Епоха невинності

           InmattersintellectualandartisticNewlandArcherfelthimselfdistinctlythesuperiorofthesechosenspecimensofoldNewYorkgentility;hehadprobablyreadmore,thoughtmore,andevenseenagooddealmoreoftheworld,thananyothermanofthenumber.Singlytheybetrayedtheirinferiority;butgroupedtogethertheyrepresented"NewYork,"andthehabitofmasculinesolidaritymadehimaccepttheirdoctrineonalltheissuescalledmoral.Heinstinctivelyfeltthatinthisrespectitwouldbetroublesome—andalsoratherbadform—tostrikeoutforhimself."Well—uponmysoul!"exclaimedLawrenceLefferts,turninghisopera-glassabruptlyawayfromthestage.LawrenceLeffertswas,onthewhole,theforemostauthorityon"form"inNewYork.Hehadprobablydevotedmoretimethananyoneelsetothestudyofthisintricateandfascinatingquestion;butstudyalonecouldnotaccountforhiscompleteandeasycompetence.Onehadonlytolookathim,fromtheslantofhisbaldforeheadandthecurveofhisbeautifulfairmoustachetothelongpatent-leatherfeetattheotherendofhisleanandelegantperson,tofeelthattheknowledgeof"form"mustbecongenitalinanyonewhoknewhowtowearsuchgoodclothessocarelesslyandcarrysuchheightwithsomuchlounginggrace.Asayoungadmirerhadoncesaidofhim:"Ifanybodycantellafellowjustwhentowearablacktiewitheveningclothesandwhennotto,it’sLarryLefferts."Andonthequestionofpumpsversuspatent-leather"Oxfords"hisauthorityhadneverbeendisputed."MyGod!"hesaid;andsilentlyhandedhisglasstooldSillertonJackson.