Епоха невинності

           Itwasprobablethat,littleasthevanderLuydensencouragedunannouncedvisits,hecouldcountonbeingaskedtodine,andsentbacktothestationtocatchthenineo’clocktrain;butmorethanthathewouldcertainlynotget,foritwouldbeinconceivabletohishoststhatagentlemantravellingwithoutluggageshouldwishtospendthenight,anddistastefultothemtoproposeittoapersonwithwhomtheywereontermsofsuchlimitedcordialityasBeaufort.Beaufortknewallthis,andmusthaveforeseenit;andhistakingthelongjourneyforsosmallarewardgavethemeasureofhisimpatience.HewasundeniablyinpursuitoftheCountessOlenska;andBeauforthadonlyoneobjectinviewinhispursuitofprettywomen.Hisdullandchildlesshomehadlongsincepalledonhim;andinadditiontomorepermanentconsolationshewasalwaysinquestofamorousadventuresinhisownset.ThiswasthemanfromwhomMadameOlenskawasavowedlyflying:thequestionwaswhethershehadfledbecausehisimportunitiesdispleasedher,orbecauseshedidnotwhollytrustherselftoresistthem;unless,indeed,allhertalkofflighthadbeenablind,andherdeparturenomorethanamanoeuvre.Archerdidnotreallybelievethis.LittleashehadactuallyseenofMadameOlenska,hewasbeginningtothinkthathecouldreadherface,andifnotherface,hervoice;andbothhadbetrayedannoyance,andevendismay,atBeaufort’ssuddenappearance.