Волны

           Theworldisdisplayed,andwetoo,sothatwecantalk.’

           ’Wediffer,itmaybetooprofoundly,’saidLouis,’forexplanation.Butletusattemptit.IsmoothedmyhairwhenIcamein,hopingtolookliketherestofyou.ButIcannot,forIamnotsingleandentireasyouare.Ihavelivedathousandlivesalready.EverydayIunbury--Idigup.Ifindrelicsofmyselfinthesandthatwomenmadethousandsofyearsago,whenIheardsongsbytheNileandthechainedbeaststamping.Whatyouseebesideyou,thisman,thisLouis,isonlythecindersandrefuseofsomethingoncesplendid.IwasanArabprince;beholdmyfreegestures.IwasagreatpoetinthetimeofElizabeth.IwasaDukeatthecourtofLouistheFourteenth.Iamveryvain,veryconfident;Ihaveanimmeasurabledesirethatwomenshouldsighinsympathy.IhaveeatennolunchtodayinorderthatSusanmaythinkmecadaverousandthatJinnymayextendtometheexquisitebalmofhersympathy.ButwhileIadmireSusanandPercival,Ihatetheothers,becauseitisforthemthatIdotheseantics,smoothingmyhair,concealingmyaccent.Iamthelittleapewhochattersoveranut,andyouarethedowdywomenwithshinybagsofstalebuns;Iamalsothecagedtiger,andyouarethekeeperswithred-hotbars.