Міжнародний епізод

           “Shewon’tgobblemedown;don’tbeafraid.”“Shewon’tleaveyouonyourknees,”saidPercyBeaumont.“WhatIStheinducement?”“Youtalkaboutproposing:waittillIhaveproposed,”LordLambethwenton.“That’sright,mydearfellow;thinkaboutit,”saidPercyBeaumont.“She’sacharminggirl,”pursuedhislordship.“Ofcourseshe’sacharminggirl.Idon’tknowagirlmorecharming,intrinsically.Butthereareothercharminggirlsnearerhome.”“Ilikeherspirit,”observedLordLambeth,almostasifheweretryingtotormenthiscousin.“What’sthepeculiarityofherspirit?”“She’snotafraid,andshesaysthingsout,andshethinksherselfasgoodasanyone.SheistheonlygirlIhaveeverseenthatwasnotdyingtomarryme.”“Howdoyouknowthat,ifyouhaven’taskedher?”“Idon’tknowhow;butIknowit.”“Iamsuresheaskedmequestionsenoughaboutyourpropertyandyourtitles,”saidBeaumont.“Shehasaskedmequestions,too;noendofthem,”LordLambethadmitted.“Butsheaskedforinformation,don’tyouknow.”“Information?Aye,I’llwarrantshewantedit.Dependuponitthatsheisdyingtomarryyoujustasmuchandjustaslittleasalltherestofthem.”“Ishouldn’tlikehertorefuseme—Ishouldn’tlikethat.”“Ifthethingwouldbesodisagreeable,then,bothtoyouandtoher,inHeaven’snameleaveitalone,”saidPercyBeaumont.Mrs.Westgate,onherside,hadplentytosaytohersisterabouttherarityofMr.Beaumont’svisitsandthenonappearanceoftheDuchessofBayswater.