Сердца трёх / Hearts of three

“And you, Senor Torres?”

“I shall join you later, Mr. Morgan.” Alvarez Torres said. “I have some little business here.”

“And, before you start,” Regan noticed, “it might be well to arrange with Senor Torres some division of the treasure… if you ever find it.”

“What would you say?” Francis asked.

“Equal division, fifty-fifty,” Regan answered, he was talking of something he was certain did not exist.

“Fine!” Francis cried. “And I’ve got to rush to pack and break engagements and catch the train. Good-bye, Regan.

Good-bye, Senor Torres, until we meet somewhere around Bocas del Toro, or in on the Bull!”

And Senor Alvarez Torres remained with Regan some time longer, receiving explicit instructions.

“In short,” Regan concluded, “I don’t almost care if he never comes back if you can keep him down there for the good of his health that long and longer.”

Chapter II

So Francis Morgan, three weeks after he had said good-bye to Regan, found himself on board his schooner, the Angelique.

[20 - the Angelique – «Анжелика» (название шхуны)] The water was glassy. Francis, through his glass, saw a white hacienda, and, on the beach, a white-clad woman’s form. He asked the captain to order a small skiff over the side.[21 - to order a small skiff over the side – спустить за борт маленький ялик]

“Who lives around here?” he asked.

“The Enrico Solano[22 - Enrico Solano – Энрико Солано] family, sir,” was the answer. “They own the entire general landscape from the sea to the Cordilleras[23 - Cordilleras – Кордильеры] and half of the Chiriqui Lagoon[24 - Chiriqui Lagoon – лагуна Чирикви] as well.

They are prideful and fiery as cayenne pepper.[25 - fiery as cayenne pepper – вспыльчивы, как порох]”

Straight to the white beach of coral sand Francis rowed, not looking over his shoulder to see if the woman remained or had vanished. When the skiff grounded, he stepped out, and with one sturdy arm lifted its nose up the sand to fasten it by its own weight. Then he turned around.

The beach to the jungle was bare. He went forward confidently.

Suddenly, the woman sprang out of the green wall of jungle and with both hands seized his arm. She muttered tensely:

“Quick! Follow me!”

A moment he resisted. She shook him.

“Do as I do.”

He smiled and obeyed. Abruptly she stopped and sat down, her hand directed him to sit beside her. “Thank God!”

“My dear lady…” Francis began.

But an abrupt gesture checked him.