Prev | Current Page 366 | Next

Conrad, Joseph, 1857-1924

"Chance"

He was leaving
everything to his wife. Naturally, a request which involved him into
sanctioning in a way a proceeding which he had been sent by his wife to
oppose, must have appeared sufficiently mad to Fyne.
"Me! Me, of all people in the world!" he repeated portentously. But I
could see that he was frightened. Such want of tact!
"He knew I came from his sister. You don't put a man into such an
awkward position," complained Fyne. "It made me speak much more strongly
against all this very painful business than I would have had the heart to
do otherwise."
I pointed out to him concisely, and keeping my eyes on the door of the
hotel, that he and his wife were the only bond with the land Captain
Anthony had. Who else could he have asked?
"I explained to him that he was breaking this bond," declared Fyne
solemnly. "Breaking it once for all. And for what--for what?"
He glared at me. I could perhaps have given him an inkling for what, but
I said nothing. He started again:
"My wife assures me that the girl does not love him a bit. She goes by
that letter she received from her.


Pages:
354 355 356 357 358 359 360 361 362 363 364 365 366 367 368 369 370 371 372 373 374 375 376 377 378