Пробный камень
V
”
Shemadenoreplyandhedrewforththerolled-upeveningpaperswhichhehadthrustintohispocketonleavingthetrain.Ashesmoothedthemouthisowncountenanceseemedtoundergothesameprocess.HeranhiseyedownthelistofstocksandFlamel’simportunatepersonalityrecededbehindtherowsoffigurespushingforwardintonoticelikesomanybearersofgoodnews.Glennard’sinvestmentswerefloweringlikehisgarden:thedryestsharesblossomedintodividends,andagoldenharvestawaitedhissickle.
Heglancedathiswifewiththetranquilairofthemanwhodigestsgoodluckasnaturallyasthedrygroundabsorbsashower.“Thingsarelookinguncommonlywell.Ibelieveweshallbeabletogototownfortwoorthreemonthsnextwinterifwecanfindsomethingcheap.”
Shesmiledluxuriously:itwaspleasanttobeabletosay,withanairofbalancingrelativeadvantages,“Really,onthebaby’saccountIshallbealmostsorry;butifwedogo,there’sKateErskine’shouse...she’llletushaveitforalmostnothing....”
“Well,writeheraboutit,”herecommended,hiseyestravellingoninsearchoftheweatherreport.Hehadturnedtothewrongpage;andsuddenlyalineofblackcharactersleaptoutathimasfromanambush.
“‘MargaretAubyn’sLetters.’
Twovolumes.Outto-day.Firsteditionoffivethousandsoldoutbeforeleavingthepress.Secondeditionreadynextweek.TheBookOfTheYear....”
Helookedupstupidly.Hiswifestillsatwithherheadthrownback,herpureprofiledetachedagainstthecushions.
