Таинственный остров

           "Yes!thereissomemysteryinthatman’slife,"saidGideonSpilett,"anditappearsasifhehadonlyre-enteredsocietybythepathofremorse."

           "Idon’tknowwhatsortofamanwehavebroughthere,"saidthesailor."Hehassecrets—"

           "Whichwewillrespect,"interruptedCyrusHardingquickly."Ifhehascommittedanycrime,hehasmostfearfullyexpiatedit,andinoureyesheisabsolved."

           Fortwohoursthestrangerremainedaloneontheshore,evidentlyundertheinfluenceofrecollectionswhichrecalledallhispastlife—amelancholylifedoubtless—andthecolonists,withoutlosingsightofhim,didnotattempttodisturbhissolitude.However,aftertwohours,appearingtohaveformedaresolution,hecametofindCyrusHarding.Hiseyeswereredwiththetearshehadshed,butheweptnolonger.Hiscountenanceexpresseddeephumility.Heappearedanxious,timorous,ashamed,andhiseyeswereconstantlyfixedontheground.

           "Sir,"saidhetoHarding,"yourcompanionsandyou,areyouEnglish?"

           "No,"answeredtheengineer,"weareAmericans."

           "Ah!"saidthestranger,andhemurmured,"Ipreferthat!"

           "Andyou,myfriend?"askedtheengineer.

           "English,"repliedhehastily.

           Andasifthesefewwordshadbeendifficulttosay,heretreatedtothebeach,wherehewalkedupanddownbetweenthecascadeandthemouthoftheMercy,inastateofextremeagitation.

           Then,passingonemomentclosetoHerbert,hestoppedandinastifledvoice,—

           "Whatmonth?"heasked.