Епоха невинності

           Hemarvelledthatthedoorshouldopensooften,andthatallthepeopleitletoutshouldlooksolikeeachother,andsolikealltheotherhotmenwho,atthathour,throughthelengthandbreadthoftheland,werepassingcontinuouslyinandoutoftheswingingdoorsofhotels.Andthen,suddenly,cameafacethathecouldnotrelatetotheotherfaces.Hecaughtbutaflashofit,forhispacingshadcarriedhimtothefarthestpointofhisbeat,anditwasinturningbacktothehotelthathesaw,inagroupoftypicalcountenances—thelankandweary,theroundandsurprised,thelantern-jawedandmild—thisotherfacethatwassomanymorethingsatonce,andthingssodifferent.Itwasthatofayoungman,paletoo,andhalf-extinguishedbytheheat,orworry,orboth,butsomehow,quicker,vivider,moreconscious;orperhapsseemingsobecausehewassodifferent.Archerhungamomentonathinthreadofmemory,butitsnappedandfloatedoffwiththedisappearingface—apparentlythatofsomeforeignbusinessman,lookingdoublyforeigninsuchasetting.Hevanishedinthestreamofpassersby,andArcherresumedhispatrol.Hedidnotcaretobeseenwatchinhandwithinviewofthehotel,andhisunaidedreckoningofthelapseoftimeledhimtoconcludethat,ifMadameOlenskawassolonginreappearing,itcouldonlybebecauseshehadmettheemissaryandbeenwaylaidbyhim.AtthethoughtArcher’sapprehensionrosetoanguish."Ifshedoesn’tcomesoonI’llgoinandfindher,"hesaid.Thedoorsswungopenagainandshewasathisside.