Крижаний сфінкс
Chapter XVIII. A Revelation
ItwasthatWestwasonlyawaitingtheordertochangethehelm.Whatmortalanguishsoeverthecaptain’smustbe,Iunderstoodtoowellthathewouldnotgivethatorderwithouthesitation.
ForseveraldayspastIhadnotseenthehalf-breed,or,least,Ihadnotexchangedawordwithhim.Hewasboycottedbythewholecrew,withtheexceptionoftheboatswain,whowascarefultoaddresshim,althoughrarelygotawordinreturn.DirkPeterstooknotfaintestnoticeofthisstateofthings.Heremainedcompletelyabsorbedinhisownthoughts,yet,hadheheardWestgivethewordtosteernorth,Iknownottowhatactsofviolencehemighthavebeendriven.Heseemedtoavoidme;wasthisfromadesirenottocompromiseme?
Onthe17th,intheafternoon,however,DirkPetersmanifestedanintentionofspeakingtome,andnever,never,couldIhaveimaginedwhatIwastolearninthatinterview.
Itwasabouthalf-pasttwo,and,notfeelingwell,Igonetomycabin,wherethesidewindowwasopen,thatatthebackwasclosed.Iheardaknockatthedoorandaskedwhowasthere.
“DirkPeters,”wasthereply.
“Youwanttospeaktome?”
“Yes.”
“Iamcomingout.”
“Ifyouplease—Ishouldprefer—mayIcomeintoyourcabin?”
“Comein.”
Heentered,andshutthedoorbehindhim?
WithoutrisingIsignedtohimtoseathimselfarm-chair,butheremainedstanding.
“Whatdoyouwantofme,DirkPeters?”Iaskedatlength,asheseemedunabletomakeuphismindtospeak.
