Епоха невинності
Chapter 8
Hewasshort,round-shouldered,sunburnt,withathicknose,smalleyesandasociablesmile;butheseldomspoke,andwhenhediditwasinsuchlowtonesthat,despitethefrequentsilencesofexpectationaboutthetable,hisremarkswerelosttoallbuthisneighbours.WhenthemenjoinedtheladiesafterdinnertheDukewentstraightuptotheCountessOlenska,andtheysatdowninacornerandplungedintoanimatedtalk.NeitherseemedawarethattheDukeshouldfirsthavepaidhisrespectstoMrs.LovellMingottandMrs.HeadlyChivers,andtheCountesshaveconversedwiththatamiablehypochondriac,Mr.UrbanDagonetofWashingtonSquare,who,inordertohavethepleasureofmeetingher,hadbrokenthroughhisfixedruleofnotdiningoutbetweenJanuaryandApril.Thetwochattedtogetherfornearlytwentyminutes;thentheCountessroseand,walkingaloneacrossthewidedrawing-room,satdownatNewlandArcher’sside.ItwasnotthecustominNewYorkdrawing-roomsforaladytogetupandwalkawayfromonegentlemaninordertoseekthecompanyofanother.Etiquetterequiredthatsheshouldwait,immovableasanidol,whilethemenwhowishedtoconversewithhersucceededeachotheratherside.ButtheCountesswasapparentlyunawareofhavingbrokenanyrule;shesatatperfecteaseinacornerofthesofabesideArcher,andlookedathimwiththekindesteyes."IwantyoutotalktomeaboutMay,"shesaid.Insteadofansweringherheasked:"YouknewtheDukebefore?""Oh,yes—weusedtoseehimeverywinteratNice.He’sveryfondofgambling—heusedtocometothehouseagreatdeal.
