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if it were a talisman or a treasure； went there too。 That it
ever came out of there seems a special dispensation of
Providence； because a good many of my other properties；
infinitely more valuable and useful to me； remained behind
through unfortunate accidents of transportation。 I call to mind；
for instance； a specially awkward turn of the Congo between
Kinchassa and Leopoldsvillemore particularly when one had to
take it at night in a big canoe with only half the proper number
of paddlers。 I failed in being the second white man on record
drowned at that interesting spot through the upsetting of a
canoe。 The first was a young Belgian officer； but the accident
happened some months before my time； and he； too； I believe； was
going home； not perhaps quite so ill as myselfbut still he was
going home。 I got round the turn more or less alive； though I
was too sick to care whether I did or not； and； always with
〃Almayer's Folly〃 amongst my diminishing baggage； I arrived at
that delectable capital Boma； where before the departure of the
steamer which was to take me home I had the time to wish myself
dead over and over again with perfect sincerity。 At that date
there were in existence only seven chapters of 〃Almayer's Folly；〃
but the chapter in my history which followed was that of a long；
long illness and very dismal convalescence。 Geneva； or more
precisely the hydropathic establishment of Champel； is rendered
for ever famous by the termination of the eighth chapter in the
history of Almayer's decline and fall。 The events of the ninth
are inextricably mixed up with the details of the proper
management of a waterside warehouse owned by a certain city firm
whose name does not matter。 But that work； undertaken to
accustom myself again to the activities of a healthy existence；
soon came to an end。 The earth had nothing to hold me with for
very long。 And then that memorable story； like a cask of choice
Madeira； got carried for three years to and fro upon the sea。
Whether this treatment improved its flavour or not； of course I
would not like to say。 As far as appearance is concerned it
certainly did nothing of the kind。 The whole MS。 acquired a
faded look and an ancient； yellowish complexion。 It became at
last unreasonable to suppose that anything in the world would
ever happen to Almayer and Nina。 And yet something most unlikely
to happen on the high seas was to wake them up from their state
of suspended animation。
What is it that Novalis says？ 〃It is certain my conviction gains
infinitely the moment another soul will believe in it。〃 And what
is a novel if not a conviction of our fellow…men's existence
strong enough to take upon itself a form of imagined life clearer
than reality and whose accumulated verisimilitude of selected
episodes puts to shame the pride of documentary history？
Providence which saved my MS。 from the Congo rapids brought it to
the knowledge of a helpful soul far out on the open sea。 It
would be on my part the greatest ingratitude ever to forget the
sallow； sunken face and the deep…set； dark eyes of the young
Cambridge man （he was a 〃passenger for his health〃 on board the
good ship Torrens outward bound to Australia） who was the first
reader of 〃Almayer's Folly〃the very first reader I ever had。
〃Would it bore you very much reading a MS。 in a handwriting like
mine？〃 I asked him one evening on a sudden impulse at the end of
a longish conversation whose subject was Gibbon's History。
Jacques （that was his name） was sitting in my cabin one stormy
dog…watch below； after bringing me a book to read from his own
travelling store。
〃Not at all；〃 he answered with his courteous intonation and a
faint smile。 As I pulled a drawer open his suddenly aroused
curiosity gave him a watchful expression。 I wonder what he
expected to see。 A poem； maybe。 All that's beyond guessing now。
He was not a cold but a calm man； still more subdued by disease
a man of few words and of an unassuming modesty in general
intercourse； but with something uncommon in the whole of his
person which set him apart from the undistinguished lot of our
sixty passengers。 His eyes had a thoughtful introspective look。
In his attractive reserved manner； and in a veiled sympathetic
voice he asked：
〃What is this？〃 〃It is a sort of tale；〃 I answered with an
effort。 〃It is not even finished yet。 Nevertheless I would like
to know what you think of it。〃 He put the MS。 in the breast…
pocket of his jacket； I remember perfectly his thin brown fingers
folding it lengthwise。 〃I will read it tomorrow；〃 he remarked；
seizing the door…handle； and then； watching the roll of the ship
for a propitious moment； he opened the door and was gone。 In the
moment of his exit I heard the sustained booming of the wind； the
swish of the water on the decks of the Torrens； and the subdued；
as if distant； roar of the rising sea。 I noted the growing
disquiet in the great restlessness of the ocean； and responded
professionally to it with the thought that at eight o'clock； in
another half…hour or so at the furthest； the top…gallant sails
would have to come off the ship。
Next day； but this time in the first dog…watch； Jacques entered
my cabin。 He had a thick； woollen muffler round his throat and
the MS。 was in his hand。 He tendered it to me with a steady look
but without a word。 I took it in silence。 He sat down on the
couch and still said nothing。 I opened and shut a drawer under
my desk； on which a filled…up log…slate lay wide open in its
wooden frame waiting to be copied neatly into the sort of book I
was accustomed to write with care； the ship's log…book。 I turned
my back squarely on the desk。 And even then Jacques never
offered a word。 〃Well； what do you say？〃 I asked at last。 〃Is
it worth finishing？〃 This question expressed exactly the whole
of my thoughts。
〃Distinctly；〃 he answered in his sedate； veiled voice and then
coughed a little。
〃Were you interested？〃 I inquired further almost in a whisper。
〃Very much！〃
In a pause I went on meeting instinctively the heavy rolling of
the ship； and Jacques put his feet upon the couch。 The curtain
of my bed…place swung to and fro as it were a punkah； the
bulkhead lamp circled in its gimbals； and now and then the cabin
door rattled slightly in the gusts of wind。 It was in latitude
40 south； and nearly in the longitude of Greenwich； as far as I
can remember； that these quiet rites of Almayer's and Nina's
resurrection were tak