrane?Thesmallestwoulddoforme,andIwillpay—”
“Allright,Mr.Jeorling!Thereisacabin,whichhasneverbeenused,andsinceyoudon’tmindputtingyourhandinyourpocketifrequired—however—betweenourselves—itwilltakesomebodysharperthanyouthink,andwhoisn’tgoodoldAtkins,toinduceCaptainLenGuytotakeapassenger.Yes,indeed,itwilltakeallthesmartnessofthegoodfellowwhonowdrinkstoyourhealth,regrettingthatyoudon’treturnthecompliment!”
Whatawinkitwasthataccompaniedthissentiment!Andthenthemantookashortblackpipeoutofthepocketofhisjacket,andsmokedlikeasteamerinfullblast.
“Mr.Hurliguerly?”saidI.
“Mr.Jeorling.
