Крижаний сфінкс
Chapter II. The Schooner Halbrane
Whetherhelikesitorwhetherhedoesn’t,thisLenGuywillhavetohearwhatI’vegottosay,andtogivemeananswer,yesorno!”
Besides,thecaptainoftheHalbranemightcomeatdinner-timetotheGreenCormorant,wheretheship’speopleusuallytooktheirmealswhenashore.SoIwaited,anddidnotgotodinneruntillate.Iwasdisappointed,however,forneitherthecaptainnoranyonebelongingtotheshippatronizedtheGreenCormorantthatday.Ihadtodinealone,exactlyasIhadbeendoingeverydayfortwomonths.
Afterdinner,abouthalf-pastseven,whenitwasdark,Iwentouttowalkontheport,keepingonthesideofthehouses.Thequaywasquitedeserted;notamanoftheHalbranecrewwasashore.Theship’sboatswerealongside,rockinggentlyontherisingtide.Iremainedthereuntilnine,walkingupanddowntheedgeinfullviewoftheHalbrane.Graduallythemassoftheshipbecameindistinct,therewasnomovementandnolight.Ireturnedtotheinn,whereIfoundAtkinssmokinghispipenearthedoor.
“Atkins,”saidI,“itseemsthatCaptainLenGuydoesnotcaretocometoyourinnveryoften?”
“HesometimescomesonSunday,andthisisSaturday,Mr.Jeorling.”
“Youhavenotspokentohim?”
“Yes,Ihave.”
Atkinswasvisiblyembarrassed.
“YouhaveinformedhimthatapersonofyouracquaintancewishedtotakepassageontheHalbrane?”
“Yes.”
“Whatwashisanswer?”
“NotwhateitheryouorIwouldhavewished,Mr.Jeorling
