Маленький лорд Фаунтлерой
Chapter X
“Ishouldrefusetobelieveawordofit,”hesaid,“ifitwerenotsuchalow,scoundrellypieceofbusinessthatitbecomesquitepossibleinconnectionwiththenameofmysonBevis.ItisquitelikeBevis.Hewasalwaysadisgracetous.Alwaysaweak,untruthful,viciousyoungbrutewithlowtastes—mysonandheir,Bevis,LordFauntleroy.Thewomanisanignorant,vulgarperson,yousay?”
“Iamobligedtoadmitthatshecanscarcelyspellherownname,”answeredthelawyer.“Sheisabsolutelyuneducatedandopenlymercenary.Shecaresfornothingbutthemoney.Sheisveryhandsomeinacoarseway,but——”
Thefastidiousoldlawyerceasedspeakingandgaveasortofshudder.
TheveinsontheoldEarl’sforeheadstoodoutlikepurplecords.
Somethingelsestoodoutuponittoo—colddropsofmoisture.Hetookouthishandkerchiefandsweptthemaway.Hissmilegrewevenmorebitter.
“AndI,”hesaid,“Iobjectedto—totheotherwoman,themotherofthischild”(pointingtothesleepingformonthesofa);“Irefusedtorecognizeher.Andyetshecouldspellherownname.Isupposethisisretribution.”
Suddenlyhesprangupfromhischairandbegantowalkupanddowntheroom.Fierceandterriblewordspouredforthfromhislips.Hisrageandhatredandcrueldisappointmentshookhimasastormshakesatree.Hisviolencewassomethingdreadfultosee,andyetMr.Havishamnoticedthatattheveryworstofhiswrathheneverseemedtoforgetthelittlesleepingfigureontheyellowsatincushion,andthatheneveroncespokeloudenoughtoawakenit.
