Портрет художника в юности
Chapter 5
Aleanstudentwitholiveskinandlankblackhairthrusthisfacebetweenthetwo,glancingfromonetotheotherateachphraseandseemingtotrytocatcheachflyingphraseinhisopenmoistmouth.Cranlytookasmallgreyhandballfromhispocketandbegantoexamineitclosely,turningitoverandover.
—Nextbusiness?saidMacCann.Hom!
Hegavealoudcoughoflaughter,smiledbroadlyandtuggedtwiceatthestraw-colouredgoateewhichhungfromhisbluntchin.
—Thenextbusinessistosignthetestimonial.
—WillyoupaymeanythingifIsign?askedStephen.
—Ithoughtyouwereanidealist,saidMacCann.
Thegipsy-likestudentlookedabouthimandaddressedtheonlookersinanindistinctbleatingvoice.
—Byhell,that’saqueernotion.Iconsiderthatnotiontobeamercenarynotion.
Hisvoicefadedintosilence.Noheedwaspaidtohiswords.Heturnedhisoliveface,equineinexpression,towardsStephen,invitinghimtospeakagain.
MacCannbegantospeakwithfluentenergyoftheTsar’srescript,ofStead,ofgeneraldisarmamentarbitrationincasesofinternationaldisputes,ofthesignsofthetimes,ofthenewhumanityandthenewgospeloflifewhichwouldmakeitthebusinessofthecommunitytosecureascheaplyaspossiblethegreatestpossiblehappinessofthegreatestpossiblenumber.