Алая чума
Chapter 5
Ihavereasontobelievethatshe,evenshe,wouldhavelovedme,therebeingnoothermanintheworldexcepttheChauffeur. Why,whenitdestroyedeightbillionsofsouls,didnottheplaguedestroyjustonemoreman,andthatmantheChauffeur?
“Once,whentheChauffeurwasawayfishing,shebeggedmetokillhim. Withtearsinhereyesshebeggedmetokillhim. Buthewasastrongandviolentman,andIwasafraid. Afterwards,Italkedwithhim. Iofferedhimmyhorse,mypony,mydogs,allthatIpossessed,ifhewouldgiveVestatome. Andhegrinnedinmyfaceandshookhishead. Hewasveryinsulting. Hesaidthatintheolddayshehadbeenaservant,hadbeendirtunderthefeetofmenlikemeandofwomenlikeVesta,andthatnowhehadthegreatestladyinthelandtobeservanttohimandcookhisfoodandnursehisbrats. ’Youhadyourdaybeforetheplague,’hesaid;’butthisismyday,andadamnedgooddayitis. Iwouldn’ttradebacktotheoldtimesforanything.’ Suchwordshespoke,buttheyarenothiswords. Hewasavulgar,low-mindedman,andvileoathsfellcontinuallyfromhislips.
“Also,hetoldmethatifhecaughtmemakingeyesathiswomanhe’dwringmyneckandgiveherabeatingaswell. WhatwasItodo?Iwasafraid. Hewasabrute. Thatfirstnight,whenIdiscoveredthecamp,VestaandIhadgreattalkaboutthethingsofourvanishedworld. Wetalkedofart,andbooks,andpoetry;andtheChauffeurlistenedandgrinnedandsneered.
