Крижаний сфінкс
Chapter II. The Schooner Halbrane
So,notwithstandingthefinepromisesofthetwo,IresolvedtoaddressmyselfpersonallytoLenGuy,hardtogetatthoughhemightbe,sosoonasIshouldmeethimalone.
Thenextday,intheafternoon,Isawhimonthequay,andapproachedhim.Itwasplainthathewouldhavepreferredtoavoidme.ItwasimpossiblethatCaptainLenGuy,whokneweverydwellerintheplace,shouldnothaveknownthatIwasastranger,evensupposingthatneitherofmywould-bepatronshadmentionedmetohim.
Hisattitudecouldonlysignifyoneoftwothings—eithermyproposalhadbeencommunicatedtohim,andhedidnotintendtoaccedetoit;orneitherHurliguerlynorAtkinshadspokentohimsincethepreviousday.Inthelattercase,ifheheldalooffromme,itwasbecauseofhismorosenature;itwasbecausehedidnotchoosetoenterintoconversationwithastranger.
AtthemomentwhenIwasabouttoaccosthim,theHalbrane’slieutenantrejoinedhiscaptain,andthelatteravailedhimselfoftheopportunitytoavoidme.Hemadeasigntotheofficertofollowhim,andthetwowalkedawayatarapidpace.
“Thisisserious,”saidItomyself.“ItlooksasthoughIshallfinditdifficulttogainmypoint.But,afterallitonlymeansdelay.To-morrowmorningIwillgoonboardtheHalbrane.
