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reputation of the Shipmasters' Society； I would consider it。 But
the consideration was just for form's sake。 The next day I
interviewed the Captain； and I believe we were impressed
favourably with each other。 He explained that his chief mate was
an excellent man in every respect and that he could not think of
dismissing him so as to give me the higher position； but that if
I consented to come as second officer I would be given certain
special advantagesand so on。
I told him that if I came at all the rank really did not matter。
〃I am sure；〃 he insisted； 〃you will get on first rate with Mr。
Paramor。〃
I promised faithfully to stay for two trips at least； and it was
in those circumstances that what was to be my last connection
with a ship began。 And after all there was not even one single
trip。 It may be that it was simply the fulfilment of a fate； of
that written word on my forehead which apparently forbade me；
through all my sea wanderings； ever to achieve the crossing of
the Western Oceanusing the words in that special sense in which
sailors speak of Western Ocean trade； of Western Ocean packets；
of Western Ocean hard cases。 The new life attended closely upon
the old and the nine chapters of 〃Almayer's Folly〃 went with me
to the Victoria Dock； whence in a few days we started for Rouen。
I won't go so far as saying that the engaging of a man fated
never to cross the Western Ocean was the absolute cause of the
Franco…Canadian Transport Company's failure to achieve even a
single passage。 It might have been that of course； but the
obvious； gross obstacle was clearly the want of money。 Four
hundred and sixty bunks for emigrants were put together in the
'tween decks by industrious carpenters while we lay in the
Victoria Dock； but never an emigrant turned up in Rouenof
which； being a humane person； I confess I was glad。 Some
gentlemen from ParisI think there were three of them； and one
was said to be the Chairmanturned up indeed and went from end
to end of the ship； knocking their silk hats cruelly against the
deck…beams。 I attended them personally； and I can vouch for it
that the interest they took in things was intelligent enough；
though； obviously； they had never seen anything of the sort
before。 Their faces as they went ashore wore a cheerfully
inconclusive expression。 Notwithstanding that this inspecting
ceremony was supposed to be a preliminary to immediate sailing；
it was then； as they filed down our gangway； that I received the
inward monition that no sailing within the meaning of our
charter…party would ever take place。
It must be said that in less than three weeks a move took place。
When we first arrived we had been taken up with much ceremony
well towards the centre of the town； and； all the street corners
being placarded with the tricolour posters announcing the birth
of our company； the petit bourgeois with his wife and family made
a Sunday holiday from the inspection of the ship。 I was always
in evidence in my best uniform to give information as though I
had been a Cook's tourists' interpreter； while our quarter…
masters reaped a harvest of small change from personally
conducted parties。 But when the move was madethat move which
carried us some mile and a half down the stream to be tied up to
an altogether muddier and shabbier quaythen indeed the
desolation of solitude became our lot。 It was a complete and
soundless stagnation； for； as we had the ship ready for sea to
the smallest detail； as the frost was hard and the days short； we
were absolutely idleidle to the point of blushing with shame
when the thought struck us that all the time our salaries went
on。 Young Cole was aggrieved because； as he said； we could not
enjoy any sort of fun in the evening after loafing like this all
day： even the banjo lost its charm since there was nothing to
prevent his strumming on it all the time between the meals。 The
good Paramorhe was really a most excellent fellowbecame
unhappy as far as was possible to his cheery nature； till one
dreary day I suggested； out of sheer mischief； that he should
employ the dormant energies of the crew in hauling both cables up
on deck and turning them end for end。
For a moment Mr。 Paramor was radiant。 〃Excellent idea！〃 but
directly his face fell。 〃Why。 。 。Yes！ But we can't make that
job last more than three days；〃 he muttered discontentedly。 I
don't know how long he expected us to be stuck on the riverside
outskirts of Rouen； but I know that the cables got hauled up and
turned end for end according to my satanic suggestion； put down
again； and their very existence utterly forgotten； I believe；
before a French river pilot came on board to take our ship down；
empty as she came； into the Havre roads。 You may think that this
state of forced idleness favoured some advance in the fortunes of
Almayer and his daughter。 Yet it was not so。 As if it were some
sort of evil spell； my banjoist cabin…mate's interruption； as
related above； had arrested them short at the point of that
fateful sunset for many weeks together。 It was always thus with
this book； begun in '89 and finished in '94with that shortest
of all the novels which it was to be my lot to write。 Between
its opening exclamation calling Almayer to his dinner in his
wife's voice and Abdullah's （his enemy） mental reference to the
God of Islam〃The Merciful； the Compassionate〃which closes the
book； there were to come several long sea passages； a visit （to
use the elevated phraseology suitable to the occasion） to the
scenes （some of them） of my childhood and the realisation of
childhood's vain words； expressing a light…hearted and romantic
whim。
It was in 1868； when nine years old or thereabouts； that while
looking at a map of Africa of the time and putting my finger on
the blank space then representing the unsolved mystery of that
continent； I said to myself with absolute assurance and an
amazing audacity which are no longer in my character now：
〃When I grow up I shall go there。〃
And of course I thought no more about it till after a quarter of
a century or so an opportunity offered to go thereas if the sin
of childish audacity were to be visited on my mature head。 Yes。
I did go there： there being the region of Stanley Falls which in
'68 was the blankest of blank spaces on the earth's figured
surface。 And the MS。 of 〃Almayer's Folly；〃 carried about me as
if it were a talisman or a treasure； went there too。 That it
ever came out of there se