Маленький лорд Фаунтлерой
Chapter X
AndthepresentLordFauntleroyisthesonofyoursonBevis,andisatthismomentinalodging-houseinLondon.”
TheEarlclutchedthearmsofhischairwithbothhishandsuntiltheveinsstoodoutuponthem;theveinsstoodoutonhisforeheadtoo;hisfierceoldfacewasalmostlivid.
“Whatdoyoumean!”hecriedout.“Youaremad!Whoselieisthis?”
“Ifitisalie,”answeredMr.Havisham,“itispainfullylikethetruth.Awomancametomychambersthismorning.ShesaidyoursonBevismarriedhersixyearsagoinLondon.Sheshowedmehermarriagecertificate.Theyquarrelledayearafterthemarriage,andhepaidhertokeepawayfromhim.Shehasasonfiveyearsold.SheisanAmericanofthelowerclasses,—anignorantperson,—anduntillatelyshedidnotfullyunderstandwhathersoncouldclaim.SheconsultedalawyerandfoundoutthattheboywasreallyLordFauntleroyandtheheirtotheearldomofDorincourt;andshe,ofcourse,insistsonhisclaimsbeingacknowledged.”
Therewasamovementofthecurlyheadontheyellowsatincushion.Asoft,long,sleepysighcamefromthepartedlips,andthelittleboystirredinhissleep,butnotatallrestlesslyoruneasily.NotatallasifhisslumberweredisturbedbythefactthathewasbeingprovedasmallimpostorandthathewasnotLordFauntleroyatallandneverwouldbetheEarlofDorincourt.Heonlyturnedhisrosyfacemoreonitsside,asiftoenabletheoldmanwhostaredatitsosolemnlytoseeitbetter.
Thehandsome,grimoldfacewasghastly.Abittersmilefixeditselfuponit.
