Міжнародний епізод

           ”LordLambethrespondedtothisintimationbyscornfullaughter,andhiscompanioncontinued,afterapause:“IsaidjustnowIdidn’twanttoknowanythingabouttheaffair;butIwillconfessthatIamcurioustolearnwhetheryouproposetomarryMissBessieAlden.”OnthispointLordLambethgavehisinterlocutornoimmediatesatisfaction;hewasmusing,withafrown.“ByJove,”hesaid,“theygorathertoofar.Theyshallfindmedangerous—Ipromisethem.”PercyBeaumontbegantolaugh.“Youdon’tredeemyourpromises.Yousaidtheotherdayyouwouldmakeyourmothercall.”LordLambethcontinuedtomeditate.“Iaskedhertocall,”hesaidsimply.“Andshedeclined?”“Yes;butsheshalldoityet.”“Uponmyword,”saidPercyBeaumont,“ifshegetsmuchmorefrightenedIbelieveshewill.”LordLambethlookedathim,andhewenton.“Shewillgotothegirlherself.”“Howdoyoumeanshewillgotoher?”“Shewillbegheroff,orshewillbribeher.Shewilltakestrongmeasures.”LordLambethturnedawayinsilence,andhiscompanionwatchedhimtaketwentystepsandthenslowlyreturn.“IhaveinvitedMrs.WestgateandMissAldentoBranches,”hesaid,“andthiseveningIshallnameaday.”“Andshallyouinviteyourmotherandyoursisterstomeetthem?”“Explicitly!”“Thatwillsettheduchessoff,”saidPercyBeaumont.“Isuspectshewillcome.”“Shemaydoasshepleases.”BeaumontlookedatLordLambeth.“Youdoreallyproposetomarrythelittlesister,then?”“Ilikethewayyoutalkaboutit!”criedtheyoungman.