Again and again I filled his glass, and always, mechanically, he emptied it; but the wine kindled no spark of enterprise in him. 🔊 He did not eat, and I myself ate hardly at all. 🔊 I did not in my heart believe that any dash for freedom could save him. 🔊 The chase would be swift, the capture certain. 🔊 But better anything than this passive, meek, miserable waiting. 🔊 I told Soames that for the honor of the human race he ought to make some show of resistance. 🔊 He asked what the human race had ever done for him. 🔊 "Besides," he said, "can't you understand that I'm in his power? 🔊 You saw him touch me, didn't you? 🔊 There's an end of it. I've no will. I'm sealed." 🔊

I made a gesture of despair. 🔊 He went on repeating the word "sealed." 🔊 I began to realize that the wine had clouded his brain. 🔊 No wonder! Foodless he had gone into futurity, foodless he still was. 🔊 I urged him to eat, at any rate, some bread. 🔊 It was maddening to think that he, who had so much to tell, might tell nothing. 🔊 "How was it all," I asked, "yonder? Come, tell me your adventures!" 🔊

"They'd make first-rate 'copy,' wouldn't they?" 🔊

"I'm awfully sorry for you, Soames, and I make all possible allowances; but what earthly right have you to insinuate that I should make 'copy,' as you call it, out of you?" 🔊

The poor fellow pressed his hands to his forehead. 🔊

"I don't know," he said. 🔊 "I had some reason, I know. I'll try to remember. 🔊 He sat plunged in thought. 🔊