Міжнародний епізод
Part I
”AndsothetwoinquiringEnglishmen,whohadthislady’saddressinscribedinherhusband’shanduponacard,descendedfromtheverandaofthebighotelandtooktheirway,accordingtodirection,alongalargestraightroad,pastaseriesoffresh-lookingvillasembosomedinshrubsandflowersandenclosedinaningeniousvarietyofwoodenpalings.Themorningwasbrilliantandcool,thevillasweresmartandsnug,andthewalkoftheyoungtravelerswasveryentertaining.Everythinglookedasifithadreceivedacoatoffreshpaintthedaybefore—theredroofs,thegreenshutters,theclean,brightbrownsandbuffsofthehousefronts.Theflowerbedsonthelittlelawnsseemedtosparkleintheradiantair,andthegravelintheshortcarriagesweepstoflashandtwinkle.Alongtheroadcameahundredlittlebasketphaetons,inwhich,almostalways,acoupleofladiesweresitting—ladiesinwhitedressesandlongwhitegloves,holdingthereinsandlookingatthetwoEnglishmen,whosenationalitywasnotelusive,throughthickblueveilstiedtightlyabouttheirfacesasiftoguardtheircomplexions.Atlasttheyoungmencamewithinsightoftheseaagain,andthen,havinginterrogatedagardeneroverthepalingofavilla,theyturnedintoanopengate.Heretheyfoundthemselvesfacetofacewiththeoceanandwithaverypicturesquestructure,resemblingamagnifiedchalet,whichwaspercheduponagreenembankmentjustaboveit.Thehousehadaverandaofextraordinarywidthallarounditandagreatmanydoorsandwindowsstandingopentotheveranda.
