Міжнародний епізод

           Sheabstainedonthepresentoccasionfromexpressingdisbelief,forshewishednottoirritatehersister.ButshesaidtoherselfthatKittyhadbeenmisinformed—thatthiswasatraveler’stale.Thoughshewasagirlofalivelyimagination,therecouldinthenatureofthingsbe,tohersense,norealityintheideaofherbelongingtoavulgarcategory.Whatshesaidaloudwas,“ImustsaythatinthatcaseIamverysorryforLordLambeth.”Mrs.Westgate,moreandmoreexhilaratedbyherscheme,wassmilingatheragain.“IfIcouldonlybelieveitwassafe!”sheexclaimed.“Whenyoubegintopityhim,I,onmyside,amafraid.”“Afraidofwhat?”“Ofyourpityinghimtoomuch.”BessieAldenturnedawayimpatiently;butattheendofaminutesheturnedback.“WhatifIshouldpityhimtoomuch?”sheasked.Mrs.Westgatehereuponturnedaway,butafteramoment’sreflectionshealsofacedhersisteragain.“Itwouldcome,afterall,tothesamething,”shesaid.LordLambethcamethenextdaywithhistrap,andthetwoladies,attendedbyWillieWoodley,placedthemselvesunderhisguidance,andwereconveyedeastward,throughsomeoftheduskierportionsofthemetropolis,tothegreatturreteddonjonwhichoverlookstheLondonshipping.Theyalldescendedfromtheirvehicleandenteredthefamousinclosure;andtheysecuredtheservicesofavenerablebeefeater,who,thoughthereweremanyotherclaimantsforlegendaryinformation,madeafineexclusivepartyofthemandmarchedthemthroughcourtsandcorridors,througharmoriesandprisons.