Эпоха невинности

           Ifhedid,thesedomesticactivitieswereprivatelyperformed,andhepresentedtotheworldtheappearanceofacarelessandhospitablemillionairestrollingintohisowndrawing-roomwiththedetachmentofaninvitedguest,andsaying:"Mywife’sgloxiniasareamarvel,aren’tthey?IbelieveshegetsthemoutfromKew."Mr.Beaufort’ssecret,peoplewereagreed,wasthewayhecarriedthingsoff.Itwasallverywelltowhisperthathehadbeen"helped"toleaveEnglandbytheinternationalbanking-houseinwhichhehadbeenemployed;hecarriedoffthatrumouraseasilyastherest—thoughNewYork’sbusinessconsciencewasnolesssensitivethanitsmoralstandard—hecarriedeverythingbeforehim,andallNewYorkintohisdrawing-rooms,andforovertwentyyearsnowpeoplehadsaidtheywere"goingtotheBeauforts’"withthesametoneofsecurityasiftheyhadsaidtheyweregoingtoMrs.MansonMingott’s,andwiththeaddedsatisfactionofknowingtheywouldgethotcanvas-backducksandvintagewines,insteadoftepidVeuveClicquotwithoutayearandwarmed-upcroquettesfromPhiladelphia.Mrs.Beaufort,then,hadasusualappearedinherboxjustbeforetheJewelSong;andwhen,againasusual,sheroseattheendofthethirdact,drewheroperacloakaboutherlovelyshoulders,anddisappeared,NewYorkknewthatmeantthathalfanhourlatertheballwouldbegin.TheBeauforthousewasonethatNewYorkerswereproudtoshowtoforeigners,especiallyonthenightoftheannualball.