Спрут: Калифорнийская история

           Theyenteredtheroom—thisunfamiliarmasculinehaunt,wheretheirhusbands,brothers,andsonsspentsomuchoftheirtime—withacertainshowofhesitancyandlittle,nervous,obliqueglances,movingtheirheadsfromsidetosidelikeafileofhensventuringintoastrangebarn.Theycameingroups,usheredbyasinglememberoftheclub,doingthehonourswitheffusivebowsandpolitegestures,indicatingthevariousobjectsofinterest,pictures,busts,andthelike,thatdecoratedtheroom.

           FreshfromhisrecollectionsofBonneville,Guadalajara,andthedanceinAnnixter’sbarn,Presleywasastonishedatthebeautyofthesewomenandtheeleganceoftheirtoilettes.Thecrowdthickenedrapidly.Amurmurofconversationarose,subdued,gracious,mingledwiththesoftrustleofsilk,grenadines,velvet.Thescentofdelicateperfumesspreadintheair,VioletdeParme,Peaud’Espagne.Coloursofthemostharmoniousblendsappearedanddisappearedatintervalsintheslowlymovingpress,touchesoflavender-tintedvelvets,palevioletcrepesandcream-colouredappliquedlaces.

           Thereseemedtobenoneedofintroductions.Everybodyappearedtobeacquainted.Therewasnoawkwardness,noconstraint.Theassemblydisengagedanimpressionofrefinedpleasure.Oneveryhand,innumerabledialoguesseemedtogoforwardeasilyandnaturally,withoutbreakorinterruption,witty,engaging,thecoupleneveratalossforrepartee.Athirdpartywasgracefullyincluded,thenafourth.