TherewerealsodoubtsastoCarleonAnthony’scompletesanityforsomeconsiderabletimebeforehedied。
MostoftheaboveIelicitedfromMarlow，forallIknewofCarleonAnthonywashisunexcitingbutfascinatingverse。MarlowassuredmethattheFynemarriagewasperfectlysuccessfulandevenhappy，inanearnest，unplayfulfashion，beingblessedbesidesbythreehealthy，active，self-reliantchildren，allgirls。Theywereallpedestrianstoo。Eventheyoungestwouldwanderawayformilesifnotrestrained。Mrs。Fynehadaruddyout-of-doorscomplexionandworeblouseswithastarchedfrontlikeaman’sshirt，astand-upcollarandalongnecktie。Marlowhadmadetheiracquaintanceonesummerinthecountry，wheretheywereaccustomedtotakeacottagefortheholidays……
AtthispointwewereinterruptedbyMr。Powellwhodeclaredthathemustleaveus。Thetidewasontheturn，heannouncedcomingawayfromthewindowabruptly。Hewantedtobeonboardhiscutterbeforesheswungandofcoursehewouldsleeponboard。Neversleptawayfromthecutterwhileonacruise。Hewasgoneinamoment，unceremoniously，butgivingusnooffenceandleavingbehindanimpressionasthoughwehadknownhimforalongtime。Theingenuouswayhehadtoldusofhisstartinlifehadsomethingtodowithputtinghimonthatfootingwithus。Igavenothoughttoseeinghimagain。
Marlowexpressedaconfidenthopeofcomingacrosshimbeforelong。”Hecruisesaboutthemouthoftheriverallthesummer。Hewillbeeasytofindanyweek-end，”heremarkedringingthebellsothatwemightsettleupwiththewaiter。
LateronIaskedMarlowwhyhewishedtocultivatethischanceacquaintance。Heconfessedapologeticallythatitwasthecommonestsortofcuriosity。IflattermyselfthatIunderstandallsortsofcuriosity。Curiosityaboutdailyfacts，aboutdailythings，aboutdailymen。Itisthemostrespectablefacultyofthehumanmind——infactIcannotconceivetheusesofanincuriousmind。Itwouldbelikeachamberperpetuallylockedup。ButinthisparticularcaseMr。Powellseemedtohavegivenusalreadyacompleteinsightintohispersonalitysuchasitwas；apersonalitycapableofperceptionandwithafeelingforthevagariesoffate，butessentiallysimpleinitself。