Крижаний сфінкс

Chapter III. Captain Len Guy

           

           IreturnedtotheGreenCormorant,andtookupmypostbehindthewindowpanes,whichweredimmedbythehissingrain.ThereIwaited,nervous,impatient,andinastateofgrowingirritation.Twohoursworeawaythus.Then,withtheinstabilityofthewindsintheKerguelens,theweatherbecamecalmbeforeIdid.Iopenedmywindow,andatthesamemomentasailorsteppedintooneoftheboatsoftheHalbraneandlaidholdofapairofoars,whileasecondmanseatedhimselfintheback,butwithouttakingthetillerropes.Theboattouchedthelanding,placeandCaptainLenGuysteppedonshore.

           InafewsecondsIwasoutoftheinn,andconfrontedhim.

           “Sir,”saidIinacoldhardtone.

           CaptainLenGuylookedatmesteadily,andIwasstruckbythesadnessofhiseyes,whichwereasblackasink.Theninaverylowvoiceheasked:

           “Youareastranger?”

           “AstrangerattheKerguelens?Yes.”

           “OfEnglishnationality?”

           “No.American.”

           Hesalutedme,andIreturnedthecurtgesture.

           “Sir,”Iresumed,“IbelieveMr.AtkinsoftheGreenCormoranthasspokentoyourespectingaproposalofmine.Thatproposal,itseemstome,deservedafavourablereceptiononthepartofa—”

           “Theproposaltotakepassageonmyship?”interposedCaptainLenGuy.

           “Precisely.”

           “Iregret,sir,IregretthatIcouldnotagreetoyourrequest.”

           “Willyoutellmewhy?”

           “BecauseIamnotinthehabitoftakingpassengers.Thatisthefirstreason.

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