Епоха невинності

           Ireallybelieved—forreasonsIneednottroubleyouwith—thatitwouldbebetterforMadameOlenskatorecoverhersituation,herfortune,thesocialconsiderationthatherhusband’sstandinggivesher.""SoIsupposed:youcouldhardlyhaveacceptedsuchamissionotherwise.""Ishouldnothaveacceptedit.""Well,then—?"Archerpausedagain,andtheireyesmetinanotherprotractedscrutiny."Ah,Monsieur,afterIhadseenher,afterIhadlistenedtoher,Iknewshewasbetteroffhere.""Youknew—?""Monsieur,Idischargedmymissionfaithfully:IputtheCount’sarguments,Istatedhisoffers,withoutaddinganycommentofmyown.TheCountesswasgoodenoughtolistenpatiently;shecarriedhergoodnesssofarastoseemetwice;sheconsideredimpartiallyallIhadcometosay.AnditwasinthecourseofthesetwotalksthatIchangedmymind,thatIcametoseethingsdifferently.""MayIaskwhatledtothischange?""SimplyseeingthechangeinHER,"M.Rivierereplied."Thechangeinher?Thenyouknewherbefore?"Theyoungman’scolouragainrose."Iusedtoseeherinherhusband’shouse.IhaveknownCountOlenskiformanyyears.Youcanimaginethathewouldnothavesentastrangeronsuchamission."Archer’sgaze,wanderingawaytotheblankwallsoftheoffice,restedonahangingcalendarsurmountedbytheruggedfeaturesofthePresidentoftheUnitedStates.Thatsuchaconversationshouldbegoingonanywherewithinthemillionsofsquaremilessubjecttohisruleseemedasstrangeasanythingthattheimaginationcouldinvent.