Эпоха невинности

           Doyousuppose,forinstance,therewouldbeanyopeningformeinAmerica—inNewYork?"Archerlookedathimwithstartledeyes.NewYork,forayoungmanwhohadfrequentedtheGoncourtsandFlaubert,andwhothoughtthelifeofideastheonlyoneworthliving!HecontinuedtostareatM.Riviereperplexedly,wonderinghowtotellhimthathisverysuperioritiesandadvantageswouldbethesuresthindrancetosuccess."NewYork—NewYork—butmustitbeespeciallyNewYork?"hestammered,utterlyunabletoimaginewhatlucrativeopeninghisnativecitycouldoffertoayoungmantowhomgoodconversationappearedtobetheonlynecessity.AsuddenflushroseunderM.Riviere’ssallowskin."I—Ithoughtityourmetropolis:isnottheintellectuallifemoreactivethere?"herejoined;then,asiffearingtogivehishearertheimpressionofhavingaskedafavour,hewentonhastily:"Onethrowsoutrandomsuggestions—moretoone’sselfthantoothers.Inreality,Iseenoimmediateprospect—"andrisingfromhisseatheadded,withoutatraceofconstraint:"ButMrs.CarfrywillthinkthatIoughttobetakingyouupstairs."DuringthehomewarddriveArcherpondereddeeplyonthisepisode.HishourwithM.Rivierehadputnewairintohislungs,andhisfirstimpulsehadbeentoinvitehimtodinethenextday;buthewasbeginningtounderstandwhymarriedmendidnotalwaysimmediatelyyieldtotheirfirstimpulses."Thatyoungtutorisaninterestingfellow:wehadsomeawfullygoodtalkafterdinneraboutbooksandthings,"hethrewouttentativelyinthehansom.