Perhaps when he came on the poop for a glance
he found that man so different outwardly from what he expected that he
decided to meet him for the first time out of everybody's sight. Possibly
the general secrecy of his relation to the girl might have influenced
him. Truly he may well have been dismayed. That man's coming brought
him face to face with the necessity to speak and act a lie; to appear
what he was not and what he could never be, unless, unless--
In short, we'll say if you like that for various reasons, all having to
do with the delicate rectitude of his nature, Roderick Anthony (a man of
whom his chief mate used to say: he doesn't know what fear is) was
frightened. There is a Nemesis which overtakes generosity too, like all
the other imprudences of men who dare to be lawless and proud . . . "
"Why do you say this?" I inquired, for Marlow had stopped abruptly and
kept silent in the shadow of the bookcase.
"I say this because that man whom chance had thrown in Flora's way was
both: lawless and proud. Whether he knew anything about it or not it
does not matter.
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