Shewentonwhisperingtoherself：“Andyethewaslookingatme!Hecouldseemyface，hearmyvoice，hearmygrief!WhenIusedtositathisfeet，withmycheekagainsthiskneeandhishandonmyhead，thecurseofcrueltyandmadnesswasalreadywithinhim，waitingfortheday。Thedaycame!……andbeforethesunhadsethecouldnotseemeanymore——hewasmadeblindanddeafandwithoutpity，asyouallare。Heshallhavenotearsfromme。Never，never。Notonetear。Iwillnot!HewentawayfrommeasifIhadbeenworsethandeath。Hefledasifdrivenbysomeaccursedthinghehadheardorseeninhissleep……“
　　`Hersteadyeyesseemedtostrainaftertheshapeofamantornoutofherarmsbythestrengthofadream。Shemadenosigntomysilentbow。
　　Iwasgladtoescape。
　　`Isawheronceagain，thesameafternoon。OnleavingherIhadgoneinsearchofStein，whomIcouldnotfindindoors；andIwanderedout，pursuedbydistressfulthoughts，intothegardens，thosefamousgardensofStein，inwhichyoucanfindeveryplantandtreeoftropicallowlands。
　　Ifollowedthecourseofthecanalizedstream，andsatforalongtimeonashadedbenchneartheornamentalpond，wheresomewaterfowlwithclippedwingsweredivingandsplashingnoisily。Thebranchesofcasuarinatreesbehindmeswayedlightly，incessantly，remindingmeofthesoughingoffirtreesathome。
　　`Thismournfulandrestlesssoundwasafitaccompanimenttomymeditations。
　　Shehadsaidhehadbeendrivenawayfromherbyadream，——andtherewasnoansweronecouldmakeher——thereseemedtobenoforgivenessforsuchatransgression。Andyetisnotmankinditself，pushingonitsblindway，drivenbyadreamofitsgreatnessanditspoweruponthedarkpathsofexcessivecrueltyandofexcessivedevotion？Andwhatisthepursuitoftruth，afterall？
　　`WhenIrosetogetbacktothehouseIcaughtsightofStein’sdrabcoatthroughagapinthefoliage，andverysoonataturnofthepathIcameuponhimwalkingwiththegirl。Herlittlehandrestedonhisforearm，andunderthebroad，flatrimofhisPanamahathebentoverher，grey-haired，paternal，withcompassionateandchivalrousdeference。Istoodaside，buttheystopped，facingme。Hisgazewasbentonthegroundathisfeet；thegirl，erectandslightonhisarm，staredsombrelybeyondmyshoulderwithblack，clear，motionlesseyes。“Schrecklich!“hemurmured。“Terrible!
　　Terrible!Whatcanonedo？“Heseemedtobeappealingtome，butheryouth，thelengthofdayssuspendedoverherhead，appealedtomemore；andsuddenly，evenasIrealizedthatnothingcouldbesaid，Ifoundmyselfpleadinghiscauseforhersake。“Youmustforgivehim，“Iconcluded，andmyownvoiceseemedtomemuffled，lostinanirresponsivedeafimmensity。“Weallwanttobeforgiven，“Iaddedafterawhile。“`WhathaveIdone？“sheaskedwithherlipsonly。“`Youalwaysmistrustedhim，“Isaid。“`Hewasliketheothers，“shepronouncedslowly。“`Notliketheothers，“Iprotested，butshecontinuedevenly，withoutanyfeeling：“`Hewasfalse。“AndsuddenlySteinbrokein。“No!no!no!Mypoorchild!……“Hepattedherhandlyingpassivelyonhissleeve。“No!no!Notfalse!True!true!true!“Hetriedtolookintoherstoneface。“Youdon’tunderstand。Ach!Whyyoudonotunderstand？……Terrible!“hesaidtome。“Somedaysheshallunderstand。“
　　“`Willyouexplain？“Iasked，lookinghardathim。Theymovedon。
　　`Iwatchedthem。Hergowntrailedonthepath，herblackhairfellloose。
　　Shewalkeduprightandlightbythesideofthetallman，whoselongshapelesscoathunginperpendicularfoldsfromthestoopingshoulders，whosefeetmovedslowly。Theydisappearedbeyondthatspinneyyoumayrememberwheresixteendifferentkindsofbamboogrowtogether，alldistinguishabletothelearnedeye。Formypart，Iwasfascinatedbytheexquisitegraceandbeautyofthatflutedgrove，crownedwithpointedleavesandfeatheryheads，thelightness，thevigour，thecharmasdistinctasavoiceoftheunperplexedluxuriatinglife。Irememberstayingtolookatitforalongtime，asonewouldlingerwithinreachofaconsolingwhisper。Theskywaspearlygrey。Itwasoneofthoseovercastdayssorareinthetropicsinwhichmemoriescrowduponone，memoriesofothershores，ofotherfaces。
　　`Idrovebacktotownthesameafternoon，takingwithmeTamb’ItamandtheotherMalay，inwhoseseagoingcrafttheyhadescapedinthebewilderment，fear，andgloomofthedisaster。Theshockofitseemedtohavechangedtheirnatures。Ithadturnedherpassionintostone，anditmadethesurlytaciturnTamb’Itamalmostloquacious。Hissurliness，too，wassubduedintopuzzledhumility，asthoughhehadseenthefailureofapotentcharminasuprememoment。TheBugistrader，ashyhesitatingman，wasveryclearinthelittlehehadtosay。Bothwereevidentlyoverawedbyasenseofdeepinexpressiblewonder，bythetouchofaninscrutablemystery。’
　　TherewithMarlow’ssignaturetheletterproperended。Theprivilegedreaderscreweduphislamp，andsolitaryabovethebillowyroofsofthetown，likealighthouse-keeperabovethesea，heturnedtothepagesofthestory。
　　LordJim：Chapter38CHAPTERXXXVIII`ITallbegins，asI’vetoldyou，withthemancalledBrown，’rantheopeningsentenceofMarlow’snarrative。`YouwhohaveknockedabouttheWesternPacificmusthaveheardofhim。HewastheshowruffianontheAustraliancoast——notthathewasoftentobeseenthere，butbecausehewasalwaystrottedoutinthestoriesoflawlesslifeavisitorfromhomeistreatedto；andthemildestofthesestorieswhichweretoldabouthimfromCapeYorktoEdenBaywasmorethanenoughtohangamaniftoldintherightplace。Theyneverfailedtoletyouknow，too，thathewassupposedtobethesonofabaronet。Beitasitmay，itiscertainhehaddesertedfromahomeshipintheearlygold-diggingdays，andinafewyearsbecametalkedaboutastheterrorofthisorthatgroupofislandsinPolynesia。Hewouldkidnapnatives，hewouldstripsomelonelywhitetradertotheverypyjamashestoodin，andafterhehadrobbedthepoordevil，hewouldaslikelyasnotinvitehimtofightaduelwithshot-gunsonthebeach——whichwouldhavebeenfairenoughasthesethingsgo，iftheothermanhadn’tbeenbythattimealreadyhalf-deadwithfright。Brownwasalatter-daybuccaneer，sorryenough，likehismorecelebratedprototypes，butwhatdistinguishedhimfromhiscontemporarybrotherruffians，likeBullyHayesorthemellifluousPease，orthatperfumed，Dundreary-whiskered，dandifiedscoundrelknownasDirtyDick，wasthearroganttemperofhismisdeedsandavehementscornformankindatlargeandforhisvictimsinparticular。Theothersweremerelyvulgarandgreedybrutes，butheseemedmovedbysomecomplexintention。Hewouldrobamanasifonlytodemonstratehispooropinionofthecreature，andhewouldbringtotheshootingormaimingofsomequiet，unoffendingstrangerasavageandvengefulearnestnessfittoterrifythemostrecklessofdesperadoes。Inthedaysofhisgreatestgloryheownedanarmedbarque，mannedbyamixedcrewofKanakasandrunawaywhalers，andboasted，Idon’tknowwithwhattruth，ofbeingfinancedonthequietbyamostrespectablefirmofcopramerchants。
　　Lateronheranoff——itwasreported——withthewifeofamissionary，averyyounggirlfromClaphamway，whohadmarriedthemild，flat-footedfellowinamomentofenthusiasm，and，suddenlytransplantedtoMelanesia，lostherbearingssomehow。Itwasadarkstory。Shewasillatthetimehecarriedheroff，anddiedonboardhisship。Itissaid——asthemostwonderfulpartofthetale——thatoverherbodyhegavewaytoanoutburstofsombreandviolentgrief。Hislucklefthim，too，verysoonafter。HelosthisshiponsomerocksoffMalaitaanddisappearedforatimeasthoughhehadgonedownwithher。HeisheardofnextatNuka-Hiva，whereheboughtanoldFrenchschooneroutofGovernmentservice。WhatcreditableenterprisehemighthavehadinviewwhenhemadethatpurchaseIcan’tsay，butitisevidentthatwhatwithHighCommissioners，consuls，men-of-war，andinternationalcontrol，theSouthSeasweregettingtoohottoholdgentlemenofhiskidney。Clearlyhemusthaveshiftedthesceneofhisoperationsfartherwest，becauseayearlaterheplaysanincrediblyaudacious，butnotaveryprofitablepart，inaserio-comicbusinessinManilaBay，inwhichapeculatinggovernorandanabscondingtreasureraretheprincipalfigures；thereafterheseemstohavehungaroundthePhilippinesinhisrottenschooner，battlingwithanadversefortune，tillatlast，runninghisappointedcourse，hesailsintoJim’shistory，ablindaccompliceoftheDarkPowers。
　　`HistalegoesthatwhenaSpanishpatrolcuttercapturedhimhewassimplytryingtorunafewgunsfortheinsurgents。Ifso，thenIcan’tunderstandwhathewasdoingoffthesouthcoastofMindanao。Mybelief，however，isthathewasblackmailingthenativevillagesalongthecoast。
　　Theprincipalthingisthatthecutter，throwingaguardonboard，madehimsailincompanytowardsZamboanga。Ontheway，forsomereasonorother，bothvesselshadtocallatoneofthesenewSpanishsettlements——whichnevercametoanythingintheend——wheretherewasnotonlyacivilofficialinchargeonshore，butagoodstoutcoastingschoonerlyingatanchorinthelittlebay；andthiscraft，ineverywaymuchbetterthanhisown，Brownmadeuphismindtosteal。
　　`Hewasdownonhisluck——ashetoldmehimself。Theworldhehadbulliedfortwentyyearswithfierce，aggressivedisdain，hadyieldedhimnothinginthewayofmaterialadvantageexceptasmallbagofsilverdollars，whichwasconcealedinhiscabinsothat“thedevilhimselfcouldn’tsmellitout。“Andthatwasall——absolutelyall。Hewastiredofhislife，andnotafraidofdeath。Butthisman，whowouldstakehisexistenceonawhimwithabitterandjeeringrecklessness，stoodinmortalfearofimprisonment。
　　Hehadanunreasoningcold-sweat，nerve-shaking，blood-to-water-turningsortofhorroratthebarepossibilityofbeinglockedup——thesortofterrorasuperstititousmanwouldfeelatthethoughtofbeingembracedbyaspectre。Thereforethecivilofficialwhocameonboardtomakeapreliminaryinvestigationintothecapture，investigatedarduouslyalldaylong，andonlywentashoreafterdark，muffledupinacloak，andtakinggreatcarenottoletBrown’slittleallclinkinitsbag。Afterwards，beingamanofhisword，hecontrivedtheverynextevening，Ibelieve
　　tosendofftheGovernmentcutteronsomeurgentbitofspecialservice。
　　Ashercommandercouldnotspareaprizecrew，hecontendedhimselfbytakingawaybeforeheleftallthesailsofBrown’sschoonertotheverylastrag，andtookgoodcaretotowhistwoboatsontothebeachacoupleofmilesoff。
　　`ButinBrown’screwtherewasaSolomonIslander，kidnappedinhisyouthanddevotedtoBrown，whowasthebestmanofthewholegang。Thatfellowswamofftothecoaster——fivehundredyardsorso——withtheendofawarpmadeupofalltherunninggearunroveforthepurpose。Thewaterwassmoothandthebaydark，“liketheinsideofacow，“asBrowndescribedit。TheSolomonIslanderclamberedoverthebulwarkswiththeendoftheropeinhisteeth。Thecrewofthecoaster——allTagals——wereashorehavingajollificationinthenativevillage。Thetwoshipkeepersleftonboardwokeupsuddenlyandsawthedevil。Ithadglitteringeyesandleapedquickaslightningaboutthedeck。Theyfellontheirknees，paralysedwithfear，crossingthemselvesandmumblingprayers。WithalongknifehefoundinthecaboosetheSolomonIslander，withoutinterruptingtheirorisons，stabbedfirstone，thentheother；withthesameknifehesettosawingpatientlyatthecoircabletillsuddenlyitpartedunderthebladewithasplash。
　　Theninthesilenceofthebayheletoutacautiousshout，andBrown’sgang，whomeantimehadbeenpeeringandstrainingtheirhopefulearsinthedarkness，begantopullgentlyattheirendofthewarp。Inlessthenfiveminutesthetwoschoonerscametogetherwithaslightshockandacreakofspars。
　　`Brown’scrowdtransferredthemselveswithoutlosinganinstant，takingwiththemtheirfirearmsandalargesupplyofammunition。Theyweresixteeninall：tworunawayblue-jackets，alankydeserterfromaYankeeman-of-war，acoupleofsimple，blondScandinavians，amulattoofsorts，oneblandChinamanwhocooked——andtherestofthenondescriptspawnoftheSouthSeas。Noneofthemcared；Brownbentthemtohiswill，andBrown，indifferenttogallows，wasrunningawayfromthespectreofaSpanishprison。Hedidn’tgivethemthetimetotranshipenoughprovisions；theweatherwascalm，theairwaschargedwithdew，andwhentheycastofftheropesandsetsailtoafaintoffshoredraughttherewasnoflutterinthedampcanvas；
　　theiroldschoonerseemedtodetachitselfgentlyfromthestolencraftandslipawaysilently，togetherwiththeblackmassofthecoast，intothenight。
　　`Theygotclearaway。BrownrelatedtomeindetailtheirpassagedowntheStraitsofMacassar。Itisaharrowinganddesperatestory。Theywereshortoffoodandwater；theyboardedseveralnativecraftandgotalittlefromeach。WithastolenshipBrowndidnotdaretoputintoanyport，ofcourse。Hehadnomoneytobuyanything，nopaperstoshow，andnolieplausibleenoughtogethimoutagain。AnArabbarque，undertheDutchflag，surprisedonenightatanchoroffPouloLaut，yieldedalittledirtyrice，abunchofbananas，andacaskofwater；threedaysofsquallymistyweatherfromthenorth-eastshottheschooneracrosstheJavaSea。Theyellowmuddywavesdrenchedthatcollectionofhungryruffians。Theysightedmail-boatsmovingontheirappointedroutes；passedwell-foundhomeshipswithrustyironsidesanchoredintheshallowseawaitingforachangeofweatherortheturnofthetide；andEnglishgunboat，whiteandtrim，withtwoslimmasts，crossedtheirbowsonedayinthe