SaysI，`Don’tyoumindoldJones，sir；damnhissoul，he’susedtoit。’IcouldseedirectlyIhadshockedhisdelicateear，andwhilewesatatourfirsttiffintogetherhebegantofindfaultinanastymannerwiththisandthatintheship。IneverheardsuchavoiceoutofaPunchandJudyshow。Isetmyteethhard，andgluedmyeyestomyplate，andheldmypeaceaslongasIcould；butatleastIhadtosaysomething：
　　uphejumpstiptoeing，rufflingallhisprettyplumes，likealittlefightingcock。`You’llfindyouhaveadifferentpersontodealwiththanthelateCaptainBrierly。’`I’vefoundit，’saysI，veryglum，butpretendingtobemightybusywithmysteak。`Youareanoldruffian，Mr——aw——Jones；
　　andwhat’smore，youareknownforanoldruffianintheemploy，’hesqueaksatme。Thedamnedbottle-washersstoodaboutlisteningwiththeirmouthsstretchedfromeartoear。`Imaybeahardcase，’answersI，`butIain’tsofargoneastoputupwiththesightofyousittinginCaptainBrierly’schair。’WiththatIlaydownmyknifeandfork。`Youwouldliketositinityourself——that’swheretheshoepinches，’hesneers。Ileftthesaloon，gotmyragstogether，andwasonthequaywithallmydunnageaboutmyfeetbeforethestevedoreshadturnedtoagain。Yes。Adrift——onshore——aftertenyears’service——andwithapoorwomanandfourchildrensixthousandmilesoffdependingonmyhalfpayforeverymouthfultheyate。Yes，sir!
　　IchuckeditratherthanhearCaptainBrierlyabused。Heleftmehisnightglasses——heretheyare；andhewishedmetotakecareofthedog——hereheis。Hallo，Rover，poorboy。Where’sthecaptain，Rover？“Thedoglookedupatuswithmournfulyelloweyes，gaveonedesolatebark，andcreptunderthetable。
　　`Allthiswastakingplace，morethantwoyearsafterwards，onboardthatnauticalruintheFire-QueenthisJoneshadgotchargeof——quitebyafunnyaccident，too——fromMatherson——madMathersontheygenerallycalledhim——thesamewhousedtohangoutinHai-phong，youknow，beforetheoccupationdays。Theoldchapsnuffledon：
　　“`Ay，sir，CaptainBrierlywillberememberedhere，ifthere’snootherplaceonearth。Iwrotefullytohisfatheranddidnotgetawordinreply——neitherThankyou，norGotothedevil!——nothing!Perhapstheydidnotwanttoknow。“
　　`Thesightofthatwatery-eyedoldJonesmoppinghisbaldheadwitharedcottonhandkerchief，thesorrowingyelpofthedog，thesqualorofthatfly-browncuddywhichwastheonlyshrineofhismemory，threwaveilofinexpressiblymeanpathosoverBrierly’srememberedfigure，theposthumousrevengeoffateforthatbeliefinhisownsplendourwhichhadalmostcheatedhislifeofitslegitimateterrors。Almost!Perhapswholly。Whocantellwhatflatteringviewhehadinducedhimselftotakeofhisownsuicide？
　　“`Whydidhecommittherashact，CaptainMarlow——canyouthink？“askedJones，pressinghispalmstogether。“Why？Itbeatsme!Why？“Heslappedhislowandwrinkledforehead。“Ifhehadbeenpoorandoldandindebt——andneverashow——orelsemad。Buthewasn’tofthekindthatgoesmad，nothe。Youtrustme。Whatamatedon’tknowabouthisskipperisn’tworthknowing。Young，healthy，welloff，nocares……Isitheresometimesthinking，thinking，tillmyheadfairlybeginstobuzz。Therewassomereason。“
　　“`Youmaydependonit，CaptainJones，“saidI，“itwasn’tanythingthatwouldhavedisturbedmucheitherofustwo，“Isaid；andthen，asifalighthadbeenflashedintothemuddleofhisbrain，pooroldJonesfoundalastwordofamazingprofundity。Heblewhisnose，noddingatmedolefully：“Ay，ay!neitheryounorI，sir，hadeverthoughtsomuchofourselves。“
　　`OfcoursetherecollectionofmylastconversationwithBrierlyistingedwiththeknowledgeofhisendthatfollowedsocloseuponit。I
　　spokewithhimforthelasttimeduringtheprogressoftheinquiry。Itwasafterthefirstadjournment，andhecameupwithmeinthestreet。
　　Hewasinastateofirritation，whichInoticedwithsurprise，hisusualbehaviourwhenhecondescendedtoconversebeingperfectlycool，withatraceofamusedtolerance，asiftheexistenceofhisinterlocutorhadbeenarathergoodjoke。“Theycaughtmeforthatinquiry，yousee，“hebegan，andforawhileenlargedcomplaininglyupontheinconveniencesofdailyattendanceincourt。“Andgoodnessknowshowlongitwilllast。Threedays，Isuppose。“Iheardhimoutinsilence；inmythenopinionitwasawayasgoodasanotherofputtingonside。“What’stheuseofit？Itisthestupidestset-outyoucanimagine，“hepursued，hotly。Iremarkedthattherewasnooption。Heinterruptedmewithasortofpent-upviolence。
　　“Ifeellikeafoolallthetime。“Ilookedupathim。Thiswasgoingveryfar——forBrierly——whentalkingofBrierly。Hestoppedshort，andseizingthelapelofmycoat，gaveitaslighttug。“Whyarewetormentingthatyoungchap？“heasked。Thisquestionchimedinsowelltothetollingofacertainthoughtofminethat，withtheimageoftheabscondingrenegadeinmyeye，Iansweredatonce，“HangedifIknow，unlessitbethatheletsyou。“Iwasastonishedtoseehimfallintoline，sotospeak，withthatutterance，whichoughttohavebeentolerablycryptic。Hesaidangrily，“Why，yes。Can’theseethatwretchedskipperofhishasclearedout？Whatdoesheexpecttohappen？Nothingcansavehim。He’sdonefor。“Wewalkedoninsilenceafewsteps。“Whyeatallthatdirt？“heexclaimed，withanorientalenergyofexpression——abouttheonlysortofenergyyoucanfindatraceofeastofthefiftiethmeridian。Iwonderedgreatlyatthedirectionofhisthoughts，butnowIstronglysuspectitwasstrictlyincharacter：atbottompoorBrierlymusthavebeenthinkingofhimself。I
　　pointedouttohimthattheskipperofthePatnawasknowntohavefeatheredhisnestprettywell，andcouldprocurealmostanywherethemeansofgettingaway。WithJimitwasotherwise：theGovernmentwaskeepinghimintheSailors’Homeforthetimebeing，andprobablyhehadn’tapennyinhispockettoblesshimselfwith。Itcostssomemoneytorunaway。“Doesit？Notalways，“hesaid，withabitterlaugh，andtosomefurtherremarkofmine——“Well，then，lethimcreeptwentyfeetundergroundandstaythere!
　　Byheavens!Iwould。“Idon’tknowwhyhistoneprovokedme，andIsaid，“Thereisakindofcourageinfacingitoutashedoes，knowingverywellthatifhewentawaynobodywouldtroubletorunafterhim。“
　　“Couragebehanged!“growledBrierly。“Thatsortofcourageisofnousetokeepamanstraight，andIdon’tcareasnapforsuchcourage。Ifyouweretosayitwasakindofcowardicenow——ofsoftness。Itellyouwhat，Iwillputuptwohundredrupeesifyouputupanotherhundredandundertaketomakethebeggarclearoutearlyto-morrowmorning。Thefellow’sagentlemanifheain’tfittobetouched——hewillunderstand。Hemust!Thisinfernalpublicityistooshocking：therehesitswhilealltheseconfoundednatives，serangs，lascars，quarter-masters，aregivingevidencethat’senoughtoburnamantoasheswithshame。Thisisabominable。Why，Marlow，don’tyouthink，don’tyoufeel，thatthisisabominable；don’tyounow——come——asaseaman？Ifhewentawayallthiswouldstopatonce。“Brierlysaidthosewordswithamostunusualanimation，andmadeasiftoreachafterhispocket-book。Irestrainedhim，anddeclaredcoldlythatthecowardiceofthesefourmendidnotseemtomeamatterofsuchgreatimportance。“Andyoucallyourselfaseaman，Isuppose，“hepronounced，angrily。Isaidthat’swhatIcalledmyself，andIhopedIwastoo。Heheardmeout，andmadeagesturewithhisbigarmthatseemedtodeprivemeofmyindividuality，topushmeawayintothecrowd。“Theworstofit，“hesaid，“isthatallyoufellowshavenosenseofdignity；youdon’tthinkenoughofwhatyouaresupposedtobe。“
　　`Wehadbeenwalkingslowlymeantime，andnowstoppedoppositetheharbouroffice，insightoftheveryspotfromwhichtheimmensecaptainofthePatnahadvanishedasutterlyasatinyfeatherblownawayinahurricane。Ismiled。Brierlywenton：“Thisisadisgrace。We’vegotallkindsamongstus——someanointedscoundrelsinthelot；but，hangit，wemustpreserveprofessionaldecencyorwebecomenobetterthansomanytinkersgoingaboutloose。Wearetrusted。Doyouunderstand？——trusted!
　　Frankly，Idon’tcareasnapforallthepilgrimsthatevercameoutofAsia，butadecentmanwouldnothavebehavedlikethistoafullcargoofoldragsinbales。Wearen’tanorganizedbodyofmen，andtheonlythingthatholdsustogetherisjustthenameforthatkindofdecency。
　　Suchanaffairdestroysone’sconfidence。Amanmaygoprettynearthroughhiswholesea-lifewithoutanycalltoshowastiffupperlip。Butwhenthecallcomes……Aha!……IfI……“
　　`Hebrokeoff，andinachangedtone，“I’llgiveyoutwohundredrupeesnow，Marlow，andyoujusttalktothatchap。Confoundhim!Iwishhehadnevercomeouthere。Factis，Iratherthinksomeofmypeopleknowhis。
　　Theoldman’saparson，andIremembernowImethimoncewhenstayingwithmycousininEssexlastyear。IfIamnotmistaken，theoldchapseemedrathertofancyhissailorson。Horrible。Ican’tdoitmyself——butyou……“
　　`Thus，aproposofJim，IhadaglimpseoftherealBrierlyafewdaysbeforehecommittedhisrealityandhisshamtogethertothekeepingofthesea。OfcourseIdeclinedtomeddle。Thetoneofthislast“butyou“
　　poorBrierlycouldn’thelpit，thatseemedtoimplyIwasnomorenoticeablethananinsect，causedmetolookattheproposalwithindignation，andonaccountofthatprovocation，orforsomeotherreason，IbecamepositiveinmymindthattheinquirywasaseverepunishmenttothatJim，andthathisfacingit——practicallyofhisownfreewill——wasaredeemingfeatureinhisabominablecase。Ihadn’tbeensosureofitbefore。Brierlywentoffinahuff。Atthetimehisstateofmindwasmoreofamysterytomethanitisnow。
　　`Nextday，comingintocourtlate，Isatbymyself。OfcourseIcouldnotforgettheconversationsIhadwithBrierly，andnowIhadthembothundermyeyes。Thedemeanourofonesuggestedgloomyimpudenceandoftheotheracontemptuousboredom；yetoneattitudemightnothavebeentruerthantheother，andIwasawarethatonewasnottrue。Brierlywasnotbored——hewasexasperated；andifso，thenJimmightnothavebeenimpudent。
　　Accordingtomytheoryhewasnot。Iimaginedhewashopeless。Thenitwasthatourglancesmet。Theymet，andthelookhegavemewasdiscouragingofanyintentionImighthavehadtospeaktohim。Uponeitherhypothesis——insolenceordespair——IfeltIcouldbeofnousetohim。Thiswastheseconddayoftheproceedings。Verysoonafterthatexchangeofglancestheinquirywasadjournedagaintothenextday。Thewhitemenbegantotroopoutatonce。Jimhadbeentoldtostanddownsometimebefore，andwasabletoleaveamongstthefirst。Isawhisbroadshouldersandhisheadoutlinedinthelightofthedoor，andwhileImademywayslowlyouttalkingwithsomeone——somestrangerwhohadaddressedmecasually——Icouldseehimfromwithinthecourtroomrestingbothelbowsonthebalustradeoftheverandaandturninghisbackonthesmallstreamofpeopletricklingdownthefewsteps。Therewasamurmurofvoicesandashuffleofboots。
　　`Thenextcasewasthatofassaultandbatterycommitteduponamoney-lender，Ibelieve；andthedefendant——avenerablevillagerwithastraightwhitebeard——satonamatjustoutsidethedoorwithhissons，daughters，sons-in-law，theirwives，and，Ishouldthink，halfthepopulationofhisvillagebesides，squattingorstandingaroundhim。Aslimdarkwoman，withpartofherbackandoneblackshoulderbared，andwithathingoldringinhernose，suddenlybegantotalkinahigh-pitched，shrewishtone。Themanwithmeinstinctivelylookedupather。Wewerethenjustthroughthedoor，passingbehindJim’sburlyback。
　　`Whetherthosevillagershadbroughttheyellowdogwiththem，Idon’tknow。Anyhow，adogwasthere，weavinghimselfinandoutamongstpeople’slegsinthatmutestealthywaynativedogshave，andmycompanionstumbledoverhim。Thedogleapedawaywithoutasound；theman，raisinghisvoicealittle，saidwithaslowlaugh：“Lookatthatwretchedcur，“anddirectlyafterwardswebecameseparatedbyalotofpeoplepushingin。Istoodbackforamomentagainstthewallwhilethestrangermanagedtogetdownthestepsanddisappeared。IsawJimspinround。Hemadeastepforwardandbarredmyway。Wewerealone；heglaredatmewithanairofstubbornresolution。
　　IbecameawareIwasbeingheldup，sotospeak，asifinawood。Theverandawasemptybythen，thenoiseandmovementincourthadceased：agreatsilencefelluponthebuilding，inwhich，somewherefarwithin，anorientalvoicebegantowhineabjectly。Thedogintheveryactoftryingtosneakinatthedoor，satdownhurriedlytohuntforfleas。
　　“`Didyouspeaktome？“askedJimverylow，andbendingforward，notsomuchtowardsmebutatme，ifyouknowwhatImean。Isaid`No“atonce。
　　Somethinginthesoundofthatquiettoneofhiswarnedmetobeonmydefence。Iwatchedhim。Itwasverymuchlikeameetinginawood，onlymoreuncertaininitsissue，sincehecouldpossiblywantneithermymoneynormylife——nothingthatIcouldsimplygiveupordefendwithaclearconscience。“Yousayyoudidn’t，“hesaid，verysombre。“ButIheard。“
　　“Somemistake，“Iprotested，utterlyataloss，andnevertakingmyeyesoffhim。Towatchhisfacewaslikewatchingadarkeningskybeforeaclapofthunder，shadeuponshadeimperceptiblycomingon，thegloomgrowingmysteriouslyintenseinthecalmofmaturingviolence。