По цей бік раю

           "Rosalind!Rosalind!"Hepouredthewordssoftlyintothehalf-darknessuntilsheseemedtopermeatetheroom;thewetsaltbreezefilledhishairwithmoisture,therimofamoonsearedtheskyandmadethecurtainsdimandghostly.Hefellasleep.

           Whenheawokeitwasverylateandquiet.Theblankethadslippedpartlyoffhisshouldersandhetouchedhisskintofinditdampandcold.

           Thenhebecameawareofatensewhisperingnottenfeetaway.

           Hebecamerigid.

           "Don’tmakeasound!"ItwasAlec’svoice."Jill—doyouhearme?"

           "Yes—"breathedverylow,veryfrightened.Theywereinthebathroom.

           Thenhisearscaughtaloudersoundfromsomewherealongthecorridoroutside.Itwasamumblingofmen’svoicesandarepeatedmuffledrapping.Amorythrewofftheblanketsandmovedclosetothebathroomdoor.

           "MyGod!"camethegirl’svoiceagain."You’llhavetoletthemin."

           "Sh!"

           Suddenlyasteady,insistentknockingbeganatAmory’shalldoorandsimultaneouslyoutofthebathroomcameAlec,followedbythevermilion-lippedgirl.Theywerebothcladinpajamas.

           "Amory!"ananxiouswhisper.

           "What’sthetrouble?"

           "It’shousedetectives.MyGod,Amory—they’rejustlookingforatest-case—"

           "Well,betterletthemin."

           "Youdon’tunderstand.TheycangetmeundertheMannAct."

           Thegirlfollowedhimslowly,arathermiserable,patheticfigureinthedarkness.

           Amorytriedtoplanquickly.

           "Youmakearacketandlettheminyourroom,"hesuggestedanxiously,"andI’llgetheroutbythisdoor."