Міжнародний епізод

           “Youwouldnotfindhersohandsomeasherbrother,”hesaid;anditwasafterthisthatheattemptedtodissuadetheheiroftheDukeofBayswaterfromacceptingMrs.Westgate’sinvitation.“Dependuponit,”hesaid,“thatgirlmeanstotryforyou.”“Itseemstomeyouaredoingyourbesttomakeafoolofme,”themodestyoungnoblemananswered.“Shehasbeenaskingme,”saidBeaumont,“allaboutyourpeopleandyourpossessions.”“Iamsureitisverygoodofher!”LordLambethrejoined.“Well,then,”observedhiscompanion,“ifyougo,yougowithyoureyesopen.”“Damnmyeyes!”exclaimedLordLambeth.“Ifoneistobeadozentimesadayatthehouse,itisagreatdealmoreconvenienttosleepthere.Iamsickoftravelingupanddownthisbeastlyavenue.”Sincehehaddeterminedtogo,PercyBeaumontwould,ofcourse,havebeenverysorrytoallowhimtogoalone;hewasamanofconscience,andherememberedhispromisetotheduchess.Itwasobviouslythememoryofthispromisethatmadehimsaytohiscompanionacoupleofdayslaterthatheratherwonderedheshouldbesofondofthatgirl.“Inthefirstplace,howdoyouknowhowfondIamofher?”askedLordLambeth.“And,inthesecondplace,whyshouldn’tIbefondofher?”“Ishouldn’tthinkshewouldbeinyourline.”“Whatdoyoucallmy‘line’?Youdon’tsetherdownas‘fast’?”“Exactlyso.Mrs.Westgatetellsmethatthereisnosuchthingasthe‘fastgirl’inAmerica;thatit’sanEnglishinvention,andthatthetermhasnomeaninghere.”“Allthebetter.