Пробный камень
V
“Areyouverytired?”sheasked,pouringhistea.
“Justenoughtoenjoythis.”Herosefromthechairinwhichhehadthrownhimselfandbentoverthetrayforhiscream.“You’vehadavisitor?”hecommented,noticingahalf-emptycupbesideherown.
“OnlyMr.Flamel,”shesaid,indifferently.
“Flamel?Again?”
Sheansweredwithoutshowofsurprise.“Heleftjustnow.HisyachtisdownatLaurelBayandheborrowedatrapoftheDreshamstodriveoverhere.”
Glennardmadenocomment,andshewenton,leaningherheadbackagainstthecushionsofherbamboo-seat,“HewantsustogoforasailwithhimnextSunday.”
Glennardmeditativelystirredhistea.Hewastryingtothinkofthemostnaturalandunartificialthingtosay,andhisvoiceseemedtocomefromtheoutside,asthoughhewerespeakingbehindamarionette.“Doyouwantto?”
“Justasyouplease,”shesaid,compliantly.Noaffectationofindifferencecouldhavebeenasbafflingashercompliance.Glennard,oflate,wasbeginningtofeelthatthesurfacewhich,ayearago,hehadtakenforasheetofclearglass,might,afterall,beamirrorreflectingmerelyhisownconceptionofwhatlaybehindit.
“DoyoulikeFlamel?”hesuddenlyasked;towhich,stillengagedwithhertea,shereturnedthefeminineanswer—“Ithoughtyoudid.”
“Ido,ofcourse,”heagreed,vexedathisownincorrigibletendencytomagnifyFlamel’simportancebyhoveringaboutthetopic.“Asailwouldberatherjolly;let’sgo.
