Ледяной сфинкс
Chapter III. Captain Len Guy
Atseveno’clockintheeveningofthe14thofAugust,theislandbeingalreadywrappedindarkness,IwaswalkingontheportafterIhaddined,walkingbrisklytoo,foritwascold,althoughdryweather.Theskywasstuddedwithstarsandtheairwasverykeen.Icouldnotstayoutlong,andwasreturningtomineinn,whenamancrossedmypath,paused,cameback,andstoppedinfrontofme.ItwasthecaptainoftheHalbrane.
“Mr.Jeorling,”hebegan,“theHalbranesailsto-morrowmorning,withtheebbtide.”
“Whatisthegoodoftellingmethat,”Ireplied,“sinceyourefuse—”
“Sir,Ihavethoughtoverit,andifyouhavenotchangedyourmind,comeonboardatseveno’clock.”
“Really,captain,”Ireplied,“Ididnotexpectthisrelentingonyourpart.”
“IrepeatthatIhavethoughtoverit,andIaddthattheHalbraneshallproceeddirecttoTristand’Acunha.Thatwillsuityou,Isuppose?”
“Toperfection,captain.To-morrowmorning,atseveno’clock,Ishallbeonboard.”
“Yourcabinisprepared.”
“Thecostofthevoyage—”
“Wecansettlethatanothertime,”answeredthecaptain,“andtoyoursatisfaction.Untilto-morrow,then—”
“Untilto-morrow.”
Istretchedoutmyarm,toshakehandswithhimuponourbargain.Perhapshedidnotperceivemymovementinthedarkness,atalleventshemadenoresponsetoit,butwalkedrapidlyawayandgotintohisboat.
