Another fine piece by Conrad. The characters and the frame of the story had the potential for a longer work, but the revelation of Falk's secret drew the elements more comfortably into a shorter form. There are four obvious peaks in the story and they have all the Conradese tension you could hope for, especially the first three. Curiously I found the true climax the lowest of these peaks. Sounds cryptic, this talk about peaks? You've got to go and see them and you'll understand. As for the river centaur, man-boat Falk, what a memorably bizarre geezer. ( )