"Have the
men mustered in the compound here. I must get some sense out of him. Hi!
Almayer! Wake up, man. Redeem your word. You gave your word. You gave
your word of honour, you know."
Almayer shook off the officer's hand with impatience, but his ill-humour
vanished at once, and he looked up, putting his forefinger to the side of
his nose.
"You are very young; there is time for all things," he said, with an air
of great sagacity.
The lieutenant turned towards Nina, who, leaning back in her chair,
watched her father steadily.
"Really I am very much distressed by all this for your sake," he
exclaimed. "I do not know;" he went on, speaking with some
embarrassment, "whether I have any right to ask you anything, unless,
perhaps, to withdraw from this painful scene, but I feel that I must--for
your father's good--suggest that you should--I mean if you have any
influence over him you ought to exert it now to make him keep the promise
he gave me before he--before he got into this state."
He observed with discouragement that she seemed not to take any notice of
what he said sitting still with half-closed eyes.
"I trust--" he began again.
"What is the promise you speak of?" abruptly asked Nina, leaving her seat
and moving towards her father.
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