VI
Thesunhadset.Andwhen,afterdrillingadeepholewithhisstick,hemovedfromthatspotthenighthadmasseditsarmyofshadowsunderthetrees.Theyfilledtheeasternendsoftheavenuesasifonlywaitingthesignalforageneraladvanceupontheopenspacesoftheworld;theyweregatheringlowbetweenthedeepstone-facedbanksofthecanal.TheMalayprau,half-concealedunderthearchofthebridge,hadnotaltereditspositionaquarterofaninch.ForalongtimeCaptainWhalleystareddownovertheparapet,tillatlastthefloatingimmobilityofthatbeshroudedthingseemedtogrowuponhimintosomethinginexplicableandalarming.Thetwilightabandonedthezenith;itsreflectedgleamslefttheworldbelow,andthewaterofthecanalseemedtoturnintopitch.CaptainWhalleycrossedit.
Theturningtotheright,whichwashiswaytohishotel,wasonlyaveryfewstepsfarther.Hestoppedagain(allthehousesofthesea-frontwereshutup,thequaysidewasdeserted,butforoneortwofiguresofnativeswalkinginthedistance)andbegantoreckontheamountofhisbill.Somanydaysinthehotelatsomanydollarsaday.Tocountthedaysheusedhisfingers:plungingonehandintohispocket,hejingledafewsilvercoins.Allrightforthreedaysmore;andthen,unlesssomethingturnedup,hemustbreakintothefivehundred—Ivy’smoney—investedinherfather.Itseemedtohimthatthefirstmealcomingoutofthatreservewouldchokehim—forcertain.Reasonwasofnouse.Itwasamatteroffeeling.Hisfeelingshadneverplayedhimfalse.
Hedidnotturntotheright.
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