`Ididnot，’saidJim。`Iwastoldtocallnooneandtomakenonoiseforfearofcreatingapanic。Ithoughttheprecautionreasonable。Itookoneofthelampsthatwerehungundertheawningsandwentforward。AfteropeningtheforepeakhatchIheardsplashingthere。Iloweredthenthelampthewholedriftofitslanyard，andsawthattheforepeakwasmorethanhalffullofwateralready。Iknewthentheremustbeabigholebelowthewater-line。’Hepaused。
　　`Yes，’saidthebigassessor，withadreamysmileattheblotting-pad；
　　hisfingersplayedincessantly，touchingthepaperwithoutnoise。
　　`Ididnotthinkofdangerjustthen。Imighthavebeenalittlestartled；
　　allthishappenedinsuchaquietwayandsoverysuddenly。Iknewtherewasnootherbulkheadintheshipbutthecollisionbulkheadseparatingtheforepeakfromtheforehold。Iwentbacktotellthecaptain。Icameuponthesecondengineergettingupatthefootofthebridge-ladder：heseemeddazed，andtoldmehethoughthisleftarmwasbroken；hehadslippedonthetopstepwhengettingdownwhileIwasforward。Heexclaimed，“MyGod!Thatrottenbulkhead’llgivewayinaminute，andthedamnedthingwillgodownunderuslikealumpoflead。’Hepushedmeawaywithhisrightarmandranbeforemeuptheladder，shoutingasheclimbed。Hisleftarmhungbyhisside。Ifollowedupintimetoseethecaptainrushathimandknockhimdownflatonhisback。Hedidnotstrikehimagain：
　　hestoodbendingoverandspeakingangrilybutquitelow。Ifancyhewasaskinghimwhythedevilhedidn’tgoandstoptheengines，insteadofmakingarowaboutitondeck。Iheardhimsay，“Getup!Run!fly!“Hesworealso。Theengineersliddownthestarboardladderandboltedroundtheskylighttotheengine-roomcompanionwhichwasontheport-side。Hemoanedasheran……’
　　Hespokeslowly；herememberedswiftlyandwithextremevividness；hecouldhavereproducedlikeanechothemoaningoftheengineerforthebetterinformationofthesemenwhowantedfacts。Afterhisfirstfeelingofrevolthehadcomeroundtotheviewthatonlyameticulousprecisionofstatementwouldbringoutthetruehorrorbehindtheappallingfaceofthings。Thefactsthosemenweresoeagertoknowhadbeenvisible，tangible，opentothesenses，occupyingtheirplaceinspaceandtime，requiringfortheirexistenceafourteen-hundred-tonsteamerandtwenty-sevenminutesbythewatch；theymadeawholethathadfeatures，shadesofexpression，acomplicatedaspectthatcouldberememberedbytheeye，andsomethingelsebesides，somethinginvisible，adirectingspiritofperditionthatdweltwithin，likeamalevolentsoulinadetestablebody。Hewasanxioustomakethisclear。Thishadnotbeenacommonaffair，everythinginithadbeenoftheutmostimportance，andfortunatelyherememberedeverything。
　　Hewantedtogoontalkingfortruth’ssake，perhapsforhisownsakealso；
　　andwhilehisutterancewasdeliberate，hismindpositivelyflewroundandroundtheserriedcircleoffactsthathadsurgedupallabouthimtocuthimofffromtherestofhiskind：itwaslikeacreaturethat，findingitselfimprisonedwithinanenclosureofhighstakes，dashesroundandround，distractedinthenight，tryingtofindaweakspot，acrevice，aplacetoscale，someopeningthroughwhichitmaysqueezeitselfandescape。Thisawfulactivityofmindmadehimhesitateattimesinhisspeech。
　　`Thecaptainkeptonmovinghereandthereonthebridge；heseemedcalmenough，onlyhestumbledseveraltimes；andonceasIstoodspeakingtohimhewalkedrightintomeasthoughhehadbeenstone-blind。HemadenodefiniteanswertowhatIhadtotell。Hemumbledtohimself；allI
　　heardofitwereafewwordsthatsoundedlike“confoundedsteam!“and“infernalsteam!“——somethingaboutsteam。Ithought……’
　　Hewasbecomingirrelevant；aquestiontothepointcutshorthisspeech，likeapangofpain，andhefeltextremelydiscouragedandweary。Hewascomingtothat，hewascomingtothat——andnow，checkedbrutally，hehadtoanswerbyyesorno。Heansweredtruthfullybyacurt`Yes，Idid；’
　　andfairofface，bigofframe，withyoung，gloomyeyes，heheldhisshouldersuprightabovetheboxwhilehissoulwrithedwithinhim。Hewasmadetoansweranotherquestionsomuchtothepointandsouseless，thenwaitedagain。Hismouthwastastelesslydry，asthoughhehadbeeneatingdust，thensaltandbitterasafteradrinkofsea-water。Hewipedhisdampforehead，passedhistongueoverparchedlips，feltashiverrundownhisback。Thebigassessorhaddroppedhiseyelids，anddrummedonwithoutasound，carelessandmournful；theeyesoftheotherabovethesunburnt，claspedfingersseemedtoglowwithkindliness；themagistrateswayedforward；hispalefacehoveredneartheflowers，andthendroppingsidewaysoverthearmofhischair，herestedhistempleinthepalmofhishand。Thewindofthepunkahseddieddownontheheads，onthedark-facednativeswoundaboutinvoluminousdraperies，ontheEuropeanssittingtogetherveryhotandindrillsuitsthatseemedtofitthemascloseastheirskins，andholdingtheirroundpithhatsontheirknees；whileglidingalongthewallsthecourtpeons，buttonedtightinlongwhitecoats，flittedrapidlytoandfro，runningonbaretoes，red-sashed，redturbanonhead，asnoiselessasghosts，andonthealertlikesomanyretrievers。
　　Jim’seyes，wanderingintheintervalsofhisanswers，resteduponawhitemanwhosatapartfromtheothers，withhisfacewornandclouded，butwithquieteyesthatglancedstraight，interestedandclear。Jimansweredanotherquestionandwastemptedtocryout，`What’sthegoodofthis!
　　what’sthegood!’Hetappedwithhisfootslightly，bithislip，andlookedawayovertheheads。Hemettheeyesofthewhiteman。Theglancedirectedathimwasnotthefascinatedstareoftheothers。Itwasanactofintelligentvolition。Jimbetweentwoquestionsforgothimselfsofarastofindleisureforathought。Thisfellow——ranthethought——looksatmeasthoughhecouldseesomebodyorsomethingpastmyshoulder。Hehadcomeacrossthatmanbefore——inthestreetperhaps。Hewaspositivehehadneverspokentohim。
　　Fordays，formanydays，hehadspokentonoone，buthadheldsilent，incoherent，andendlessconversewithhimself，likeaprisoneraloneinhiscellorlikeawayfarerlostinawilderness。Atpresenthewasansweringquestionsthatdidnotmatterthoughtheyhadapurpose，buthedoubtedwhetherhewouldeveragainspeakoutaslongashelived。Thesoundofhisowntruthfulstatementsconfirmedhisdeliberateopinionthatspeechwasofnousetohimanylonger。Thatmanthereseemedtobeawareofhishopelessdifficulty。Jimlookedathim，thenturnedawayresolutely，asafterafinalparting。
　　Andlateron，manytimes，indistantpartoftheworld，MarlowshowedhimselfwillingtorememberJim，torememberhimatlength，indetailandaudibly。
　　Perhapsitwouldbeafterdinner，onaverandadrapedinmotionlessfoliageandcrownedwithflowers，inthedeepduskspeckledbyfierycigar-ends。
　　Theelongatedbulkofeachcane-chairharbouredasilentlistener。Nowandthenasmallredglowwouldmoveabruptly，andexpandinglightupthefingersofalanguidhand，partofafaceinprofoundrepose，orflashacrimsongleamintoapairofpensiveeyesovershadowedbyafragmentofanunruffledforehead；andwiththeveryfirstwordutteredMarlow’sbody，extendedatrestintheseat，wouldbecomeverystill，asthoughhisspirithadwingeditswaybackintothelapseoftimeandwerespeakingthroughhislipsfromthepast。
　　LordJim：Chapter5CHAPTERV`OH，yes。Iattendedtheinquiry，’hewouldsay，`andtothisdayIhaven’tleftoffwonderingwhyIwent。Iamwillingtobelieveeachofushasaguardianangel，ifyoufellowswillconcedetomethateachofushasafamiliardevilaswell。Iwantyoutoownup，becauseIdon’tliketofeelexceptionalinanyway，andIknownIhavehim——thedevil，Imean。Ihaven’tseenhim，ofcourse，butIgouponcircumstantialevidence。Heisthererightenough，and，beingmalicious，heletsmeinforthatkindofthing。Whatkindofthing，youask？Why，theinquirything，theyellow-dogthing——youwouldn’tthinkamangy，nativetykewouldbeallowedtotripuppeopleintheverandaofamagistrate’scourt，wouldyou？——thekindofthingthatbydevious，unexpected，trulydiabolicalwayscausesmetorunupagainstmenwithsoftspots，withhardspots，withhiddenplaguespots，byJove!andloosenstheirtonguesatthesightofmefortheirinfernalconfidences；asthough，forsooth，Ihadnoconfidencestomakemyself，asthough——Godhelpme!——Ididn’thaveenoughconfidentialinformationaboutmyselftoharrowmyownsoultilltheendofmyappointedtime。AndwhatIhavedonetobethusfavouredIwanttoknow。IdeclareIamasfullofmyownconcernsasthenextman，andIhaveasmuchmemoryastheaveragepilgriminthisvalley，soyouseeIamnotparticularlyfittobeareceptacleofconfessions。Thenwhy？Can’ttell——unlessitbetomaketimepassawayafterdinner。Charley，mydearchap，yourdinnerwasextremelygood，andinconsequencethesemenherelookuponaquietrubberasatumultuousoccupation。Theywallowinyourgoodchairsandthinktothemselves，“Hangexertion。LetthatMarlowtalk。“
　　`Talk!Sobeit。Andit’seasyenoughtotalkofMasterJim，afteragoodspread，twohundredfeetabovethesea-level，withaboxofdecentcigarshandy，onablessedeveningoffreshnessandstarlightthatwouldmakethebestofusforgetweareonlyonsufferancehereandgottopickourwayincrosslights，watchingeverypreciousminuteandeveryirremediablestep，trustingweshallmanageyettogooutdecentlyintheend——butnotsosureofitafterall——andwithdashedlittlehelptoexpectfromthosewetouchelbowswithrightandleft。Ofcoursetherearemenhereandtheretowhomthewholeoflifeislikeanafter-dinnerhourwithacigar；easy，pleasant，empty，perhapsenlivenedbysomefableofstrifetobeforgottenbeforetheendistold——beforetheendistold——eveniftherehappenstobeanyendtoit。
　　`Myeyesmethisforthefirsttimeatthatinquiry。Youmustknowthateverybodyconnectedinanywaywiththeseawasthere，becausetheaffairhadbeennotoriousfordays，eversincethatmysteriouscablemessagecamefromAdentostartusallcackling。Isaymysterious，becauseitwassoinasensethoughitcontainedanakedfact，aboutasnakedanduglyasafactcanwellbe。Thewholewatersidetalkedofnothingelse。FirstthinginthemorningasIwasdressinginmystate-room，IwouldhearthroughthebulkheadmyParseedubashjabberingaboutthePatnawiththesteward，whilehedrankacupoftea，byfavour，inthepantry。NosooneronshoreIwouldmeetsomeacquaintance，andthefirstremarkwouldbe，“Didyoueverhearofanythingtobeatthis？“andaccordingtohiskindthemanwouldsmilecynically，orlooksad，orletoutaswearortwo。Completestrangerswouldaccosteachotherfamiliarly，justforthesakeofeasingtheirmindsonthesubject：everyconfoundedloaferinthetowncameinforaharvestofdrinksoverthisaffair：youheardofitintheharbouroffice，ateveryship-broker’s，atyouragent’s，fromwhites，fromnatives，fromhalf-castes，fromtheveryboatmensquattinghalf-nakedonthestonestepsasyouwentup——byJove!Therewassomeindignation，notafewjokes，andnoendofdiscussionsastowhathadbecomeofthem，youknow。Thiswentonforacoupleofweeksormore，andtheopinionthatwhateverwasmysteriousinthiswouldturnouttobetragicaswell，begantoprevail，whenonefinemorning，asIwasstandingintheshadebythestepsoftheharbouroffice，Iperceivedfourmenwalkingtowardsmealongthequay。Iwonderedforawhilewherethatqueerlothadsprungfrom，andsuddenly，Imaysay，Ishoutedtomyself，“Heretheyare!“
　　`Theretheywere，sureenough，threeofthemaslargeaslife，andonemuchlargerofgirththananylivingmanhasarighttobe，justlandedwithagoodbreakfastinsideofthemfromanoutward-boundDaleLinesteamerthathadcomeinaboutanhouraftersunrise。Therecouldbenomistake；
　　IspottedthejollyskipperofthePatnaatthefirstglance：thefattestmaninthewholeblessedtropicalbeltclearroundthatgoodoldearthofours。Moreover，ninemonthsorsobefore，IhadcomeacrosshiminSamarang。HissteamerwasloadingintheRoads，andhewasabusingthetyrannicalinstitutionsoftheGermanEmpire，andsoakinghimselfinbeeralldaylonganddayafterdayinDeJongh’sback-shop，tillDeJongh，whochargedaguilderforeverybottlewithoutasmuchasthequiverofaneyelid，wouldbeckonmeaside，and，withhislittleleatheryfaceallpuckeredup，declareconfidentially，“Businessisbusiness，butthisman，captain，hemakemeverysick。Tfui!“
　　`Iwaslookingathimfromtheshade。Hewashurryingonalittleinadvance，andthesunlightbeatingonhimbroughtouthisbulkinastartlingway。Hemademethinkofatrainedbabyelephantwalkingonhind-legs。
　　Hewasextravagantlygorgeoustoo——gotupinasoiledsleeping-suit，brightgreenanddeeporangeverticalstripes，withapairofraggedstrawslippersonhisbarefeet，andsomebody’scast-offpithhat，verydirtyandtwosizestoosmallforhim，tiedupwithamanilaropeyarnonthetopofhisbighead。Youunderstandamanlikethathasn’ttheghostofachancewhenitcomestoborrowingclothes。Verywell。Onhecameinhothaste，withoutalookrightorleft，passedwithinthreefeetofme，andintheinnocenceofhisheartwentonpeltingupstairsintheharbourofficetomakehisdeposition，orreport，orwhateveryouliketocallit。