Эпоха невинности

           InthespringhehadgoneoffonalongcruisetotheWestIndiesinhisnewsteam-yacht,anditwasreportedthat,atvariouspointswherehehadtouched,aladyresemblingMissFannyRinghadbeenseeninhiscompany.Thesteam-yacht,builtintheClyde,andfittedwithtiledbath-roomsandotherunheard-ofluxuries,wassaidtohavecosthimhalfamillion;andthepearlnecklacewhichhehadpresentedtohiswifeonhisreturnwasasmagnificentassuchexpiatoryofferingsareapttobe.Beaufort’sfortunewassubstantialenoughtostandthestrain;andyetthedisquietingrumourspersisted,notonlyinFifthAvenuebutinWallStreet.Somepeoplesaidhehadspeculatedunfortunatelyinrailways,othersthathewasbeingbledbyoneofthemostinsatiablemembersofherprofession;andtoeveryreportofthreatenedinsolvencyBeaufortrepliedbyafreshextravagance:thebuildingofanewrowoforchid-houses,thepurchaseofanewstringofrace-horses,ortheadditionofanewMeissonnierorCabaneltohispicture-gallery.HeadvancedtowardtheMarchionessandNewlandwithhisusualhalf-sneeringsmile."Hullo,Medora!Didthetrottersdotheirbusiness?Fortyminutes,eh?...Well,that’snotsobad,consideringyournerveshadtobespared."HeshookhandswithArcher,andthen,turningbackwiththem,placedhimselfonMrs.Manson’sotherside,andsaid,inalowvoice,afewwordswhichtheircompaniondidnotcatch.