Спрут: Калифорнийская история
Chapter VIII
Allons!Envoiture!”
Oncesettledinthecoolgloomofthecoupe,odorousofleatherandupholstery,Mrs.Cedarquistexclaimed:
“AndI’venevertoldyouwhoyouweretodinewith;oh,apersonage,really.Fancy,youwillbeinthecampofyourdearestfoes.YouaretodinewiththeGerardpeople,oneoftheVice-Presidentsofyourbetenoir,theP.andS.W.Railroad.”
Presleystarted,hisfistsclenchingsoabruptlyastoallbutsplithiswhitegloves.Hewasnotconsciousofwhathesaidinreply,andMrs.Cedarquistwassotakenupwithherownendlessstreamoftalkthatshedidnotobservehisconfusion.
“TheirdaughterHonoraisgoingtoEuropenextweek;hermotheristotakeher,andMrs.Gerardistohavejustafewpeopletodinner—veryinformal,youknow—ourselves,youand,oh,Idon’tknow,twoorthreeothers.HaveyoueverseenHonora?Theprettiestlittlething,andwillsheberich?Millions,Iwouldnotdaresayhowmany.Tiens.Nousvoici.”
Thecoupedrewuptothecurb,andPresleyfollowedMrs.Cedarquistupthestepstothemassivedoorsofthegreathouse.Inaconfuseddaze,heallowedoneofthefootmentorelievehimofhishatandcoat;inadazeherejoinedMrs.Cedarquistinaroomwithaglassroof,hungwithpictures,theartgallery,nodoubt,andinadazeheardtheirnamesannouncedattheentranceofanotherroom,thedoorsofwhichwerehungwiththick,bluecurtains.
Heentered,collectinghiswitsfortheintroductionsandpresentationsthatheforesawimpended.
Theroomwasverylarge,andofexcessiveloftiness.
