andifthingswentwellwithus，wemightrealisefifteenpercentofthefirstoutlay。Wewerenotmerelybankrupt，wewerecomicbankrupts：afairbuttforjeeringinthestreets。IhopeI
boretheblowwithagoodcountenance；indeed，mymindhadlongbeenquitemadeup，andsincethedaywefoundtheopiumIhadknowntheresult。ButthethoughtofJimandMamieachedinmelikeaphysicalpain，andIshrankfromspeechandcompanionship。
Iwasinthisframeofmindwhenthecaptainproposedthatweshouldlandupontheisland。Isawhehadsomethingtosay，andonlyfeareditmightbeconsolation；forIcouldjustbearmygrief，notbunglingsympathy；andyetIhadnochoicebuttoaccedetohisproposal。
Wewalkedawhilealongthebeachinsilence。Thesunoverheadreverberatedraysofheat；thestaringsand，theglaringlagoon，torturedoureyes；andthebirdsandtheboomofthefar-awaybreakersmadeasavagesymphony。
“Idon’trequiretotellyouthegame’sup？”Naresasked。