His host's sulky greeting jarred him like a sudden fall down a great height.

He took his place at the table opposite Almayer and tried to speak cheerfully to his gloomy companion, but when the meal was ended and they sat smoking in silence he felt an abrupt discouragement, a lassitude in all his limbs, a sense of immense sadness as after some great and irreparable loss.

The darkness of the night entered his heart, bringing with it doubt and hesitation and dull anger with himself and all the world.

He had an impulse to shout horrible curses, to quarrel with Almayer, to do something violent.

Quite without any immediate provocation he thought he would like to assault the wretched, sulky beast.