falk-第12章
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a burst of weird and precipitated clapping； the tug
shot out of the desolate arena。 The rocky islets
lay on the sea like the heaps of a cyclopean ruin
on a plain； the centipedes and scorpions lurked un…
der the stones； there was not a single blade of grass
in sight anywhere； not a single lizard sunning him…
self on a boulder by the shore。 When I looked
again at Hermann's ship the girl had disappeared。
I could not detect the smallest dot of a bird on the
immense sky； and the flatness of the land continued
the flatness of the sea to the naked line of the hori…
zon。
This is the setting now inseparably connected
with my knowledge of Falk's misfortune。 My di…
plomacy had brought me there； and now I had only
to wait the time for taking up the role of an ambas…
sador。 My diplomacy was a success； my ship was
safe； old Gambril would probably live； a feeble
sound of a tapping hammer came intermittently
from the Diana。 During the afternoon I looked
at times at the old homely ship； the faithful nurse
of Hermann's progeny； or yawned towards the dis…
tant temple of Buddha； like a lonely hillock on the
plain； where shaven priests cherish the thoughts of
that Annihilation which is the worthy reward of us
all。 Unfortunate！ He had been unfortunate once。
Well； that was not so bad as life goes。 And what
the devil could be the nature of that misfortune？
I remembered that I had known a man before who
had declared himself to have fallen； years ago； a
victim to misfortune； but this misfortune； whose
effects appeared permanent （he looked desper…
ately hard up） when considered dispassionately；
seemed indistinguishable from a breach of trust。
Could it be something of that nature？ Apart；
however； from the utter improbability that he
would offer to talk of it even to his future uncle…
in…law； I had a strange feeling that Falk's physique
unfitted him for that sort of delinquency。 As the
person of Hermann's niece exhaled the profound
physical charm of feminine form； so her ador…
er's big frame embodied to my senses the hard；
straight masculinity that would conceivably kill
but would not condescend to cheat。 The thing
was obvious。 I might just as well have suspected
the girl of a curvature of the spine。 And I per…
ceived that the sun was about to set。
The smoke of Falk's tug hove in sight； far
away at the mouth of the river。 It was time for
me to assume the character of an ambassador； and
the negotiation would not be difficult except in the
matter of keeping my countenance。 It was all too
extravagantly nonsensical； and I conceived that it
would be best to compose for myself a grave de…
meanour。 I practised this in my boat as I went
along； but the bashfulness that came secretly upon
me the moment I stepped on the deck of the Diana
is inexplicable。 As soon as we had exchanged
greetings Hermann asked me eagerly if I knew
whether Falk had found his white parasol。
〃He's going to bring it to you himself directly；〃
I said with great solemnity。 〃Meantime I am
charged with an important message for which he
begs your favourable consideration。 He is in love
with your niece。 。 。 。〃
〃Ach So！〃 he hissed with an animosity that
made my assumed gravity change into the most
genuine concern。 What meant this tone？ And I
hurried on。
〃He wishes； with your consent of course； to ask
her to marry him at oncebefore you leave here；
that is。 He would speak to the Consul。〃
Hermann sat down and smoked violently。 Five
minutes passed in that furious meditation； and
then； taking the long pipe out of his mouth； he
burst into a hot diatribe against Falkagainst his
cupidity； his stupidity （a fellow that can hardly
be got to say 〃yes〃 or 〃no〃 to the simplest ques…
tion）against his outrageous treatment of the
shipping in port （because he saw they were at his
mercy）and against his manner of walking；
which to his （Hermann's） mind showed a conceit
positively unbearable。 The damage to the old
Diana was not forgotten； of course； and there was
nothing of any nature said or done by Falk （even
to the last offer of refreshment in the hotel） that
did not seem to have been a cause of offence。
〃Had the cheek〃 to drag him （Hermann） into
that coffee…room； as though a drink from him could
make up for forty…seven dollars and fifty cents of
damage in the cost of wood alonenot counting
two days' work for the carpenter。 Of course he
would not stand in the girl's way。 He was going
home to Germany。 There were plenty of poor
girls walking about in Germany。
〃He's very much in love；〃 was all I found to
say。
〃Yes；〃 he cried。 〃And it is time too after mak…
ing himself and me talked about ashore the last
voyage I was here； and then now again； coming on
board every evening unsettling the girl's mind； and
saying nothing。 What sort of conduct is that？〃
The seven thousand dollars the fellow was always
talking about did not； in his opinion； justify such
behaviour。 Moreover； nobody had seen them。 He
（Hermann） seriously doubted if there were seven
thousand cents； and the tug； no doubt； was mort…
gaged up to the top of the funnel to the firm of
Siegers。 But let that pass。 He wouldn't stand in
the girl's way。 Her head was so turned that she
had become no good to them of late。 Quite unable
even to put the children to bed without her aunt。
It was bad for the children； they got unruly； and
yesterday he actually had to give Gustav a thrash…
ing。
For that； too； Falk was made responsible ap…
parently。 And looking at my Hermann's heavy；
puffy； good…natured face； I knew he would not ex…
ert himself till greatly exasperated； and； therefore；
would thrash very hard； and being fat would resent
the necessity。 How Falk had managed to turn the
girl's head was more difficult to understand。 I sup…
posed Hermann would know。 And then hadn't
there been Miss Vanlo？ It could not be his silvery
tongue； or the subtle seduction of his manner； he
had no more of what is called 〃manner〃 than an
animalwhich； however； on the other hand； is
never； and can never be called vulgar。 Therefore
it must have been his bodily appearance； exhibiting
a virility of nature as exaggerated as his beard； and
resembling a sort of constant ruthlessness。 It was
seen in the very manner he lolled in the chair。 He
meant no offence； but his intercourse was charac…
terised by that sort of frank disregard of suscepti…
bilities a man of seven foot six； living in a world of
dwarfs； would naturally assume； without in the
least wishing to be unkind。 But amongst men of
his own stature； or nearly； this frank use of his ad…
vantages； in such matters as the awful towage bills
for instance； caused much impotent gnashing of
teeth。 When attentively considered it seemed ap…
palling at times。 He was a strange beast。 But
maybe women liked it。 Seen in that light he was
well worth taming； and I suppose every woman at
the bottom of her heart considers herself as a tamer
of strange beasts。 But Hermann arose with pre…
cipitation to carry the news to his wife。 I had
barely the time； as he made for the cabin door； to
grab him by the seat of his inexpressibles。 I
begged him to wait till Falk in person had spoken
with him。 There remained some small matter to
talk over； as I understood。
He sat down again at once； full of suspicion。
〃What matter？〃 he said surlily。 〃I have had
enough of his nonsense。 There's no matter at all；
as he knows very well； the girl has nothing in the
world。 She came to us in one thin dress when my
brother died； and I have a growing family。〃
〃It can't be anything of that kind；〃 I opined。
〃He's desperately enamoured of your niece。 I
don't know why he did not say so before。 Upon
my word； I believe it is because he was afraid to
lose； perhaps； the felicity of sitting near her on
your quarter deck。〃
I intimated my conviction that his love was so
great as to be in a sense cowardly。 The effects of
a great passion are unaccountable。 It has been
known to make a man timid。 But Hermann looked
at me as if I had foolishly raved； and the twilight
was dying out rapidly。
〃You don't believe in passion； do you； Her…
mann？〃 I said cheerily。 〃The passion of fear will
make a cornered rat courageous。 Falk's in a cor…
ner。 He will take her off your hands in one thin
frock just as she came to you。 And after ten years'
service it isn't a bad bargain；〃 I added。
Far from taking offence； he resumed his air of
civic virtue。 The sudden night came upon him
while he stared placidly along the deck； bringing
in contact with his thick lips； and taking away
again after a jet of smoke； the curved mouthpiece
fitted to the stem of his pipe。 The night came
upon him and buried in haste his whiskers； his glob…
ular eyes； his puffy pale face； his fat knees and the
vast flat slippers on his fatherly feet。 Only his
short arms in respectable white shirt…sleeves re…
mained very visible； propped up like the flippers of
a seal reposing on the strand。
〃Falk wouldn't settle anything about repairs。
Told me to find out first how much wood I should
require and he would see；〃 he remarked； and after
he had spat peacefully in the dusk we heard over
the water the beat of the tug's floats。 There is； on
a calm night； nothing more suggestive of fierce and
headlong haste than the rapid sound made by the
paddle…wheels of a boat threshing her way through
a quiet sea； and the approach of Falk towards his
fate seemed to be urged by an impatient and pas…
sionate desire。 The engines must have been driven
to the very utmost of their revolutions。 We heard
them slow down at last； and； vaguely； the white
hull of the tug appeared moving against the black
islets； whilst a slow and rhythmical clapping as of
thousands of hands rose on all sides。 It ceased all
at once； just before Falk brought her up。 A sin…
gle brusque splash was followed by the long drawn
rumbling of iron links running through the hawse
pipe。 Then a solemn silence fell upon the Road…
stead。
〃He will soon be here；〃 I murmured； and after
that we waited for him without a word。 Meantime；
raising my eyes； I beheld the glitter of a lofty sky
above the Diana's mastheads。 The multitude of
stars gathered into clusters； in rows； in lines； in
masses； in groups； shone all together； unanimously
and the few isolated ones； blazing by themselves
in the midst of dark patches； seemed to be of a su…
perior kind and of an inextinguishable nature。 But
long striding footsteps were heard hastening along
the deck； the high bulwarks of the Diana made a
deeper darkness。 We rose from our chairs quickly；
and Falk； appearing before us； all in white； stood
still。
Nobody spoke at first； as though we had been
covered with confusion。
