Міжнародний епізод

           “FancyhisthinkingwedonoworkinEngland!”theyoungmanresumed.“Idaresayhedidn’treallythinkso,”saidPercyBeaumont.“Well,Iguesstheydon’tknowmuchaboutEnglandoverhere!”declaredLordLambethhumorously.Andthentherewasanotherlongpause.“Hewasdevilishcivil,”observedtheyoungnobleman.“Nothing,certainly,couldhavebeenmorecivil,”rejoinedhiscompanion.“Littledalesaidhiswifewasgreatfun,”saidLordLambeth.“Whosewife—Littledale’s?”“ThisAmerican’s—Mrs.Westgate.What’shisname?J.L.”Beaumontwassilentamoment.“WhatwasfuntoLittledale,”hesaidatlast,rathersententiously,“maybedeathtous.”“Whatdoyoumeanbythat?”askedhiskinsman.“IamasgoodamanasLittledale.”“Mydearboy,Ihopeyouwon’tbegintoflirt,”saidPercyBeaumont.“Idon’tcare.IdaresayIshan’tbegin.”“Withamarriedwoman,ifshe’sbentuponit,it’sallverywell,”Beaumontexpounded.“Butourfriendmentionedayounglady—asister,asister-in-law.ForGod’ssake,don’tgetentangledwithher!”“Howdoyoumeanentangled?”“Dependuponitshewilltrytohookyou.”“Oh,bother!”saidLordLambeth.“Americangirlsareveryclever,”urgedhiscompanion.“Somuchthebetter,”theyoungmandeclared.“Ifancytheyarealwaysuptosomegameofthatsort,”Beaumontcontinued.“Theycan’tbeworsethantheyareinEngland,”saidLordLambethjudicially.“Ah,butinEngland,”repliedBeaumont,“youhavegotyournaturalprotectors.