benito cereno-第13节
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Delano observed with interest that while the complexion of the mulatto was hybrid； his physiognomy was European； classically so。 〃Don Benito；〃 whispered he； 〃I am glad to see this usher…of…the…golden…rod of yours； the sight refutes an ugly remark once made to me by a Barbados planter that when a mulatto has a regular European face； look out for him； he is a devil。 But see； your steward here has features more regular than King George's of England； and yet there he nods； and bows； and smiles； a king； indeed… the king of kind hearts and polite fellows。 What a pleasant voice he has； too？〃 〃He has； Senor。〃 〃But； tell me； has he not； so far as you have known him； always proved a good； worthy fellow？〃 said Captain Delano； pausing； while with a final genuflexion the steward disappeared into the cabin； 〃come； for the reason just mentioned； I am curious to know。〃 〃Francesco is a good man；〃 rather sluggishly responded Don Benito； like a phlegmatic appreciator； who would neither find fault nor flatter。 〃Ah； I thought so。 For it were strange indeed； and not very creditable to us white…skins； if a little of our blood mixed with the African's； should； far from improving the latter's quality； have the sad effect of pouring vitriolic acid into black broth； improving the hue； perhaps； but not the wholesomeness。〃 〃Doubtless； doubtless； Senor； but〃… glancing at Babo… 〃not to speak of Negroes； your planter's remark I have heard applied to the Spanish and Indian intermixtures in our provinces。 But I know nothing about the matter；〃 he listlessly added。 And here they entered the cabin。 The lunch was a frugal one。 Some of Captain Delano's fresh fish and pumpkins； biscuit and salt beef； the reserved bottle of cider； and the San Dominick's last bottle of Canary。 As they entered； Francesco； with two or three coloured aides； was hovering over the table giving the last adjustments。 Upon perceiving their master they withdrew； Francesco making a smiling conge； and the Spaniard； without condescending to notice it； fastidiously remarking to his companion that he relished not superfluous attendance。 Without companions； host and guest sat down； like a childless married couple； at opposite ends of the table； Don Benito waving Captain Delano to his place； and； weak as he was； insisting upon that gentleman being seated before himself。 The Negro placed a rug under Don Benito's feet； and a cushion behind his back； and then stood behind； not his master's chair； but Captain Delano's。 At first； this a little surprised the latter。 But it was soon evident that； in taking his position； the black was still true to his master； since by facing him he could the more readily anticipate his slightest want。 〃This is an uncommonly intelligent fellow of yours； Don Benito；〃 whispered Captain Delano across the table。 〃You say true； Senor。〃 During the repast； the guest again reverted to parts of Don Benito's story； begging further particulars here and there。 He inquired how it was that the scurvy and fever should have committed such wholesale havoc upon the whites； while destroying less than half of the blacks。 As if this question reproduced the whole scene of plague before the Spaniard's eyes； miserably reminding him of his solitude in a cabin where before he had had so many friends and officers round him； his hand shook； his face became hueless； broken words escaped； but directly the sane memory of the past seemed replaced by insane terrors of the present。 With starting eyes he stared before him at vacancy。 For nothing was to be seen but the hand of his servant pushing the Canary over towards him。 At length a few sips served partially to restore him。 He made random reference to the different constitutions of races； enabling one to offer more resistance to certain maladies than another。 The thought was new to his companion。 Presently Captain Delano； intending to say something to his host concerning the pecuniary part of the business he had undertaken for him； especially… since he was strictly accountable to his owners… with reference to the new suit of sails； and other things of that sort； and naturally preferring to conduct such affairs in private； was desirous that the servant should withdraw； imagining that Don Benito for a few minutes could dispense with his attendance。 He； however； waited awhile； thinking that； as the conversation proceeded； Don Benito； without being prompted； would perceive the propriety of the step。 But it was otherwise。 At last catching his host's eye； Captain Delano； with a slight backward gesture of his thumb； whispered； 〃Don Benito； pardon me； but there is an interference with the full expression of what I have to say to you。〃 Upon this the Spaniard changed countenance； which was imputed to his resenting the hint； as in some way a reflection upon his servant。 After a moment's pause； he assured his guest that the black's remaining with them could be of no disservice； because since losing his officers he had made Babo （whose original office； it now appeared； had been captain of the slaves） not only his constant attendant and companion； but in all things his confidant。 After this； nothing more could be said； though； indeed； Captain Delano could hardly avoid some little tinge of irritation upon being left ungratified in so inconsiderable a wish； by one； too； for whom he intended such solid services。 But it is only his querulousness； thought he； and so filling his glass he proceeded to business。 The price of the sails and other matters was fixed upon。 But while this was being done； the American observed that； though his original offer of assistance had been hailed with hectic animation； yet now when it was reduced to a business transaction； indifference and apathy were betrayed。 Don Benito； in fact； appeared to submit to hearing the details more out of regard to common propriety； than from any impression that weighty benefit to himself and his voyage was involved。 Soon； his manner became still more reserved。 The effort was vain to seek to draw him into social talk。 Gnawed by his splenetic mood； he sat twitching his beard； while to little purpose the hand of his servant； mute as that on the wall； slowly pushed over the Canary。 Lunch being over； they sat down on the cushioned transom； the servant placing a pillow behind his master。 The long continuance of the calm had now affected the atmosphere。 Don Benito sighed heavily； as if for breath。 〃Why not adjourn to the cuddy；〃 said Captain Delano； 〃there is more air there。〃 But the host sat silent and motionless。 Meantime his servant knelt before him； with a large fan of feathers。 And Francesco； coming in on tiptoes； handed the Negro a little cup of aromatic waters； with which at intervals he chafed his master's brow； smoothing the hair along the temples as a nurse does a child's。 He spoke no word。 He only rested his eye on his master's； as if； amid all Don Benito's distress； a little to refresh his spirit by the silent sight of fidelity。 Presently the ship's bell sounded two o'clock； and through the cabin…windows a slight rippling of the sea was discerned； and from the desired direction。 〃There；〃 exclaimed Captain Delano； 〃I told you so； Don Benito； look！〃 He had risen to his feet； speaking in a very animated tone； with a view the more to rouse his companion。 But though the crimson curtain of the stern…window near him that moment fluttered against his pale cheek； Don Benito seemed to have even less welcome for the breeze than the calm。 Poor fellow； thought Captain Delano； bitter experience has taught him that one ripple does not make a wind； any more than one swallow a summer。 But he is mistaken for once。 I will get his ship in for him； and prove it。 Briefly alluding to his weak condition； he urged his host to remain quietly where he was； since he （Captain Delano） would with pleasure take upon himself the responsibility of making the best use of the wind。 Upon gaining the deck； Captain Delano started at the unexpected figure of Atufal； monumentally fixed at the threshold； like one of those sculptured porters of black marble guarding the porches of Egyptian tombs。 But this time the start was； perhaps； purely physical。 Atufal's presence； singularly attesting docility even in sullenness； was contrasted with that of the hatchet…polishers； who in patience evinced their industry； while both spectacles showed； that lax as Don Benito's general authority might be； still； whenever he chose to exert it； no man so savage or colossal but must； more or less； bow。 Snatching a trumpet which hung from the bulwarks； with a free step Captain Delano advanced to the forward edge of the poop； issuing his orders in his best Spanish。 The few sailors and many Negroes； all equally pleased； obediently set about heading the ship toward the harbour。 While giving some directions about setting a lower stu'n'…sail； suddenly Captain Delano heard a voice faithfully repeating his orders。 Turning； he saw Babo； now for the time acting； under the pilot； his original part of captain of the slaves。 This assistance proved valuable。 Tattered sails and warped yards were soon brought into some trim。 And no brace or halyard was pulled but to the b
