Пробный камень
VI
ApersonalityasbigasMargaretAubyn’sbelongstotheworld.Suchamindispartofthegeneralfundofthought.It’sthepenaltyofgreatness—onebecomesamonumenthistorique.Posteritypaysthecostofkeepingoneup,butonconditionthatoneisalwaysopentothepublic.”
“Idon’tseethatthatexoneratesthemanwhogivesupthekeysofthesanctuary,asitwere.”
“Whowashe?”anothervoiceinquired.
“Whowashe?Oh,nobody,Ifancy—theletter-box,theslitinthewallthroughwhichtheletterspassedtoposterity....”
“Butshenevermeantthemforposterity!”
“Awomanshouldn’twritesuchlettersifshedoesn’tmeanthemtobepublished....”
“Sheshouldn’twritethemtosuchaman!”Mrs.Touchettscornfullycorrected.
“Ineverkeepletters,”saidMrs.Armiger,undertheobviousimpressionthatshewascontributingavaluablepointtothediscussion.
Therewasagenerallaugh,andFlamel,whohadnotspoken,said,lazily,“Youwomenaretooincurablysubjective.Iventuretosaythatmostmenwouldseeinthoselettersmerelytheirimmenseliteraryvalue,theirsignificanceasdocuments.Thepersonalsidedoesn’tcountwherethere’ssomuchelse.”
“Oh,weallknowyouhaven’tanyprinciples,”Mrs.Armigerdeclared;andAlexaGlennard,liftinganindolentsmile,said:“Ishallneverwriteyoualove-letter,Mr.Flamel.”
Glennardmovedawayimpatiently.Suchtalkwasastediousasthebuzzingofgnats.Hewonderedwhyhiswifehadwantedtodraghimonsuchasenselessexpedition....
