Пробный камень
VI
“Then,obviously,sheneedn’thavewrittenthem;whereastheman,poordevil,couldhardlyhelpreceivingthem.”
“Perhapshecountedonthepublictosavehimthetroubleofreadingthem,”saidyoungHartly,whowasinthecynicalstage.
Mrs.ArmigerturnedherreproachfullovelinesstoDresham.“Fromthewayyoudefendhim,Ibelieveyouknowwhoheis.”
EveryonelookedatDresham,andhiswifesmiledwiththesuperiorairofthewomanwhoisinherhusband’sprofessionalsecrets.Dreshamshruggedhisshoulders.
“WhathaveIsaidtodefendhim?”
“Youcalledhimapoordevil—youpitiedhim.”
“AmanwhocouldletMargaretAubynwritetohiminthatway?OfcourseIpityhim.”
“Thenyoumustknowwhoheis,”criedMrs.Armiger,withatriumphantairofpenetration.
HartlyandFlamellaughedandDreshamshookhishead.“Nooneknows;noteventhepublishers;sotheytellmeatleast.”
“Sotheytellyoutotellus,”Hartlyastutelyamended;andMrs.Armigeradded,withtheappearanceofcarryingtheargumentapointfarther,“Butevenifhe’sdeadandshe’sdead,somebodymusthavegiventheletterstothepublishers.”
“Alittlebird,probably,”saidDresham,smilingindulgentlyonherdeduction.
“Alittlebirdofpreythen—avulture,Ishouldsay—”anothermaninterpolated.
“Oh,I’mnotwithyouthere,”saidDresham,easily.“Thoselettersbelongedtothepublic.”
“Howcananylettersbelongtothepublicthatweren’twrittentothepublic?”Mrs.Touchettinterposed.
“Well,thesewere,inasense.
