Эпоха невинности

           "Thechange—whatsortofachange?""Ah,Monsieur,ifIcouldtellyou!"M.Rivierepaused."Tenez—thediscovery,Isuppose,ofwhatI’dneverthoughtofbefore:thatshe’sanAmerican.Andthatifyou’reanAmericanofHERkind—ofyourkind—thingsthatareacceptedincertainothersocieties,oratleastputupwithaspartofageneralconvenientgive-and-take—becomeunthinkable,simplyunthinkable.IfMadameOlenska’srelationsunderstoodwhatthesethingswere,theiroppositiontoherreturningwouldnodoubtbeasunconditionalasherown;buttheyseemtoregardherhusband’swishtohaveherbackasproofofanirresistiblelongingfordomesticlife."M.Rivierepaused,andthenadded:"Whereasit’sfarfrombeingassimpleasthat."ArcherlookedbacktothePresidentoftheUnitedStates,andthendownathisdeskandatthepapersscatteredonit.Forasecondortwohecouldnottrusthimselftospeak.DuringthisintervalheheardM.Riviere’schairpushedback,andwasawarethattheyoungmanhadrisen.Whenheglancedupagainhesawthathisvisitorwasasmovedashimself."Thankyou,"Archersaidsimply."There’snothingtothankmefor,Monsieur:itisI,rather—"M.Rivierebrokeoff,asifspeechforhimtooweredifficult."Ishouldlike,though,"hecontinuedinafirmervoice,"toaddonething.YouaskedmeifIwasinCountOlenski’semploy.Iamatthismoment:Ireturnedtohim,afewmonthsago,forreasonsofprivatenecessitysuchasmayhappentoanyonewhohaspersons,illandolderpersons,dependentonhim