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The society of beach…combers always repays the small pains you need be
at to enjoy it。 They are easy of approach and affable in conversation。
They seldom put on airs； and the offer of a drink is a sure way to their
hearts。 You need no laborious steps to enter upon familiarity with them；
and you can earn not only their confidence； but their gratitude； by turning
an attentive ear to their discourse。 They look upon conversation as the
great pleasure of life； thereby proving the excellence of their civilisation；
and for the most part they are entertaining talkers。 The extent of their
experience is pleasantly balanced by the fertility of their imagination。 It
cannot be said that they are without guile； but they have a tolerant respect
for the law； when the law is supported by strength。 It is hazardous to
play poker with them； but their ingenuity adds a peculiar excitement to the
best game in the world。 I came to know Captain Nichols very well
before I left Tahiti； and I am the richer for his acquaintance。 I do not
consider that the cigars and whisky he consumed at my expense （he
always refused cocktails； since he was practically a teetotaller）； and the
few dollars； borrowed with a civil air of conferring a favour upon me； that
passed from my pocket to his； were in any way equivalent to the
entertainment he afforded me。 I remained his debtor。 I should be sorry if
my conscience； insisting on a rigid attention to the matter in hand； forced
me to dismiss him in a couple of lines。
I do not know why Captain Nichols first left England。 It was a matter
upon which he was reticent； and with persons of his kind a direct question
is never very discreet。 He hinted at undeserved misfortune； and there is
no doubt that he looked upon himself as the victim of injustice。 My
fancy played with the various forms of fraud and violence； and I agreed
with him sympathetically when he remarked that the authorities in the old
country were so damned technical。 But it was nice to see that any
unpleasantness he had endured in his native land had not impaired his
ardent patriotism。 He frequently declared that England was the finest
country in the world； sir； and he felt a lively superiority over Americans；
Colonials； Dagos； Dutchmen； and Kanakas。
But I do not think he was a happy man。 He suffered from dyspepsia；
and he might often be seen sucking a tablet of pepsin； in the morning his
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appetite was poor； but this affliction alone would hardly have impaired his
spirits。 He had a greater cause of discontent with life than this。 Eight years
before he had rashly married a wife。 There are men whom a merciful
Providence has undoubtedly ordained to a single life； but who from
wilfulness or through circumstances they could not cope with have flown
in the face of its decrees。 There is no object more deserving of pity than
the married bachelor。 Of such was Captain Nichols。 I met his wife。 She
was a woman of twenty…eight； I should think； though of a type whose age
is always doubtful； for she cannot have looked different when she was
twenty； and at forty would look no older。 She gave me an impression of
extraordinary tightness。 Her plain face with its narrow lips was tight； her
skin was stretched tightly over her bones； her smile was tight； her hair was
tight； her clothes were tight； and the white drill she wore had all the effect
of black bombazine。 I could not imagine why Captain Nichols had
married her； and having married her why he had not deserted her。
Perhaps he had； often； and his melancholy arose from the fact that he
could never succeed。 However far he went and in howsoever secret a
place he hid himself； I felt sure that Mrs。 Nichols； inexorable as fate and
remorseless as conscience； would presently rejoin him。 He could as little
escape her as the cause can escape the effect。
The rogue； like the artist and perhaps the gentleman； belongs to no
class。 He is not embarrassed by the of the hobo； nor put
out of countenance by the etiquette of the prince。 But Mrs。 Nichols
belonged to the well…defined class； of late become vocal； which is known
as the lower…middle。 Her father； in fact； was a policeman。 I am certain
that he was an efficient one。 I do not know what her hold was on the
Captain； but I do not think it was love。 I never heard her speak； but it
may be that in private she had a copious conversation。 At any rate； Captain
Nichols was frightened to death of her。 Sometimes； sitting with me on the
terrace of the hotel； he would become conscious that she was walking in
the road outside。 She did not call him； she gave no sign that she was aware
of his existence； she merely walked up and down composedly。 Then a
strange uneasiness would seize the Captain； he would look at his watch
and sigh。
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〃Well； I must be off；〃 he said。
Neither wit nor whisky could detain him then。 Yet he was a man who
had faced undaunted hurricane and typhoon； and would not have hesitated
to fight a dozen unarmed niggers with nothing but a revolver to help him。
Sometimes Mrs。 Nichols would send her daughter； a pale…faced； sullen
child of seven； to the hotel。
〃Mother wants you；〃 she said； in a whining tone。
〃Very well； my dear；〃 said Captain Nichols。
He rose to his feet at once； and accompanied his daughter along the
road。 I suppose it was a very pretty example of the triumph of spirit over
matter； and so my digression has at least the advantage of a moral。
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Chapter XLVII
I have tried to put some connection into the various things Captain
Nichols told me about Strickland； and I here set them down in the best
order I can。 They made one another's acquaintance during the latter part
of the winter following my last meeting with Strickland in Paris。 How he
had passed the intervening months I do not know； but life must have been
very hard； for Captain Nichols saw him first in the Asile de Nuit。 There
was a strike at Marseilles at the time； and Strickland； having come to the
end of his resources； had apparently found it impossible to earn the small
sum he needed to keep body and soul together。
The Asile de Nuit is a large stone building where pauper and vagabond
may get a bed for a week； provided their papers are in order and they can
persuade the friars in charge that they are workingmen。 Captain Nichols
noticed Strickland for his size and his singular appearance among the
crowd that waited for the doors to open； they waited listlessly； some
walking to and fro； some leaning against the wall； and others seated on the
curb with their feet in the gutter； and when they filed into the office he
heard the monk who read his papers address him in English。 But he did
not have a chance to speak to him； since； as he entered the common…room；
a monk came in with a huge Bible in his arms； mounted a pulpit which
was at the end of the room； and began the service which the wretched
outcasts had to endure as the price of their lodging。 He and Strickland
were assigned to different rooms； and when； thrown out of bed at five in
the morning by a stalwart monk； he had made his bed and washed his face；
Strickland had already disappeared。 Captain Nichols wandered about the
streets for an hour of bitter cold； and then ma