The Professor / Учитель. Книга для чтения на английском языке

“What cause is there for changing my usual plans?”

“Do as I order,” was the answer, “and no questions! You are my servant, obey me! What have you been about – ?” He was going on in the same breath, when an abrupt pause announced that rage had for the moment got the better of articulation.

“You may look, if you wish to know,” I replied. “There is the open desk, there are the papers.”

“Confound your insolence! What have you been about?”

“Your work, and have done it well.”

“Hypocrite and twaddler! Smooth-faced, snivelling greasehorn!” (this last term is, I believe, purely – — shire, and alludes to the horn of black, rancid whale-oil, usually to be seen suspended to cart-wheels, and employed for greasing the same.

)

“Come, Edward Crimsworth, enough of this. It is time you and I wound up accounts.[70 - It is time you and I wound up accounts. – (разг.) Пора нам с вами подвести черту.] I have now given your service three months’ trial, and I find it the most nauseous slavery under the sun.

Seek another clerk. I stay no longer.”

“What! do you dare to give me notice? Stop at least for your wages.” He took down the heavy gig whip hanging beside his mackintosh.

I permitted myself to laugh with a degree of scorn I took no pains to temper or hide. His fury boiled up, and when he had sworn half-a-dozen vulgar, impious oaths, without, however, venturing to lift the whip, he continued:

“I’ve found you out and know you thoroughly, you mean, whining lickspittle! What have you been saying all over X – — about me? answer me that!”

“You? I have neither inclination nor temptation to talk about you[71 - have neither inclination nor temptation to talk about you – (разг.

) и в мыслях не было говорить о вас].”

“You lie! It is your practice to talk about me; it is your constant habit to make public complaint of the treatment you receive at my hands.

You have gone and told it far and near that I give you low wages and knock you about like a dog. I wish you were a dog! I’d set-to this minute, and never stir from the spot till I’d cut every strip of flesh from your bones with this whip.”

He flourished his tool. The end of the lash just touched my forehead. A warm excited thrill ran through my veins, my blood seemed to give abound, and then raced fast and hot along its channels.