a question of latitude-第5节

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the　others　at　table；　and　with　Madame　Ducret　slowly　paced　the　deck。
As　they　passed　out　of　the　reach　of　the　lights；　he　drew　her　to　the
rail；　and　stood　in　front　of　her。

〃I　am　not　quite　mad；〃　he　said；　〃but　you　have　got　to　come　with　me。〃

To　Everett　all　he　added　to　this　sounded　sane　and　final。　　He　told
her　that　this　was　one　of　those　miracles　when　the　one　woman　and　the
one　man　who　were　predestined　to　meet　had　met。　　He　told　her　he　had
wished　to　marry　a　girl　at　home；　but　that　he　now　saw　that　the　desire
was　the　fancy　of　a　school…boy。　　He　told　her　he　was　rich；　and
offered　her　the　choice　of　returning　to　the　Paris　she　loved；　or　of
going　deeper　into　the　jungle。　　There　he　would　set　up　for　her　a
principality；　a　state　within　the　State。　　He　would　defend　her
against　all　comers。　　He　would　make　her　the　Queen　of　the　Congo。

〃I　have　waited　for　you　thousands　of　years！〃　he　told　her。　　His　voice
was　hoarse；　shaken；　and　thick。　　〃I　love　you　as　men　loved　women　in
the　Stone　Agefiercely；　entirely。　　I　will　not　be　denied。　　Down
here　we　are　cave　people；　if　you　fight　me；　I　will　club　you　and　drag
you　to　my　cave。　　If　others　fight　for　you；　I　will　KILL　them。　　I　love
you；〃　he　panted；　〃with　all　my　soul；　my　mind；　my　body；　I　love　you！
I　will　not　let　you　go！〃

Madame　Ducret　did　not　say　she　was　insulted；　because　she　did　not
feel　insulted。　　She　did　not　call　to　her　husband　for　help；　because
she　did　not　need　his　help；　and　because　she　knew　that　the　ex…
wrestler　could　break　Everett　across　his　knee。　　She　did　not　even
withdraw　her　hands；　although　Everett　drove　the　diamonds　deep　into
her　fingers。

〃You　frighten　me！〃　she　pleaded。　　She　was　not　in　the　least
frightened。　　She　only　was　sorry　that　this　one　must　be　discarded
among　the　incurables。

In　apparent　agitation；　she　whispered；　〃To…morrow！　　To…morrow　I　will
give　you　your　answer。〃

Everett　did　not　trust　her；　did　not　release　her。　　He　regarded　her
jealously；　with　quick　suspicion。　　To　warn　her　that　he　knew　she
could　not　escape　from　Matadi；　or　from　him；　he　said；　〃The　train　to
Leopoldville　does　not　leave　for　two　days！〃

〃I　know！〃　whispered　Madame　Ducret　soothingly。　　〃I　will　give　you
your　answer　to…morrow　at　ten。〃　　She　emphasized　the　hour；　because
she　knew　at　sunrise　a　special　train　would　carry　her　husband　and
herself　to　Leopoldville；　and　that　there　one　of　her　husband's
steamers　would　bear　them　across　the　Pool　to　French　Congo。

〃To…morrow；　then！〃　whispered　Everett；　grudgingly。　　〃But　I　must　kiss
you　now！〃

Only　an　instant　did　Madame　Ducret　hesitate。　　Then　she　turned　her
cheek。　　〃Yes；〃　she　assented。　　〃You　must　kiss　me　now。〃

Everett　did　not　rejoin　the　others。　　He　led　her　back　into　the　circle
of　light；　and　locked　himself　in　his　cabin。

At　ten　the　next　morning；　when　Ducret　and　his　wife　were　well
advanced　toward　Stanley　Pool；　Cuthbert　handed　Everett　a　note。
Having　been　told　what　it　contained；　he　did　not　move　away；　but；　with
his　back　turned；　leaned　upon　the　rail。

Everett；　his　eyes　on　fire　with　triumph；　his　fingers　trembling；　tore
open　the　envelope。

Madame　Ducret　wrote　that　her　husband　and　herself　felt　that　Mr。
Everett　was　suffering　more　severely　from　the　climate　than　he　knew。
With　regret　they　cancelled　their　invitation　to　visit　them；　and
urged　him；　for　his　health's　sake；　to　continue　as　he　had　planned；　to
northern　latitudes。　　They　hoped　to　meet　in　Paris。　　They　extended
assurances　of　their　distinguished　consideration。

Slowly；　savagely；　as　though　wreaking　his　suffering　on　some　human
thing；　Everett　tore　the　note　into　minute　fragments。　　Moving
unsteadily　to　the　ship's　side；　he　flung　them　into　the　river；　and
then　hung　limply　upon　the　rail。

Above　him；　from　a　sky　of　brass；　the　sun　stabbed　at　his　eyeballs。
Below　him；　the　rush　of　the　Congo；　churning　in　muddy　whirlpools；
echoed　against　the　hills　of　naked　rock　that　met　the　naked　sky。

To　Everett；　the　roar　of　the　great　river；　and　the　echoes　from　the
land　he　had　set　out　to　reform；　carried　the　sound　of　gigantic；
hideous　laughter。






End