Міжнародний епізод

           Weshallexpectyoutolikeagoodmanythingsoverhere,butweshan’tinsistuponyourlikingthegnats;thoughcertainlyyou’lladmitthat,asgnats,theyarefine,eh?Butyououghtn’ttoremaininthecity.”“Sowethink,”saidLordLambeth.“Ifyouwouldkindlysuggestsomething—”“Suggestsomething,mydearsir?”andMr.Westgatelookedathim,narrowinghiseyelids.“Openyourmouthandshutyoureyes!Leaveittome,andI’llputyouthrough.It’samatterofnationalpridewithmethatallEnglishmenshouldhaveagoodtime;andasIhavehadconsiderablepractice,Ihavelearnedtoministertotheirwants.Ifindtheygenerallywanttherightthing.Sojustpleasetoconsideryourselvesmyproperty;andifanyoneshouldtrytoappropriateyou,pleasetosay,‘Handsoff;toolateforthemarket.’Butlet’ssee,”continuedtheAmerican,inhisslow,humorousvoice,withadistinctnessofutterancewhichappearedtohisvisitorstobepartofahumorousintention—astrangelyleisurely,speculativevoiceforamanevidentlysobusyand,astheyfelt,soprofessional—“let’ssee;areyougoingtomakesomethingofastay,LordLambeth?”“Oh,dear,no,”saidtheyoungEnglishman;“mycousinwascomingoveronsomebusiness,soIjustcameacross,atanhour’snotice,forthelark.”“IsityourfirstvisittotheUnitedStates?”“Oh,dear,yes.”“Iwasobligedtocomeonsomebusiness,”saidPercyBeaumont,“andIbroughtLambethalong.”“Andyouhavebeenherebefore,sir?”“Never—never.