Within the Tides

Within the Tides

The Project Gutenberg EBook of Within the Tides, by Joseph Conrad
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Title: Within the Tides
Author: Joseph Conrad
Release Date: September, 1997 [EBook #1053] [This file was first
posted on August 29, 1997] [Most recently updated: June 24, 2003]

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Language: English
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THE TIDES ***

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Within the Tides

Contents:
The Planter of Malata The Partner The Inn of the Two Witches
Because of the Dollars

THE PLANTER OF MALATA
CHAPTER I

In the private editorial office of the principal newspaper in a great
colonial city two men were talking. They were both young. The stouter
of the two, fair, and with more of an urban look about him, was the
editor and part-owner of the important newspaper.
The other's name was Renouard. That he was exercised in his mind
about something was evident on his fine bronzed face. He was a lean,
lounging, active man. The journalist continued the conversation.

"And so you were dining yesterday at old Dunster's."
He used the word old not in the endearing sense in which it is
sometimes applied to intimates, but as a matter of sober fact. The
Dunster in question was old. He had been an eminent colonial
statesman, but had now retired from active politics after a tour in
Europe and a lengthy stay in England, during which he had had a very
good press indeed. The colony was proud of him.
"Yes. I dined there," said Renouard. "Young Dunster asked me just as I
was going out of his office. It seemed to be like a sudden thought. And
yet I can't help suspecting some purpose behind it. He was very
pressing. He swore that his uncle would be very pleased to see me. Said
his uncle had mentioned lately that the granting to me of the Malata
concession was the last act of his official life."
"Very touching. The old boy sentimentalises over the past now and
then."
"I really don't know why I accepted," continued the other. "Sentiment
does not move me very easily. Old Dunster was civil to me of course,
but he did not even inquire how I was getting on with my silk plants.
Forgot there was such a thing probably. I must say there were more
people there than I expected to meet. Quite a big party."
"I was asked," remarked the newspaper man. "Only I couldn't go. But
when did you arrive from Malata?"
"I arrived yesterday at daylight. I am anchored out there in the bay--off
Garden Point. I was in Dunster's office before he had finished reading
his letters. Have you ever seen young Dunster reading his letters? I had
a glimpse of him through the open door. He holds the paper in both
hands, hunches his shoulders up to his ugly ears, and brings his long
nose and his thick lips on to it like a sucking apparatus. A commercial
monster."
"Here we don't consider him a monster," said the newspaper man
looking at his visitor thoughtfully.

"Probably not. You are used to see his face and to see other faces. I
don't know how it is that, when I come to town, the appearance of the
people in the street strike me with such force. They seem so awfully
expressive."
"And not charming."
"Well--no. Not as a rule. The effect is forcible without being clear. . . . I
know that you think it's because of my solitary manner of life away
there."
"Yes. I do think so. It is demoralising. You don't see any one for
months at a stretch. You're leading an unhealthy life."
The other hardly smiled and murmured the admission that true enough
it was a good eleven months since he had been in town last.
"You see,"