Пробный камень
IX
ItwouldbeimpossibleforAlexatoreaditwithoutunderstandingatoncethatthelettershadbeenwrittentohimandthathehadsoldthem....
Hesatdownstairstillheheardherringfortheparlor-maidtoputoutthelights;thenhewentuptothedrawing-roomwithabundleofpapersinhishand.Alexawasjustrisingfromherseatandthelamplightfellonthedeeprollofhairthatoverhungherbrowliketheeavesofatemple.Herfacehadoftenthehighsecludedlookofashrine;anditwasthistouchofaweinherbeautythatnowmadehimfeelhimselfonthebrinkofsacrilege.
Lestthefeelingshoulddominatehim,hespokeatonce.“I’vebroughtyouapieceofwork—alotofoldbillsandthingsthatIwantyoutosortforme.Somearenotworthkeeping—butyou’llbeabletojudgeofthat.Theremaybealetterortwoamongthem—nothingofmuchaccount,butIdon’tliketothrowawaythewholelotwithouthavingthemlookedoverandIhaven’ttimetodoitmyself.”
Heheldoutthepapersandshetookthemwithasmilethatseemedtorecognizeintheserviceheaskedthetacitintentionofmakingamendsfortheincidentofthepreviousday.
“AreyousureIshallknowwhichtokeep?”
“Oh,quitesure,”heanswered,easily—“andbesides,noneareofmuchimportance.”
Thenextmorningheinventedanexcuseforleavingthehousewithoutseeingher,andwhenhereturned,justbeforedinner,hefoundavisitor’shatandstickinthehall.ThevisitorwasFlamel,whowasintheactoftakingleave.
