benito cereno-第16章
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ng as to present no handle for retort。 He is like one flayed alive； thought Captain Delano； where may one touch him without causing a shrink？ The servant moved before his master； adjusting a cushion； recalled to civility； the Spaniard stiffly replied： 〃You are right。 The slave appears where you saw him； according to my command； which is； that if at the given hour I am below； he must take his stand and abide my coming。〃 〃Ah now； pardon me； but that is treating the poor fellow like an ex…king denied。 Ah； Don Benito；〃 smiling； 〃for all the license you permit in some things； I fear lest； at bottom； you are a bitter hard master。〃 Again Don Benito shrank； and this time； as the good sailor thought； from a genuine twinge of his conscience。 Conversation now became constrained。 In vain Captain Delano called attention to the now perceptible motion of the keel gently cleaving the sea； with lack…lustre eye； Don Benito returned words few and reserved。 By…and…by； the wind having steadily risen； and still blowing right into the harbour； bore the San Dominick swiftly on。 Rounding a point of land； the sealer at distance came into open view。 Meantime Captain Delano had again repaired to the deck； remaining there some time。 Having at last altered the ship's course； so as to give the reef a wide berth； he returned for a few moments below。 I will cheer up my poor friend； this time； thought he。 〃Better and better； Don Benito；〃 he cried as he blithely re…entered； 〃there will soon be an end to your cares； at least for awhile。 For when； after a long； sad voyage； you know； the anchor drops into the haven； all its vast weight seems lifted from the captain's heart。 We are getting on famously； Don Benito。 My ship is in sight。 Look through this side…light here； there she is； all a…taunt…o！ The Bachelor's Delight； my good friend。 Ah； how this wind braces one up。 Come； you must take a cup of coffee with me this evening。 My old steward will give you as fine a cup as ever any sultan tasted。 What say you； Don Benito； will you？〃 At first； the Spaniard glanced feverishly up； casting a longing look toward the sealer； while with mute concern his servant gazed into his face。 Suddenly the old ague of coldness returned； and dropping back to his cushions he was silent。 〃You do not answer。 Come； all day you have been my host； would you have hospitality all on one side？〃 〃I cannot go；〃 was the response。 〃What？ it will not fatigue you。 The ships will lie together as near as they can； without swinging foul。 It will be little more than stepping from deck to deck； which is but as from room to room。 Come； come； you must not refuse me。〃 〃I cannot go；〃 decisively and repulsively repeated Don Benito。 Renouncing all but the last appearance of courtesy； with a sort of cadaverous sullenness； and biting his thin nails to the quick； he glanced； almost glared； at his guest； as if impatient that a stranger's presence should interfere with the full indulgence of his morbid hour。 Meantime the sound of the parted waters came more and more gurglingly and merrily in at the windows； as reproaching him for his dark spleen； as telling him that； sulk as he might； and go mad with it； nature cared not a jot； since； whose fault was it； pray？ But the foul mood was now at its depth； as the fair wind at its height。 There was something in the man so far beyond any mere unsociality or sourness previously evinced； that even the forbearing good…nature of his guest could no longer endure it。 Wholly at a loss to account for such demeanour； and deeming sickness with eccentricity； however extreme； no adequate excuse； well satisfied； too； that nothing in his own conduct could justify it； Captain Delano's pride began to be roused。 Himself became reserved。 But all seemed one to the Spaniard。 Quitting him； therefore； Captain Delano once more went to the deck。 The ship was now within less than two miles of the sealer。 The whale…boat was seen darting over the interval。 To be brief； the two vessels； thanks to the pilot's skill； ere long in neighbourly style lay anchored together。 Before returning to his own vessel； Captain Delano had intended communicating to Don Benito the practical details of the proposed services to be rendered。 But； as it was； unwilling anew to subject himself to rebuffs； he resolved； now that he had seen the San Dominick safely moored； immediately to quit her； without further allusion to hospitality or business。 Indefinitely postponing his ulterior plans； he would regulate his future actions according to future circumstances。 His boat was ready to receive him； but his host still tarried below。 Well； thought Captain Delano； if he has little breeding； the more need to show mine。 He descended to the cabin to bid a ceremonious； and； it may be； tacitly rebukeful adieu。 But to his great satisfaction； Don Benito； as if he began to feel the weight of that treatment with which his slighted guest had； not indecorously； retaliated upon him； now supported by his servant； rose to his feet； and grasping Captain Delano's hand； stood tremulous； too much agitated to speak。 But the good augury hence drawn was suddenly dashed； by his resuming all his previous reserve； with augmented gloom； as； with half…averted eyes； he silently reseated himself on his cushions。 With a corresponding return of his own chilled feelings； Captain Delano bowed and withdrew。 He was hardly midway in the narrow corridor； dim as a tunnel； leading from the cabin to the stairs； when a sound； as of the tolling for execution in some jail…yard； fell on his ears。 It was the echo of the ship's flawed bell； striking the hour； drearily reverberated in this subterranean vault。 Instantly； by a fatality not to be withstood； his mind； responsive to the portent； swarmed with superstitious suspicions。 He paused。 In images far swifter than these sentences； the minutest details of all his former distrusts swept through him。 Hitherto； credulous good…nature had been too ready to furnish excuses for reasonable fears。 Why was the Spaniard； so superfluously punctilious at times； now heedless of common propriety in not accompanying to the side his departing guest？ Did indisposition forbid？ Indisposition had not forbidden more irksome exertion that day。 His last equivocal demeanour recurred。 He had risen to his feet； grasped his guest's hand； motioned toward his hat； then； in an instant； all was eclipsed in sinister muteness and gloom。 Did this imply one brief； repentant relenting at the final moment； from some iniquitous plot； followed by remorseless return to it？ His last glance seemed to express a calamitous； yet acquiescent farewell to Captain Delano for ever。 Why decline the invitation to visit the sealer that evening？ Or was the Spaniard less hardened than the Jew； who refrained not from supping at the board of him whom the same night he meant to betray？ What imported all those day…long enigmas and contradictions； except they were intended to mystify； preliminary to some stealthy blow？ Atufal； the pretended rebel； but punctual shadow； that moment lurked by the threshold without。 He seemed a sentry； and more。 Who； by his own confession； had stationed him there？ Was the Negro now lying in wait？ The Spaniard behind… his creature before： to rush from darkness to light was the involuntary choice。 The next moment； with clenched jaw and hand； he passed Atufal； and stood unarmed in the light。 As he saw his trim ship lying peacefully at her anchor； and almost within ordinary call； as he saw his household boat； with familiar faces in it； patiently rising and falling on the short waves by the San Dominick's side； and then； glancing about the decks where he stood； saw the oakum…pickers still gravely plying their fingers； and heard the low； buzzing whistle and industrious hum of the hatchet…polishers； still bestirring themselves over their endless occupation； and more than all； as he saw the benign aspect of Nature； taking her innocent repose in the evening； the screened sun in the quiet camp of the west shining out like the mild light from Abraham's tent； as his charmed eye and ear took in all these； with the chained figure of the black； the clenched jaw and hand relaxed。 Once again he
