Епоха невинності

           Letterblairhadlaidhispen-handleagainsthisbigcorrugatednose,andwaslookingdownitwiththeexpressionassumedbyvirtuouselderlygentlemenwhentheywishtheiryoungerstounderstandthatvirtueisnotsynonymouswithignorance."Mydearsir,I’venowishtoextenuatetheCount’stransgressions;but—butontheotherside...Iwouldn’tputmyhandinthefire...well,thattherehadn’tbeentitfortat...withtheyoungchampion...."Mr.LetterblairunlockedadrawerandpushedafoldedpapertowardArcher."Thisreport,theresultofdiscreetenquiries..."Andthen,asArchermadenoefforttoglanceatthepaperortorepudiatethesuggestion,thelawyersomewhatflatlycontinued:"Idon’tsayit’sconclusive,youobserve;farfromit.Butstrawsshow...andonthewholeit’seminentlysatisfactoryforallpartiesthatthisdignifiedsolutionhasbeenreached.""Oh,eminently,"Archerassented,pushingbackthepaper.Adayortwolater,onrespondingtoasummonsfromMrs.MansonMingott,hissoulhadbeenmoredeeplytried.Hehadfoundtheoldladydepressedandquerulous."Youknowshe’sdesertedme?"shebeganatonce;andwithoutwaitingforhisreply:"Oh,don’taskmewhy!ShegavesomanyreasonsthatI’veforgottenthemall.Myprivatebeliefisthatshecouldn’tfacetheboredom.Atanyratethat’swhatAugustaandmydaughters-in-lawthink.AndIdon’tknowthatIaltogetherblameher.Olenski’safinishedscoundrel;butlifewithhimmusthavebeenagooddealgayerthanitisinFifthAvenue.