AndsoIcaughtmyselfstandingidlyandstudyinghim。cannotsayhowgreatlythemanhadcometointerestme。Whowashe？Whatwashe？Howhadhehappenedtobe？Allpowersseemedhis，allpotentialities，——why，then，washenomorethantheobscuremasterofaseal—huntingschoonerwithareputationforfrightfulbrutalityamongstthemenwhohuntedseals？
Mycuriosityburstfrommeinafloodofspeech。
\"Whyisitthatyouhavenotdonegreatthingsinthisworld？Withthepowerthatisyoursyoumighthaverisentoanyheight。Unpossessedofconscienceormoralinstinct，youmighthavemasteredtheworld，brokenittoyourhand。Andyethereyouare，atthetopofyourlife，wherediminishinganddyingbegin，livinganobscureandsordidexistence，huntingseaanimalsforthesatisfactionofwoman’svanityandloveofdecoration，revellinginapiggishness，touseyourownwords，whichisanythingandeverythingexceptsplendid。Why，withallthatwonderfulstrength，haveyounotdonesomething？Therewasnothingtostopyou，nothingthatcouldstopyou。
Whatwaswrong？Didyoulackambition？Didyoufallundertemptation？Whatwasthematter？Whatwasthematter？\"
Hehadliftedhiseyestomeatthecommencementofmyoutburst，andfollowedmecomplacentlyuntilIhaddoneandstoodbeforehimbreathlessanddismayed。Hewaitedamoment，asthoughseekingwheretobegin，andthensaid：