По эту сторону рая

The Egotist Becomes a Personage

           Thisproblemofpovertytransformed,magnified,attachedtosomegrander,moredignifiedattitudemightsomedayevenbehisproblem;atpresentitrousedonlyhisprofounddistaste.

           HewalkedovertoFifthAvenue,dodgingtheblind,blackmenaceofumbrellas,andstandinginfrontofDelmonico’shailedanauto-bus.Buttoninghiscoatcloselyaroundhimheclimbedtotheroof,whereherodeinsolitarystatethroughthethin,persistentrain,stungintoalertnessbythecoolmoistureperpetuallyrebornonhischeek.Somewhereinhismindaconversationbegan,ratherresumeditsplaceinhisattention.Itwascomposednotoftwovoices,butofone,whichactedalikeasquestionerandanswerer:

           Question.Wellwhat’sthesituation?

           Answer.ThatIhaveabouttwenty-fourdollarstomyname.

           Q.YouhavetheLakeGenevaestate.

           A.ButIintendtokeepit.

           Q.Canyoulive?

           A.Ican’timaginenotbeingableto.PeoplemakemoneyinbooksandI’vefoundthatIcanalwaysdothethingsthatpeopledoinbooks.ReallytheyaretheonlythingsIcando.

           Q.Bedefinite.

           A.Idon’tknowwhatI’lldonorhaveImuchcuriosity.To-morrowI’mgoingtoleaveNewYorkforgood.It’sabadtownunlessyou’reontopofit.

           Q.Doyouwantalotofmoney?

           A.No.Iammerelyafraidofbeingpoor.

           Q.Veryafraid?

           A.Justpassivelyafraid.

           Q.Whereareyoudrifting?

           A.Don’taskme!

           Q.Don’tyoucare?

           A.Rather.Idon’twanttocommitmoralsuicide.

           Q.Haveyounointerestsleft?

           A.None.I’venomorevirtuetolose.

Настройки
Фон страницы
Размер шрифта
Межстрочный интервал
Фразовые глаголы
Показать / Скрыть меню
Шрифт
Roboto Lora
Уведомления
Страница 289 из 320