Міжнародний епізод

           Allthiswassufficientlycurious;buttheagreeablething,later,wastositoutononeofthegreatwhitedecksofthesteamer,inthewarmbreezydarkness,and,inthevaguestarlight,tomakeoutthelineoflow,mysteriouscoast.TheyoungEnglishmentriedAmericancigars—thoseofMr.Westgate—andtalkedtogetherastheyusuallytalked,withmanyoddsilences,lapsesoflogic,andincongruitiesoftransition;likepeoplewhohavegrownoldtogetherandlearnedtosupplyeachother’smissingphrases;or,moreespecially,likepeoplethoroughlyconsciousofacommonpointofview,sothatastyleofconversationsuperficiallylackinginfinishmightsufficeforreferencetoafundofassociationsinthelightofwhicheverythingwasallright.“Wereallyseemtobegoingouttosea,”PercyBeaumontobserved.“Uponmyword,wearegoingbacktoEngland.Hehasshippedusoffagain.Icallthat‘realmean.’”“Isupposeit’sallright,”saidLordLambeth.“IwanttoseethoseprettygirlsatNewport.Youknow,hetoldustheplacewasanisland;andaren’tallislandsinthesea?”“Well,”resumedtheeldertravelerafterawhile,“ifhishouseisasgoodashiscigars,weshalldoverywell.”“Heseemsaverygoodfellow,”saidLordLambeth,asifthisideahadjustoccurredtohim.“Isay,wehadbetterremainattheinn,”rejoinedhiscompanionpresently.“Idon’tthinkIlikethewayhespokeofhishouse.Idon’tlikestoppinginthehousewithsuchatremendouslotofwomen.”“Oh,Idon’tmind,”saidLordLambeth.Andthentheysmokedawhileinsilence.