Епоха невинності

           Mrs.Mansonlaidapurplefingeronherlips."Nothingdirectly—butdoesshesuspect?Whocantell?Thetruthis,Mr.Archer,Ihavebeenwaitingtoseeyou.FromthemomentIheardofthefirmstandyouhadtaken,andofyourinfluenceoverher,Ihopeditmightbepossibletocountonyoursupport—toconvinceyou...""Thatsheoughttogoback?Iwouldratherseeherdead!"criedtheyoungmanviolently."Ah,"theMarchionessmurmured,withoutvisibleresentment.Forawhileshesatinherarm-chair,openingandshuttingtheabsurdivoryfanbetweenhermittenedfingers;butsuddenlysheliftedherheadandlistened."Hereshecomes,"shesaidinarapidwhisper;andthen,pointingtothebouquetonthesofa:"AmItounderstandthatyoupreferTHAT,Mr.Archer?Afterall,marriageismarriage...andmynieceisstillawife..."