Паразит
I
"Nopossiblequestionaboutthebonafidesthistime,"saidhe,inanswer,perhaps,tosomelittlegleamofamusementinmyeyes."Mywifehasknownherformanyyears.TheybothcomefromTrinidad,youknow.MissPenclosahasonlybeeninEnglandamonthortwo,andknowsnooneoutsidetheuniversitycircle,butIassureyouthatthethingsshehastoldussufficeinthemselvestoestablishclairvoyanceuponanabsolutelyscientificbasis.Thereisnothinglikeher,amateurorprofessional.Comeandbeintroduced!"Ilikenoneofthesemystery-mongers,buttheamateurleastofall.Withthepaidperformeryoumaypounceuponhimandexposehimtheinstantthatyouhaveseenthroughhistrick.Heistheretodeceiveyou,andyouaretheretofindhimout.Butwhatareyoutodowiththefriendofyourhost’swife?Areyoutoturnonalightsuddenlyandexposeherslappingasurreptitiousbanjo?Orareyoutohurlcochinealoverhereveningfrockwhenshestealsroundwithherphosphorusbottleandhersupernaturalplatitude?Therewouldbeascene,andyouwouldbelookeduponasabrute.Soyouhaveyourchoiceofbeingthatoradupe.IwasinnoverygoodhumorasIfollowedWilsontothelady.AnyonelesslikemyideaofaWestIndiancouldnotbeimagined.Shewasasmall,frailcreature,welloverforty,Ishouldsay,withapale,peakyface,andhairofaverylightshadeofchestnut.Herpresencewasinsignificantandhermannerretiring.Inanygroupoftenwomenshewouldhavebeenthelastwhomonewouldhavepickedout.
