Крижаний сфінкс
Chapter III. Captain Len Guy
IhadtoacknowledgethatIhadbeennomorefortunateinmynegotiationsthanmyhosthimself,andtheavowalsurprisedhimnotalittle.Hecouldnotunderstandthecaptain’sobstinaterefusal.And—afactwhichtouchedhimmorenearly—theGreenCormoranthadnotbeenvisitedbyeitherLenGuyorhiscrewsincethearrivaloftheHalbrane.Themenwereevidentlyactinguponorders.SofarasHurliguerlywasconcerned,itwaseasytounderstandthatafterhisimprudentadvancehedidnotcaretokeepupuselessrelationswithme.Iknewnotwhetherhehadattemptedtoshaketheresolutionofhischief;butIwascertainofonething;ifhehadmadeanysucheffortithadfailed.
Duringthethreefollowingdays,the10th,11th,and12thofAugust,theworkofrepairingandre-victuallingtheschoonerwentonbriskly;butallthiswasdonewithregularity,andwithoutsuchnoiseandquarrellingasseamenatanchorusuallyindulgein.TheHalbranewasevidentlywellcommanded,hercrewwellkeptinhand,disciplinestrictlymaintained.
Theschoonerwastosailonthe15thofAugust,andontheeveofthatdayIhadnoreasontothinkthatCaptainLenGuyhadrepentedhimofhiscategoricalrefusal.Indeed,Ihadmadeupmymindtothedisappointment,andhadnolongeranyangryfeelingaboutit.WhenCaptainLenGuyandmyselfmetonthequay,wetooknonoticeofeachother;nevertheless,Ifanciedtherewassomehesitationinhismanner;asthoughhewouldhavelikedtospeaktome.Hedidnotdoso,however,andIwasnotdisposedtoseekafurtherexplanation.
