Возвращение на родину

VII. The Morning and the Evening of a Day

           Mostofthemweresittingroundtheroominseatsdividedbywoodenelbowslikethoseofcrudecathedralstalls,whichwerecarvedwiththeinitialsofmanyanillustriousdrunkardofformertimeswhohadpassedhisdaysandhisnightsbetweenthem,andnowlayasanalcoholiccinderinthenearestchurchyard.Amongthecupsonthelongtablebeforethesitterslayanopenparceloflightdrapery—thegown-piece,asitwascalled—whichwastoberaffledfor.Wildevewasstandingwithhisbacktothefireplacesmokingacigar;andthepromoteroftheraffle,apackmanfromadistanttown,wasexpatiatinguponthevalueofthefabricasmaterialforasummerdress.

           “Now,gentlemen,”hecontinued,asthenewcomersdrewuptothetable,“there’sfivehaveentered,andwewantfourmoretomakeupthenumber.Ithink,bythefacesofthosegentlemenwhohavejustcomein,thattheyareshrewdenoughtotakeadvantageofthisrareopportunityofbeautifyingtheirladiesataverytriflingexpense.”

           Fairway,Sam,andanotherplacedtheirshillingsonthetable,andthemanturnedtoChristian.

           “No,sir,”saidChristian,drawingback,withaquickgazeofmisgiving.“Iamonlyapoorchapcometolookon,anitpleaseye,sir.Idon’tsomuchasknowhowyoudoit.IfsobeIwassureofgettingitIwouldputdowntheshilling;butIcouldn’totherwise.”

           “Ithinkyoumightalmostbesure,”saidthepedlar.“Infact,nowIlookintoyourface,evenifIcan’tsayyouaresuretowin,IcansaythatIneversawanythinglookmorelikewinninginmylife.

Настройки
Фон страницы
Размер шрифта
Межстрочный интервал
Фразовые глаголы
Показать / Скрыть меню
Шрифт
Roboto Lora
Уведомления
Страница 287 из 526