Lightshadbeenburninginthebungalowalmostallthroughthenight；andwiththefirstsignofdaybeganthebustleofdeparture。Houseboyswalkedprocessionallycarryingsuit-casesanddressing-bagsdowntotheschooner'sboat，whichcametothelandingplaceatthebottomofthegarden。Justastherisingsunthrewitsgoldennimbusaroundthepurpleshapeoftheheadland，thePlanterofMalatawasperceivedpacingbare-headedthecurveofthelittlebay。Heexchangedafewwordswiththesailing-masteroftheschooner，thenremainedbytheboat，standingveryupright，hiseyesontheground，waiting。
　　Hehadnotlongtowait。Intothecool，overshadowedgardentheprofessordescendedfirst，andcamejauntilydownthepathinalivelycrackingofsmallshells。Withhisclosedparasolhookedonhisforearm，andabookinhishand，heresembledabanaltouristmorethanwaspermissibletoamanofhisuniquedistinction。Hewavedthedisengagedarmfromadistance，butatclosequarters，arrestedbeforeRenouard'simmobility，hemadenooffertoshakehands。Heseemedtoappraisetheaspectofthemanwithasharpglance，andmadeuphismind。
　　"WearegoingbackbySuez，"hebeganalmostboisterously。"Ihavebeenlookingupthesailinglists。IfthezephirsofyourPacificareonlymoderatelypropitiousIthinkwearesuretocatchthemailboatdueinMarseillesonthe18thofMarch。Thiswillsuitmeexcellently……"Heloweredhistone。"Mydearyoungfriend，I'mdeeplygratefultoyou。"
　　Renouard'ssetlipsmoved。
　　"Whyareyougratefultome？"
　　"Ah!Why？Inthefirstplaceyoumighthavemadeusmissthenextboat，mightn'tyou？……Idon'tthankyouforyourhospitality。
　　Youcan'tbeangrywithmeforsayingthatIamtrulythankfultoescapefromit。ButIamgratefultoyouforwhatyouhavedone，and-forbeingwhatyouare。"
　　Itwasdifficulttodefinetheflavourofthatspeech，butRenouardreceiveditwithanausterelyequivocalsmile。Theprofessorsteppingintotheboatopenedhisparasolandsatdowninthestern-sheetswaitingfortheladies。Nosoundofhumanvoicebrokethefreshsilenceofthemorningwhiletheywalkedthebroadpath，MissMoorsomalittleinadvanceofheraunt。
　　WhenshecameabreastofhimRenouardraisedhishead。
　　"Good-bye，Mr。Renouard，"shesaidinalowvoice，meaningtopasson；buttherewassuchalookofentreatyinthebluegleamofhissunkeneyesthatafteranimperceptiblehesitationshelaidherhand，whichwasungloved，inhisextendedpalm。
　　"Willyoucondescendtorememberme？"heasked，whileanemotionwithwhichshewasangrymadeherpalecheeksflushandherblackeyessparkle。
　　"Thisisastrangerequestforyoutomake，"shesaidexaggeratingthecoldnessofhertone。
　　"Isit？Impudentperhaps。YetIamnotsoguiltyasyouthink；
　　andbearinmindthattomeyoucannevermakereparation。"
　　"Reparation？Toyou!Itisyouwhocanoffermenoreparationfortheoffenceagainstmyfeelings-andmyperson；forwhatreparationcanbeadequateforyourodiousandridiculousplotsoscornfulinitsimplication，sohumiliatingtomypride。No!I
　　don'twanttorememberyou。"
　　Unexpectedly，withatighteninggrip，hepulledhernearertohim，andlookingintohereyeswithfearlessdespair-
　　"You'llhaveto。Ishallhauntyou，"hesaidfirmly。
　　Herhandwaswrenchedoutofhisgraspbeforehehadtimetoreleaseit。FeliciaMoorsomsteppedintotheboat，satdownbythesideofherfather，andbreathedtenderlyonhercrushedfingers。
　　Theprofessorgaveherasidelonglook-nothingmore。Buttheprofessor'ssister，yetonshore，hadputupherlong-handledoubleeye-glasstolookatthescene。Shedroppeditwithafaintrattle。
　　"I'veneverinmylifeheardanythingsocrudesaidtoalady，"shemurmured，passingbeforeRenouardwithaperfectlyerecthead。
　　When，amomentafterwards，softeningsuddenly，sheturnedtothrowagood-byetothatyoungman，shesawonlyhisbackinthedistancemovingtowardsthebungalow。Shewatchedhimgoin-amazed-
　　beforeshetooleftthesoilofMalata。
　　NobodydisturbedRenouardinthatroomwherehehadshuthimselfintobreathetheevanescentperfumeofherwhoforhimwasnomore，tilllateintheafternoonwhenthehalf-castewasheardontheothersideofthedoor。
　　HewantedthemastertoknowthatthetraderJanetwasjustenteringthecove。
　　Renouard'sstrongvoiceonhissideofthedoorgavehimmostunexpectedinstructions。HewastopayofftheboyswiththecashintheofficeandarrangewiththecaptainoftheJanettotakeeveryworkerawayfromMalata，returningthemtotheirrespectivehomes。AnorderontheDunsterfirmwouldbegiventohiminpayment。
　　Andagainthesilenceofthebungalowremainedunbrokentill，nextmorning，thehalf-castecametoreportthateverythingwasdone。
　　Theplantationboyswereembarkingnow。
　　Throughacrackinthedoorahandthrustathimapieceofpaper，andthedoorslammedtososharplythatLuizsteppedback。Thenapproachingcringinglythekeyhole，inapropitiatorytoneheasked:
　　"DoIgotoo，master？"
　　"Yes。Youtoo。Everybody。"
　　"Masterstopherealone？"
　　Silence。Andthehalf-caste'seyesgrewwidewithwonder。Buthealso，likethose"ignorantsavages，"theplantationboys，wasonlytoogladtoleaveanislandhauntedbytheghostofawhiteman。
　　Hebackedawaynoiselesslyfromthemysterioussilenceintheclosedroom，andonlyintheverydoorwayofthebungalowallowedhimselftogiveventtohisfeelingsbyadeprecatoryandpained-
　　"Tse!Tse!Tse!"
　　CHAPTERXII
　　TheMoorsomsdidmanagetocatchthehomewardmailboatallright，buthadonlytwenty-fourhoursintown。ThusthesentimentalWilliecouldnotseeverymuchofthem。Thisdidnotpreventhimafterwardsfromrelatingatgreatlength，withmanlytearsinhiseyes，howpoorMissMoorsom-thefashionableandcleverbeauty-
　　foundherbetrothedinMalataonlytoseehimdieinherarms。
　　Mostpeopleweredeeplytouchedbythesadstory。Itwasthetalkofagoodmanydays。
　　Buttheall-knowingEditor，Renouard'sonlyfriendandcrony，wantedtoknowmorethantherestoftheworld。Fromprofessionalincontinence，perhaps，hethirstedforafullcupofharrowingdetail。AndwhenhenoticedRenouard'sschoonerlyinginportdayafterdayhesoughtthesailingmastertolearnthereason。Themantoldhimthatsuchwerehisinstructions。HehadbeenorderedtoliethereamonthbeforereturningtoMalata。Andthemonthwasnearlyup。"Iwillaskyoutogivemeapassage，"saidtheEditor。
　　Helandedinthemorningatthebottomofthegardenandfoundpeace，stillness，sunshinereigningeverywhere，thedoorsandwindowsofthebungalowstandingwideopen，nosightofahumanbeinganywhere，theplantsgrowingrankandtallonthedesertedfields。ForhourstheEditorandtheschooner'screw，excitedbythemystery，roamedovertheislandshoutingRenouard'sname；andatlastsetthemselvesingrimsilencetoexploresystematicallytheunclearedbushandthedeeperravinesinsearchofhiscorpse。
　　Whathadhappened？Hadhebeenmurderedbytheboys？Orhadhesimply，capriciousandsecretive，abandonedhisplantationtakingthepeoplewithhim。Itwasimpossibletotellwhathadhappened。
　　Atlast，towardsthedeclineoftheday，theEditorandthesailingmasterdiscoveredatrackofsandalscrossingastripofsandybeachonthenorthshoreofthebay。Followingthistrackfearfully，theypassedroundthespuroftheheadland，andthereonalargestonefoundthesandals，Renouard'swhitejacket，andtheMalaysarongofchequeredpatternwhichtheplanterofMalatawaswellknowntowearwhengoingtobathe。Thesethingsmadealittleheap，andthesailorremarked，aftergazingatitinsilence-
　　"Birdshavebeenhoveringoverthisformanyaday。"
　　"He'sgonebathingandgotdrowned，"criedtheEditorindismay。
　　"Idoubtit，sir。Ifhehadbeendrownedanywherewithinamilefromtheshorethebodywouldhavebeenwashedoutonthereefs。
　　Andourboatshavefoundnothingsofar。"
　　Nothingwaseverfound-andRenouard'sdisappearanceremainedinthemaininexplicable。Fortowhomcouldithaveoccurredthatamanwouldsetoutcalmlytoswimbeyondtheconfinesoflife-withasteadystroke-hiseyesfixedonastar!
　　Nextevening，fromtherecedingschooner，theEditorlookedbackforthelasttimeatthedesertedisland。Ablackcloudhunglistlesslyoverthehighrockonthemiddlehill；andunderthemysterioussilenceofthatshadowMalatalaymournful，withanairofanguishinthewildsunset，asifrememberingtheheartthatwasbrokenthere。
　　Dec。1913。
　　THEPARTNER
　　"Andthatbehangedforasillyyarn。TheboatmenhereinWestporthavebeentellingthislietothesummervisitorsforyears。Thesortthatgetstakenoutforarowatashillingahead-andasksfoolishquestions-mustbetoldsomethingtopassthetimeaway。
　　D'yeknowanythingmoresillythanbeingpulledinaboatalongabeach？……It'slikedrinkingweaklemonadewhenyouaren'tthirsty。Idon'tknowwhytheydoit!Theydon'tevengetsick。"
　　Aforgottenglassofbeerstoodathiselbow；thelocalitywasasmallrespectablesmoking-roomofasmallrespectablehotel，andatasteforformingchanceacquaintancesaccountsformysittinguplatewithhim。Hisgreat，flat，furrowedcheekswereshaven；athick，squarewispofwhitehairshungfromhischin；itswagglinggaveadditionalpointtohisdeeputterance；andhisgeneralcontemptformankindwithitsactivitiesandmoralitieswasexpressedintherakishsetofhisbigsofthatofblackfeltwithalargerim，whichhekeptalwaysonhishead。
　　Hisappearancewasthatofanoldadventurer，retiredaftermanyunholyexperiencesinthedarkestpartsoftheearth；butIhadeveryreasontobelievethathehadneverbeenoutsideEngland。
　　FromacasualremarksomebodydroppedIgatheredthatinhisearlydayshemusthavebeensomehowconnectedwithshipping-withshipsindocks。Ofindividualityhehadplenty。Anditwasthiswhichattractedmyattentionatfirst。Buthewasnoteasytoclassify，andbeforetheendoftheweekIgavehimupwiththevaguedefinition，"animposingoldruffian。"
　　Onerainyafternoon，oppressedbyinfiniteboredom，Iwentintothesmoking-room。Hewassittingthereinabsoluteimmobility，whichwasreallyfakir-likeandimpressive。Ibegantowonderwhatcouldbetheassociationsofthatsortofman，his"milieu，"hisprivateconnections，hisviews，hismorality，hisfriends，andevenhiswife-whentomysurpriseheopenedaconversationinadeep，mutteringvoice。
　　ImustsaythatsincehehadlearnedfromsomebodythatIwasawriterofstorieshehadbeenacknowledgingmyexistencebymeansofsomevaguegrowlsinthemorning。
　　Hewasessentiallyataciturnman。Therewasaneffectofrudenessinhisfragmentarysentences。ItwassometimebeforeIdiscoveredthatwhathewouldbeatwastheprocessbywhichstories-storiesforperiodicals-wereproduced。
　　Whatcouldonesaytoafellowlikethat？ButIwasboredtodeath；theweathercontinuedimpossible；andIresolvedtobeamiable。
　　"Andsoyoumakethesetalesuponyourown。Howdotheyevercomeintoyourhead？"herumbled。
　　Iexplainedthatonegenerallygotahintforatale。
　　"Whatsortofhint？"
　　"Well，forinstance，"Isaid，"Igotmyselfrowedouttotherockstheotherday。Myboatmantoldmeofthewreckontheserocksnearlytwentyyearsago。Thatcouldbeusedasahintforamainlydescriptivebitofstorywithsomesuchtitleas'IntheChannel，'
　　forinstance。"
　　Itwasthenthatheflewoutattheboatmenandthesummervisitorswholistentotheirtales。Withoutmovingamuscleofhisfaceheemittedapowerful"Rot，"fromsomewhereoutofthedepthsofhischest，andwentoninhishoarse，fragmentarymumble。"Stareatthesillyrocks-nodtheirsillyheads[thevisitors，Ipresume]。
　　Whatdotheythinkamanis-blown-outpaperbagorwhat？-gooffpoplikethatwhenhe'shit-Damnsillyyarn-Hintindeed!……
　　Alie？"
　　Youmustimaginethisstatuesqueruffianenhaloedintheblackrimofhishat，lettingallthisoutasanolddoggrowlssometimes，withhisheadupandstaring-awayeyes。
　　"Indeed!"Iexclaimed。"Well，butevenifuntrueitISahint，enablingmetoseetheserocks，thisgaletheyspeakof，theheavyseas，etc。，etc。，inrelationtomankind。Thestruggleagainstnaturalforcesandtheeffectoftheissueonatleastone，say，exalted-"
　　Heinterruptedmebyanaggressive-
　　"Wouldtruthbeanygoodtoyou？"
　　"Ishouldn'tliketosay，"Ianswered，cautiously。"It'ssaidthattruthisstrangerthanfiction。"
　　"Whosaysthat？"hemouthed。
　　"Oh!Nobodyinparticular。"
　　Iturnedtothewindow；forthecontemptuousbeggarwasoppressivetolookat，withhisimmovablearmonthetable。Isupposemyunceremoniousmannerprovokedhimtoacomparativelylongspeech。
　　"Didyoueverseesuchasillylotofrocks？Likeplumsinasliceofcoldpudding。"
　　Iwaslookingatthem-anacreormoreofblackdotsscatteredonthesteel-greyshadesofthelevelsea，undertheuniformgossamergreymistwithaformlessbrighterpatchinoneplace-theveiledwhitenessofthecliffcomingthrough，likeadiffused，mysteriousradiance。Itwasadelicateandwonderfulpicture，somethingexpressive，suggestive，anddesolate，asymphonyingreyandblack-aWhistler。Butthenextthingsaidbythevoicebehindmemademeturnround。Itgrowledoutcontemptforallassociatednotionsofroaringseaswithconciseenergy，thenwenton-
　　"I-nosuchfoolishness-lookingattherocksoutthere-morelikelycalltomindanoffice-Iusedtolookinsometimesatonetime-officeinLondon-oneofthemsmallstreetsbehindCannonStreetStation……"
　　Hewasverydeliberate；notjerky，onlyfragmentary；attimesprofane。
　　"That'saratherremoteconnection，"Iobserved，approachinghim。
　　"Connection？ToHadeswithyourconnections。Itwasanaccident。"
　　"Still，"Isaid，"anaccidenthasitsbackwardandforwardconnections，which，iftheycouldbesetforth-"
　　Withoutmovingheseemedtolendanattentiveear。
　　"Aye!Setforth。That'sperhapswhatyoucoulddo。Couldn'tyounow？There'snosealifeinthisconnection。Butyoucanputitinoutofyourhead-ifyoulike。"
　　"Yes。Icould，ifnecessary，"Isaid。"Sometimesitpaystoputinalotoutofone'shead，andsometimesitdoesn't。Imeanthatthestoryisn'tworthit。Everything'sinthat。"
　　Itamusedmetotalktohimlikethis。Hereflectedaudiblythatheguessedstory-writerswereoutaftermoneyliketherestoftheworldwhichhadtolivebyitswits:andthatitwasextraordinaryhowfarpeoplewhowereoutaftermoneywouldgo……Someofthem。
　　Thenhemadeasallyagainstsealife。Sillysortoflife，hecalledit。Noopportunities，noexperience，novariety，nothing。
　　Somefinemencameoutofit-headmitted-butnomorechanceintheworldifputtoitthanfly。Kids。SoCaptainHarryDunbar。
　　Goodsailor。Greatnameasaskipper。Bigman；shortside-
　　whiskersgoinggrey，fineface，loudvoice。Agoodfellow，butnomoreuptopeople'stricksthanababy。
　　"That'sthecaptainoftheSagamoreyou'retalkingabout，"Isaid，confidently。
　　Afteralow，scornful"Ofcourse"heseemednowtoholdonthewallwithhisfixedstarethevisionofthatcityoffice，"atthebackofCannonStreetStation，"whilehegrowledandmouthedafragmentarydescription，jerkinghischinupnowandthen，asifangry。
　　Itwas，accordingtohisaccount，amodestplaceofbusiness，notshadyinanysense，butoutoftheway，inasmallstreetnowrebuiltfromendtoend。"SevendoorsfromtheCheshireCatpublichouseundertherailwaybridge。Iusedtotakemylunchtherewhenmybusinesscalledmetothecity。Cloetewouldcomeintohavehischopandmakethegirllaugh。Noneedtotalkmuch，either，forthat。Nothingbutthewayhewouldtwinklehisspectaclesonyouandgiveatwitchofhisthickmouthwasenoughtostartyouoffbeforehebeganoneofhislittletales。Funnyfellow，Cloete。
　　C-l-o-e-t-e-Cloete。"
　　"Whatwashe-aDutchman？"Iasked，notseeingintheleastwhatallthishadtodowiththeWestportboatmenandtheWestportsummervisitorsandthisextraordinaryoldfellow'sirritableviewofthemasliarsandfools。"Devilknows，"hegrunted，hiseyesonthewallasifnottomissasinglemovementofacinematographpicture。"SpokenothingbutEnglish，anyway。FirstIsawhim-
　　comesoffashipindockfromtheStates-passenger。Asksmeforasmallhotelnearby。Wantedtobequietandhavealookroundforafewdays。Itookhimtoaplace-friendofmine……Nexttime-intheCity-Hallo!You'reveryobliging-haveadrink。
　　Talksplentyabouthimself。BeenyearsintheStates。Allsortsofbusinessallovertheplace。Withsomepatentmedicinepeople，too。Travels。Writesadvertisementsandallthat。Tellsmefunnystories。Tall，loose-limbedfellow。Blackhairuponend，likeabrush；longface，longlegs，longarms，twinkleinhisspecs，jocularwayofspeaking-inalowvoice……Seethat？"
　　Inodded，buthewasnotlookingatme。
　　"Neverlaughedsomuchinmylife。Thebeggar-wouldmakeyoulaughtellingyouhowheskinnedhisownfather。Hewasuptothat，too。Amanwho'sbeeninthepatent-medicinetradewillbeuptoanythingfrompitch-and-tosstowilfulmurder。Andthat'sabitofhardtruthforyou。Don'tmindwhattheydo-thinktheycancarryoffanythingandtalkthemselvesoutofanything-alltheworld'safooltothem。Businessman，too，Cloete。Cameoverwithafewhundredpounds。Lookingforsomethingtodo-inaquietway。Nothingliketheoldcountry，afterall，sayshe……
　　Andsowepart-IwithmoredrinksinmethanIwasusedto。
　　Afteratime，perhapssixmonthsorso，IrunupagainsthimagaininMr。GeorgeDunbar'soffice。Yes，THAToffice。Itwasn'toftenthatI……However，therewasabitofhiscargoinashipindockthatIwantedtoaskMr。Georgeabout。IncomesCloeteoutoftheroomatthebackwithsomepapersinhishand。Partner。Youunderstand？"
　　"Aha!"Isaid。"Thefewhundredpounds。"
　　"Andthattongueofhis，"hegrowled。"Don'tforgetthattongue。
　　SomeofhistalesmusthaveopenedGeorgeDunbar'seyesabitastowhatbusinessmeans。"
　　"Aplausiblefellow，"Isuggested。
　　"H'm!Youmusthaveitinyourownway-ofcourse。Well。
　　Partner。GeorgeDunbarputshistop-hatonandtellsmetowaitamoment……Georgealwayslookedasthoughheweremakingafewthousandsayear-acityswell……Comealong，oldman!AndheandCaptainHarrygoouttogether-somebusinesswithasolicitorroundthecorner。CaptainHarry，whenhewasinEngland，usedtoturnupinhisbrother'sofficeregularlyabouttwelve。Satinacornerlikeagoodboy，readingthepaperandsmokinghispipe。Sotheygoout……Modelbrothers，saysCloete-twolove-birds-I
　　amlookingafterthetinned-fruitsideofthiscozylittleshow……Givesmethatsortoftalk。Thenby-and-by:WhatsortofoldthingisthatSagamore？Finestshipout-eh？Idaresayallshipsarefinetoyou。Youlivebythem。Itellyouwhat；Iwouldjustassoonputmymoneyintoanoldstocking。Sooner!"
　　Hedrewabreath，andInoticedhishand，lyinglooselyonthetable，closeslowlyintoafist。Inthatimmovablemanitwasstartling，ominous，likethefamednodoftheCommander。
　　"So，alreadyatthattime-note-already，"hegrowled。
　　"Butholdon，"Iinterrupted。"TheSagamorebelongedtoMundyandRogers，I'vebeentold。"
　　Hesnortedcontemptuously。"Damnboatmen-knownobetter。Flewthefirm'sHOUSE-FLAG。That'sanotherthing。Favour。Itwaslikethis:WhenoldmanDunbardied，CaptainHarrywasalreadyincommandwiththefirm。Georgechuckedthebankhewasclerkingin-togoonhisownwithwhattherewastoshareaftertheoldchap。
　　Georgewasasmartman。Startedwarehousing；thentwoorthreethingsatatime:wood-pulp，preserved-fruittrade，andsoon。
　　AndCaptainHarrylethimhavehissharetoworkwith……Iamprovidedforinmyship，hesays……Butby-and-byMundyandRogersbegintosellouttoforeignersalltheirships-gointosteamrightaway。CaptainHarrygetsveryupset-losecommand，partwiththeshiphewasfondof-verywretched。Justthen，soithappened，thebrotherscameinforsomemoney-anoldwomandiedorsomething。Quiteatidybit。ThenyoungGeorgesays:
　　There'senoughbetweenustwotobuytheSagamorewith……Butyou'llneedmoremoneyforyourbusiness，criesCaptainHarry-andtheotherlaughsathim:Mybusinessisgoingonallright。Why，Icangooutandmakeahandfulofsovereignswhileyouaretryingtogetyourpipetodraw，oldman……MundyandRogersveryfriendlyaboutit:Certainly，Captain。Andwewillmanageherforyou，ifyoulike，asifshewerestillourown……Why，withaconnectionlikethatitwasgoodinvestmenttobuythatship。
　　Good!Aye，atthetime。"
　　Theturningofhisheadslightlytowardmeatthispointwaslikeasignofstrongfeelinginanyotherman。
　　"You'llmindthatthiswaslongbeforeCloetecameintoitatall，"
　　hemuttered，warningly。
　　"Yes。Iwillmind，"Isaid。"Wegenerallysay:someyearspassed。That'ssoondone。"
　　Heeyedmeforawhilesilentlyinanunseeingway，asifengrossedinthethoughtoftheyearssoeasilydealtwith；hisownyears，too，theywere，theyearsbeforeandtheyearsnotsomanyafterCloetecameuponthescene。Whenhebegantospeakagain，I
　　discernedhisintentiontopointouttome，inhisobscureandgraphicmanner，theinfluenceonGeorgeDunbaroflongassociationwithCloete'seasymoralstandards，unscrupulouslypersuasivegiftofhumourfunnyfellow，andadventurouslyrecklessdisposition。
　　Hedesiredmeanxiouslytoelaboratethisview，andIassuredhimitwasquitewithinmypowers。HewishedmealsotounderstandthatGeorge'sbusinesshaditsupsanddownstheotherbrotherwasmeantimesailingtoandfroserenely；thathegotintolowwaterattimes，whichworriedhimrather，becausehehadmarriedayoungwifewithexpensivetastes。Hewashavingaprettyanxioustimeofitgenerally；andjustthenCloeteranupinthecitysomewhereagainstamanworkingapatentmedicinethefellow'soldtrade
　　withsomesuccess，butwhich，withcapital，capitaltothetuneofthousandstobespentwithbothhandsonadvertising，couldbeturnedintoagreatthing-infinitelybetter-payingthanagold-
　　mine。Cloetebecameexcitedatthepossibilitiesofthatsortofbusiness，inwhichhewasanexpert。IunderstoodthatGeorge'spartnerwasallonfirefromthecontactwiththisuniqueopportunity。
　　"SohegoesineverydayintoGeorge'sroomabouteleven，andsingsthattunetillGeorgegnasheshisteethwithrage。Doshutup。
　　What'sthegood？Nomoney。Hardlyanytogoonwith，letalonepouringthousandsintoadvertising。NeverdareproposetohisbrotherHarrytoselltheship。Couldn'tthinkofit。Worryhimtodeath。Itwouldbeliketheendoftheworldcoming。Andcertainlynotforabusinessofthatkind!……Doyouthinkitwouldbeaswindle？asksCloete，twitchinghismouth……Georgeownsup:No-wouldbenobetterthanasqueamishassifhethoughtthat，afteralltheseyearsinbusiness。
　　"Cloetelooksathimhard-NeverthoughtofSELLINGtheship。
　　Expectedtheblamedoldthingwouldn'tfetchhalfherinsuredvaluebythistime。ThenGeorgefliesoutathim。What'sthemeaning，then，ofthesesillyjeersatship-owningforthelastthreeweeks？
　　Hadenoughofthem，anyhow。
　　"Angryathavinghismouthmadetowater，see。Cloetedon'tgetexcited……Iamnosqueamishass，either，sayshe，veryslowly。
　　'Tisn'tsellingyouroldSagamorewants。TheblamedthingwantstomahawkingseemsthenameSagamoremeansanIndianchieforsomething。Thefigure-headwasahalf-nakedsavagewithafeatheroveroneearandahatchetinhisbelt。Tomahawking，sayshe。
　　"Whatdoyoumean？asksGeorge……Wrecking-itcouldbemanagedwithperfectsafety，goesonCloete-yourbrotherwouldthenputinhisshareofinsurancemoney。Needn'ttellhimexactlywhatfor。Hethinksyou'rethesmartestbusinessmanthateverlived。
　　Makehisfortune，too……Georgegripsthedeskwithbothhandsinhisrage……Youthinkmybrother'samantocastawayhisshiponpurpose。Iwouldn'tevendarethinkofsuchathinginthesameroomwithhim-thefinestfellowthateverlived……Don'tmakesuchnoise；they'llhearyououtside，saysCloete；andhetellshimthathisbrotheristhesaltedpatternofallvirtues，butallthat'snecessaryistoinducehimtostayashoreforavoyage-foraholiday-takearest-whynot？……Infact，Ihaveinviewsomebodyuptothatsortofgame-Cloetewhispers。
　　"Georgenearlychokes……SoyouthinkIamofthatsort-youthinkMEcapable-Whatdoyoutakemefor？……Healmostloseshishead，whileCloetekeepscool，onlygetswhiteaboutthegills……Itakeyouforamanwhowillbemostcursedlyhardupbeforelong……Hegoestothedoorandsendsawaytheclerks-therewereonlytwo-totaketheirlunchhour。Comesback……Whatareyouindignantabout？DoIwantyoutorobthewidowandorphan？Why，man!Lloyd'sacorporation，ithasn'tgotabodytostarve。There'sfortyormoreofthemperhapswhounderwrotethelinesonthatsillyshipofyours。Notonehumanbeingwouldgohungryorcoldforit。Theytakeeveryriskintoconsideration。
　　EverythingItellyou……Thatsortoftalk。H'm!Georgetooupsettospeak-onlygurglesandwaveshisarms；sosudden，yousee。Theother，warminghisbackatthefire，goeson。Wood-pulpbusinessnextdoortoafailure。Tinned-fruittradenearlyplayedout……You'refrightened，hesays；butthelawisonlymeanttofrightenfoolsaway……Andheshowshowsafecastingawaythatshipwouldbe。Premiumspaidforsomany，manyyears。Noshadowofsuspicioncouldarise。And，dashitall!ashipmustmeetherendsomeday……
　　"Iamnotfrightened。Iamindignant，"saysGeorgeDunbar。
　　"Cloeteboilingwithrageinside。Chanceofalifetime-hischance!Andhesayskindly:Yourwife'llbemuchmoreindignantwhenyouaskhertogetoutofthatprettyhouseofyoursandpileinintoatwo-pairback-withkidsperhaps，too……
　　"Georgehadnochildren。Marriedacoupleofyears；lookedforwardtoakidortwoverymuch。Feelsmoreupsetthanever。Talksaboutanhonestmanforfather，andsoon。Cloetegrins:Youbequickbeforetheycome，andthey'llhavearichmanforfather，andnoonetheworseforit。That'sthebeautyofthething。
　　"Georgenearlycries。Ibelievehedidcryatoddtimes。Thiswentonforweeks。Hecouldn'tquarrelwithCloete。Couldn'tpayoffhisfewhundreds；andbesides，hewasusedtohavehimabout。
　　Weakfellow，George。Cloetegenerous，too……Don'tthinkofmylittlepile，sayshe。Ofcourseit'sgonewhenwehavetoshutup。
　　ButIdon'tcare，hesays……AndthentherewasGeorge'snewwife。WhenCloetedinesthere，thebeggarputsonadresssuit；
　　littlewomanlikedit；……Mr。Cloete，myhusband'spartner；suchacleverman，manoftheworld，soamusing!……Whenhedinesthereandtheyarealone:Oh，Mr。Cloete，IwishGeorgewoulddosomethingtoimproveourprospects。Ourpositionisreallysomediocre……AndCloetesmiles，butisn'tsurprised，becausehehadputallthesenotionshimselfintoheremptyhead……Whatyourhusbandwantsisenterprise，alittleaudacity。Youcanencouragehimbest，Mrs。Dunbar……Shewasasilly，extravagantlittlefool。HadmadeGeorgetakeahouseinNorwood。Liveuptoalotofpeoplebetteroffthanthemselves。Isawheronce；silkdress，prettyboots，allfeathersandscent，pinkface。MorelikethePromenadeattheAlhambrathanadecenthome，itlookedtome。
　　Butsomewomendogetadevilofaholdonaman。"
　　"Yes，somedo，"Iassented。"Evenwhenthemanisthehusband。"
　　"Mymissis，"headdressedmeunexpectedly，inasolemn，surprisinglyhollowtone，"couldwindmeroundherlittlefinger。
　　Ididn'tfinditouttillshewasgone。Aye。Butshewasawomanofsense，whilethatpieceofgoodsoughttohavebeenwalkingthestreets，andthat'sallIcansay……Youmustmakeherupoutofyourhead。Youwillknowthesort。"
　　"Leaveallthattome，"Isaid。
　　"H'm!"hegrunted，doubtfully，thengoingbacktohisscornfultone:"AmonthorsoafterwardstheSagamorearriveshome。Allveryjollyatfirst……Hallo，Georgeboy!Hallo，Harry，oldman!……ButbyandbyCaptainHarrythinkshiscleverbrotherisnotlookingverywell。AndGeorgebeginstolookworse。Hecan'tgetridofCloete'snotion。Ithasstuckinhishead……There'snothingwrong-quitewell……CaptainHarrystillanxious。
　　Businessgoingallright，eh？Quiteright。Lotsofbusiness。
　　Goodbusiness……OfcourseCaptainHarrybelievesthateasily。
　　Startschaffinghisbrotherinhisjollywayaboutrollinginmoney。George'sshirtstickstohisbackwithperspiration，andhefeelsquiteangrywiththecaptain……Thefool，hesaystohimself。Rollinginmoney，indeed!Andthenhethinkssuddenly:
　　Whynot？……BecauseCloete'snotionhasgotholdofhismind。
　　"ButnextdayheweakensandsaystoCloete……Perhapsitwouldbebesttosell。Couldn'tyoutalktomybrother？andCloeteexplainstohimoveragainforthetwentiethtimewhysellingwouldn'tdo，anyhow。No!TheSagamoremustbetomahawked-ashewouldcallit；tospareGeorge'sfeelings，maybe。Buteverytimehesaystheword，Georgeshudders……I'vegotamanathandcompetentforthejobwhowilldothetrickforfivehundred，andonlytoopleasedatthechance，saysCloete……Georgeshutshiseyestightatthatsortoftalk-butatthesametimehethinks:
　　Humbug!Therecanbenosuchman。Andyetiftherewassuchamanitwouldbesafeenough-perhaps。
　　"AndCloetealwaysfunnyaboutit。Hecouldn'ttalkaboutanythingwithoutitseemingtherewasagreatjokeinitsomewhere……Now，sayshe，Iknowyouareamoralcitizen，George。Moralityismostlyfunk，andIthinkyou'rethefunkiestmanIevercameacrossinmytravels。Why，youareafraidtospeaktoyourbrother。
　　Afraidtoopenyourmouthtohimwithafortuneforusallinsight……Georgeflaresupatthis:no，heain'tafraid；hewillspeak；bangsfistonthedesk。AndCloetepatshimontheback……We'llbemademenpresently，hesays。
　　"ButthefirsttimeGeorgeattemptstospeaktoCaptainHarryhisheartslidesdownintohisboots。CaptainHarryonlylaughsatthenotionofstayingashore。Hewantsnoholiday，nothe。ButJanethinksofremaininginEnglandthistrip。Goaboutabitandseesomeofherpeople。JanewastheCaptain'swife；round-faced，pleasantlady。Georgegivesupthattime；butCloetewon'tlethimrest。Sohetriesagain；andtheCaptainfrowns。Hefrownsbecausehe'spuzzled。Hecan'tmakeitout。HehasnonotionoflivingawayfromhisSagamore……
　　"Ah!"Icried。"NowIunderstand。"
　　"No，youdon't，"hegrowled，hisblack，contemptuousstareturningonmecrushingly。
　　"Ibegyourpardon，"Imurmured。