Епоха невинності
Chapter 1
MansonMingott’sfather,whohaddisappearedsomysteriously(withalargesumoftrustmoney)lessthanayearafterhismarriage,ontheverydaythatabeautifulSpanishdancerwhohadbeendelightingthrongedaudiencesintheoldOpera-houseontheBatteryhadtakenshipforCuba.Butthesemysteries,andmanyothers,werecloselylockedinMr.Jackson’sbreast;fornotonlydidhiskeensenseofhonourforbidhisrepeatinganythingprivatelyimparted,buthewasfullyawarethathisreputationfordiscretionincreasedhisopportunitiesoffindingoutwhathewantedtoknow.Theclubbox,therefore,waitedinvisiblesuspensewhileMr.SillertonJacksonhandedbackLawrenceLefferts’sopera-glass.Foramomenthesilentlyscrutinisedtheattentivegroupoutofhisfilmyblueeyesoverhungbyoldveinedlids;thenhegavehismoustacheathoughtfultwist,andsaidsimply:"Ididn’tthinktheMingottswouldhavetriediton."
