"
Nina answered the low bows of the two officers by a slow inclination of
the head and took her place at the table opposite her father. All sat
down. The coxswain of the steam launch came up carrying some bottles of
wine.
"You will allow me to have this put upon the table?" said the lieutenant
to Almayer.
"What! Wine! You are very kind. Certainly, I have none myself. Times
are very hard."
The last words of his reply were spoken by Almayer in a faltering voice.
The thought that Dain was dead recurred to him vividly again, and he felt
as if an invisible hand was gripping his throat. He reached for the gin
bottle while they were uncorking the wine and swallowed a big gulp. The
lieutenant, who was speaking to Nina, gave him a quick glance. The young
sub began to recover from the astonishment and confusion caused by Nina's
unexpected appearance and great beauty. "She was very beautiful and
imposing," he reflected, "but after all a half-caste girl." This thought
caused him to pluck up heart and look at Nina sideways. Nina, with
composed face, was answering in a low, even voice the elder officer's
polite questions as to the country and her mode of life. Almayer pushed
his plate away and drank his guest's wine in gloomy silence.
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