Ледяной сфинкс
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.
