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The Moon and Sixpence
familiar to the domestic circle。
Now； Tough Bill was not the man to put up with humiliation at the
hands of a common sailor。 His power depended on his prestige； and first
one； then another； of the sailors who lived in his house told them that he
had sworn to do Strickland in。
One night Captain Nichols and Strickland were sitting in one of the
bars of the Rue Bouterie。 The Rue Bouterie is a narrow street of one…
storeyed houses； each house consisting of but one room； they are like the
booths in a crowded fair or the cages of animals in a circus。 At every
door you see a woman。 Some lean lazily against the side…posts； humming
to themselves or calling to the passer…by in a raucous voice； and some
listlessly read。 They are French。 Italian； Spanish； Japanese； coloured；
some are fat and some are thin； and under the thick paint on their faces；
the heavy smears on their eyebrows； and the scarlet of their lips； you see
the lines of age and the scars of dissipation。 Some wear black shifts and
flesh…coloured stockings； some with curly hair； dyed yellow； are dressed
like little girls in short muslin frocks。 Through the open door you see a
red…tiled floor； a large wooden bed； and on a deal table a ewer and a basin。
A motley crowd saunters along the streets Lascars off a P。 and O。； blond
Northmen from a Swedish barque； Japanese from a man…of…war； English
sailors； Spaniards； pleasant…looking fellows from a French cruiser； negroes
off an American tramp。 By day it is merely sordid； but at night； lit only
by the lamps in the little huts； the street has a sinister beauty。 The
hideous lust that pervades the air is oppressive and horrible； and yet there
is something mysterious in the sight which haunts and troubles you。 You
feel I know not what primitive force which repels and yet fascinates you。
Here all the decencies of civilisation are swept away； and you feel that
men are face to face with a sombre reality。 There is an atmosphere that is
at once intense and tragic。
In the bar in which Strickland and Nichols sat a mechanical piano was
loudly grinding out dance music。 Round the room people were sitting at
table； here half a dozen sailors uproariously drunk； there a group of
soldiers； and in the middle； crowded together； couples were dancing。
Bearded sailors with brown faces and large horny hands clasped their
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The Moon and Sixpence
partners in a tight embrace。 The women wore nothing but a shift。 Now
and then two sailors would get up and dance together。 The noise was
deafening。 People were singing； shouting； laughing； and when a man
gave a long kiss to the girl sitting on his knees； cat…calls from the English
sailors increased the din。 The air was heavy with the dust beaten up by
the heavy boots of the men； and gray with smoke。 It was very hot。
Behind the bar was seated a woman nursing her baby。 The waiter； an
undersized youth with a flat； spotty face； hurried to and fro carrying a tray
laden with glasses of beer。
In a little while Tough Bill； accompanied by two huge negroes； came
in； and it was easy to see that he was already three parts drunk。 He was
looking for trouble。 He lurched against a table at which three soldiers
were sitting and knocked over a glass of beer。 There was an angry
altercation； and the owner of the bar stepped forward and ordered Tough
Bill to go。 He was a hefty fellow； in the habit of standing no nonsense
from his customers； and Tough Bill hesitated。 The landlord was not a
man he cared to tackle； for the police were on his side； and with an oath he
turned on his heel。 Suddenly he caught sight of Strickland。 He rolled
up to him。 He did not speak。 He gathered the spittle in his mouth and
spat full in Strickland's face。 Strickland seized his glass and flung it at
him。 The dancers stopped suddenly still。 There was an instant of
complete silence； but when Tough Bill threw himself on Strickland the lust
of battle seized them all； and in a moment there was a confused scrimmage。
Tables were overturned； glasses crashed to the ground。 There was a
hellish row。 The women scattered to the door and behind the bar。
Passers…by surged in from the street。 You heard curses in every tongue
the sound of blows； cries； and in the middle of the room a dozen men were
fighting with all their might。 On a sudden the police rushed in； and
everyone who could made for the door。 When the bar was more or less
cleared； Tough Bill was lying insensible on the floor with a great gash in
his head。 Captain Nichols dragged Strickland； bleeding from a wound in
his arm； his clothes in rags； into the street。 His own face was covered with
blood from a blow on the nose。
〃I guess you'd better get out of Marseilles before Tough Bill comes out
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The Moon and Sixpence
of hospital；〃 he said to Strickland； when they had got back to the Chink's
Head and were cleaning themselves。
〃This beats cock…fighting；〃 said Strickland。
I could see his sardonic smile。
Captain Nichols was anxious。 He knew Tough Bill's vindictiveness。
Strickland had downed the mulatto twice； and the mulatto； sober； was a
man to be reckoned with。 He would bide his time stealthily。 He would
be in no hurry； but one night Strickland would get a knife…thrust in his
back； and in a day or two the corpse of a nameless beach…comber would be
fished out of the dirty water of the harbour。 Nichols went next evening to
Tough Bill's house and made enquiries。 He was in hospital still； but his
wife； who had been to see him； said he was swearing hard to kill
Strickland when they let him out。
A week passed。
〃That's what I always say；〃 reflected Captain Nichol