I was confused as to exactly what was happening around page 103, at the very beginning of Part II, when Marlow overhears the nephew and the uncle talking. Perhaps it was because at times he only hears bits of dialogue, but I don't think I completely understood what transpired. Here's an excerpt:
Perhaps it was just a simply a fine fellow who stuck to his work for its own sake. His name, you understand, had not been pronounced once. He was 'that man.' The half-caste, who, as far as I could see, had conducted a difficult trip with great prudence and pluck, was invariably alluded to as 'that scoundrel.' The 'scoundrel' had recovered imperfectly.... The two below me moved away then a few paces, and strolled back and forth at some distance. I heard: 'Military post--doctor--two hundred miles--quite alone now--unavoidable delays--nine months--no news--strange rumors.'
This scene also confused me, especially the part where the narrator is hiding and then suddenly there is a man next to him who is also hiding? How did he not notice the man before? In the excerpt the last part you have written down just shows the fact that the narrator couldn't clearly make out what the nephew and the uncle were saying. In this section the writing is difficult to understand but we need to take the section in context of the fact that the narrator was fairly far away and could not clearly and accurately make out the entirety of the conversation between the two men.
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