Спрут: Калифорнийская история
Chapter I
Presleyshooktheflaccidhandoftheartist,murmuringconventionalities,whileMrs.Cedarquisthastenedtosay:
“IamsureyouknowMr.Presley’sverse,Mr.Hartrath.Youshould,believeme.Youtwohavemuchincommon.Icanseesomuchthatisalikeinyourmodesofinterpretingnature.InMr.Presley’ssonnet,’TheBetterPart,’thereisthesamenoteasinyourpicture,thesamesincerityoftone,thesamesubtletyoftouch,thesamenuances,—ah.”
“Oh,mydearMadame,”murmuredtheartist,interruptingPresley’simpatientretort;“Iamamerebungler.Youdon’tmeanquitethat,Iamsure.Iamtoosensitive.Itismycross.Beauty,”heclosedhissoreeyeswithalittleexpressionofpain,“beautyunmansme.”
ButMrs.Cedarquistwasnotlistening.Hereyeswerefixedontheartist’sluxurianthair,athickandglossymane,thatallbutcoveredhiscoatcollar.
“Leonine!”shemurmured—“leonine!LikeSamsonofold.”
However,abruptlybestirringherself,sheexclaimedasecondlater:
“ButImustrunaway.Iamsellingticketsforyouthisafternoon,Mr.Hartrath.Iamhavingsuchsuccess.Twenty-fivealready.Mr.Presley,youwilltaketwochances,Iamsure,and,oh,bytheway,Ihavesuchgoodnews.YouknowIamoneoftheladymembersofthesubscriptioncommitteeforourFair,andyouknowweapproachedMr.Shelgrimforadonationtohelpalong.Oh,suchaliberalpatron,arealLorenzodi’Medici.InthenameofthePacificandSouthwesternhehassubscribed,thinkofit,fivethousanddollars;andyettheywilltalkofthemeannessoftherailroad.
