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Хундаева Елизавета

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Елизавета Хундаева

Tender is the night. F. Scott Fitzgerald

Учим английский, читая мировую классику

Шрифты предоставлены компанией «ПараТайп»

Учебное пособие представляет фрагмент из текста классического романа американского писателя Фрэнсиса Скотта Фицджеральда «Ночь нежна» на английском языке. Приведены переводы некоторых слов и выражений на русском языке.

Предназначено школьникам, студентам, аспирантам и лицам, интересующимся классической литературой и изучающим английский язык.

12+

О составителе

Хундаева Елизавета Очировна, доктор филологических наук. Область научных интересов — лингвистика, фольклористика, перевод и переводоведение, преподавание английского языка, межкультурная коммуникация.

Учебное пособие представляет фрагмент из текста классического романа американского писателя Фрэнсиса Скотта Фицджеральда «Ночь нежна» на английском языке. Приведены переводы некоторых слов и выражений на русском языке.

Предназначено школьникам, студентам, аспирантам и лицам, интересующимся классической литературой и изучающим английский язык.

Already with thee! tender is the night……

But here there is no light,

Save what from heaven is with the breezes blown

Through verdurous[1] glooms and winding mossy ways.

Ode to a Nightingale

[1] Verdurous — заросший, поросший зеленью; зелёный и свежий.

Through verdurous[1] glooms and winding mossy ways.

Book 1

I

On the pleasant shore of the French Riviera, about half way between Marseilles [Марсель (город и порт на юге Франции)] and the Italian border (граница), stands a large, proud, rose-colored hotel. Deferential (почтительный) palms cool (охлаждать) its flushed (жизнерадостный, пышущий жизнью) façade, and before it stretches a short dazzling (великолепный, блестящий) beach. Lately it has become a summer resort (курорт) of notable (известный) and fashionable people; a decade ago (десять лет тому назад) it was almost deserted (пустой, заброшенный) after its English clientele (клиентура) went north in April. Now, many bungalows (бунгало, дом с верандой) cluster (расти вместе, группой) near it, but when this story begins only the cupolas (купол) of a dozen (дюжина, десяток) old villas (загородный дом, особняк) rotted (чахнуть) like water lilies among the massed (многочисленный) pines (сосна) between Gausse’s Hôtel des Étrangers and Cannes (Канны), five miles away (на расстоянии пяти миль отсюда).

The hotel and its bright tan (желтовато-коричневый; рыжевато-коричневый) prayer (моление, молитва) rug (коврик) of a beach (пляж) were one. In the early morning the distant (отдаленный) image (образ) of Cannes [kæn], [kænz] (Канн (ы), the pink (розовый) and cream (кремовый, светло-жёлтый) of old fortifications (укрепление; фортификация), the purple (пурпурный, фиолетовый, багровый) Alp that bounded (граничить) Italy, were cast (отбрасывать тень, разливаться) across the water and lay (лежать) quavering (вибрировать; дрожать мелкой дрожью, трепетать) in the ripples (зыбь, рябь, небольшая волна) and rings sent up by sea-plants through the clear shallows (отмель). Before eight a man came down to the beach in a blue bathrobe (купальный халат) and with much preliminary (предварительный) application to his person of the chilly (прохладный) water, and much grunting (ворчать; бормотать) and loud breathing (дышать), floundered (барахтаться) a minute in the sea. When he had gone, beach and bay (бухта, залив) were quiet for an hour. Merchantmen (судно) crawled (медленно продвигаться) westward (по направлению на запад) on the horizon (горизонт); bus boys (помощник официанта) shouted in the hotel court (двор); the dew (роса) dried (высыхать, сохнуть) upon the pines (сосна). In another hour the horns (гудок, сирена) of motors began to blow down (сигналить) from the winding (извилистый) road along the low range of the Maures, which separates (отделять) the littoral (побережье; литораль; обитающий в приливно-отливной зоне) from true (настоящий, истинный) Provençal (прова нсальский) France.

A mile from the sea, where pines give way to (уступать место) dusty (пыльный) poplars (тополь), is an isolated railroad stop, whence one June morning in 1925 a victoria (лёгкий двухместный экипаж с откидным верхом) brought a woman and her daughter down to Gausse’s Hotel. The mother’s face was of a fading (увядающий) prettiness (прелесть) that would soon be patted with broken (рваный, надорванный) veins (вена); her expression was both tranquil (спокойный, безмятежный) and aware (знающий, понимающий) in a pleasant way. However, one’s eye moved on quickly to her daughter, who had magic (очарование) in her pink (розовый) palms (ладонь) and her cheeks lit to a lovely (прелестный) flame (пламя), like the thrilling (захватывающий; волнующий; дрожащий) flush (краска, румянец) of children after their cold baths in the evening. Her fine forehead sloped (подниматься наклонно; спускаться вниз) gently (мягко, нежно) up to where her hair, bordering (обрамлять, окаймлять) it like an armorial (геральдический, гербовый) shield (щит), burst into lovelocks (локон, спускающийся на лоб или щёку) and waves (волнистость; завиток, локон) and curlicues (причудливая завитушка) of ash (пепельный) blonde and gold. Her eyes were bright, big, clear, wet (влажный), and shining, the color of her cheeks was real, breaking close to the surface from the strong young pump (биение, пульсирование) of her heart. Her body hovered (находиться в состоянии неопределённости, неясного ожидания) delicately (хрупко; ненадёжно) on the last edge (край) of childhood — she was almost eighteen, nearly complete, but the dew (чистота, свежесть) was still on her. As sea and sky appeared (оказаться) below (ниже) them in a thin, hot line the mother said:

«Something tells me we’re not going to like this place.»

«I want to go home anyhow (так или иначе),» the girl answered.

They both spoke cheerfully (бодро, энергично) but were obviously (явно) without direction (нехотя, вынужденно, волей-неволей) and bored (скучающий) by the fact — moreover (более того), just any direction (направление; предписание) would not do (подходить). They wanted high excitement, not from the necessity of stimulating jaded (измученный, изнурённый; обессиленный) nerves but with the avidity (острый интерес, энтузиазм) of prize-winning (получивший премию, приз) schoolchildren who deserved (заслуживать) their vacations (каникулы).

«We’ll stay three days and then go home. I’ll wire (телеграфировать) right away (прямо сейчас) for steamer (пароход) tickets.»

At the hotel the girl made the reservation (заказать, сделать бронь) in idiomatic (идиоматический) but rather flat (плоский) French, like something remembered (как нечто выученное). When they were installed (устроить, поместить) on the ground floor (первый, нижний этаж) she walked into the glare (ослепительный свет; сияние) of the French windows and out a few steps onto the stone veranda that run the length (опоясывать) of the hotel. When she walked she carried herself like a ballet — dancer, not slumped down (неуклюже двигаться) on her hips (бедро) but hеld up (держать прямо) in the small of her back. Out there the hot light clipped (обрезать) close her shadow and she retreated (отступить, попятиться назад) — it was too bright (ярко) to see. Fifty yards away the Mediterranean (Средиземное море) yielded (уступать) up its pigments, moment by moment, to the brutal (брутальный, грубый) sunshine; below the balustrade (балюстрада) a faded (блёклый, вылинявший, линялый) Buick (Бьюик) cooked (жариться) on the hotel drive (дорога, подъездная аллея, проезд).

Indeed, of all the region only the beach stirred (шевелиться; двигаться) with activity. Three British nannies (няня) sat knitting (вязать) the slow (неторопливый) pattern (рисунок, узор) of Victorian England, the pattern (образец, модель) of the forties, the sixties, and the eighties, into sweaters (свитер, пуловер) and socks (носки), to the tune (под музыку) of gossip (сплетня) as formalized (стилизованный, формализованный) as incantation (заклинание); closer to (ближе к) the sea a dozen (десяток, дюжина) persons kept house (хозяйничать) under striped (полосатый) umbrellas, while their dozen children pursued (ловить, преследовать) unintimidated (не запуганный; не устрашённый) fish through the shallows (отмель) or lay naked (лежать нагими) and glistening (блестеть) with cocoanut (кокосовый) oil out in the sun.

As Rosemary came onto the beach a boy of twelve ran past her and dashed into (бросаться) the sea with exultant (ликующий, торжествующий) cries. Feeling the impactive (ударный) scrutiny (внимательный осмотр) of strange faces, she took off her bathrobe (купальный халат) and followed. She floated (плыть) face down for a few yards (ярд) and finding it shallow (мелкий) staggered (шататься, покачиваться; идти шатаясь) to her feet and plodded (идти медленно, с трудом) forward, dragging (тащить) slim (стройный) legs like weights (гиря) against (против, преодолевать) the resistance (сопротивление) of the water. When it was about breast high (по грудь), she glanced back (оглянуться назад) toward shore: a bald man in a monocle and a pair of tights (трико), his tufted (с хохолком) chest thrown out, his brash navel (поросший пупок) sucked in (втянутый), was regarding (рассматривать) her attentively. As Rosemary returned the gaze the man dislodged (убрать) the monocle, which went into hiding amid the facetious (забавный, смешной,) whiskers (усы) of his chest, and poured (наливать) himself a glass of something from a bottle in his hand.

Rosemary laid her face on the water and swam a choppy (сбивчивый, неровный) little four-beat (удар) crawl (кроль) out to the raft (паром; наплавной мост). The water reached up for her, pulled her down tenderly (мягко, нежно) out of the heat (жара), seeped (просачиваться; проникать, протекать) in her hair and ran into the corners of her body. She turned round and round in it, embracing (обнимать, обхватывать) it, wallowing (барахтаться; купаться) in it. Reaching the raft she was out of breath (запыхаться), but a tanned (загорелый) woman with very white teeth looked down at her, and Rosemary, suddenly conscious of (вдруг осознав) the raw whiteness (не загоревшая белизна) of her own body, turned on her back and drifted toward shore. The hairy (волосатый) man holding the bottle spoke to her as she came out.

«I say — they have sharks (акула) out behind the raft.» He was of indeterminate (неопределённый) nationality, but spoke English with a slow (медлительный) Oxford drawl (протяжное произношение, медлительность речи). «Yesterday they devoured (проглотить) two British sailors from the flotte (флот) at Golfe Juan.»

«Heavens (боже мой; о боже! Царство Небесное)!» exclaimed Rosemary.

«They come in for the refuse (отказ) from the flotte.»

Glazing his eyes to indicate (чтобы показать) that he had only spoken in order to warn (предупредить) her, he minced off (переступить, пропустить ступень) two steps and poured (наливать) himself another drink.

Not unpleasantly self-conscious (не без смущения), since (поскольку) there had been a slight sway (волна) of attention toward her during this conversation, Rosemary looked for a place to sit. Obviously (очевидно) each family possessed (владеть) the strip (полоса) of sand immediately in front (прямо перед) of its umbrella; besides there was much visiting and talking back and forth — the atmosphere of a community (сообщество, компания) upon which it would be presumptuous (бесцеремонный, дерзкий, нахальный) to intrude (вторгаться, входить без разрешения или приглашения). Farther up, where the beach was strewn (быть покрытым) with pebbles (галька, гравий) and dead sea-weed (морская водоросль), sat a group with flesh (тело) as white as her own. They lay under small hand-parasols (балдахин, тент, зонтик от солнца) instead of beach umbrellas and were obviously less indigenous (аборигенный, местный) to the place. Between the dark people and the light, Rosemary found room (найти место) and spread out (расстелить) her peignoir (пеньюар) on the sand.

Lying so (лёжа так), she first heard their voices and felt their feet skirt (окружать, окаймлять, обрамлять) her body and their shapes pass between the sun and herself. The breath of an inquisitive (любопытный) dog blew (дышать) warm and nervous on her neck; she could feel her skin broiling (жариться на солнце) a little in the heat and hear the small exhausted (изнуренный; обессиленный) wa-waa of the expiring (находящийся при последнем издыхании, умирающий) waves. Presently (вскоре) her ear distinguished (различать) individual (отдельный) voices and she became aware (узнать) that some one referred to (названный) scornfully (презрительно) as «that North guy (тот парень с Севера) ” had kidnapped (похитить) a waiter (официант) from a café in Cannes last night in order to (для того, чтобы) saw (распилить) him in two (пополам). The sponsor (автор, инициатор) of the story was a white-haired (с белыми волосами) woman in full evening dress, obviously (явно, очевидно) a relic of the previous evening, for a tiara (тиара) still clung to her head and a discouraged (лишённый запаха) orchid (орхидея) expired (выдыхаться) from her shoulder. Rosemary, forming a vague antipathy to her and her companions, turned away (отвернуться).

Nearest her, on the other side, a young woman lay under a roof of umbrellas making out a list of things from a book open on the sand. Her bathing suit was pulled off (стянуть, сползать) her shoulders and her back, a ruddy (здоровый, пышущий здоровьем, цветущий), orange (оранжевый) brown (коричневый), set off (оттенять) by a string (нитка) of creamy (кремового цвета) pearls (жемчуг), shone (блестеть, сверкать) in the sun. Her face was hard (жёсткий) and lovely (привлекательный) and pitiful (печальный). Her eyes met Rosemary’s but did not see her. Beyond her was a fine man in a jockey (жокей) cap and red-striped (с красными полосками) tights (трико); then the woman Rosemary had seen on the raft (паром, плот), and who looked back at her, seeing her; then a man with a long face and a golden, leonine (львиный) head, with blue tights and no hat, talking very seriously to an unmistakably (безошибочно) Latin (латинец) young man in black tights, both of them picking at (ковыряться) little pieces of seaweed (морская водоросль) in the sand. She thought they were mostly Americans, but something made them unlike (непохожий на) the Americans she had known of late (последнее время).

After a while (через некоторое время) she realized (осознать) that the man in the jockey cap was giving a quiet (спокойный) little performance (представление) for this group; he moved gravely (серьёзно) about with a rake (лопаточка крупье, грабли), ostensibly (якобы; по видимости) removing (убирать) gravel (гравий; галька) and meanwhile (тем временем) developing (развивать, разрабатывать, разыгрывать) some (некий) esoteric (эзотерический) burlesque (бурлеск, пародия; карикатура) held in suspension (состояние неопределённости) by his grave (серьёзный) face. Its faintest (слабый, вялый) ramification (разветвление; ветвление) had become hilarious (весёлый, шумный, оживлённый), until (до тех пор, пока) whatever (что бы ни) he said released (вызывать) a burst (взрыв) of laughter. Even those who, like herself, were too far away to hear (слышать), sent out antennаe of attention until the only person on the beach (пляж) not caught up in it (не пойманная в это) was the young woman with the string (нитка) of pearls. Perhaps from modesty (скромность) of possession (собственность; имущество) she responded to (отвечать на) each salvo (залп, салют) of amusement (развлечение, забава) by bending (наклоняться) closer (ближе) over her list (список).

The man of the monocle and bottle spoke suddenly out of the sky above Rosemary.

«You are a ripping (отличный) swimmer.»

She demurred (возражать, протестовать).

«Jolly good. My name is Campion. Here is a lady who says she saw you in Sorrento last week and knows who you are and would so like to meet you.»

Glancing around with concealed (скрытый) annoyance (досада) Rosemary saw the untanned (незагоревший) people were waiting. Reluctantly (нехотя) she got up and went over to them.

«Mrs. Abrams — Mrs. McKisco — Mr. McKisco — Mr. Dumphry—

«We know who you are,» spoke up the woman in evening dress. «You’re Rosemary Hoyt and I recognized (узнать) you in Sorrento and asked the hotel clerk and we all think you’re perfectly marvelous (удивительный, замечательный) and we want to know why you’re not back in America making another marvellous (изумительный) moving (движущийся) picture.»

They made a superfluous (излишний; ненужный) gesture of moving over for her. The woman who had recognized (узнать) her was not a Jewess (еврейка, иудейка), despite (несмотря на) her name. She was one of those elderly (пожилой,) «good sports» preserved by an imperviousness (стойкость) to experience (опыт) and a good digestion (усвоение; понимание) into another generation.

«We wanted to warn you about getting burned (обгореть, загореть) the first day,» she continued cheerily (весело), «because YOUR skin is important, but there seems to be so darn (чертовски) much formality on this beach that we didn’t know whether you’d mind (возражать).»

II

«We thought maybe you were in the plot (заговор),» said Mrs. McKisco. She was a shabby-eyed (с бесчестными глазами), pretty young woman with a disheartening (приводящий в уныние) intensity (сила, энергия). «We don’t know who’s in the plot (заговор) and who isn’t. One man my husband had been particularly nice to turn out (оказаться) to be a chief (главный) character (герой) — practically the assistant (помощник) hero.»

«The plot?» inquired Rosemary, half understanding. «Is there a plot?»

«My dear, we don’t KNOW,» said Mrs. Abrams, with a convulsive (конвульсивный), stout (тучной, полный) woman’s chuckle (тихий смех; смех про себя). «We’re not in it. We’re the gallery (публика на галёрке).»

Mr. Dumphry, a tow-headed (белокурый) effeminate (женоподобный) young man, remarked (заметить): «Mama Abrams is a plot in herself,» and Campion shook his monocle at him, saying: «Now, Royal, don’t be too ghastly (отвратительный) for words.» Rosemary looked at them all uncomfortably, wishing her mother had come down here with her. She did not like these people, especially in her immediate (непосредственный) comparison of them with those who had interested her at the other end of the beach. Her mother’s modest but compact social gift (способность, дарование; дар, талант) got them out of unwelcome (неудобный) situations swiftly (быстро) and firmly (твердо). But Rosemary had been a celebrity (знаменитость; звезда) for only six months, and sometimes the French manners of her early adolescence (юность, подростковый возраст) and the democratic manners of America, these latter superimposed (накладывать), made a certain confusion (беспорядок; неразбериха, путаница) and let her in (впутывать во) for just such things.

Mr. McKisco, a scrawny (костлявый, сухопарый), freckle (веснушка) — and-red man of thirty, did not find the topic of the «plot» amusing (забавный, занимательный, занятный). He had been staring (уставиться) at the sea — now after a swift (быстрый) glance (взгляд) at his wife he turned to Rosemary and demanded (требовать) aggressively:

«Been here long?»

«Only a day.»

«Oh.»

Evidently feeling that the subject had been thoroughly changed, he looked in turn (по очереди) at the others.

«Going to stay all summer?» asked Mrs. McKisco, innocently (невинно). «If you do (если останешься) you can watch the plot unfold (раскрывать).»

«For God’s sake (ради бога), Violet, drop (бросать, отказываться от) the subject!» exploded her husband. «Get a new joke (шутка), for God’s sake!»

Mrs. McKisco swayed (качнуться) toward Mrs. Abrams and breathed (выдохнуть) audibly (громко, вслух):

«He’s nervous.»

«I’m not nervous,» disagreed McKisco. «It just happens I’m not nervous at all.»

He was burning (гореть) visibly (вслух) — a grayish flush (румянец) had spread over his face, dissolving (растворять) all his expressions into a vast (огромный) ineffectuality (отсутствие эффективности, действенности). Suddenly remotely (отдаленно) conscious (осознавать) of his condition he got up (подняться) to go in the water, followed by his wife (а жена следовала за ним), and seizing the opportunity (воспользоваться возможностью) Rosemary followed (последовать за ними).

Mr. McKisco drew a long breath, flung himself into the shallows and began a stiff-armed batting of the Mediterranean, obviously intended to suggest a crawl — his breath exhausted he arose and looked around with an expression of surprise that he was still in sight of shore.

«I haven’t learned to breathe (дышать) yet. I never quite understood how they breathed.» He looked at Rosemary inquiringly (вопросительно).

«I think you breathe out (выдыхать) under water,» she explained. «And every fourth beat (такт, удар) you roll (крутить, вертеть) your head over (над водой) for air.»

«The breathing’s the hardest part for me. Shall we go to the raft (плот, наплавной мост, паром)?»

The man with the leonine (львиный) head lay stretched out upon the raft, which tipped (перевешивать) back and forth (вперед) with the motion (движение) of the water. As Mrs. McKisco reached for (потянуться) it a sudden (неожиданный) tilt (наклон) struck (ударить) her arm up roughly (сильно), whereupon (при этом) the man started up (поднялся на ноги) and pulled (вытянуть) her on board.

«I was afraid it hit you (что он ударит вас).» His voice was slow (тихий) and shy (застенчивый); he had one of the saddest (печальный) faces Rosemary had ever seen (когда-либо видела), the high (высокий) cheekbones (скула) of an Indian, a long upper lip, and enormous (огромный) deep-set (глубоко посаженный) dark golden eyes. He had spoken out of the side (уголок) of his mouth, as if he hoped his words would reach Mrs. McKisco by a circuitous (кружный, окольный, обходной) and unobtrusive (ненавязчивый; малозаметный) route (способ; путь, маршрут); in a minute he had shoved (отталкиваться) off into the water and his long body lay motionless (неподвижно) toward shore.

Rosemary and Mrs. McKisco watched him. When he had exhausted (истощать) his momentum (импульс, количество движения) he abruptly (резко) bent double (согнуться вдвое), his thin thighs (бедро) rose above the surface, and he disappeared totally (полностью), leaving scarcely (едва ли) a fleck (капелька) of foam (пена) behind.

«He’s a good swimmer,» Rosemary said.

Mrs. McKisco’s answer came with surprising violence (ярость).

«Well, he’s a rotten (неудачный) musician.» She turned to her husband, who after two unsuccessful attempts had managed to climb (вскарабкаться) on the raft, and having attained (достичь) his balance (равновесие) was trying to make some kind of compensatory (компенсирующий) flourish (росчерк), achieving (добиваться) only an extra (еще один, лишний) stagger (пошатывание, неустойчивое положение). «I was just saying that Abe North may be a good swimmer but he’s a rotten musician.»

«Yes,» agreed McKisco, grudgingly (нехотя, без желания). Obviously (явно, очевидно) he had created his wife’s world, and allowed her few (мало, немного) liberties (вольность) in it.

«Antheil’s my man.» Mrs. McKisco turned challengingly (вызывающе) to Rosemary, «Anthiel and Joyce. I don’t suppose you ever hear much about those sort (такого рода) of people in Hollywood, but my husband wrote the first criticism of Ulysses (Одиссей) that ever appeared in America.»

«I wish I had a cigarette (Жаль, что у меня нет сигареты),» said McKisco calmly (спокойно). «That’s more important to me just now.»

«He’s got insides (под водой) — don’t you think so, Albert?»

Her voice faded off (ослабевать) suddenly. The woman of the pearls had joined her two children in the water, and now Abe North came up under one of them like a volcanic island, raising him on his shoulders. The child yelled (кричать; вопить) with fear (страх) and delight (восторг) and the woman watched with a lovely (восхитительный) peace (спокойствие), without a smile.

«Is that his wife?» Rosemary asked.

«No, that’s Mrs. Diver. They’re not at the hotel.» Her eyes, photographic, did not move from the woman’s face. After a moment she turned vehemently (неистово; страстно) to Rosemary.

«Have you been abroad before?»

«Yes — I went to school in Paris.»

«Oh! Well then you probably know that if you want to enjoy yourself here the thing is to get to know some real French families. What do these people get out of it?» She pointed her left shoulder toward shore. «They just stick around with each other in little cliques (клика, группировка). Of course, we had letters of introduction (рекомендательное письмо) and met all the best French artists and writers in Paris. That made it very nice.»

«I should think so.»

«My husband is finishing his first novel, you see.»

Rosemary said: «Oh, he is?» She was not thinking anything special (особый), except (кроме) wondering (удивляться) whether her mother had got to sleep in this heat (жара).

«It’s on the idea of Ulysses (Одиссей),» continued Mrs. McKisco. «Only instead of taking twenty-four hours my husband takes a hundred years. He takes a decayed (дряблый) old French aristocrat and puts him in contrast with the mechanical age — »

«Oh, for God’s sake, Violet, don’t go telling everybody the idea,» protested McKisco. «I don’t want it to get all around before the book’s published.»

Rosemary swam back to the shore, where she threw her peignoir (пеньюар) over her already sore [больной] shoulders and lay down again in the sun. The man with the jockey cap was now going from umbrella to umbrella carrying a bottle and little glasses in his hands; presently [некоторое время спустя] he and his friends grew (становиться) livelier (весёлый, оживлённый) and closer together and now they were all under a single assemblage [совокупность] of umbrellas — she gathered (делать вывод) that some one was leaving and that this was a last drink on the beach. Even the children knew that excitement was generating (образовывать, формировать) under that umbrella and turned toward it — and it seemed to Rosemary that it all came from the man in the jockey cap.

Noon dominated sea and sky — even the white line of Cannes, five miles off, had faded to a mirage of what was fresh and cool; a robin (малиновка) — breasted (на носу) sailing boat (парусная лодка) pulled in behind it a strand (жгут) from the outer (внешний), darker sea. It seemed that there was no life anywhere in all this expanse (простор) of coast except under the filtered (очищенный; профильтрованный) sunlight of those umbrellas, where something went on amid (среди) the color and the murmur (бормотание).

Campion walked near her, stood a few feet away and Rosemary closed her eyes, pretending to be asleep; then she half-opened them and watched two dim (неясный, неотчётливый), blurred (запачканный, неясный, расплывчатый) pillars (столп) that were legs. The man tried to edge his way into a sand-colored cloud, but the cloud floated off (отплыть) into the vast hot sky. Rosemary fell really asleep.

She awoke drenched with sweat (мокрый от пота) to find (и обнаружила) the beach deserted (что на пляже никого не было) save for (кроме) the man in the jockey cap, who was folding (складывать) a last umbrella. As Rosemary lay blinking (лежать, моргая), he walked nearer and said:

«I was going to wake you before I left. It’s not good (нет ничего хорошего) to get too burned (чтобы слишком загореть) right away (сразу).»

«Thank you.» Rosemary looked down at her crimson (тёмно-красный) legs.

«Heavens (Господи)!»

She laughed cheerfully (весело), inviting him to talk (приглашая его к разговору), but Dick Diver was already carrying (нести) a tent and a beach umbrella (пляжный зонт) up to a waiting (ожидающий) car, so she went into the water to wash off the sweat (чтобы смыть пот). He came back and gathering up a rake (грабли, скребок, рашпиль), a shovel (лопата, совок), and a sieve (решето, сито), stowed (складывать, укладывать) them in a crevice (трещина, расщелина, щель) of a rock (скала). He glanced up and down (оглядеть сверху донизу) the beach to see (чтобы убедиться) if he had left anything (не оставил ли он чего-либо).

«Do you know what time it is?» Rosemary asked.

«It’s about (примерно) half-past one (половина второго; один час тридцать минут).»

They faced (поворачиваться лицом к) the seascape (море, марина, морской пейзаж) together momentarily (мгновенно; ежеминутно, поминутно).

«It’s not a bad time,» said Dick Diver. «It’s not one of worst (наихудший) times of the day.»

He looked at her and for a moment she lived in the bright blue worlds of his eyes, eagerly (горячо, пылко, страстно) and confidently (уверенно). Then he shouldered (взвалить на плечо) his last piece of junk (отбросы, хлам) and went up to his car, and Rosemary came out of the water, shook out her peignoir and walked up to the hotel.

III

It was almost two when they went into the dining-room. Back and forth over the deserted (покинутый) tables a heavy pattern (рисунок, узор) of beams (луч) and shadows swayed (колыхаться) with the motion (движение) of the pines outside (вне помещения; снаружи). Two waiters, piling (раскладывать, собирать) plates and talking loud Italian, fell silent (замолчать) when they came in and brought them a tired (утомленный) version of the table d’hôte (табльдот, общий обеденный стол) luncheon [ленч, второй завтрак (в 12—14 часов; лёгкий у тех, кто обедает вечером (dinner); плотный, заменяющий обед у тех, кто вечером ужинает).

«I fell in love (влюбиться) on the beach,» said Rosemary.

«Who with?»

«First with a whole lot (масса, куча) of people who looked nice (приятный). Then with one man.»

«Did you talk to him?»

«Just a little. Very handsome (красивый). With reddish (рыжеватый) hair.» She was eating, ravenously (жадно). «He’s married though (хотя; несмотря на; тем не менее) — it’s usually the way (так бывает обычно).»

Her mother was her best friend and had put every last possibility into the guiding of her (вести её по жизни), not so rare a thing (не такая уж редкость) in the theatrical profession, but rather special (весьма своеобразный) in that Mrs. Elsie Speers was not recompensing herself for a defeat (фиаско, неудача) of her own. She had no personal bitterness (горечь) or resentments (обида, негодование, возмущение) about life — twice satisfactorily (нормально, удовлетворительно) married and twice widowed (овдоветь), her cheerful (энергичный, неунывающий) stoicism (стоицизм) had each time deepened (углубляться). One of her husbands had been a cavalry officer and one an army doctor, and they both left something to her that she tried to present intact (целый, незатронутый) to Rosemary. By not sparing (щадить) Rosemary she had made her hard (твёрдый; негибкий, негнущийся) — by not sparing (щадить) her own labor and devotion (любовь, преданность) she had cultivated (взвращивать) an idealism in Rosemary, which at present (в настоящее время) was directed toward herself and saw the world through her eyes (её глазами). So that while (в тот момент, в то время) Rosemary was a «simple» child she was protected (защищать) by a double sheath (футляр, защитная оболочка) of her mother’s armor (броня) and her own — she had a mature (зрелый) distrust (недоверие) of the trivial (тривиальный, обычный), the facile (поверхностный) and the vulgar. However, with Rosemary’s sudden success in pictures Mrs. Speers felt that it was time she were (настала пора, чтобы она была) spiritually (духовно, интеллектуально, умственно) weaned (отнимать от груди, отлучать от матери); it would please (радовать, нравиться) rather than (а не) pain (ранить, обидеть) her if this somewhat (некий) bouncing (оживлённый, крепкий, нескладный), breathless (запыхавшийся) and exigent (требовательный) idealism would focus on something except herself (кроме неё самой).

«Then you like it here?» she asked.

«It might be fun (хорошо, приятно) if we knew those people. There were some other people, but they weren’t nice (приятный). They recognized (узнавать) me — no matter where (куда бы ни) we go everybody’s seen „Daddy’s Girl.“»

Mrs. Speers waited for the glow () of egotism () to subside (); then she said in a matter-of-fact (сухой, прозаичный) way: «That reminds me (кстати), when are you going to see Earl (граф) Brady?»

«I thought we might go this afternoon — if you’re rested.»

«You go — I’m not going.»

«We’ll wait till to-morrow then.»

«I want you to go alone (Я хочу, чтобы ты пошла одна). It’s only a short way — it isn’t as if you didn’t speak French.»

«Mother — aren’t there some things I don’t have to (должен) do?»

«Oh, well then go later — but some day before we leave (до того, как мы уедем).»

«All right, Mother.»

After lunch they were both overwhelmed (переполнять, охватывать) by the sudden flatness (монотонность, однообразие, скука) that comes over American travellers in quiet (тихий, спокойный) foreign (заграничный) places. No stimuli (никакие стимулы) worked upon them, no voices called them from without, no fragments of their own thoughts came suddenly from the minds of others, and missing (скучать) the clamor (шум) of Empire they felt that life was not continuing here.

«Let’s only stay three days, Mother,» Rosemary said when they were back in their rooms. Outside a light wind blew the heat around, straining (просачиваться) it through the trees and sending little hot gusts (порыв ветра) through the shutters (ставни).

«How about the man you fell in love with on the beach?»

«I don’t love anybody but you, Mother, darling.»

Rosemary stopped in the lobby (вестибюль, холл) and spoke to Gausse père about trains. The concierge, lounging (сидеть развалившись, расслабившись) in light-brown khaki by the desk, stared (уставиться) at her rigidly (строго, сурово), then suddenly remembered the manners of his métier (профессия, занятие, ремесло). She took the bus and rode with a pair of obsequious (исполнительный, послушный) waiters to the station, embarrassed (сбивать с толку, приводить в замешательство) by their silence, wanting to urge them: «Go on, talk, enjoy yourselves. It doesn’t bother (мешать, беспокоить) me.»

The first-class compartment was stifling (душный); the vivid (яркий) advertising cards of the railroad companies — The Pont du Gard at Arles, the Amphitheatre at Orange, winter sports at Chamonix — were fresher than the long motionless (неподвижное) sea outside. Unlike American trains that were absorbed in an intense destiny of their own, and scornful (презирающий) of people on another world less swift (подвижный) and breathless (запыхавшийся), this train was part of the country through which it passed. Its breath (дыхание) stirred (шевелить, сдувать) the dust from the palm leaves, the cinders (зола) mingled (смешиваться) with the dry dung (навоз) in the gardens. Rosemary was sure she could lean (наклониться, высунуться из) from the window and pull (выдёргивать) flowers with her hand.

A dozen cabbies (таксист) slept in their hacks (такси) outside (снаружи) the Cannes station. Over on the promenade (прогулка, променад) the Casino, the smart shops, and the great hotels turned blank (пустой) iron masks to the summer sea. It was unbelievable (Не верилось) that there could ever have been a «season,» and Rosemary, half in the grip (в тисках) of fashion, became a little self-conscious (застенчивый, легко смущающийся), as though she were displaying (проявлять) an unhealthy (нездоровый) taste (вкус) for the moribund (устаревающий, выходящий из употребления); as though (как будто) people were wondering (удивляться) why she was here in the lull (затишье) between the gaiety (веселье) of last winter and next winter, while (в то время, как) up north the true world thundered (греметь, грохотать) by.

As she came out of a drug store (аптека) with a bottle of cocoanut oil (кокосовое масло), a woman, whom she recognized as (в которой она узнала) Mrs. Diver, crossed her path with arms full of sofa cushions (диванная подушка), and went to a car parked down the street. A long, low black dog barked (лаять) at her, a dozing (дремлющий) chauffeur (шофёр) woke with a start (вздрагивание). She sat in the car, her lovely face set (сосредоточенный), controlled, her eyes brave (смелый) and watchful (наблюдательный), looking straight ahead (прямо вперед) toward nothing (в никуда). Her dress was bright red and her brown legs were bare (голый). She had thick, dark, gold hair like a chow (чау-чау) ’s.

With half an hour to wait for her train Rosemary sat down in the Café des Alliés on the Croisette, where the trees made a green twilight (сумерки) over the tables and an orchestra wooed (привлекать, обхаживать) an imaginary public of cosmopolites (космополит) with the Nice Carnival Song and last year’s American tune. She had bought Le Temps and The Saturday Evening Post for her mother, and as she drank her citronade she opened the latter (второй) at the memoirs of a Russian princess, finding the dim (непримечательный) conventions (обычай, традиция, правила поведения) of the nineties (девяностых) realer and nearer than the headlines (заголовок) of the French paper. It was the same feeling that had oppressed (угнетать) her at the hotel — accustomed (привыкший) to seeing the starkest (строгий, суровый) grotesqueries of a continent heavily (весьма, в большой степени) underlined as comedy or tragedy, untrained (неподготовленный) to the task of separating out (выделить) the essential (существенное) for herself, she now began to feel that French life was empty and stale (тривиальный, банальный). This feeling was surcharged () by listening to the sad tunes of the orchestra, reminiscent () of the melancholy music played for acrobats in vaudeville (водевиль). She was glad to go back to Gausse’s Hotel.

Her shoulders were too burned to swim with the next day, so she and her mother hired (арендовать) a car — after much haggling (торговаться), for Rosemary had formed her valuations (оценка, определение ценности) of money in France — and drove along the Riviera, the delta (устье) of many rivers. The chauffeur, a Russian Czar of the period of Ivan the Terrible, was a self-appointed (самозванный) guide, and the resplendent (блистательный, великолепный, ослепительный) names — Cannes, Nice, Monte Carlo — began to glow through their torpid (апатичный, бездеятельный, вялый) camouflage (камуфляж, маскировка), whispering of old kings come here to dine (обедать; ужинать) or die (умереть), of rajahs (раджа — княжеский титул в Индии)) tossing (бросать, метать) Buddha’s eyes to English ballerinas, of Russian princes turning the weeks into Baltic twilights (сумерки) in the lost caviare (икра) days. Most of all, there was the scent (запах, дух) of the Russians along the coast (побережье) — their closed book shops and grocery (бакалейный) stores. Ten years ago, when the season ended in April, the doors of the Orthodox (православный, ортодоксальный) Church were locked (закрывать, запирать), and the sweet (сладкий) champagnes they favored (которые они одобряли) were put away (были отставлены в сторону) until their return (возвращение). «We’ll be back (вернуться) next season,» they said, but this was premature (преждевременный, ранний), for they were never coming back any more (никогда больше не приезжали).

It was pleasant to drive back to the hotel in the late afternoon, above a sea as mysteriously colored as the agates (агат) and cornelians (сердолик) of childhood, green as green milk, blue as laundry (прачечная) water, wine dark. It was pleasant to pass people eating outside their doors, and to hear the fierce (свирепый, энергичный) mechanical pianos behind the vines (виноградная лоза) of country estaminets (кафе). When they turned off the Corniche d’Or and down to Gausse’s Hotel through the darkening banks (группа, ряд) of trees, set one behind another (один за другим) in many greens, the moon already hovered (неподвижно зависать в воздухе) over the ruins (руина) of the aqueducts (акведук, водопровод) ….

Somewhere in the hills behind the hotel there was a dance, and Rosemary listened to the music through the ghostly (похожий на привидение; призрачный) moonshine of her mosquito net (москитная сетка), realizing that there was gaiety (веселье) too somewhere about (где-то вокруг, поблизости), and she thought of the nice people on the beach. She thought she might meet them in the morning, but they obviously (очевидно) formed a self-sufficient (самодостаточный) little group, and once their umbrellas, bamboo rugs (коврик), dogs, and children were set out in place the part of the plage (пляж) was literally (буквально) fenced in (огородить). She resolved (принять решение) in any case not to spend her last two mornings with the other ones.

IV

The matter was solved for her. The McKiscos were not yet there and she had scarcely spread her peignoir when two men — the man with the jockey cap and the tall blonde man, given to (занятый) sawing (распиливание) waiters in two — left the group and came down toward her.

«Good morning,» said Dick Diver. He broke down (не выдержать, потерять самообладание). «Look — sunburn (обгорать на солнце) or no sunburn, why did you stay away (не было) yesterday? We worried about you.»

She sat up and her happy little laugh welcomed their intrusion (вторжение).

«We wondered,» Dick Diver said, «if you wouldn’t come over this morning. We go in, we take food and drink, so it’s a substantial (существенный, важный) invitation.»

He seemed kind and charming (очаровательный) — his voice promised that he would take care of her, and that a little later he would open up whole new worlds for her, unroll (развёртывать; разворачивать) an endless (бесконечный) succession (серия, последовательность) of magnificent (великолепный, внушительный) possibilities. He managed the introduction so that her name wasn’t mentioned (упоминать) and then let her know easily that everyone knew who she was but were respecting the completeness of her private (частный) life — a courtesy (учтивость, вежливость) that Rosemary had not met with save (за исключением, кроме) from professional people since her success.

Nicole Diver, her brown back hanging from her pearls (жемчуг), was looking through a recipe book (меню) for chicken Maryland. She was about twenty-four, Rosemary guessed (догадаться) — her face could have been described in terms of conventional (условный, обычный) prettiness, but the effect was that it had been made first on the heroic scale (шкала) with strong structure and marking (отметка), as if the features and vividness of brow and coloring, everything we associate with temperament and character had been molded (формировать, отливать) with a Rodinesque intention (замысел в стиле Родена), and then chiseled away (вырезать, долбить) in the direction of prettiness (миловидность) to a point where a single slip (промах, ошибка) would have irreparably (непоправимо, безнадёжно) diminished (убывать, уменьшаться) its force and quality (качество). With the mouth the sculptor had taken desperate (отчаянный) chances — it was the cupid’s (купидон) bow (лук) of a magazine cover (обложка), yet it shared (разделять) the distinction (отличительная черта) of the rest.

«Are you here for a long time?» Nicole asked. Her voice was low (низкий), almost harsh (хриплый).

Suddenly Rosemary let the possibility enter her mind that they might stay another week.

«Not very long,» she answered vaguely (туманно). «We’ve been abroad a long time — we landed in (высадиться в) Sicily in March and we’ve been slowly working our way north. I got pneumonia (пневмония) making a picture last January and I’ve been recuperating (поправляться; выздоравливать).»

«Mercy (милость Божия)! How did that happen?»

«Well, it was from swimming,» Rosemary was rather reluctant (не хотеть) at embarking (погружаться) upon personal revelations (откровение). «One day I happened to have the grippe and didn’t know it, and they were taking a scene where I dove (погружаться) into a canal in Venice. It was a very expensive (дорогой) set (комплект), so I had to dive and dive and dive all morning. Mother had a doctor right there, but it was no use — I got pneumonia.» She changed the subject determinedly (решительно) before they could speak. «Do you like it here — this place?»

«They have to like it,» said Abe North slowly. «They invented (создавать, изобретать) it.» He turned his noble (благородный) head slowly so that his eyes rested (остановиться) with tenderness (нежность) and affection (любовь) on the two Divers.

«Oh, did you?»

«This is only the second season that the hotel’s been open in summer,» Nicole explained. «We persuaded Gausse to keep on a cook and a garçon and a chasseur (егерь) — it paid its way and this year it’s doing even better.»

«But you’re not in the hotel.»

«We built a house, up at Tarmes.»

«The theory is,» said Dick, arranging (располагать, устанавливать) an umbrella to clip (срезать, убрать) a square (квадрат) of sunlight off Rosemary’s shoulder, «that all the northern places, like Deauville, were picked out by Russians and English who don’t mind the cold, while half of us Americans come from tropical climates — that’s why we’re beginning to come here.»

The young man of Latin aspect (внешность) had been turning the pages of The New York Herald.

«Well, what nationality are these people?» he demanded, suddenly, and read with a slight French intonation, ««Registered at the Hotel Palace at Vevey are Mr. Pandely Vlasco, Mme. Bonneasse’ — I don’t exaggerate (преувеличивать) — «Corinna Medonca, Mme. Pasche, Seraphim Tullio, Maria Amalia Roto Mais, Moises Teubel, Mme. Paragoris, Apostle Alexandre, Yolanda Yosfuglu and Geneveva de Momus!» She attracts (привлекать) me most (сильно, очень) — Geneveva de Momus. Almost worth running up to Vevey to take a look at Geneveva de Momus.»

He stood up with sudden restlessness (беспокойность, неугомонность; нетерпеливость), stretching himself (вытягиваться) with one sharp (резкий) movement. He was a few (несколько) years younger than Diver or North. He was tall and his body was hard (крепкий) but overspare (худощавый; тонкий) save for (за исключением) the bunched (собранный, сгруппированный) force gathered in his shoulders and upper arms (плечо). At first glance (на первый взгляд) he seemed conventionally (условно) handsome (красивый) — but there was a faint (слабый) disgust (отвращение) always in his face which marred (портить, ухудшать) the full fierce lustre (блеск) of his brown eyes. Yet one remembered them afterward, when one had forgotten the inability of the mouth to endure (выносить, терпеть) boredom (скука) and the young forehead (лоб) with its furrows (глубокая морщина) of fretful (капризный, нетерпеливый; раздражительный) and unprofitable (не приносящая дохода) pain (боль).

«We found some fine ones in the news of Americans last week,» said Nicole. «Mrs. Evelyn Oyster and — what were the others?»

«There was Mr. S. Flesh,» said Diver, getting up also. He took his rake (скребок, грабли) and began to work seriously (серьёзно) at getting small stones out of the sand.

«Oh, yes — S. Flesh — doesn’t he give you the creeps (драга)?»

It was quiet alone with Nicole — Rosemary found it even quieter than with her mother. Abe North and Barban, the Frenchman, were talking about Morocco, and Nicole having copied her recipe (рецепт) picked up a piece of sewing (шитьё). Rosemary examined their appurtenances (принадлежность; аксессуары) — four large parasols (зонт от солнца) that made a canopy (балдахин; навес, тент) of shade, a portable (переносной) bath house for dressing, a pneumatic (пневматический) rubber (резиновый) horse, new things that Rosemary had never seen, from the first burst (взвыв, вспышка) of luxury (роскошь; предмет роскоши) manufacturing (производство) after the War, and probably in the hands of the first of purchasers (покупатель). She had gathered (сделать вывод) that they were fashionable (модный) people, but though her mother had brought her up to beware such people as drones (трутень; тунеядец, дармоед), she did not feel that way here. Even in their absolute immobility (неподвижность, покой), complete (абсолютный, совершенный) as that (неподвижность, покой) of the morning, she felt a purpose (цель), a working over something, a direction, an act of creation (творение) different from any (отличное от какого-либо вида творчеста) she had known (которое она знала раньше). Her immature [ɪmə’tjuə] mind (незрелый ум) made no speculations (предположение, догадка, умозрительное построение) upon the nature of their relation to each other, she was only concerned (её заботило лишь) with their attitude (отношение) toward herself (к ней самой) — but she perceived (чувствовать) the web (паутина, сеть) of some pleasant interrelation (взаимосвязь), which she expressed with the thought that they seemed (как казалось) to have a very good time.

She looked in turn (по очереди) at the three men, temporarily (на некоторое время) expropriating (экспроприировать) them. All three were personable (хорошо сложённый, привлекательный) in different ways; all were of a special gentleness (мягкость; доброта) that she felt was part of their lives, past and future, not circumstanced by events (не обусловленный событиями), not at all like the company manners of actors, and she detected (замечать, открывать, обнаруживать) also a far-reaching (далеко идущий; влекущий серьёзные последствия; имеющий большие перспективы) delicacy (деликатность, такт, учтивость, утончённость) that was different from (отличаться от) the rough (грубый) and ready (имеющийся наготове; в состоянии готовности) good fellowship (товарищество, братство) of directors, who represented the intellectuals in her life. Actors and directors — those were the only (единственный) men she had ever known (которых она когда-либо знала), those and the heterogeneous (гетерогенный, разнородный, разнотипный), indistinguishable (неразличимый) mass of college boys, interested only in love at first sight (с первого взгляда), whom she had met at the Yale prom (студенческий бал, место для гулянья, променад) last fall (прошлая осень).

These three were different (другой). Barban was less civilized (воспитанный; изысканный), more skeptical (скептический) and scoffing (насмешливый, издевательский), his manners were formal (формальный; официальный), even perfunctory (небрежный, формальный). Abe North had, under his shyness (застенчивость), a desperate (доведённый до отчаяния; безрассудный) humor that amused (развеселить; смешить, забавлять) but puzzled (озадачивать, приводить в замешательство) her. Her serious (серьёзный) nature distrusted (не доверять) its ability (способность) to make (произвдить) a supreme (высочайший, предельный) impression (впечатление) on him.

But Dick Diver — he was all complete (совершенный) there. Silently (про себя, молча) she admired (восхищаться) him. His complexion (цвет кожи) was reddish and weather-burned (обветренный, обгоревший), so was his short hair (такими были его короткие волосы) — a light growth of it rolled down his arms and hands. His eyes were of a bright, hard blue. His nose was somewhat (немного) pointed (заостренный) and there was never any doubt (сомнение) at whom he was looking or talking — and this is a flattering (хвалебный, лестный) attention, for who looks at us? — glances (взгляд) fall upon us, curious (любопытствующий) or disinterested (лишенный интереса), nothing more (ничего более). His voice, with some faint (легкий) Irish (ирландский) melody running through it, wooed (привлекать, обхаживать, завлекать) the world, yet she felt the layer (слой) of hardness (твёрдость) in him, of self-control (самокотроль) and of self-discipline, her own virtues (добродетель, достоинство). Oh, she chose him, and Nicole, lifting (поднимать) her head saw her choose him (увидела, что она выбрала его), heard the little sigh (вздох) at the fact that he was already possessed (быть захваченным; стать чьей-то собственностью).

Toward noon (ближе к полудню) the McKiscos, Mrs. Abrams, Mr. Dumphry, and Signor Campion came on the beach. They had brought a new umbrella that they set up with side glances toward the Divers, and crept (вползти) under with satisfied (удовлетворенный) expressions (выражение лица) — all save (все, кроме) Mr. McKisco, who remained derisively (иронически, с насмешкой) without. In his raking (очистка со скребком) Dick had passed near them and now he returned to the umbrellas.

«The two young men are reading the Book of Etiquette together,» he said in a low (тихий) voice.

«Planning to mix wit de quality,» said Abe.

Mary North, the very tanned (очень загорелый) young woman whom Rosemary had encountered (встретить) the first day on the raft (плот, паром, наплавной мост), came in from swimming and said with a smile that was a rakish (щегольской; лихой, ухарский; небрежный) gleam:

«So Mr. and Mrs. Neverquiver have arrived.»

«They’re this man’s friends,» Nicole reminded her, indicating (указывать на) Abe. «Why doesn’t he go and speak to them? Don’t you think they’re attractive (привлекательный)?»

«I think they’re very attractive,» Abe agreed. «I just don’t think they’re attractive, that’s all.»

«Well, I HAVE felt there were too many people on the beach this summer,» Nicole admitted. «OUR beach that Dick made out of a pebble (галька, булыжник, гравий) pile (куча, груда).» She considered (взвешивать, обдумывать), and then lowering (понижать) her voice out of the range of (вне предела досягаемости) the trio of nannies (няня) who sat back (позади) under another umbrella. «Still, they’re preferable (предпочтительнее) to those British last summer who kept shouting about (которые всё время кричали): „Isn’t the sea blue (Разве море не голубое)? Isn’t the sky white (Разве небо не белое)? Isn’t little Nellie’s nose red (Разве нос у маленькой Нелли не розовый)?“»

Rosemary thought she would not like to have Nicole for an enemy (в качестве врага).

«But you didn’t see the fight,» Nicole continued. «The day before you came, the married man, the one with the name that sounds like a substitute (заменитель, субститут) for gasoline (газолин, бензин) or butter — »

«McKisco?»

«Yes — well they were having words and she tossed (бросить) some sand (песок) in his face. So naturally he sat on top of her and rubbed (начищать, втирать) her face in the sand. We were — electrified (наэлектризованный, на грани). I wanted Dick to interfere (Я хотел, чтобы Дик вмешался).»

«I think,» said Dick Diver, staring down abstractedly (рассеянно, отвлеченно) at the straw mat (соломенный матрас), «that I’ll go over and invite them to dinner.»

«No, you won’t,» Nicole told him quickly.

«I think it would be a very good thing. They’re here — let’s adjust

(приспосабливать, регулировать) ourselves.»

«We’re very well adjusted,» she insisted, laughing. «I’m not going to have MY nose rubbed in the sand. I’m a mean (неподдающийся, трудный), hard (жёсткий, негибкий) woman,» she explained to Rosemary, and then raising her voice, «Children, put on your bathing suits!»

Rosemary felt that this swim would become the typical one of her life, the one that would always pop up (неожиданно возникать) in her memory at the mention of swimming. Simultaneously (одновременно) the whole party moved toward the water, super-ready (готовый, предвкушающий ужин) from the long, forced (вынужденный) inaction (бездействие), passing from the heat to the cool with the gourmandize (гурманство) of a tingling (покалывающий, пощипывающий) curry (карри) eaten with chilled (охлажденный) white wine. The Divers’ day was spaced (расписывать, распределять) like the day of the older civilizations to yield (давать плоды, получить) the utmost (всё, что модно) from the materials at hand (под рукой, подручный), and to give all the transitions (переходный период) their full value (цена), and she did not know that there would be another transition presently (в скором времени) from the utter (полный, абсолютный; крайний) absorption (погружённость; поглощённость, сосредоточенность) of the swim (плавание) to the garrulity (словоохотливость, болтливость) of the Provençal lunch hour (обеденный час). But again she had the sense that Dick was taking care of her, and she delighted (радоваться) in responding to (отвечать) the eventual (конечный, возможный) movement as if (как если бы) it had been an order (приказ, распоряжение).

Nicole handed (протянуть, вручить) her husband the curious (любопытный) garment (предмет одежды, одеяние) on which she had been working. He went into the dressing tent and inspired (вызывать) a commotion (суматоха, шум, нервное потрясение) by appearing (появиться) in a moment clad (облаченный) in transparent (прозрачный) black lace (кружевной) drawers (панталоны, рейтузы, кальсоны). Close inspection (тщательный осмотр) revealed (обнаружить, показать) that actually (самом) they were lined (оторочить) with flesh-colored (свежевыкрашенный) cloth (ткань).

«Well, if that isn’t a pansys trick!» exclaimed Mr. McKisco contemptuously (презрительно) — then turning quickly to Mr. Dumphry and Mr. Campion, he added, «Oh, I beg your pardon.»

Rosemary bubbled (журчать, булькать) with delight (восторг) at the trunks (купальные трусы, плавки). Her naïveté responded whole-heartedly to the expensive (дорогой, дорогостоящий) simplicity of the Divers, unaware (не знающий, не ведающий) of its complexity and its lack (отсутствие, недостаток) of innocence (невинность), unaware that it was all a selection (выбор) of quality (качество) rather than (а не) quantity (количество) from the run (функционирование, работа, ход, режим) of the world’s bazaar; and that the simplicity of behavior also, the nursery-like peace and good will (добрая воля), the emphasis (эмфаза, акцент, ударение) on the simpler virtues (добродетель), was part of a desperate (отчаянный) bargain (сделка) with the gods and had been attained (достигать) through struggles she could not have guessed (догадываться) at. At that moment the Divers represented (представлять) externally (внешне, явно) the exact furthermost (отдалённый) evolution of a class, so that most (большая часть, большинство) people seemed awkward (неуклюжий, неудобный) beside them — in reality a qualitative (качественный) change had already set (установиться, организоваться) in that was not at all apparent (явный, очевидный) to Rosemary.

She stood with them as they took sherry (херес, шерри) and ate crackers. Dick Diver looked at her with cold blue eyes; his kind, strong mouth said thoughtfully and deliberately (нарочно, намеренно, умышленно):

«You’re the only girl I’ve seen for a long time that actually did look like something blooming (цветущий).»

In her mother’s lap (колени) afterward Rosemary cried and cried.

«I love him, Mother. I’m desperately in love with him — I never knew I could feel that way about anybody. And he’s married and I like her too — it’s just hopeless (безнадёжный). Oh, I love him so!»

«I’m curious (мне интересно) to meet him.»

«She invited us to dinner Friday.»

«If you’re in love it ought to make you happy. You ought to (надо, следует) laugh.»

Rosemary looked up and gave a beautiful little shiver (дрожь, трепет) of her face and laughed. Her mother always had a great influence on her.

V

Rosemary went to Monte Carlo nearly as sulkily (надуто, угрюмо, мрачно) as it was possible for her to be. She rode up the rugged (труднопроходимый) hill to La Turbie, to an old Gaumont lot in process of reconstruction, and as she stood by the grilled (огражденный решёткой; с решётчатым ограждением) entrance (вход) waiting for an answer to the message on her card, she might have been looking into Hollywood. The bizarre (странный) débris (осколки, обломки; обрезки; лом) of some recent picture, a decayed (распавшийся; разрушенный) street scene in India, a great cardboard whale (кит), a monstrous tree bearing cherries large as basketballs, bloomed there by exotic dispensation (Божий промысел), autochthonous (автохтонный, местный, коренной) as the pale amaranth (амарант, щирица), mimosa, cork oak (пробковый дуб) or dwarfed (карликовый) pine. There were a quick-lunch shack (будка) and two barnlike (амбар; сарай; подсобное помещение) stages (подмостки, помост; платформа; сцена) and everywhere about the lot (масса, уйма), groups of waiting, hopeful (полный надежды), painted (раскрашенный) faces.

After ten minutes a young man with hair the color of canary (канарейка) feathers (перо) hurried (поспешить) down to the gate (ворота, калитка).

«Come in, Miss Hoyt. Mr. Brady’s on the set (съёмочная площадка), but he’s very anxious to see you (очень хочет увидеться с вами). I’m sorry you were kept waiting, but you know some of these French dames (дамочка) are worse about pushing themselves in — »

The studio manager opened a small door in the blank wall of stage building and with sudden glad familiarity Rosemary followed him into half darkness. Here and there figures spotted the twilight, turning up ashen (пепельно-бледный) faces to her like souls in purgatory (чистилище) watching the passage of a mortal (мертвый) through. There were whispers and soft voices and, apparently from afar, the gentle tremolo (дрожь) of a small organ. Turning the corner made by some flats, they came upon the white crackling (треск; потрескивание) glow (отсвет) of a stage, where a French actor — his shirt front, collar, and cuffs tinted (тонированный) a brilliant pink (розовый) — and an American actress stood motionless (неподвижный) face to face (лицом к лицу). They stared (уставиться) at each other with dogged (упрямый, упорный, настойчивый) eyes, as though (как будто) they had been in the same position for hours (часами); and still for a long time nothing happened, no one moved. A bank (ряд устройств; блок) of lights went off with a savage (дикий) hiss (шипение), went on again; the plaintive (заунывный) tap (стук) of a hammer begged (просить, умолять) admission (пропуск) to nowhere in the distance; a blue face appeared among the blinding (слепящий) lights above, called something unintelligible (не разборчивое) into the upper blackness. Then the silence was broken by a voice in front of Rosemary.

«Baby, you don’t take off the stockings, you can spoil ten more pairs. That dress is fifteen pounds.»

Stepping backward (отступая назад) the speaker ran against Rosemary, whereupon (на что) the studio manager said, «Hey, Earl — Miss Hoyt.»

They were meeting for the first time. Brady was quick and strenuous (напряженный). As he took her hand she saw him look her over from head to foot, a gesture she recognized and that made her feel at home (комфортно), but gave her always a faint (слабый) feeling of superiority (превосходство) to whoever made it. If her person was property (собственнность) she could exercise (осуществлять) whatever advantage was inherent (присущий, неотъемлемый) in its ownership.

«I thought you’d be along any day now,» Brady said, in a voice that was just a little too compelling (неотразимый, мощный, напористый) for private life, and that trailed (тянуть, тащить, волочить) with it a faintly (слегка) defiant (вызывающий; дерзкий, непокорный) cockney (кокни) accent (акцент). «Have a good trip?»

«Yes, but we’re glad to be going home.»

«No-o-o!» he protested. «Stay awhile (недолго) — I want to talk to you. Let me tell you that was some picture of yours — that „Daddy’s Girl.“ I saw it in Paris. I wired the coast right away to see if you were signed (отмечать, подписывать).»

«I just had — I’m sorry.»

«God, what a picture!»

Not wanting to smile in silly (глупый) agreement Rosemary frowned (нахмуриться).

«Nobody wants to be thought of forever (навсегда, навечно) for just one picture,» she said.

«Sure — that’s right. What’re your plans?»

«Mother thought I needed a rest. When I get back we’ll probably either sign up with First National or keep on with Famous.»

«Who’s we?»

«My mother. She decides business matters. I couldn’t do without her (обходиться без неё).»

Again he looked her over completely, and, as he did, something in Rosemary went out to him. It was not liking, not at all the spontaneous (спонтанный, самопроизвольный) admiration she had felt for the man on the beach this morning. It was a click. He desired her and, so far as her virginal (девственный; невинный, непорочный) emotions went, she contemplated (созерцать) a surrender (сдача; капитуляция, уступка) with equanimity (невозмутимость, спокойствие). Yet she knew she would forget him half an hour after she left him — like an actor kissed in a picture.

«Where are you staying?» Brady asked. «Oh, yes, at Gausse’s. Well, my plans are made for this year, too, but that letter I wrote you still stands (в силе). Rather make a picture with you than any girl since Connie Talmadge was a kid (ребёнок).»

«I feel the same way (также). Why don’t you come back to Hollywood?»

«I can’t stand the damn (чёртов, проклятый, треклятый) place. I’m fine here. Wait till after this shot (кадр, съёмка) and I’ll show you around (показать достопримечательность).»

Walking onto the set he began to talk to the French actor in a low (тихий), quiet voice.

Five minutes passed — Brady talked on, while from time to time the Frenchman shifted (передвигать) his feet and nodded (кивать). Abruptly (вдруг, внезапно, неожиданно), Brady broke off, calling something to the lights that startled them into a humming (гудящий, жужжащий) glare (ослепительный свет). Los Angeles was loud (вульгарный, развязный) about Rosemary now. Unappalled (не потрясенный, не пораженный) she moved once more through the city of thin partitions (перегородка, переборка), wanting to be back there. But she did not want to see Brady in the mood (настроение) she sensed (как она чувствовала) he would be in after he had finished and she left the lot with a spell (чары) still upon her. The Mediterranean (средиземноморской) world was less silent now that she knew the studio was there. She liked the people on the streets and bought herself a pair of espadrilles (эспадрильи; сандалии на верёвочной подошве) on the way to the train.

Her mother was pleased that she had done so accurately (точно) what she was told (было велено) to do, but she still wanted to launch her out and away (удалить её отсюда). Mrs. Speers was fresh in appearance but she was tired; death beds (смертный одр) make people tired (утомлять, вызывать усталость) indeed and she had watched beside (поблизости) a couple (пара).

VI

Feeling good from the rosy wine (вино) at lunch, Nicole Diver folded (сложить, склалывать) her arms high enough for the artificial (искусственный) camellia (камелия) on her shoulder to touch (касаться) her cheek (щека), and went out into her lovely (милый, прелестный) grassless garden. The garden was bounded (отграничить) on one side by the house, from which it flowed (брать начало, струиться) and into which it ran, on two sides by the old village, and on the last by the cliff (утёс) falling (ниспадать) by ledges (выступ, край) to the sea.

Along the walls on the village side all was dusty (в пыли), the wriggling (извиваться; изгибаться) vines (виноградная лоза), the lemon and eucalyptus (эвкалипт) trees, the casual (обычный) wheel-barrow (тачка; ручная тележка), left only a moment since, but already grown into (врастать) the path (тропа, дорожка), atrophied (чахлый) and faintly (слегка) rotten (прогнивший). Nicole was invariably (постоянно) somewhat (немного, слегка) surprised that by turning in (сворачивать) the other direction past a bed of peonies (пеон) she walked into an area (участок) so green and cool (прохладный) that the leaves and petals (лепесток) were curled (скручиваться, свёртываться) with tender (мягкий, лёгкий) damp (сырость, влажность).

Knotted (завязанный, стянутый узлом) at her throat she wore a lilac (сиреневый; лиловый) scarf that even in the achromatic (ахроматический, бесцветный) sunshine cast (отбрасывать) its color up to her face and down around her moving feet in a lilac (сиреневый; лиловый) shadow. Her face was hard (твёрдый), almost stern (суровый), save for (кроме) the soft gleam (отблеск) of piteous (жалобный, достойный сожаления) doubt (сомнение) that looked from her green eyes. Her once (однажды) fair (белокурый, светлый) hair had darkened (потемнеть), but she was lovelier (прелестнее) now at twenty-four than she had been at eighteen, when her hair was brighter (ярче, светлее) than she.

Following a walk marked (отмечать, характеризовать) by an intangible (неосязаемый, неуловимый; непостижимый) mist (туман) of bloom (цвет, цветение) that followed the white border (обрамлять, окаймлять) stones she came to a space overlooking (выходить на) the sea where there were lanterns (фонарь) asleep in the fig trees and a big table and wicker (сплетённый из ивовых прутьев) chairs and a great market umbrella from Sienna, all gathered about an enormous pine, the biggest tree in the garden (при этом самое большое дерево было в саду). She paused (остановиться) there a moment, looking absently (отсутствующе) at a growth of nasturtiums (настурция) and iris tangled (запутываться) at its foot (корень, подножие), as though (как будто) sprung spring from (всходить, выпрыгнуть) a careless (беззаботный) handful (пригоршня) of seeds (семена), listening to the plaints (жалоба, плач, стенание) and accusations (обвинение) of some nursery (детская, детские ясли; детский сад) squabble (пререкания, спор, мелкая ссора) in the house. When this died away (затихать, замирать) on the summer air, she walked on (идти дальше), between kaleidoscopic (калейдоскопический) peonies (пеон) massed (собираться в кучу, скапливаться) in pink (розовый) clouds, black and brown tulips (тюльпан) and fragile (хрупкий) mauve-stemmed (с розовато-лиловым стеблем) roses, transparent like sugar flowers in a confectioner’s (кондитерский магазин) window — until, as if the scherzo [’skeətsəu] (скерцо) of color could reach no further intensity (густота, интенсивность), it broke off (прерваться) suddenly in mid-air, and moist (влажный) steps (шаг, след (ноги), отпечаток) went down to a level five feet below.

Here there was a well (скважина, колодец) with the boarding (обшивка досками; доски) around it dank (влажный; сырой; мокрый) and slippery (скольский) even on the brightest days. She went up the stairs on the other side and into the vegetable garden; she walked rather quickly; she liked to be active, though at times (временами) she gave an impression (производить впечатление) of repose (отдых, покой, тишина) that was at once static and evocative (восстанавливающий в памяти, вызывающий воспоминания). This was because she knew few words and believed in none, and in the world she was rather silent, contributing just her share of urbane (вежливый; с изысканными манерами) humor with a precision (точность) that approached (приближаться) meagerness (скудность). But at the moment when strangers (незнакомец) tended to (иметь склонность) grow uncomfortable (чувствовать себя неловко) in the presence of (в присутствии) this economy she would seize (схватить, ухватиться, завладеть) the topic and rush off (нестись) with it, feverishly (лихорадочно) surprised with herself — then bring it back and relinquish (бросать, оставлять, отказываться) it abruptly (резко), almost timidly (стыдливо), like an obedient (покорный) retriever (охотничья (поисковая) собака), having been adequate and something more.

As she stood in the fuzzy [’fʌzɪ] (неясный, туманный, смазанный) green light of the vegetable garden, Dick crossed the path ahead of (впереди неё) her going to his work house. Nicole waited silently till he had passed (пройти мимо); then she went on through (через, сквозь) lines of prospective (будущий) salads to a little menagerie (зверинец) where pigeons and rabbits and a parrot made a medley (мешанина, «попурри») of insolent (дерзкий, наглый, нахальный) noises at her. Descending to another ledge (выступ, уступ; край) she reached a low, curved (изогнутый, кривой) wall and looked down seven hundred feet to the Mediterranean Sea.

She stood in the ancient (древний, античный) hill (холм) village of Tarmes. The villa and its grounds were made out of a row (ряд) of peasant (крестьянский) dwellings (жилище) that abutted (примыкать к, граничить с, упираться во (что-л.) on the cliff (утёс) — five small houses had been combined (соединять) to make the house and four destroyed (разрушать) to make the garden. The exterior (внешний) walls were untouched (нетронутый) so that (так что) from the road far below (далеко внизу) it was indistinguishable (неразличимый) from the violet (фиолетоый) gray mass of the town.

For a moment Nicole stood looking down at the Mediterranean but there was nothing to do with that, even with her tireless hands. Presently (вскоре) Dick came out of his one-room house carrying a telescope and looked east toward Cannes. In a moment Nicole swam into his field of vision (обзор, видение), whereupon he disappeared into his house and came out with a megaphone. He had many light mechanical devices.

«Nicole,» he shouted, «I forgot to tell you that as a final apostolic [апостолический; папский, святейший] gesture I invited Mrs. Abrams, the woman with the white hair.»

«I suspected (подозревать) it. It’s an outrage (грубое нарушение (закона, прав, приличий); произвол).»

The ease (лёгкость) with which her reply reached him seemed to belittle (недооценивать, принижать) his megaphone, so she raised her voice and called, «Can you hear me?»

«Yes.» He lowered the megaphone and then raised it stubbornly (упрямо). «I’m going to invite some more people too. I’m going to invite the two young men.»

«All right,» she agreed placidly (миролюбиво).

«I want to give a really BAD party. I mean it. I want to give a party where there’s a brawl (шумная ссора, перебранка, скандал; драка) and seductions (совращение, обольщение) and people going home with their feelings hurt (ранить) and women passed out (терять сознание, отключаться) in the cabinet de toilette. You wait and see.»

He went back into his house and Nicole saw that one of his most characteristic moods was upon him, the excitement that swept everyone up into it and was inevitably (неизбежно) followed by his own form of melancholy (меланхолия), which he never displayed (показывать) but at which she guessed (догадываться). This excitement (волнение, возбуждение) about things reached an intensity (напряжение) out of proportion (пропорция, отношение) to their importance, generating (вызывать, достигать) a really extraordinary virtuosity (виртуозность) with people. Save (за исключением, кроме, если бы не) among a few of the tough-minded (практичный, трезвый) and perennially (всегда, вечно; неизменно, постоянно) suspicious (подозрительный), he had the power of arousing (вызывать) a fascinated (очарованный; загипнотизированный) and uncritical love. The reaction came when he realized the waste and extravagance involved (вовлечённый, участвующий). He sometimes looked back with awe (страх, трепет, благоговение) at the carnivals (фестиваль; праздник) of affection любовь, привязанность) he had given, as a general might gaze (пристально глядеть; вглядываться; уставиться) upon a massacre (резня; бойня, избиение) he had ordered to satisfy an impersonal blood lust (вожделение).

But to be included in Dick Diver’s world for a while was a remarkable experience: people believed he made special reservations about them, recognizing the proud uniqueness (единство) of their destinies (судьба), buried (зарывать) under the compromises of how many years. He won everyone quickly with an exquisite (утонченный) consideration (вежливость, предупредительность) and a politeness that moved so fast and intuitively that it could be examined only in its effect (результат, вежливость, уважение). Then, without caution (предосторожность), lest (чтобы не) the first bloom (цвет) of the relation (отношение) wither (увядать), he opened the gate to his amusing (восхитительный) world. So long as they subscribed (подписаться) to it completely (полностью), their happiness was his preoccupation (главная забота; доминанта), but at the first flicker (мерцание, колеблющийся свет) of doubt (сомнение) as to (относительно) its all-inclusiveness he evaporated (испаряться) before their eyes, leaving little communicable (коммуникабельный; коммуникативно компетентный) memory of what he had said or done.

At eight-thirty that evening he came out to meet his first guests, his coat carried rather ceremoniously, rather promisingly (многообещающе), in his hand, like a toreador’s cape (накидка, плащ с капюшоном). It was characteristic that after greeting Rosemary and her mother he waited for them to speak first, as if to allow them the reassurance (подбадривание; вновь обретённая уверенность) of their own voices in new surroundings (обстановка).

To resume (резюмировать, возобновлять) Rosemary’s point of view (точка зрения) it should be said that, under the spell (чары) of the climb (подъём) to Tarmes and the fresher (более свежий) air, she and her mother looked about appreciatively (благодарно). Just as the personal qualities of extraordinary people can make themselves plain (простой, обыкновенный, незамысловатый) in an unaccustomed (необычный, непривычный) change of expression (выражение лица), so the intensely calculated (рассчитанный) perfection of Villa Diana transpired (обнаруживаться, становиться известным) all at once through such minute (мельчайший) failures (неудача, провал) as the chance (случайный) apparition (появление) of a maid (горничная, служанка) in the background or the perversity (несговорчивость) of a cork (пробка). While the first guests arrived bringing with them the excitement of the night, the domestic (домашний) activity of the day receded (отступать, пятиться; удаляться) past them gently (мягко), symbolized by the Diver children and their governess (гувернантка) still at supper on the terrace.

«What a beautiful garden!» Mrs. Speers exclaimed.

«Nicole’s garden,» said Dick. «She won’t let it alone — she nags (придираться, пилить) it all the time, worries about its diseases (заболевание). Any day now I expect to have her come down with Powdery Mildew or Fly Speck, or Late Blight.» He pointed his forefinger (указательный палец) decisively (решительно) at Rosemary, saying with a lightness (лёгкость) seeming to conceal (скрывать) a paternal (отцовский) interest, «I’m going to save your reason — I’m going to give you a hat to wear on the beach.»

He turned them from the garden to the terrace, where he poured (наливать) a cocktail. Earl Brady arrived, discovering Rosemary with surprise. His manner was softer than at the studio, as if his differentness (отличие) had been put on at the gate (ворота), and Rosemary, comparing him instantly (немедленно, тотчас, незамедлительно) with Dick Diver, swung (поворачиваться) sharply (резко) toward the latter (второй, последний (из двух упомянутых). In comparison Earl Brady seemed faintly (слегка) gross (крупный; тучный), faintly ill-bred (плохо воспитанный); once more, though, she felt an electric response (ответное чувство; отклик, реакция) to his person.

He spoke familiarly (обычно, привычно) to the children who were getting up from their outdoor (на открытом воздухе) supper.

«Hello, Lanier, how about a song? Will you and Topsy sing me a song?»

«What shall we sing?» agreed the little boy, with the odd (странный) chanting (говорить нараспев) accent of American children brought up (воспитанный) in France.

«That song about „Mon Ami (мой друг) Pierrot.“»

Brother and sister stood side by side (рядом) without self-consciousness (чувство неловкости, смущения) and their voices soared (взлетать, взмывать, парить) sweet and shrill (пронзительный; резкий) upon the evening air.

«Au clair de la lune

Mon Ami Pierrot

Prête-moi ta plume

Pour écrire un mot

Ma chandelle est morte

Je n’ai plus de feu

Ouvre-moi ta porte

Pour l’amour de Dieu.»

The singing ceased (прекратиться) and the children, their faces aglow (взволнованный, возбуждённый) with the late sunshine, stood smiling calmly at their success. Rosemary was thinking that the Villa Diana was the centre of the world. On such a stage some memorable (памятный, запоминающийся) thing was sure (наверняка) to happen (должно было произойти). She lighted up higher as the gate tinkled (звенеть; звонить; звякать) open and the rest of the guests arrived in a body — the McKiscos, Mrs. Abrams, Mr. Dumphry, and Mr. Campion came up to the terrace.

Rosemary had a sharp feeling of disappointment (разочарование) — she looked quickly at Dick, as though (как будто) to ask an explanation of this incongruous (нелепый, неподходящий, неуместный) mingling (смешивание). But there was nothing unusual in his expression. He greeted his new guests with a proud bearing (осанка) and an obvious deference (уважение, почтение) to their infinite [«ɪnfɪnət], (бесконечный, беспредельный, безграничный) and unknown possibilities. She believed in him so much that presently (с необходимостью, неизбежностью) she accepted the rightness of the McKiscos’ presence as if she had expected to meet them all along.

«I’ve met you in Paris,» McKisco said to Abe North, who with his wife had arrived on their heels (по пятам, следом), «in fact I’ve met you twice.»

«Yes, I remember,» Abe said.

«Then where was it?» demanded McKisco, not content (довольный) to let well enough alone.

«Why, I think — » Abe got tired (устать) of the game, «I can’t remember.»

The interchange (взаимообмен, обмен) filled a pause and Rosemary’s instinct was that something tactful should be said by somebody, but Dick made no attempt to break up the grouping formed by these late arrivals, not even to disarm Mrs. McKisco of her air (налёт) of supercilious (высокомерный, надменный, презрительный) amusement (развлечения, увеселения, забава). He did not solve this social problem because he knew it was not of importance at the moment and would solve itself. He was saving his newness for a larger effort, waiting a more significant moment for his guests to be conscious (осознавать) of a good time.

Rosemary stood beside Tommy Barban — he was in a particularly scornful (презрительный, пренебрежительный; насмешливый) mood and there seemed to be some special stimulus working upon him. He was leaving in the morning.

«Going home?»

«Home? I have no home. I am going to a war.»

«What war?»

«What war? Any war. I haven’t seen a paper lately but I suppose there’s a war — there always is.»

«Don’t you care what you fight for?»

«Not at all — so long as I’m well treated. When I’m in a rut (колея; охота) I come to see the Divers, because then I know that in a few weeks I’ll want to go to war.»

Rosemary stiffened (становиться холодным, высокомерным).

«You like the Divers,» she reminded (напоминать) him.

«Of course — especially her — but they make me want to go to war.»

She considered this, to no avail (безуспешно). The Divers made her want to stay near them forever (навсегда).

«You’re half American,» she said, as if that should solve the problem.

«Also I’m half French, and I was educated in England and since I was eighteen I’ve worn (носить) the uniforms (форма) of eight countries. But I hope I did not give you the impression that I am not fond of the Divers — I am, especially of Nicole.»

«How could any one help (предотвратить) it?» she said simply.

She felt far from him. The undertone (подтекст; скрытый смысл) of his words repelled (претить; вызывать отвращение, неприязнь; отталкивать) her and she withdrew (отзывать; отводить) her adoration (обожание) for the Divers from the profanity (брань; сквернословие) of his bitterness (горечь). She was glad he was not next to her at dinner and she was still thinking of his words «especially her» as they moved toward the table in the garden.

For a moment now she was beside Dick Diver on the path. Alongside his hard, neat brightness everything faded into the surety that he knew everything. For a year, which was forever, she had had money and a certain celebrity and contact with the celebrated, and these latter had presented themselves merely as powerful enlargements of the people with whom the doctor’s widow (вдова) and her daughter had associated in a hôtel-pension in Paris. Rosemary was a romantic and her career had not provided many satisfactory opportunities on that score (на тот счет). Her mother, with the idea of a career for Rosemary, would not tolerate (терпеть, выносить) any such spurious (поддельный; подложный, фиктивный) substitutes (субститут, замена) as the excitations available (доступный) on all sides, and indeed Rosemary was already beyond that — she was In the movies but not at all At them. So when she had seen approval (одобрение) of Dick Diver in her mother’s face it meant that he was «the real thing»; it meant permission to go as far as she could (как можно дальше).

«I was watching you,» he said, and she knew he meant it. «We’ve grown very fond of you (Мы очень привязались к тебе).»

«I fell in love with you (я влюбилась в тебя) the first time I saw you (первый раз, как увидела тебя),» she said quietly (спокойно).

VII

He pretended not to have heard (он притворился, что не расслышал), as if (как будто) the compliment were purely (чисто) formal.

«New friends,» he said, as if it were (как будто это был) an important point (вопрос, дело), «can often have a better time together than old friends.»

With that remark (замечание), which she did not understand precisely (точно), she found herself at the table, picked out (различать) by slowly emerging (появляться; всплывать) lights against the dark dusk (сумерки). A chord (аккорд; гармония звуков) of delight (восторг) struck (звучать, стучать) inside her when she saw that Dick had taken her mother on his right hand; for herself she was between Luis Campion and Brady [«breidi].

Surcharged (переполнять) with her emotion she turned to Brady with the intention (намерение) of confiding (довериться) in him, but at her first mention (упоминание) of Dick a hard-boiled (чёрствый; несговорчивый, неуступчивый) sparkle (искра, вспышка) in his eyes gave her to understand that he refused the fatherly (отцовский; нежный, отеческий) office (пост, должность, обязанность, функция). In turn (в свою очередь) she was equally (в равной степени) firm (твердый, неуступчивый) when he tried to monopolize her hand, so they talked shop (говорить о работе) or rather (скорее) she listened while (пока) he talked shop, her polite (вежливый) eyes never leaving his face (при этом её глаза ни на минуту не отрывались от его лица), but her mind (ум, мысли) was so definitely (определенно) elsewhere (где-то в другом месте) that she felt he must guess (догадаться) the fact. Intermittently (периодически; с перерывами, время от времени) she caught the gist (суть) of his sentences and supplied (восполнять) the rest from her subconscious (подсознательное), as one picks up (просекать, уяснить себе) the striking (ударять, наносить удар, бить) of a clock in the middle with only the rhythm of the first uncounted (бессчётный, бесчисленный) strokes (удар) lingering (сохраняться, не полностью исчезать) in the mind.

In a pause Rosemary looked away and up the table where Nicole sat between Tommy Barban and Abe North, her chow’s (порода собак чау-чау) hair foaming (пениться) and frothing (бурлить, кипеть) in the candlelight (свет от свечи). Rosemary listened, caught sharply by the rich clipped (резкий) voice in infrequent (нечастый, редко встречающийся) speech:

«The poor man,» Nicole exclaimed (восклицать). «Why did you want to saw (распилить) him in two (надвое, на две части)?»

«Naturally (естественно) I wanted to see what was inside (внутри) a waiter (официант). Wouldn’t you like to know (Разве вы не хотели бы знать) what was inside (внутри) a waiter?»

«Old menus (меню),» suggested Nicole with a short laugh. «Pieces of broken china (фарфор) and tips (чаевые) and pencil stubs (короткий обломок).»

«Exactly — but the thing was to prove (доказать) it scientifically (научно). And of course doing it with that musical saw (пила) would have eliminated any sordidness (отвратительность; корыстность; жадность).»

«Did you intend to play the saw while you performed the operation?» Tommy inquired (осведомиться, поинтересоваться).

«We didn’t get quite that far (так далеко). We were alarmed (нас встревожили) by the screams (вопль, пронзительный крик; визг). We thought he might rupture (рвать, разрывать) something.»

«All sounds (всё звучит) very peculiar (своеобразный) to me,» said Nicole. «Any musician that’ll use another musician’s saw to — »

They had been at table half an hour and a perceptible (заметный, ощутимый) change had set in (установиться) — person by person had given up (оставить, отказаться; бросить) something, a preoccupation (поглощённость, увлечённость), an anxiety (беспокойство), a suspicion (подозрение), and now they were only their best selves (self — собственная личность, своё «я») and the Divers’ guests (гость). Not to have been friendly and interested would have seemed to reflect on (отразиться на) the Divers, so now they were all trying, and seeing this, Rosemary liked everyone — except (кроме) McKisco, who had contrived (суметь, умудриться, ухитриться) to be the unassimilated member of the party. This was less from ill will (недоброжелательность, враждебность) than from his determination (решимость) to sustain (поддерживать) with wine the good spirits (хорошее напстроение) he had enjoyed (наслаждаться) on his arrival (по прибытию). Lying back (откинуться назад) in his place between Earl Brady, to whom he had addressed several withering remarks (убийственное замечание) about the movies, and Mrs. Abrams, to whom he said nothing, he stared at (уставиться на) Dick Diver with an expression of devastating (опустошительный) irony, the effect being occasionally (иногда, время от времени) interrupted (прерывать) by his attempts (попытка) to engage (вовлекать) Dick in a cater-cornered conversation across the table.

«Aren’t you a friend of Van Buren Denby?» he would (бывало) say.

«I don’t believe I know him.»

«I thought you were a friend of his,» he persisted (настаивать) irritably (раздраженно).

When the subject of Mr. Denby fell of its own weight (значимость, важность), he essayed (пробовать) other equally (в равной стерени) irrelative (неподходящий) themes, but each time the very deference (уважение, почтение) of Dick’s attention seemed to paralyze him, and after a moment’s stark (полный) pause the conversation that he had interrupted would go on without him. He tried breaking into (вторгнуться) other dialogues, but it was like continually shaking hands with a glove (перчатка) from which the hand had been withdrawn (вытягивать; вынимать; удалять) — so finally, with a resigned (покорный, безропотный, послушный) air of being among children, he devoted his attention entirely to the champagne.

Rosemary’s glance moved at intervals around the table, eager for (страстно желающий, жаждущий) the others’ enjoyment (удоволствие, наслаждение, веселье), as if they were her future stepchildren (приёмные дети). A gracious (изящный) table light, emanating (излучать) from a bowl ([bəul] ваза) of spicy (острый, пикантный, пряный) pinks (гвоздика, розовый цвет), fell upon Mrs. Abrams’ face, cooked to a turn (как раз в меру) in Veuve Cliquot, full of vigor (энергия), tolerance (терпение), adolescent (юношеский; подростковый) good will (добрая воля); next to her sat Mr. Royal Dumphry, his girl’s comeliness (миловидность, привлекательность) less startling (поразительный; потрясающий) in the pleasure world of evening. Then Violet McKisco, whose prettiness (миловидность) had been piped (передавать, подавать) to the surface of her, so that she ceased (прекращать) her struggle to make tangible (ясный; ощутимый) to herself her shadowy () position as the wife of an arriviste (карьерист, честолюбец, выскочка) who had not arrived.

Then came Dick, with his arms full of the slack (бездействие; пассивность, инертность) he had taken up from others, deeply merged (погружаться) in his own party.

Then her mother, forever (всегда) perfect.

Then Barban talking to her mother with an urbane (вежливый) fluency (беглость, беглость) that made Rosemary like him again. Then Nicole. Rosemary saw her suddenly in a new way and found her one of the most beautiful people she had ever known (которых она когда-либо знала). Her face, the face of a saint (святой), a viking Madonna, shone through the faint motes (пятнышко, соринка) that snowed across the candlelight, drew down its flush from the wine-colored lanterns (фонарь) in the pine. She was still as still.

Abe North was talking to her about his moral code: «Of course I’ve got one,» he insisted,» — a man can’t live without a moral code. Mine is that I’m against the burning (сжигание) of witches (ведьма). Whenever they burn a witch I get all hot under the collar (воротник).» Rosemary knew from Brady that he was a musician who after a brilliant and precocious (преждевременный, ранний) start had composed nothing for seven years.

Next was Campion, managing somehow to restrain his most blatant (вульгарный, крикливый) effeminacy (женственность, женоподобие), and even to visit upon those near him a certain disinterested (бескорыстный) motherliness. Then Mary North with a face so merry that it was impossible not to smile back into the white mirrors of her teeth — the whole area around her parted lips was a lovely little circle of delight.

Finally Brady, whose heartiness became, moment by moment, a social thing instead of a crude (резкий) assertion (утверждение) and reassertion of his own mental health, and his preservation of it by a detachment (отделение) from the frailties (недостаток, порок, слабость) of others.

Rosemary, as dewy (невинный; наивный, простодушный) with belief (вера) as a child from one of Mrs. Burnett’s vicious (дурной, ошибочный, злонамеренный) tracts (трактат; брошюра), had a conviction (вера) of homecoming (возвращение домой; вечер встречи выпускников университета), of a return from the derisive (нелепый, иронический, саркастический) and salacious (вульгарный, непристойный) improvisations of the frontier (граница, кордон, рубеж). There were fireflies (светлячок) riding on the dark air and a dog baying (лай, лаять) on some low and far-away ledge (выступ, уступ; край) of the cliff (утёс). The table seemed to have risen a little toward the sky like a mechanical dancing platform, giving the people around it a sense (чувство, ощущение) of being alone with each other in the dark universe (вселеная), nourished (вскармливать, растить) by its only food, warmed by its only lights. And, as if a curious (любопытный) hushed (сдерживаемый, затихающий) laugh from Mrs. McKisco were a signal that such a detachment (отделение) from the world had been attained (достигать), the two Divers began suddenly to warm and glow (светиться, сверкать) and expand (расширяться), as if to make up to their guests, already so subtly (тонко, едва различимо) assured (уверенный) of their importance, so flattered (польщенный) with politeness, for anything they might still miss (скучать, пропускать) from that country well left behind. Just for a moment they seemed to speak to every one at the table, singly (по одному) and together, assuring (уверять) them of their friendliness, their affection (любовь, привязанность). And for a moment the faces turned up toward them were like the faces of poor children at a Christmas tree. Then abruptly (резко) the table broke up (взорваться) — the moment when the guests had been daringly (дерзко) lifted above conviviality (праздничное, весёлое настроение) into the rarer (разреженный) atmosphere of sentiment, was over before it could be irreverently (непочтительно, неуважительно, невежливо) breathed (дышать; вдыхать, выдыхать), before they had half realized (наполовину осознать) it was there.

But the diffused (рассеянный, размытый) magic of the hot sweet South had withdrawn into them — the soft-pawed night and the ghostly (призрачный) wash (прибой, шум прибоя) of the Mediterranean far below — the magic (магия, тайна) left these things and melted (таять) into the two Divers and became part of them. Rosemary watched Nicole pressing upon her mother a yellow evening bag she had admired, saying, «I think things ought to belong to the people that like them» — and then sweeping (сметать, смахивать) into it all the yellow articles she could find, a pencil, a lipstick, a little note book, «because they all go together (сочетаться, гармонировать).»

Nicole disappeared and presently Rosemary noticed that Dick was no longer there; the guests distributed themselves in the garden or drifted in toward the terrace.

«Do you want,» Violet McKisco asked Rosemary, «to go to the bathroom?»

Not at that precise moment.

«I want,» insisted Mrs. McKisco, «to go to the bathroom.» As a frank (искренний, открытый) outspoken (искренний, откровенный) woman she walked toward the house, dragging (тащить) her secret after her, while Rosemary looked after with reprobation (порицание, осуждение, неодобрение). Earl Brady proposed that they walk down to the sea wall but she felt that this was her time to have a share (участие, доля, часть) of Dick Diver when he reappeared, so she stalled (останавливаться), listening to McKisco quarrel with Barban.

«Why do you want to fight the Soviets?» McKisco said. «The greatest experiment ever made by humanity? And the Riff? It seems to me it would be more heroic to fight on the just (справедливый) side.»

«How do you find out which it is?» asked Barban dryly.

«Why — usually everybody intelligent (разумный, здравый) knows.»

«Are you a Communist?»

«I’m a Socialist,» said McKisco, «I sympathize with

(благожелательно относиться; симпатизировать) Russia.»

«Well, I’m a soldier,» Barban answered pleasantly. «My business is to kill people. I fought against the Riff because I am a European, and I have fought the Communists because they want to take my property (собственность) from me.»

«Of all the narrow-minded (ограниченный, недалёкий; тенденциозный, предвзятый) excuses,» McKisco looked around to establish a derisive (иронический, саркастический, насмешливый) liaison (контакт, связь) with some one else, but without success. He had no idea what he was up against in Barban, neither (ни) of the simplicity of the other man’s bag of ideas nor (ни) of the complexity of his training. McKisco knew what ideas were, and as his mind grew he was able to recognize (узнать) and sort (сортировать, систематизировать) an increasing (увеличивающийся, растущий) number of them — but faced by a man whom he considered «dumb (немой),» one in whom he found no ideas he could recognize as such (как таковой; по существу), and yet to whom he could not feel personally superior (выше), he jumped at the conclusion that Barban was the end product of an archaic (архаичный) world, and as such, worthless (ничего не стоящий; никудышный; бесполезный, никчёмный). McKisco’s contacts with the princely (благородный) classes in America had impressed upon him their uncertain and fumbling (неуклюжий, неловкий) snobbery (снобизм), their delight in ignorance (невежество) and their deliberate (преднамеренный, умышленный) rudeness (грубость), all lifted (поднимать) from the English with no regard (внимание) paid to factors that make English philistinism (мещанство, филистерство) and rudeness (грубость) purposeful (целенаправленный), and applied in a land where a little knowledge and civility (вежливость, любезность) buy more than they do anywhere else (где-нибудь ещё) — an attitude which reached its apogee (апогей, наивысшая точка) in the «Harvard manner» of about 1900. He thought that this Barban was of that type, and being drunk rashly (поспешно, необдуманно, опрометчиво) forgot that he was in awe (благоговейный страх, трепет) of him — this led up to the trouble in which he presently (ныне, сегодня, сейчас) found himself.

Feeling vaguely (смутно; нечётко; отчасти) ashamed (смущенный; испытывающий чувство стыда) for McKisco, Rosemary waited, placid (безмятежный, спокойный) but inwardly (внутри) on fire, for Dick Diver’s return. From her chair at the deserted (покинутый) table with Barban, McKisco, and Abe she looked up along the path (тропа) edged (окаймленный) with shadowy (призрачный) myrtle (мирт) and fern (папоротник) to the stone terrace, and falling in love with her mother’s profile against a lighted door, was about to go there when Mrs. McKisco came hurrying down from the house.

She exuded (источать) excitement. In the very silence (в самом молчании) with which she pulled out a chair and sat down, her eyes staring (широко раскрытый), her mouth working a little (при этом её рот чуть пошевеливался), they all recognized (узнать) a person crop-full (полный) of news, and her husband’s «What’s the matter, Vi?» came naturally, as all eyes turned toward her.

«My dear — » she said at large (в общем смысле, неконкретно), and then addressed Rosemary, «my dear — it’s nothing. I really can’t say a word.»

«You’re among friends,» said Abe.

«Well, upstairs (наверху) I came upon a scene (сцена), my dears — »

Shaking her head cryptically (загадочно) she broke off замолкать, прерываться) just in time (как раз во время), for (поскольку) Tommy arose (подняться, встать) and addressed her politely but sharply:

«It’s inadvisable (нецелесообразный, неразумный) to comment on what goes on (комментировать то, что происходит) in this house.»

VIII

Violet breathed (дышать) loud and hard once and with an effort brought (привносить) another expression into her face.

Dick came finally and with a sure instinct he separated Barban and the McKiscos and became excessively (чересчур, чрезмерно) ignorant (несведущий, незнающий) and (любознательный, пытливый) about literature with McKisco — thus giving the latter the moment of superiority (превосходство) which he required (требовать, нуждаться). The others helped him carry lamps up — who would not be pleased (довольный) at carrying lamps helpfully (любезно, услужливо; вежливо) through the darkness? Rosemary helped, meanwhile (между тем, тем временем) responding (отвечать) patiently (терпеливо) to Royal Dumphry’s inexhaustible (неисчерпаемый) curiosity (любопытство) about Hollywood.

Now — she was thinking — I’ve earned (заработать) a time alone (наедине) with him. He must know that because his laws (закон, право) are like the laws Mother taught me.

Rosemary was right — presently (вскоре, теперь, сейчас) he detached (оторвать) her from the company on the terrace, and they were alone together, borne away (уносить, увозить) from the house toward the seaside wall with what were less steps than irregularly (неправильно) spaced (размеченный, помещенный, размещенный) intervals through some of which she was pulled (тащить, тянуть), through others blown (дуть).

They looked out over the Mediterranean (Средиземное море). Far below (далеко внизу), the last excursion (экскурсионный) boat from the Isles des Lerins floated (плыть) across the bay (залив) like (как, подобно) a Fourth-of-July balloon (воздушный шар) foot-loose (независимый, свободный) in the heavens. Between the black isles (острова) it floated (плавать; всплывать; держаться на поверхности воды), softly parting the dark tide (прилив).

«I understand why you speak as you do of your mother,» he said. «Her attitude (отношение) toward you is very fine, I think. She has a sort of wisdom (мудрость) that’s rare (редкий) in America.»

«Mother is perfect,» she prayed (просить, упрашивать).

«I was talking to her about a plan I have — she told me that how long you both stayed in France depended on (зависеть) you.»

On YOU, Rosemary all but said aloud.

«So since (поскольку) things are over down here — »

«Over?» she inquired (спросить).

«Well, this is over — this part of the summer is over. Last week Nicole’s sister left (уехать), to-morrow Tommy Barban leaves, Monday Abe and Mary North are leaving. Maybe we’ll have more fun (развлечение, удовольствие) this summer but this particular fun is over. I want it to die violently (яростно) instead of fading out (увянуть) sentimentally — that’s why I gave this party. What I’m coming to is — Nicole and I are going up to Paris to see Abe North off (проводить) for America — I wonder (интересно) if you’d like (не хотите ли вы) to go with us.»

«What did Mother say?»

«She seemed to think it would be fine. She doesn’t want to go herself. She wants you to go alone (Она хочет, чтобы вы поехали одни).»

«I haven’t seen Paris since I’ve been grown (с тех пор, как я повзрослела),» said Rosemary. «I’d love to see it with you.»

«That’s nice of you.» Did she imagine that his voice was suddenly metallic? «Of course we’ve been excited about you from the moment you came on the beach. That vitality (живость), we were sure it was professional — especially Nicole was. It’d never use itself up on any one person or group.»

Her instinct cried out to her that he was passing her along slowly toward Nicole and she put her own brakes (тормоз) on, saying with an equal (равный) harness (упряжь; ремни безопасности):

«I wanted to know all of you too — especially you. I told you I fell in love with you the first time I saw you.»

She was right going at it that way. But the space between heaven and earth had cooled (охладить) his mind, destroyed (разрушать) the impulsiveness (импульсивность) that had led him to bring her here, and made him aware of (знающий, сведущий) the too obvious (явный, очевидный) appeal (просьба, мольба), the struggle with an unrehearsed (не отрепетированный) scene (сцена) and unfamiliar (незнакомый) words.

He tried now to make her want to go back to the house and it was difficult, and he did not quite want to lose her. She felt only the draft (тяга; сквозняк) blowing (дуть) as he joked (шутить) with her good-humoredly (добродушно).

«You don’t know what you want. You go and ask your mother what you want.»

She was stricken (поражённый). She touched him, feeling the smooth (гладкий) cloth (ткань) of his dark coat like a chasuble (). She seemed about to fall to her knees (казалось, она чуть не упала на колени) — from that position she delivered (произвести) her last shot (выстрел).

«I think you’re the most wonderful person I ever met — except (кроме, за исключением) my mother.»

«You have romantic eyes.»

His laughter swept them on (выносить, увлекать) up toward the terrace where he delivered (передать) her to Nicole….

Too soon it had become time to go and the Divers helped them all to go quickly. In the Divers’ big Isotta there would be Tommy Barban and his baggage — he was spending the night at the hotel to catch [чтобы сесть (успеть) на] an early train — with Mrs. Abrams, the McKiscos and Campion. Earl Brady was going to drop Rosemary and her mother on his way to Monte Carlo, and Royal Dumphry rode with them because the Divers’ car was crowded (быть переполненным). Down in the garden lanterns still glowed (светиться, гореть) over the table where they had dined, as the Divers stood side by side in the gate, Nicole blooming away (цветущий) and filling the night with graciousness, and Dick bidding good-by (прощаться) to everyone by name (с каждым по имени). To Rosemary it seemed very poignant (горький, мучительный) to drive away (уехать) and leave them in their house. Again she wondered (размышлять) what Mrs. McKisco had seen in the bathroom.

IX

It was a limpid (ясный, прозрачный) black night, hung (зависший, подвешенный) as in a basket from a single dull (тусклый, неяркий, слабый) star. The horn (гудок, сирена автомобиля) of the car ahead was muffled (заглушать) by the resistance (сопротивление) of the thick (густой) air. Brady’s chauffeur drove slowly; the tail-light of the other car appeared from time to time (время от времени) at turnings (поворот) — then not at all. But after ten minutes it came into sight (появиться в поле зрения) again, drawn up at the side of the road. Brady’s chauffeur slowed up behind but immediately it began to roll forward (выкатываться вперед) slowly and they passed it. In the instant they passed it they heard a blur (неясный звук) of voices from behind the reticence (замкнутость, скрытность) of the limousine and saw that the Divers’ chauffeur was grinning (усмехаться). Then they went on, going fast through the alternating (чередующийся) banks of darkness and thin night, descending (спускаться) at last in a series of roller-coaster (роллер-коустер) swoops (пикирование), to the great bulk (корпус здания) of Gausse’s hotel.

Rosemary dozed (дремать) for three hours and then lay awake, suspended in the moonshine. Cloaked (прикрывать) by the erotic darkness she exhausted (исчерпывать, пройтись) the future quickly, with all the eventualities (возможность; случайность) that might lead up to a kiss, but with the kiss itself as blurred (расплывшиеся, неясные очертания) as a kiss in pictures. She changed position in bed deliberately (обдуманно, медленно, не торопясь), the first sign of insomnia (бессоница) she had ever had, and tried to think with her mother’s mind about the question. In this process she was often acute (проницательный; сообразительный) beyond her experience (опыт), with remembered things from old conversations that had gone into her half-heard.

Rosemary had been brought up (воспитывать) with the idea of work. Mrs. Speers had spent the slim (скромный) leavings (остатки) of the men who had widowed (делать вдовой) her on her daughter’s education, and when she blossomed out at sixteen with that extraordinary hair, rushed (быстро доставлять) her to Aix-les-Bains and marched her unannounced (без огласки) into the suite (номер люкс) of an American producer who was recuperating (восстанавливать силы, выздоравливать) there. When the producer went to New York they went too. Thus Rosemary had passed her entrance examinations. With the ensuing (последующий) success and the promise of comparative stability that followed, Mrs. Speers had felt free to tacitly (неявно) imply (намекать) tonight:

«You were brought up to work — not especially to marry. Now you’ve found your first nut (орех, орешек) to crack (раскусить) and it’s a good nut — go ahead (двигаться вперед) and put whatever happens down to experience. Wound (ранить) yourself or him — whatever happens (так или иначе; что бы ни случилось) it can’t spoil you because economically you’re a boy, not a girl.»

Rosemary had never done much thinking, save about the illimitability of her mother’s perfections, so this final severance (расставание, разлука) of the umbilical cord (пуповина) disturbed (нарушать) her sleep. A false (ложный) dawn (рассвет, утренняя заря) sent (насылать, заставлять) the sky pressing (вдавливаться) through the tall French windows, and getting up (вставать после сна) she walked out on the terrace, warm to her bare (тёплый) feet. There were secret noises in the air, an insistent (настойчивый) bird achieved an ill-natured (недоброжелательный; грубый) triumph with regularity (бесперебойность; непрерывность) in the trees above the tennis court; footfalls (звук шагов) followed a round drive (подъездная аллея; проезд) in the rear (тыльная сторона) of the hotel, taking their tone in turn (по очереди) from the dust (пыльный) road, the crushed-stone (щебень; дробленый камень) walk, the cement steps, and then reversing the process (изменение направления на обратное) in going away. Beyond the inky sea and far up that high, black shadow of a hill lived the Divers. She thought of them both together, heard them still singing faintly (тихо) a song like rising smoke, like a hymn (гимн), very remote (удаленный) in time and far away. Their children slept, their gate was shut for the night.

She went inside and dressing in a light gown (халат) and espadrilles (эспадрильи) went out her window again and along the continuous (длинный) terrace toward the front door, going fast since she found that other private rooms, exuding sleep, gave upon it. She stopped at the sight of a figure seated on the wide white stairway (лестничный марш, пролет) of the formal entrance — then she saw that it was Luis Campion and that he was weeping (плакать, рыдать).

He was weeping hard and quietly and shaking in the same parts as a weeping woman. A scene in a role she had played last year swept over her irresistibly (непреодолимо) and advancing (приблизившись) she touched (тронуть) him on the shoulder. He gave a little yelp (визг) before he recognized (узнать) her.

«What is it?» Her eyes were level (находиться на одном уровне) and kind and not slanted (скошенный, тенденциозный) into him with hard (острый) curiosity (любопытство). «Can I help you?»

«Nobody can help me. I knew it. I have only myself to blame (винить). It’s always the same.»

«What is it — do you want to tell me?»

He looked at her to see.

«No,» he decided. «When you’re older you’ll know what people who love suffer. The agony. It’s better to be cold and young than to love. It’s happened to me before but never like this — so accidental (случайный) — just when everything was going well.»

His face was repulsive (отталкивающий) in the quickening (ускоряющийся) light. Not by a flicker (движение) of her personality, a movement of the smallest muscle, did she betray (выдавать) her sudden (внезапный) disgust (отвращение) with whatever it was. But Campion’s sensitivity (чувствительность) realized (осознавать) it and he changed the subject rather suddenly (довольно неожиданно).

«Abe North is around here somewhere.»

«Why, he’s staying at the Divers’!»

«Yes, but he’s up — don’t you know what happened?»

A shutter opened suddenly in a room two stories above and an English voice spat (плевать) distinctly (отчетливо):

«Will you kaindlay stup tucking!»

Rosemary and Luis Campion went humbly (покорно) down the steps and to a bench beside the road to the beach.

«Then you have no idea what’s happened? My dear, the most extraordinary thing — » He was warming up now, hanging on to his revelation (открытие). «I’ve never seen a thing come so suddenly — I have always avoided (избегать) violent (вспыльчивый, яростный) people — they upset (расстраивать) me so I sometimes have to go to bed for days (на несколько дней).»

He looked at her triumphantly (торжествующе). She had no idea what he was talking about.

«My dear,» he burst forth (внезапно или бурно начинать), leaning toward her (наклоняясь к ней) with his whole body as he touched her on the upper leg, to show it was no mere (всего лишь) irresponsible (безответственный) venture (движение) of his hand — he was so sure of himself. «There’s going to be a duel.»

«Wh-at?»

«A duel with — we don’t know what yet.»

«Who’s going to duel?»

«I’ll tell you from the beginning.» He drew a long breath (широко вздохнуть) and then said, as if it were rather to her discredit (дискредитация, компрометация, опорочивание) but he wouldn’t hold it against (обвинять) her. «Of course, you were in the other automobile. Well, in a way you were lucky — I lost at least two years of my life, it came so suddenly.»

«What came?» she demanded.

«I don’t know what began it. First she began to talk — »

«Who?»

«Violet McKisco.» He lowered his voice as if (как будто) there were people under the bench. «But don’t mention the Divers because he made threats (угроза) against anybody who mentioned it.»

«Who did?»

«Tommy Barban, so don’t you say I so much as mentioned them. None of us ever found out anyhow what it was Violet had to say because he kept interrupting her, and then her husband got into it and now, my dear, we have the duel. This morning — at five o’clock — in an hour.» He sighed (вздохнуть) suddenly thinking of his own griefs (горе). «I almost wish it were I. I might as well be killed now I have nothing to live for.» He broke off (замолкать) and rocked (раскачиваться) to and fro (вперед и назад) with sorrow (печаль, горе).

Again the iron shutter (ставень) parted above and the same British voice said:

«Rilly, this must stup immejetely.»

Simultaneously (одновременно) Abe North, looking somewhat distracted (растерянный; встревоженный), came out of the hotel, perceived them against the sky, white over the sea. Rosemary shook her head warningly (предостерегающе) before he could speak and they moved another bench further down the road. Rosemary saw that Abe was a little tight (пьяный).

«What are YOU doing up?» he demanded.

«I just got up.» She started to laugh, but remembering the voice above, she restrained herself (сдерживаться).

«Plagued (измученный) by the nightingale (соловей),» Abe suggested, and repeated, «probably plagued by the nightingale. Has this sewing-circle (швейный кружок) member told you what happened?»

Campion said with dignity (достоинство):

«I only know what I heard with my own ears.»

He got up and walked swiftly (быстро) away; Abe sat down beside Rosemary.

«Why did you treat him so badly?»

«Did I?» he asked surprised. «He’s been weeping around here all morning.»

«Well, maybe he’s sad about something.»

«Maybe he is.»

«What about a duel? Who’s going to duel? I thought there was something strange in that car. Is it true?»

«It certainly is coo-coo but it seems to be true.»

X

The trouble began at the time Earl Brady’s car passed the Divers’ car stopped on the road — Abe’s account (описание) melted (исчезать, растворяться) impersonally (безлично) into the thronged (переполненный людьми) night — Violet McKisco was telling Mrs. Abrams something she had found out about the Divers — she had gone upstairs in their house and she had come upon something there which had made a great impression on her. But Tommy is a watch-dog about the Divers. As a matter of fact she is inspiring (вдохновляющий) and formidable (грозный, устрашающий) — but it’s a mutual (взаимный; общий; обоюдный) thing, and the fact of The Divers together is more important to their friends than many of them realize. Of course it’s done at a certain sacrifice (жертва) — sometimes they seem just rather charming figures in a ballet, and worth just the attention you give a ballet, but it’s more than that — you’d have to know the story. Anyhow Tommy is one of those men that Dick’s passed along to Nicole and when Mrs. McKisco kept hinting (намекать) at her story, he called them on it. He said:

«Mrs. McKisco, please don’t talk further about Mrs. Diver.»

«I wasn’t talking to you,» she objected (возражать).

«I think it’s better to leave them out.»

«Are they so sacred (неприкосновенный)?»

«Leave them out. Talk about something else.»

He was sitting on one of the two little seats beside Campion. Campion told me the story.

«Well, you’re pretty high-handed (своенравный; высокомерный),» Violet came back.

You know how conversations are in cars late at night, some people murmuring (бормотать) and some not caring (все равно), giving up after the party, or bored (скучать) or asleep. Well, none of them knew just what happened until the car stopped and Barban cried in a voice that shook everybody, a voice for cavalry.

«Do you want to step out here — we’re only a mile from the hotel and you can walk it or I’ll drag (тащить) you there. YOU’VE GOT TO SHUT UP AND SHUT YOUR WIFE UP!»

«You’re a bully (задира, забияка),» said McKisco. «You know you’re stronger muscularly than I am. But I’m not afraid of you — what they ought to have is the code duello — »

There’s where he made his mistake because Tommy, being French, leaned over and clapped him one, and then the chauffeur drove on. That was where you passed them. Then the women began. That was still the state of things when the car got to the hotel.

Tommy telephoned some man in Cannes to act as second and McKisco said he wasn’t going to be seconded by Campion, who wasn’t crazy for the job anyhow, so he telephoned me not to say anything but to come right down. Violet McKisco collapsed and Mrs. Abrams took her to her room and gave her a bromide whereupon she fell comfortably asleep on the bed. When I got there I tried to argue with Tommy but the latter wouldn’t accept anything short of an apology and McKisco rather spunkily wouldn’t give it.

When Abe had finished Rosemary asked thoughtfully:

«Do the Divers know it was about them?»

«No — and they’re not ever going to know they had anything to do with it. That damn Campion had no business talking to you about it, but since he did — I told the chauffeur I’d get out the old musical saw (пила) if he opened his mouth about it. This fight’s between two men — what Tommy needs is a good war.»

«I hope the Divers don’t find out (узнать),» Rosemary said.

Abe peered (посмотреть) at his watch.

«I’ve got to go up and see McKisco — do you want to come? — he feels sort of friendless — I bet (держу пари) he hasn’t slept.»

Rosemary had a vision of the desperate (отчаянный) vigil (бдение, бессоница) that high-strung (легко возбудимый; чувствительный; нервный), badly organized man had probably kept. After a moment balanced between pity and repugnance (отвращение, антипатия) she agreed, and full of morning energy, bounced (скакать, прыгать) upstairs beside Abe.

McKisco was sitting on his bed with his alcoholic combativeness (воинственность) vanished (исчезнуть), in spite of the glass of champagne in his hand. He seemed very puny (слабый, тщедушный) and cross (сердитый) and white. Evidently he had been writing and drinking all night. He stared confusedly (смущенно) at Abe and Rosemary and asked:

«Is it time?»

«No, not for half an hour.»

The table was covered with papers which he assembled with some difficulty into a long letter; the writing on the last pages was very large and illegible (неразборчивый). In the delicate (слабый) light of electric lamps fading (затухание), he scrawled (писать наспех; неразборчиво) his name at the bottom (внизу листа), crammed (впихивать, втискивать) it into an envelope (конверт) and handed (протянуть, вручить) it to Abe. «For my wife.»

«You better souse (окунать, брызгать) your head in cold water,» Abe suggested.

«You think I’d better?» inquired (спросить, осведомиться) McKisco doubtfully (с сомнением). «I don’t want to get too sober (трезвый).»

«Well, you look terrible (ужасно) now.»

Obediently (покорно) McKisco went into the bathroom.

«I’m leaving everything in an awful mess (беспорядок),» he called. «I don’t know how Violet will get back to America. I don’t carry any insurance (страховой полис, страховка). I never got around to (заниматься) it.»

«Don’t talk nonsense (говорить чепуху), you’ll be right here eating breakfast in an hour (через час).»

«Sure, I know.» He came back with his hair wet (мокрый) and looked at Rosemary as if he saw her for the first time. Suddenly tears (слеза) stood in his eyes. «I never have finished my novel. That’s what makes me so sore (больной; чувствительный). You don’t like me,» he said to Rosemary, «but that can’t be helped (ничего с этим не поделаешь). I’m primarily (главным образом) a literary man.» He made a vague (туманный) discouraged (унылый, обескураженный) sound and shook his head helplessly (беспомощно). «I’ve made lots of mistakes in my life — many of them. But I’ve been one of the most prominent (заметный) — in some ways (в некотором роде) — »

He gave this up and puffed (затянуться) at a dead (потухший) cigarette.

«I do (на самом деле, действительно) like you,» said Rosemary, «but I don’t think you ought to fight a duel.»

«Yeah, I should have tried to beat him up, but it’s done now. I’ve let myself be drawn into something that I had no right to be. I have a very violent (яростный) temper (характер, темперамент) — » He looked closely at Abe as if he expected the statement (заявление) to be challenged (ставить под сомнение, оспаривать). Then with an aghast (ужасный) laugh he raised the cold cigarette butt (окурок) toward his mouth. His breathing (дыхание) quickened (убыстряться).

«The trouble was I suggested the duel — if Violet had only kept her mouth shut (держать рот закрытым) I could have fixed (решить) it. Of course even now I can just leave, or sit back and laugh at the whole thing — but I don’t think Violet would ever respect me again.»

«Yes, she would,» said Rosemary. «She’d respect you more.»

«No — you don’t know Violet. She’s very hard (твердый, решительный) when she gets an advantage (преимущество) over you. We’ve been married twelve years, we had a little girl seven years old and she died and after that you know how it is. We both played around on the side a little, nothing serious but drifting apart (расходиться, отдаляться, становиться чужими) — she called me a coward (трус) out there tonight.»

Troubled (встревоженный), Rosemary didn’t answer.

«Well, we’ll see there’s as little damage done as possible (мы позаботимся о том, чтобы было как можно меньше неприятностей),» said Abe. He opened the leather (кожаный) case. «These are Barban’s duelling pistols — I borrowed them so you could get familiar with them. He carries them in his suitcase.» He weighed (взвесить, подержать в руке) one of the archaic (архаичный) weapons in his hand. Rosemary gave an exclamation (восклицание) of uneasiness (беспокойство, тревога) and McKisco looked at the pistols anxiously (тревожно, с беспокойством).

«Well — it isn’t as if we were going to stand up and pot each other with forty-fives (револьвер 45-го калибра),» he said.

«I don’t know,» said Abe cruelly (жестко); «the idea is you can sight (прицелиться) better along a long barrel (ствол, дуло).»

«How about distance?» asked McKisco.

«I’ve inquired about (справляться, наводить справки) that. If one or the other parties (сторона) has to be definitely eliminated (ликвидировать, уничтожить) they make it eight paces (восемь шагов), if they’re just good and sore (больной) it’s twenty paces, and if it’s only to vindicate (отстаивать, защищать) their honor (честь) it’s forty paces (шаг). His second (секундант) agreed with me to make it forty.»

«That’s good.»

«There’s a wonderful duel in a novel of Pushkin’s,» recollected (вспоминать) Abe. «Each man stood on the edge of a precipice (пропасть), so if he was hit (попасть, поразить) at all he was done for (с ним было покончено).»

This seemed very remote (отдаленный) and academic (академичный) to McKisco, who stared at (уставиться на) him and said, «What?»

«Do you want to take a quick dip (окунуться) and freshen up?»

«No — no, I couldn’t swim.» He sighed. «I don’t see what it’s all about,» he said helplessly (беспомощно). «I don’t see why I’m doing it.»

It was the first thing he had ever done in his life. Actually he was one of those for whom the sensual (чувственный) world does not exist (существовать), and faced (столкнуться) with a concrete fact he brought to it a vast (огромный) surprise.

«We might as well be going,» said Abe, seeing him fail (выходить из строя, сдавать позиции) a little.

«All right.» He drank off a stiff (крепкий) drink of brandy, put the flask (фляжка) in his pocket, and said with almost a savage air (дикий вид): «What’ll happen if I kill him — will they throw me in jail (тюрьма)?»

«I’ll run (переправлять) you over the Italian border.»

He glanced at (бросить взгляд на) Rosemary — and then said apologetically (извиняющимся тоном; сконфуженно; примирительно) to Abe:

«Before we start there’s one thing I’d like to see you about alone.»

«I hope neither of you gets hurt (быть раненным),» Rosemary said. «I think it’s very foolish and you ought to try to stop it.»

XI

She found Campion downstairs in the deserted (опустевший) lobby (вестибюль).

«I saw you go upstairs (вверх),» he said excitedly (взволнованно). «Is he all right? When is the duel going to be?»

«I don’t know.» She resented (негодовать; возмущаться) his speaking of it as a circus (цирк), with McKisco as the tragic clown (клоун).

«Will you go with me?» he demanded, with the air of having seats. «I’ve hired the hotel car.»

«I don’t want to go.»

«Why not? I imagine it’ll take years off my life but I wouldn’t miss (пропустить) it for worlds (ни за что на свете). We could watch it from quite far away (издалека).»

«Why don’t you get Mr. Dumphry to go with you (Почему вы не сделаете так, чтобы господин Дамфри поехал с вами)?»

His monocle fell out, with no whiskers (усы) to hide in — he drew himself up (выпрямиться).

«I never want to see him again.»

«Well, I’m afraid I can’t go. Mother wouldn’t like it.»

As Rosemary entered her room Mrs. Speers stirred (пошевелиться) sleepily and called to her:

«Where’ve you been?»

«I just couldn’t sleep. You go back to sleep, Mother.»

«Come in my room.» Hearing her sit up in bed, Rosemary went in and told her what had happened.

«Why don’t you go and see it?» Mrs. Speers suggested. «You needn’t go up close and you might be able to help afterwards (потом)»

Rosemary did not like the picture of herself looking on and she demurred (сомневаться, раздумывать), but Mrs. Speer’s consciousness (сознание) was still clogged (забитый; засоренный) with sleep and she was reminded of night calls to death and calamity (бедствие) when she was the wife of a doctor. «I like you to go places and do things on your own initiative without me — you did much harder things for Rainy’s publicity (гласность, публичность) stunts (упрямство, трюк, фокус).»

Still Rosemary did not see why she should go, but she obeyed (покориться, повиноваться) the sure, clear voice that had sent her into the stage entrance of the Odeon in Paris when she was twelve and greeted her when she came out again.

She thought she was reprieved (дать передышку) when from the steps she saw Abe and McKisco drive away (отъезжать) — but after a moment the hotel car came around the corner. Squealing (пронзительно кричать; визгливо произносить) delightedly (с восторгом) Luis Campion pulled (тянуть) her in beside him.

«I hid (прятаться) there because they might not let us come. I’ve got my movie camera (кинокамера), you see.»

She laughed (засмеяться) helplessly (беспомощно). He was so terrible that he was no longer (больше не) terrible, only dehumanized (дегуманизировать, делать бесчеловечным, жестоким).

«I wonder why Mrs. McKisco didn’t like the Divers?» she said. «They were very nice to her.»

«Oh, it wasn’t that. It was something she saw. We never did find exactly what it was because of Barban.»

«Then that wasn’t what made you so sad (печальный).»

«Oh, no,» he said, his voice breaking (ломаться), «that was something else that happened when we got back to the hotel. But now I don’t care (мне всё равно) — I wash my hands of it completely.»

They followed the other car east along the shore past Juan les Pins, where the skeleton of the new Casino was rising. It was past four and under a blue-gray sky the first fishing boats were creaking (скрипеть) out into a glaucous (серовато-голубой, серовато-зелёный; тусклый) sea. Then they turned off the main road and into the back (глухой, отдалённый) country (местность, территория).

«It’s the golf course (площадка для игры в гольф),» cried Campion, «I’m sure that’s where it’s going to be.»

He was right. When Abe’s car pulled up (остановиться) ahead of them the east was crayoned (разрисовать) red and yellow, promising a sultry (знойный) day. Ordering the hotel car into a grove (роща) of pines Rosemary and Campion kept in the shadow of a wood and skirted (окаймлять) the bleached (отбеленный) fairway (ровная лужайка) where Abe and McKisco were walking up and down, the latter (второй, последний) raising his head at intervals like a rabbit scenting (нюхать, вдыхать запах). Presently there were moving figures over by a farther (отдаленный) tee (Т-образный элемент) and the watchers made out (различать) Barban and his French second — the latter (второй, последний) carried the box of pistols under his arm.

Somewhat (в какой-то степени) appalled (потрясённый, шокированный, повергнутый в ужас), McKisco slipped (скользить, плавно передвигаться) behind Abe and took a long swallow (глоток) of brandy. He walked on choking (задыхаясь) and would have marched directly up into the other party, but Abe stopped him and went forward to talk to the Frenchman. The sun was over the horizon (за горизонтом).

Campion grabbed (схватить за) Rosemary’s arm.

«I can’t stand (выносить) it,» he squeaked (пропищать), almost voiceless (без голоса). «It’s too much. This will cost me (это будет мне стоить) — »

«Let go,» Rosemary said peremptorily (безапелляционнo). She breathed (выдыхать) a frantic (неистовый) prayer (молитва) in French.

The principals (главный виновник действия) faced each other (стоять лицом друг к другу), Barban with the sleeve rolled up from his arm (при этом Барбан закатал рукава своей сорочки). His eyes gleamed (блестеть) restlessly (беспрерывно) in the sun, but his motion was deliberate (размеренный, неторопливый) as (в то время, как) he wiped (вытирать) his palm (ладонь) on the seam (шов) of his trousers (брюки). McKisco, reckless (безрассудный; опрометчивый) with brandy, pursed (сжимать, складывать) his lips in a whistle (свист) and pointed his long nose about nonchalantly (небрежно), until Abe stepped forward (пока Абе не сделал шаг вперед) with a handkerchief (носовой платок) in his hand. The French second stood with his face turned away (отвернувшись). Rosemary caught her breath (перехватить дыхание) in terrible pity (ужасное сожаление) and gritted (стискивать) her teeth with hatred (от ненависти) for Barban; then: catch breath «One — two — three!» Abe counted in a strained (напряжённый; неестественный; вымученный) voice.

They fired (выстрелить) at the same moment. McKisco swayed (качнуться) but recovered himself (придти в себя). Both shots had missed (не попадать в цель).

«Now, that’s enough!» cried Abe.

The duellists (дуэлянт) walked in, and everyone looked at Barban inquiringly (вопросительно).

«I declare myself unsatisfied (неудовлетворенный).»

«What? Sure you’re satisfied,» said Abe impatiently (нетерпеливо). «You just don’t know it.»

«Your man refuses (отказываться) another shot?»

«You’re damn (черт побери) right, Tommy. You insisted on (настаивать на) this and my client went through with it.»

Tommy laughed scornfully (презрительно).

«The distance was ridiculous (смешной, нелепый),» he said. «I’m not accustomed (не привык) to such farces (фарс) — your man must remember he’s not now in America.»

«No use cracking at (Нечего кивать на; при чём здесь) America,» said Abe rather sharply (резко). And then, in a more conciliatory (примирительный; умиротворительный) tone, «This has gone far enough, Tommy.» They parleyed (обсуждать, договариваться) briskly (живо, оживленно) for a moment — then Barban nodded (кивать) and bowed (поклониться) coldly to his late (запоздалый) antagonist (противник).

«No shake hand?» suggested the French doctor.

«They already know each other,» said Abe.

He turned to McKisco.

«Come on, let’s get out.»

As they strode off, McKisco, in exultation (ликование, торжество), gripped his arm (схватить за руку).

«Wait a minute!» Abe said. «Tommy wants his pistol back. He might need it again.»

McKisco handed it over (передать).

«To hell with him (Ну его к Богу! Бог с ним! Пошёл он к чёрту!),» he said in a tough voice (жестким голосом). «Tell him he can — »

«Shall I tell him you want another shot (ещё один выстрел)?»

«Well, I did it,» cried McKisco, as they went along. «And I did it pretty (довольно, весьма) well, didn’t I? I wasn’t yellow (трусливый, подлый).»

«You were pretty (весьма) drunk,» said Abe bluntly (прямо, резко, напрямик).

«No, I wasn’t.»

«All right, then, you weren’t.»

«Why would it make any difference (Какая разница) if I had a drink or so?»

As his confidence mounted (по мере того, как в нем росла уверенность) he looked resentfully (раздражением) at Abe.

«What difference does that make (Какая разница)?» he repeated (повторить).

«If you can’t see it, there’s no use going into it (бесполезно вдаваться в это).»

«Don’t you know everybody was drunk all the time during the war?»

«Well, let’s forget it.»

But the episode was not quite over. There were urgent footsteps in the heather behind them and the doctor drew up alongside (появиться, остановиться рядом).

«Pardon, Messieurs,» he panted (выдыхать). «Voulez-vous regler mes honorairies? Naturellement c’est pour soins médicaux seulement. M. Barban n’a qu’un billet de mille et ne peut pas les régler et l’autre a laissé son porte-monnaie chez lui.»

«Trust a Frenchman to think of that,» said Abe, and then to the doctor. «Combien?»

«Let me pay this,» said McKisco.

«No, I’ve got it. We were all in about the same danger.»

Abe paid the doctor while McKisco suddenly turned into the bushes and was sick (стошнить) there. Then paler (бледнее) than before he strutted (важно шагать) on with Abe toward the car through the now rosy morning.

Campion lay (лежать) gasping (дышать с трудом, задыхаться) on his back in the shrubbery (кустарник), the only casualty (жертва) of the duel, while Rosemary suddenly hysterical with laughter kept kicking (пинать) at him with her espadrille (эспадрильи). She did this persistently (упорно) until she roused (приводить в чувство) him — the only matter of importance to her now was that in a few hours she would see the person whom she still referred to (относиться к) in her mind as «the Divers (ныряльщик) ” on the beach.

XII

They were at Voisins waiting for Nicole, six of them, Rosemary, the Norths, Dick Diver and two young French musicians. They were looking over the other patrons of the restaurant to see if they had repose (уравновешенность, самообладание, хладнокровие) — Dick said no American men had any repose, except (кроме) himself, and they were seeking (искать) an example to confront (сравнивать, сопоставлять) him with. Things looked black (дела плохи, дело принимает неважный оборот) for them — not a man had come into the restaurant for ten minutes without raising his hand to his face.

«We ought never to have given up waxed (воск; парафин) mustaches,» said Abe. «Nevertheless Dick isn’t the ONLY man with repose (уравновешенность, самообладание, хладнокровие) — »

«Oh, yes, I am.»

« — but he may be the only sober (трезвый) man with repose.»

A well-dressed (хорошо одетый) American had come in with two women who swooped (падать) and fluttered (дрожать; качаться) unselfconsciously (неосознанно, неумышленно, непреднамеренно) around a table. Suddenly, he perceived (почувствовать) that he was being watched (что за ним наблюдают) — whereupon (после чего) his hand rose (подняться) spasmodically and arranged a phantom bulge (выпуклость) in his necktie. In another unseated party a man endlessly (бесконечно) patted (гладить, хлопать) his shaven (выбритый) cheek with his palm (ладонь), and his companion mechanically raised and lowered the stub (окурок) of a cold cigar. The luckier (более удачливый) ones fingered (трогать, дотрагиваться, осязать) eyeglasses (очки) and facial (на лице) hair, the unequipped (незащищенный) stroked (ударять) blank (бесцветный) mouths, or even pulled (растягивать) desperately (отчаянно) at the lobes (мочка) of their ears.

A well-known general came in, and Abe, counting on the man’s first year at West Point — that year during which no cadet (курсант; кадет) can resign (уходить в отставку) and from which none ever recovers (оправляться, приходить в себя) — made a bet (заключить пари) with Dick of five dollars.

His hands hanging (висеть) naturally (естественно) at his sides, the general waited to be seated (пока его не усадили). Once (один раз) his arms swung (качнуться) suddenly backward (назад) like a jumper’s (прыгун) and Dick said, «Ah!» supposing he had lost control (потерять равновесие), but the general recovered (оправляться, приходить в себя) and they breathed (выдохнуть) again — the agony (агония) was nearly over (почти прошла), the garçon (гарсон, официант) was pulling out (выдвигать) his chair…

With a touch (печать, оттенок) of fury (ярость, неистовство) the conqueror (завоеватель, покоритель) shot up (резко поднять) his hand and scratched (почесать) his gray immaculate (безукоризненно чистый, опрятный) head.

«You see,» said Dick smugly, «I’m the only one.»

Rosemary was quite sure of it and Dick, realizing (осознавать) that he never had a better audience (публика; зрители), made the group into so bright a unit (единица; единое целое, группа) that Rosemary felt an impatient disregard (неуважение, пренебрежение, игнорирование) for all who were not at their table. They had been two days in Paris but actually they were still under the beach umbrella. When, as at the ball of the Corps des Pages the night before, the surroundings (окружение) seemed formidable (гигантский, обширный, огромный) to Rosemary, who had yet to attend (посещать) a Mayfair party (вечеринка, приём) in Hollywood, Dick would bring the scene within range by greeting a few people, a sort of selection — the Divers seemed to have a large acquaintance, but it was always as if the person had not seen them for a long, long time, and was utterly (крайне; чрезвычайно) bowled over (накачать), «Why, where do you KEEP yourselves?» — and then re-create the unity of his own party by destroying the outsiders (постороннее лицо; человек, не принадлежащий к данному кругу; чужой) softly but permanently (надолго, постоянно) with an ironic coup de grâce (изящество, грация). Presently (вскоре) Rosemary seemed to have known those people herself in some deplorable (прискорбный; плачевный) past, and then got on to them (узнать, общаться, осваиваться), rejected (отвергать) them, discarded (отвергать; отбрасывать; списывать) them.

Their own party was overwhelmingly (всецело, большей частью, преимущественно) American and sometimes scarcely (едва ли, вряд ли) American at all (вообще). It was themselves he gave back to them, blurred (размывать) by the compromises of how many years.

Into the dark, smoky restaurant, smelling of (пахнущий) the rich raw foods on the buffet, slid (проскользнуть, прошмыгнуть) Nicole’s sky-blue suit like a stray segment (случайный, редкий сегмент) of the weather outside (снаружи). Seeing from their eyes how beautiful she was, she thanked them with a smile of radiant (лучезарный, блистательный, ослепительный) appreciation (оценка). They were all very nice people for a while, very courteous (обходительный, учтивый, любезный) and all that (все такое прочее). Then they grew tired of it and they were funny and bitter (жестокий, нелицеприятный, невыносимый; обидный) and finally they made a lot of plans. They laughed at things that they would not remember clearly afterward — laughed a lot and the men drank three bottles of wine. The trio of women at the table were representative of the enormous (огромный) flux (постоянное изменение, движение) of American life. Nicole was the granddaughter of a self-made American capitalist and the granddaughter of a Count (граф) of the House of Lippe Weissenfeld. Mary North was the daughter of a journeyman (наемный ремесленник) paper-hanger (оклейщик обоев) and a descendant (потомок) of President Tyler. Rosemary was from the middle of the middle class, catapulted (катапультировать) by her mother onto the uncharted (неизвестный, неведомый) heights of Hollywood. Their point of resemblance (сходство) to each other and their difference from so many American women, lay (заключаться) in the fact that they were all happy to exist in a man’s world — they preserved (сохранять) their individuality through men and not by opposition (оппозиция) to them. They would all three have made alternatively (альтернативно) good courtesans (куртизанка) or good wives not by the accident (случай; случайность) of birth but through the greater accident (случай; случайность) of finding their man or not finding him.

So Rosemary found it a pleasant party, that luncheon, nicer in that there were only seven people, about the limit of a good party. Perhaps, too, the fact that she was new to their world acted as a sort of catalytic agent to precipitate (ускорять; стимулировать) out all their old reservations (оговорка, замечание) about one another. After the table broke up, a waiter directed Rosemary back into the dark hinterland (хинтерланд, глубинка) of all French restaurants, where she looked up a phone number by a dim (тусклый, неяркий; слабый) orange bulb (лампочка), and called Franco-American Films. Sure, they had a print of «Daddy’s Girl» — it was out for the moment, but they would run it off later in the week for her at 341 Rue des Saintes Anges — ask for Mr. Crowder.

The semi-booth (полубудка; полукабина) gave on (выходить на) the vestiaire and as Rosemary hung up the receiver (повесить трубку) she heard two low (тихий) voices not five feet from her on the other side of a row of coats.

« — So you love me?»

«Oh, DO I!»

It Was Nicole — Rosemary hesitated (колебаться) in the door of the booth — then she heard Dick say:

«I want you terribly — let’s go to the hotel now.» Nicole gave a little gasping sigh (затруднённый вздох). For a moment the words conveyed (выражать, передавать) nothing at all to Rosemary — but the tone did. The vast secretiveness of it vibrated to herself.

«I want you.»

«I’ll be at the hotel at four.»

Rosemary stood breathless (не дыша) as the voices moved away. She was at first even astonished (пораженный) — she had seen them in their relation to each other as people without personal exigencies (острая необходимость, потребность, нужда) — as something cooler. Now a strong current (волна) of emotion flowed (хлынуть) through her, profound (глубокий) and unidentified (неопознанный, неизвестный). She did not know whether she was attracted or repelled (отталкивать; внушать отвращение), but only that she was deeply moved (трогать, волновать). It made her feel very alone as she went back into the restaurant, but it was touching (трогательный) to look in upon, and the passionate (страстный) gratitude (благодарность) of Nicole’s «Oh, DO I!» echoed (отдаваться эхом; отражаться) in her mind. The particular mood of the passage (эпизод, момент) she had witnessed lay ahead of her; but however far she was from it her stomach told her it was all right — she had none of the aversion (отвращение) she had felt in the playing of certain love scenes in pictures.

Being far away from it she nevertheless (тем не менее) irrevocably (безвозвратно) participated (участвовать) in it now, and shopping with Nicole she was much more conscious of (осознавать) the assignation (условленная встреча; тайная встреча; любовное свидание) than Nicole herself. She looked at Nicole in a new way, estimating (оценивать) her attractions (привлекательность). Certainly she was the most attractive woman Rosemary had ever met (когда-либо встречала) — with her hardness (твёрдость), her devotions (сильная привязанность) and loyalties (верность, преданность), and a certain elusiveness (неуловимость), which Rosemary, thinking now through her mother’s middle-class mind, associated with her attitude (отношение) about money. Rosemary spent money she had earned (зарабатывать) — she was here in Europe due to (бладаря) the fact that she had gone in the pool (озерцо, бассейн) six times that January day with her temperature roving (блуждать) from 99° in the early morning to 103°, when her mother stopped it.

With Nicole’s help Rosemary bought two dresses and two hats and four pairs of shoes with her money. Nicole bought from a great list that ran two pages, and bought the things in the windows besides. Everything she liked that she couldn’t possibly use herself, she bought as a present for a friend. She bought colored beads (бусы; бисер), folding beach cushions (подушка), artificial flowers, honey, a guest bed, bags, scarfs (платок), love birds, miniatures (миниатюра) for a doll’s house and three yards of some new cloth the color of prawns (креветка). She bought a dozen bathing suits, a rubber alligator, a travelling chess set (набор) of gold and ivory (слоновая кость), big linen (парусина, холст) handkerchiefs (носовой платок) for Abe, two chamois (замша) leather (кожаный) jackets of kingfisher (зимородок) blue and burning bush from Hermes — bought all these things not a bit like a high-class courtesan (куртизанка) buying underwear (бельё) and jewels (драгоценность), which were after all professional equipment (экипировка) and insurance (страховка) — but with an entirely (совершенно) different (другая) point of view (точка зрения). Nicole was the product of much ingenuity (изобретательность, искусность, мастерство) and toil (труд). For her sake trains began their run at Chicago and traversed (пересекать) the round belly (живот, брюхо) of the continent to California; chicle (чикл, натуральный каучук; жевательная резинка) factories fumed (дымить, загазовывать) and link belts (цепная передача; цепной привод) grew link by link (звено за звеном) in factories; men mixed toothpaste in vats (бак, цистерна, чан, кадка, бочка) and drew mouthwash (средство для полоскания рта) out of copper hogsheads (деревянная бочка); girls canned (консервировать) tomatoes quickly in August or worked rudely (неистово, яростно) at the Five-and-Tens on Christmas Eve (накануне Рождества); half-breed (метис) Indians toiled (трудиться) on Brazilian coffee plantations and dreamers (мечтатель; выдумщик, фантазёр) were muscled out (выбрасывать) of patent rights (патентое право) in new tractors — these were some of the people who gave a tithe (десятая часть) to Nicole, and as the whole system swayed (раскачиваться) and thundered (говорить громогласно, громко) onward (и в дальнейшем) it lent (придавать) a feverish (лихорадочный) bloom (цвет) to such processes of hers as wholesale (оптовая) buying, like the flush (изобилие, внезапный прилив) of a fireman’s (пожарный) face holding his post before a spreading blaze (яркий свет, блеск,). She illustrated very simple principles, containing in herself her own doom (судьба), but illustrated them so accurately (точно; аккуратно; безошибочно) that there was grace (грация, изящество) in the procedure, and presently (вскоре) Rosemary would try (пытаться) to imitate (имитировать) it.

It was almost four. Nicole stood in a shop with a love bird on her shoulder, and had one of her infrequent (нечастый, редкий; случайный) outbursts (взрыв, вспышка) of speech.

«Well, what if you hadn’t gone in that pool (басейн) that day — I sometimes wonder about such things. Just before the war we were in Berlin — I was thirteen, it was just before Mother died. My sister was going to a court ball and she had three of the royal princes on her dance card, all arranged by a chamberlain (камергер) and everything. Half an hour before she was going to start she had a side ache (боль в боку) and a high fever (температура). The doctor said it was appendicitis (аппедицит) and she ought to be operated on. But Mother had her plans made, so Baby went to the ball and danced till two with an ice (лед) pack strapped (обвязыванный) on under her evening dress. She was operated on at seven o’clock next morning.»

It was good to be hard (жёсткий), then; all nice people were hard on themselves. But it was four o’clock and Rosemary kept thinking of Dick waiting for Nicole now at the hotel. She must go there, she must not make him wait for her. She kept thinking, «Why don’t you go?» and then suddenly, «Or let me go if you don’t want to.» But Nicole went to one more place to buy corsages (лиф платья, корсаж) for them both and sent one to Mary North. Only then she seemed to remember and with sudden abstraction (рассеянность; погружённость в мысли, задумчивость) she signalled for a taxi.

«Good-by,» said Nicole. «We had fun, didn’t we (Мы хорошо провели время, не так ли)?»

«Loads of fun (не слабо повеселились),» said Rosemary. It was more difficult than she thought and her whole self (все её эго) protested as Nicole drove away.

XIII

Dick turned the corner of the traverse (проезд, проход, пересечение) and continued along the trench (ров, канава; борозда) walking on the duckboard (стремянка; трап (для работы на наклонной плоскости); деревянный тротуар). He came to a periscope (перископ), looked through it a moment; then he got up on the step and peered (заглянуть, посмотреть) over the parapet (парапет, бруствер; дорожка, тротуар). In front of him beneath a dingy (выцветший, тусклый) sky was Beaumont Hamel; to his left the tragic hill of Thiepval. Dick stared (пристально глядеть, вглядываться; уставиться) at them through his field glasses (полевой бинокль), his throat straining (сжиматься) with sadness (печаль).

He went on along the trench, and found the others waiting for him in the next traverse (проезд, проход). He was full of excitement and he wanted to communicate it to them, to make them understand about this, though actually Abe North had seen battle service and he had not.

«This land here cost (стоить) twenty lives a foot (фут = 30,48 см; = 1/3 ярда) that summer,» he said to Rosemary. She looked out obediently (покорно) at the rather (довольно) bare (голый) green plain (равнина) with its low trees of six years’ growth. If Dick had added that they were now being shelled (обрамлять) she would have believed him that afternoon. Her love had reached a point where now at last she was beginning to be unhappy, to be desperate (доведённый до отчаяния; безрассудный). She didn’t know what to do — she wanted to talk to her mother.

«There are lots of people dead since and we’ll all be dead soon,» said Abe consolingly (утешительно).

Rosemary waited tensely (напряженно) for Dick to continue.

«See that little stream (поток, река, ручей) — we could walk to it in two minutes. It took the British a month to walk to it — a whole empire (империя) walking very slowly, dying (умирать) in front and pushing forward (толкать вперед) behind. And another empire walked very slowly backward a few inches (дюйм) a day, leaving the dead like a million bloody (кровавый) rugs (плед; накидка). No Europeans will ever do that again in this generation (поколение).»

«Why, they’ve only just quit over (оставлять, уходить) in Turkey,» said Abe. «And in Morocco — »

«That’s different (другой). This western-front business couldn’t be done again, not for a long time. The young men think they could do it but they couldn’t. They could fight the first Marne (Марна — река во Франции) again but not this. This took religion and years of plenty (много) and tremendous sureties (гарантия, залог, поручительство) and the exact relation (отношение) that existed (существовать) between the classes. The Russians and Italians weren’t any good (быть полезным/годиться на что-либо) on this front. You had to have a whole-souled (искренний, идущий от всего сердца) sentimental equipment going back further than you could remember. You had to remember Christmas, and postcards of the Crown Prince and his fiancée (невеста), and little cafés in Valence and beer gardens in Unter den Linden and weddings (свадьба; венчание, бракосочетание) at the mairie, and going to the Derby, and your grandfather’s whiskers.» «General Grant invented this kind of battle at Petersburg in sixty-five.»

«No, he didn’t — he just invented mass butchery (бойня, резня). This kind of battle was invented by Lewis Carroll (Льюис Кэрролл) and Jules Verne (Жюль Верн) and whoever wrote Undine ([«ʌndin], ундина), and country deacons ([’dikən]; дьякон, диакон) bowling ([’bəulɪŋ] игра в кегли, боулинг) and marraines in Marseilles and girls seduced (соблазнять; совращать) in the back lanes (узкая улочка, переулок) of Wurtemburg and Westphalia. Why, this was a love battle — there was a century of middle-class love spent here. This was the last love battle.»

«You want to hand over this battle to D. H. Lawrence,» said Abe.

«All my beautiful lovely safe world blew itself up (надуватьcя; накачиваться) here with a great gust (всполох, дым, внезапный звук, хлынувший дождь) of high explosive (взрывной) love,» Dick mourned (горевать; оплакивать) persistently (перманетно, постоянно). «Isn’t that true, Rosemary?»

«I don’t know,» she answered with a grave (серьёзный) face. «You know everything.»

They dropped (валиться с ног от усталости) behind the others. Suddenly a shower (множество, «град») of earth gobs (большой кусок, комок) and pebbles (галька, голыш, булыжник, гравий) came down on them and Abe yelled (вопить, кричать) from the next traverse (проезд, проход):

«The war spirit (дух, привидение) ’s getting into me again. I have a hundred years of Ohio love behind me and I’m going to bomb out this trench (ров, канава; котлован).» His head popped up (внезапно появляться) over the embankment. «You’re dead — don’t you know the rules? That was a grenade (граната).»

Rosemary laughed and Dick picked up a retaliatory (ответный; карательный; репрессивный) handful (горсть, пригоршня) of stones and then put them down.

«I couldn’t kid (шутить) here,» he said rather apologetically (извиняющимся тоном; сконфуженно; примирительно). «The silver cord (шнурок) is cut and the golden bowl ([boul] ваза) is broken and all that, but an old romantic like me can’t do anything about it.»

«I’m romantic too.»

They came out of the neat restored trench, and faced a memorial to the Newfoundland dead. Reading the inscription Rosemary burst into sudden tears (неожиданно разразиться слезами). Like most women she liked to be told how she should feel, and she liked Dick’s telling her which things were ludicrous (нелепый, смехотворный,) and which things were sad (печальный). But most of all she wanted him to know how she loved him, now that the fact was upsetting (опрокидывать, переворачивать) everything, now that she was walking over the battlefield (поле сражения, поле боя) in a thrilling (волнующий, захватывающий) dream.

After that they got in their car and started back toward Amiens. A thin warm rain was falling on the new scrubby (низкорослый) woods and underbrush (подлесок, подлесье) and they passed great funeral pyres (погребальный костёр) of sorted (сортированный) duds (лохмотья), shells (раковина), bombs, grenades (граната), and equipment, helmets (шлем; каска), bayonets (штык), gun stocks (дуло ружья/ствол орудия) and rotten (гнилой, испорченный) leather (кожа), abandoned (заброшенный, покинутый) six years in the ground. And suddenly around a bend (поворот, изгиб; излучина) the white caps (колпак) of a great sea of graves (могила). Dick asked the chauffeur to stop.

«There’s that girl — and she still has her wreath (венок, гирлянда).»

They watched as he got out and went over to the girl, who stood uncertainly by the gate (ворота) with a wreath (венок) in her hand. Her taxi waited. She was a red-haired girl from Tennessee whom they had met on the train this morning, come from Knoxville to lay a memorial (мемориал) on her brother’s grave. There were tears of vexation (досада, недовольство, раздражение) on her face.

«The War Department must have given me (должно быть, дали мне) the wrong number,» she whimpered (хныкать, ныть). «It had another name on it. I been lookin’ for it since two o’clock, and there’s so many graves.»

«Then if I were you I’d just lay (положить, класть) it on any grave without looking at the name,» Dick advised her.

«You reckon (считать) that’s what I ought to do?»

«I think that’s what he’d have wanted you to do (Я думаю, это то, что он хотел бы, чтобы вы сделали).»

It was growing dark and the rain was coming down harder (сильнее).

She left the wreath on the first grave inside the gate, and accepted (принять) Dick’s suggestion (предложение) that she dismiss (отпустить) her taxi-cab and ride back (ехать назад) to Amiens with them.

Rosemary shed tears (вытирать слёзы) again when she heard of the mishap (происшествие; несчастный случай) — altogether it had been a watery day, but she felt that she had learned something, though (хотя) exactly what it was she did not know. Later she remembered all the hours of the afternoon as happy — one of those uneventful (непримечательный) times that seem at the moment only a link (звено) between past and future pleasure but turn out (как оказывается) to have been the pleasure itself.

Amiens was an echoing purple (пурпурный) town, still sad with the war, as some railroad stations were: — the Gare du Nord and Waterloo station in London. In the daytime one is deflated (разочаровывать; уязвлять) by such towns, with their little trolley cars of twenty years ago crossing the great gray cobble-stoned (мощенный булыжником) squares (площадь) in front of the cathedral (собор), and the very weather seems to have a quality of the past, faded (блёклый, вылинявший) weather like that of old photographs. But after dark all that is most satisfactory in French life swims back (уплывать обратно) into the picture — the sprightly (радостный, весёлый) tarts (подружка), the men arguing with a hundred Voilàs in the cafés, the couples drifting (движущиеся), head to head, toward the satisfactory inexpensiveness (дешевизна) of nowhere (идея «нигде; никуда»). Waiting for the train they sat in a big arcade, tall enough to release the smoke and chatter and music upward and obligingly (обязательно) the orchestra launched into (с жаром начинать) «Yes, We Have No Bananas,» — they clapped (хлопать в ладоши), because the leader looked so pleased with himself (выглядел таким довольным собой). The Tennessee girl forgot her sorrow (горе) and enjoyed herself, even began flirtations of tropical eye-rollings and pawings, with Dick and Abe. They teased (поддразнивать) her gently (мягко). Then, leaving infinitesimal (бесконечно малый) sections of Wurtemburgers, Prussian Guards, Chasseurs Alpins, Manchester mill hands and old Etonians to pursue (выполнять, совершать) their eternal (вечный) dissolution (растворение) under the warm rain, they took the train for Paris. They ate sandwiches of mortadel sausage and bel paese cheese (a mild creamy Italian cheese) made up in the station restaurant, and drank Beaujolais. Nicole was abstracted (погруженный в мысли, рассеянный), biting her lip restlessly (беспрерывно) and reading over the guide-books to the battle-field that Dick had brought along — indeed, he had made a quick study of the whole affair, simplifying it always until it bore (носить, иметь) a faint (слабый) resemblance (сходство) to one of his own parties.

XIV

When they reached Paris Nicole was too tired to go on to the grand illumination at the Decorative Art Exposition as they had planned. They left her at the Hotel Roi George, and as she disappeared between the intersecting (перекрещивающийся) planes (плоскость) made by lobby lights of the glass doors, Rosemary’s oppression (подавленность) lifted (возрастать). Nicole was a force — not necessarily well disposed (хорошо расположенный) or predictable (предсказуемый) like her mother — an incalculable (непредсказуемый; непрогнозируемый) force. Rosemary was somewhat (в некоторой степени) afraid of her.

At eleven she sat with Dick and the Norths at a houseboat (плавучий дом) café just opened on the Seine. The river shimmered (мерцать) with lights from the bridges and cradled (укачивать) many cold moons. On Sundays sometimes when Rosemary and her mother had lived in Paris they had taken the little steamer (пароход) up to Suresnes and talked about plans for the future. They had little money but Mrs. Speers was so sure of Rosemary’s beauty and had implanted (вкладывать) in her so much ambition, that she was willing to gamble (рисковать) the money on «advantages»; Rosemary in turn was to repay her mother when she got her start….

Since reaching Paris Abe North had had a thin vinous (винный) fur (налет) over him; his eyes were bloodshot (покрасневший) from sun and wine. Rosemary realized for the first time that he was always stopping in places to get a drink, and she wondered how Mary North liked it. Mary was quiet, so quiet save for (кроме) her frequent (частый) laughter that Rosemary had learned little about her. She liked the straight dark hair brushed back (зачёсывать назад) until it met some sort of natural cascade that took care of it — from time to time it eased (смягчать) with a jaunty (изысканный, изящный, утончённый) slant (уклон, скос) over the corner of her temple (висок), until it was almost in her eye when she tossed (вскидывать) her head and caused it to fall sleek (гладкий и блестящий) into place once more.

«We’ll turn in (лечь спать) early to-night, Abe, after this drink.» Mary’s voice was light but it held a little flicker (мелькание; проблеск) of anxiety. «You don’t want to be poured (отливать) on the boat.»

«It’s pretty late now,» Dick said. «We’d all better go.»

The noble dignity of Abe’s face took on a certain stubbornness (упрямство), and he remarked with determination (решительность):

«Oh, no.» He paused gravely (серьёзно). «Oh, no, not yet. We’ll have another bottle of champagne.»

«No more for me,» said Dick.

«It’s Rosemary I’m thinking of. She’s a natural alcoholic — keeps a bottle of gin in the bathroom and all that — her mother told me.»

He emptied what was left of the first bottle into Rosemary’s glass. She had made herself quite sick (больной) the first day in Paris with quarts (кварта) of lemonade; after that she had taken nothing with them but now she raised the champagne and drank at it.

«But what’s this?» exclaimed Dick. «You told me you didn’t drink.»

«I didn’t say I was never going to.»

«What about your mother?»

«I’m just going to drink this one glass.» She felt some necessity for it. Dick drank, not too much, but he drank, and perhaps it would bring her closer to him, be a part of the equipment for what she had to do. She drank it quickly, choked (подавиться) and then said, «Besides, yesterday was my birthday — I was eighteen.»

«Why didn’t you tell us?» they said indignantly (возмущённо).

«I knew you’d make a fuss (суета) over it and go to a lot of trouble.» She finished the champagne. «So this is the celebration (празднование).»

«It most certainly is not,» Dick assured her. «The dinner tomorrow night is your birthday party and don’t forget it. Eighteen — why that’s a terribly important age.»

«I used to think until you’re eighteen nothing matters,» said Mary.

«That’s right,» Abe agreed. «And afterward it’s the same way.»

«Abe feels that nothing matters till he gets on the boat,» said Mary. «This time he really has got everything planned out when he gets to New York.» She spoke as though (как будто) she were tired of saying things that no longer (больше не) had a meaning for her, as if in reality the course that she and her husband followed (следовать), or failed (не смогли) to follow, had become merely (всего лишь) an intention (намерение).

«He’ll be writing music in America and I’ll be working at singing in Munich, so when we get together again there’ll be nothing (не будет ничего) we can’t do (что мы не могли бы делать).»

«That’s wonderful,» agreed Rosemary, feeling the champagne.

«Meanwhile (между тем), another touch of champagne for Rosemary. Then she’ll be more able to rationalize the acts of her lymphatic glands (железа). They only begin to function at eighteen.»

Dick laughed indulgently (снисходительно, терпимо) at Abe, whom he loved, and in whom he had long lost hope: «That’s medically incorrect and we’re going.» Catching (уцепиться) the faint (слабый) patronage (покровительство) Abe said lightly (беспечно):

«Something tells me I’ll have a new score on Broadway long before you’ve finished your scientific treatise (научный труд).»

«I hope so,» said Dick evenly (ровно). «I hope so. I may even abandon (забросить) what you call my „scientific treatise.“»

«Oh, Dick!» Mary’s voice was startled (испуганный), was shocked. Rosemary had never before seen Dick’s face utterly (крайне) expressionless (невыразительный); she felt that this announcement was something momentous (важный, имеющий большое значение) and she was inclined (быть склонным) to exclaim (воскликнуть) with Mary «Oh, Dick!»

But suddenly Dick laughed again, added to his remark (замечание)» — abandon it for another one,» and got up from the table.

«But Dick, sit down. I want to know — »

«I’ll tell you some time. Good night, Abe. Good night, Mary.»

«Good night, dear Dick.» Mary smiled as if she were going to be perfectly happy sitting there on the almost deserted (покинутый) boat. She was a brave, hopeful woman and she was following her husband somewhere, changing herself to this kind of person or that, without being able to lead him a step out of his path, and sometimes realizing with discouragement (обескураженность; разочарование) how deep in him the guarded (осторожный, осмотрительный, сдержанный,) secret of her direction lay (заключаться, лежать). And yet an air of luck (удача) clung (прилипать) about her, as if she were a sort of token (знак, символ; маркер) ….

XV

«What is it you are giving up?» demanded Rosemary, facing Dick earnestly (серьёзно) in the taxi.

«Nothing of importance (ничего важного).»

«Are you a scientist?»

«I’m a doctor of medicine.»

«Oh-h!» she smiled delightedly (восхищённо, радостно; счастливо). «My father was a doctor too. Then why don’t you — » she stopped.

«There’s no mystery. I didn’t disgrace myself (опозориться) at the height of my career, and hide away (спрятаться) on the Riviera. I’m just not practising. You can’t tell, I’ll probably practise again some day.»

Rosemary put up (подставить) her face quietly (спокойно) to be kissed (для поцелуя). He looked at her for a moment as if (как будто) he didn’t understand. Then holding her in the hollow (изгиб, впадина) of his arm (рука) he rubbed (потереться) his cheek against her cheek’s softness (мягкость), and then looked down at her for another long moment.

«Such a lovely (прелестный) child,» he said gravely (серьёзно, рассудительно).

She smiled up at him; her hands playing conventionally (привычно) with the lapels (лацкан; отворот) of his coat. «I’m in love with you and Nicole. Actually that’s my secret — I can’t even talk about you to anybody because I don’t want any more people to know how wonderful you are. Honestly (честно) — I love you and Nicole — I do.»

— So many times he had heard this — even the formula was the same (такой же).

Suddenly she came toward him, her youth vanishing (исчезать) as she passed inside the focus of his eyes and he had kissed her breathlessly (захлёбываться) as if she were any age at all. Then she lay back against his arm and sighed (вздыхать).

«I’ve decided to give you up,» she said.

Dick started (начать) — had he said anything to imply (подразумевать, намекать) that she possessed (владеть) any part of him?

«But that’s very mean (низкий, подлый),» he managed to say lightly (легко), «just when I was getting (начинать) interested.»

«I’ve loved you so — » As if it had been for years. She was weeping (плакать, рыдать) a little now. «I’ve loved you so-o-o.»

Then he should have laughed, but he heard himself saying, «Not only are you beautiful but you are somehow (как-то, в какой-то степени) on the grand scale (в огромной степени). Everything you do, like pretending (притворяться) to be in love or pretending to be shy (застенчивый) gets across (удаваться довести, донести).»

In the dark cave of the taxi, fragrant (благоухающий) with the perfume (парфюм, духи) Rosemary had bought with Nicole, she came close (приблизиться) again, clinging (прислоняться) to him. He kissed her without enjoying (наслаждаться) it. He knew that there was passion (страсть) there, but there was no shadow (тень) of it in her eyes or on her mouth; there was a faint (слабый) spray of champagne on her breath (дыхание). She clung nearer desperately (отчаянно, безрассудно) and once more (снова, ещё раз) he kissed her and was chilled (удручать) by the innocence (невинность) of her kiss, by the glance (взгляд) that at the moment of contact looked beyond (мимо) him out into the darkness of the night, the darkness of the world. She did not know yet that splendor (великолепие, величие) is something in the heart; at the moment when she realized (осознавать) that and melted (таять) into the passion of the universe (вселенная) he could take her without question or regret (раскаяние, сожаление).

Her room in the hotel was diagonally (диагонально) across (через, поперёк) from theirs and nearer the elevator (лифт). When they reached (дойти) the door she said suddenly:

«I know you don’t love me — I don’t expect (ожидать) it. But you said I should have told you about my birthday. Well, I did, and now for my birthday present I want you to come into my room a minute while I tell you something. Just one minute.»

They went in and he closed the door, and Rosemary stood close to him, not touching (прикасаться) him. The night had drawn (убрать) the color from her face — she was pale as pale now, she was a white carnation (гвоздика) left after a dance.

«When you smile — » He had recovered (вновь обретать; возвращать, получать обратно) his paternal (отцовский) attitude (отношение), perhaps because of Nicole’s silent proximity (близость), «I always think I’ll see a gap (пропасть) where you’ve lost some baby teeth (зуб).»

But he was too late — she came close up against him with a forlorn (безнадёжный, жалкий) whisper.

«Take me.»

«Take you where?»

Astonishment (изумление, удивление) froze (заморозить) him rigid (жёсткий, неподатливый).

«Go on,» she whispered. «Oh, please go on, whatever they do. I don’t care (мне всё равно) if I don’t like it — I never expected to — I’ve always hated to think (не хотеть думать) about it but now I don’t. I want you to.»

She was astonished (удивлять, изумлять, поражать) at herself — she had never imagined she could talk like that. She was calling on things she had read, seen, dreamed through a decade (десятилетие) of convent (монастырь) hours. Suddenly she knew too that it was one of her greatest rôles and she flung herself (бросаться, кидаться, ринуться) into it more passionately.

«This is not as it should be,» Dick deliberated (обдумывать, пазмышлять). «Isn’t it just the champagne? Let’s more or less forget it.»

«Oh, no, NOW. I want you to do it now, take me, show me, I’m absolutely yours and I want to be.»

«For one thing, have you thought how much it would hurt (обидеть) Nicole?»

«She won’t know — this won’t have anything to do with (касаться) her.»

He continued kindly.

«Then there’s the fact that I love Nicole.»

«But you can love more than just one person, can’t you? Like I love Mother and I love you — more. I love you more now.»

« — the fourth place you’re not in love with me but you might be afterwards (потом), and that would begin your life with a terrible mess (ужасная неприятность).»

«No, I promise I’ll never see you again. I’ll get Mother and go to America right away (прямо сейчас).»

He dismissed (отклонять; отказывать) this. He was remembering too vividly (ярко) the youth and freshness (свежесть) of her lips. He took another tone.

«You’re just in that mood.»

«Oh, please, I don’t care (мне всё равно) even if I had a baby. I could go into Mexico like a girl at the studio. Oh, this is so different (отличаться) from anything I ever thought — I used to hate (обычно мне очень не нравилось) it when they kissed me seriously (серьёзно).» He saw she was still under the impression (впечатление, уверенность) that it must happen. «Some of them had great big teeth, but you’re all different (другой) and beautiful. I want you to do it.»

«I believe you think people just kiss some way and you want me to kiss you.»

«Oh, don’t tease (дразнить) me — I’m not a baby. I know you’re not in love with me.» She was suddenly humble and quiet. «I didn’t expect that much. I know I must seem just nothing to you.»

«Nonsense. But you seem young to me.» His thoughts added (про себя он добавил),» — there’d be so much to teach you.»

Rosemary waited, breathing eagerly (пылко, с нетерпением) till Dick said: «And lastly things aren’t arranged (устраивать, складываться) so that this could be as you want.»

Her face drooped (поникать, свисать, наклоняться) with dismay (уныние) and disappointment (разочарование) and Dick said automatically, «We’ll have to simply — » He stopped himself, followed her to the bed, sat down beside her while she wept (плакать). He was suddenly confused (смущаться), not about the ethics of the matter, for the impossibility of it was sheerly (явно) indicated from all angles (угол) but simply confused (смущенный), and for a moment his usual grace (грация), the tensile (напряженный) strength of his balance (равновесие), was absent.

«I knew you wouldn’t,» she sobbed (рыдать). «It was just a forlorn (жалкий, несчастный) hope.»

He stood up.

«Good night, child. This is a damn shame (стыд). Let’s drop (бросать) it out of the picture.» He gave her two lines of hospital (лечебный) patter (лёгкое постукивание) to go to sleep on. «So many people are going to love you and it might be nice to meet your first love all intact (здоровый, целый, невредимый), emotionally (эмоционально) too. That’s an old-fashioned (старомодный) idea, isn’t it?» She looked up at him as he took a step toward the door; she looked at him without the slightest idea (без малейшего представления) as to (относительно того) what was in his head, she saw him take another step in slow motion (движение), turn and look at her again, and she wanted for a moment to hold him and devour (поглотить) him, wanted his mouth, his ears, his coat collar, wanted to surround him and engulf him (заглатывать); she saw his hand fall on the doorknob (дверная ручка). Then she gave up (сдаваться) and sank back (откинуться обратно) on the bed. When the door closed she got up and went to the mirror, where she began brushing (расчёсывать) her hair, sniffling (сопеть; хлюпать носом) a little. One hundred and fifty strokes (расчёсывание) Rosemary gave it, as usual (как обычно), then a hundred and fifty more. She brushed it until her arm ached (заболеть), then she changed (поменять) arms and went on (продолжать) brushing.

XVI

She woke up (проснуться) cooled (спокойный) and shamed (пристыженный). The sight (вид, отражение) of her beauty in the mirror did not reassure (успокоить) her but only awakened (проснуться) the ache (боль) of yesterday and a letter, forwarded (отправлять, посылать) by her mother, from the boy who had taken her to the Yale prom (студенческий бал) last (прошлый) fall (осень), which announced (говорить, объявлять) his presence in Paris was no help — all that seemed far away. She emerged (появляться, выходить) from her room for the ordeal (тяжелое испытание; мучение, мука) of meeting the Divers weighted (отягощать, обременять) with a double trouble. But it was hidden (прятать, скрывать) by a sheath (оболочка, защитный слой; покрытие) as impermeable (непроницаемый, герметичный) as Nicole’s when they met and went together to a series of fittings (примерка). It was consoling (утешительный), though, when Nicole remarked (заметить), apropos (кстати, между прочим) of a distraught (безумный; потерявший голову) saleswoman (продавщица): «Most (большинство) people think everybody feels about them much more violently (яростно; сильно; неистово) than they actually do — they think other people’s opinions of them swing (вертеться) through great arcs (дуга, арка) of approval (одобрение) or disapproval (неодобрение, осуждение).» Yesterday in her expansiveness (экспансивность, несдержанность) Rosemary would have resented (не терпеть; негодовать; возмущаться; раздражаться) that remark (замечание) — to-day in her desire to minimize (уменьшить, минимизировать) what had happened she welcomed (приветствовать) it eagerly (с нетерпением, жадно, охотно). She admired (восхищаться) Nicole for her beauty and her wisdom (мудрость), and also for the first time in her life she was jealous (ревновать). Just before leaving (покидать, уходить, уезжать) Gausse’s hotel her mother had said in that casual (обычный, небрежный) tone, which Rosemary knew concealed (скрывать) her most significant (значимый, важный) opinions, that Nicole was a great beauty (красавица), with the frank (искренний) implication (подтекст; смысл) that Rosemary was not. This did not bother (волновать, беспокоить) Rosemary, who had only recently (недавно) been allowed to learn that she was even personable (хорошо сложённый, привлекательный; представительный); so that (так что) her prettiness (прелесть, прелестность) never seemed exactly (имепнно, точно) her own but rather (а, скорее) an acquirement (приобретение), like (как) her French. Nevertheless (тем не менее), in the taxi she looked at Nicole, matching herself against her (сравнивая её с собой). There were all the potentialities (возможность) for romantic love in that lovely body and in the delicate mouth (изящный рот), sometimes tight (плотно сжатый), sometimes expectantly (выжидательно, выжидающе) half open (полураскрытый) to the world. Nicole had been a beauty as a young girl and she would be a beauty later when her skin stretched (растягиваться, натягиваться) tight (туго) over her high cheekbones (скула) — the essential (внутренне присущий, неотъемлемый) structure was there. She had been white-Saxon-blonde but she was more beautiful now that her hair had darkened (потемнеть) than when it had been like a cloud and more beautiful than she.

«We lived there,» Rosemary suddenly pointed (указывать) to a building in the Rue des Saints-Péres.

«That’s strange (странный). Because when I was twelve (когда мне было двенадцать лет) Mother and Baby and I once (однажды) spent a winter there,» and she pointed to (указывать на) a hotel directly across (через) the street. The two dingy (выцветший, тусклый) fronts (перёд, передняя часть) stared at (уставиться на) them, gray (серый) echoes (эхо) of girlhood (девичество).

«We’d just built our Lake Forest house and we were economizing (экономить),» Nicole continued. «At least Baby and I and the governess (гувернантка) economized and Mother travelled.»

«We were economizing too,» said Rosemary, realizing (осознавать) that the word meant (означать) different (другой) things to them.

«Mother always spoke of it very carefully (осмотрительно) as a small hotel — » Nicole gave her quick magnetic (привлекательный; магнетический, притягательный) little laugh (смешок),» — I mean instead of saying a «cheap’ hotel. If any swanky (шикарный, щегольской, щеголеватый) friends asked us our address we’d never say, «We’re in a dingy (грязный, запачканный) little hole (дыра) over in the apache (хулиган, бандит, головорез) quarter (квартал) where we’re glad of running water,» — we’d say «We’re in a small hotel.» As if (как будто) all the big ones (здесь: отель, гостиница) were too noisy and vulgar (грубый; вульгарный) for us. Of course the friends always saw through us (видеть насквозь) and told everyone about it, but Mother always said it showed we knew our way around Europe. She did, of course: she was born a German citizen (гражданин, житель). But her mother was American, and she was brought up (воспитываться) in Chicago, and she was more American than European.»

They were meeting the others in two minutes, and Rosemary reconstructed herself once more as they got out of the taxi in the Rue Guynemer, across from the Luxembourg Gardens. They were lunching in the Norths’ already dismantled (разобранный; демонтированный) apartment high above the green mass of leaves. The day seemed different (другой) to Rosemary from the day before — When she saw him face to face (лицом к лицу) their eyes met and brushed like birds’ wings. After that everything was all right, everything was wonderful, she knew that he was beginning to fall in love with her. She felt wildly (дико, ужасно) happy, felt the warm sap (жизненные силы, жизненные соки, живица) of emotion being pumped (накачивать) through her body. A cool, clear confidence (уверенность) deepened (углубляться) and sang in her. She scarcely (едва) looked at Dick but she knew everything was all right.

After luncheon (линч, ленч, обед) the Divers and the Norths and Rosemary went to the Franco-American Films, to be joined by Collis Clay, her young man from New Haven, to whom she had telephoned. He was a Georgian, with the peculiarly (своеобразный) regular (правильный), even stencilled (трафаретный, шаблонный) ideas of Southerners (южанин) who are educated (получать образование) in the North. Last winter she had thought him attractive (привлекательный) — once they held hands in an automobile going from New Haven to New York; now he no longer (больше не) existed for her.

In the projection (демонстрационный) room she sat between Collis Clay and Dick while the mechanic (механик) mounted (монтировать, устанавливать) the reels (бобина, катушка) of Daddy’s Girl and a French executive (администратор, ответственный работник, руководящее звено) fluttered (развеваться; колыхаться) about her trying to talk American slang. «Yes, boy,» he said when there was trouble with the projector, «I have not any benenas.» Then the lights went out, there was the sudden click and a flickering noise (шум мерцания, фликкер-шум) and she was alone with Dick at last. They looked at each other in the half darkness (темнота).

«Dear Rosemary,» he murmured (шептать, говорить шёпотом). Their shoulders touched (прикоснуться). Nicole stirred (шевелиться; двигаться) restlessly (беспрерывно) at the end of the row (ряд) and Abe coughed (кашлять) convulsively (конвульсивно, судорожно) and blew his nose (прочистить нос, высморкаться); then they all settled down (устраиваться) and the picture ran (начаться).

There she was — the school girl of a year ago, hair down her back and rippling out (струиться) stiffly (натянуто) like the solid hair of a tanagra (танагра) figure; there she was — SO young and innocent (невинный) — the product of her mother’s loving care; there she was — embodying (воплощать) all the immaturity (незрелость) of the race (народ, раса), cutting a new cardboard (картон) paper doll to pass before its empty harlot’s (проститутка, шлюха) mind. She remembered how she had felt in that dress, especially (особенно) fresh and new under the fresh (свежий) young silk (шелк).

Daddy’s girl. Was it a «itty-bitty (очень маленький, крошечный, «уй ти какой масенький») bravekins and did it suffer? Ooo-ooo-tweet, de tweetest (чирикать, щебетать) thing, wasn’t she dest too tweet (птичий щебет, чириканье)? Before her tiny (крошечный) fist (кулак) the forces of lust (похоть, вожделение) and corruption (порочность, развращённость) rolled away (откатываться); nay (нет; даже; более того; мало того), the very march (жизненный путь) of destiny (судьба) stopped; inevitable (неизбежный, неминуемый, неотвратимый) became evitable (не неотвратимый; вполне преодолимый), syllogism (силлогизм, дедуктивное доказательство), dialectic (диалектный), all rationality (рациональность, практичность) fell away (уходить, исчезать, спадать). Women would forget the dirty (грязный) dishes (тарелка, блюдо) at home and weep (плакать, рыдать), even within the picture one woman wept so long that she almost stole (красть) the film away from Rosemary. She wept all over a set (набор, компект, гарнитур) that cost a fortune (стоить состояние), in a Duncan Phyfe dining-room, in an aviation port, and during a yacht-race (прогулка на яхте) that was only used in two flashes (кадр), in a subway (метро) and finally in a bathroom. But Rosemary triumphed (торжествовать). Her fineness (тонкость) of character, her courage (смелость, мужество) and steadfastness (стойкость, непреклонность, устойчивость) intruded (внедряться, вламываться) upon by the vulgarity of the world, and Rosemary showing what it took with a face that had not yet become mask-like — yet it was actually so moving (трогательный) that the emotions of the whole row of people went out to her at intervals during the picture. There was a break (перерыв) once (однажды, один раз) and the light went on and after the chatter (шум) of applause (аплодисменты) Dick said to her sincerely (искренне): «I’m simply astounded (пораженный). You’re going to be one of the best actresses on the stage.» Then back to Daddy’s Girl: happier days now, and a lovely shot of Rosemary and her parent united at the last in a father complex so apparent (явный, очевидный) that Dick winced (вздрагивать; содрогнуться) for all psychologists at the vicious (патологический) sentimentality. The screen vanished (исчезать), the lights went on (загореться), the moment had come.

«I’ve arranged (подготовить, придумать) one other thing,» announced (объявить) Rosemary to the company at large (в целом, вообще), «I’ve arranged a test for Dick.»

«A what?»

«A screen (экран) test, they’ll take one now.»

There was an awful silence — then an irrepressible (неутомимый, неугомонный; необузданный) chortle (сдавленный смех; пофыркивание) from the Norths. Rosemary watched Dick comprehend (понимать) what she meant, his face moving first in an Irish way (по-ирландски); simultaneously (одновременно) she realized (осознавать, понимать) that she had made some mistake in the playing of her trump (козырь) and still she did not suspect (подозревать) that the card was at fault (неправмльный, ошибочный).

«I don’t want a test,» said Dick firmly (твёрдо); then, seeing the situation as a whole (в целом), he continued lightly (несерьезно, пренебрежительно, весело), «Rosemary, I’m disappointed (разочарованный). The pictures make a fine career (карьера) for a woman — but my God, they can’t photograph me. I’m an old scientist all wrapped up (закутанный) in his private (частный) life.»

Nicole and Mary urged (настаивать, подстёгивать) him ironically to seize the opportunity (ухватиться за возможность, воспользоваться возможностью); they teased (дразнить) him, both faintly (слегка) annoyed (раздосадованный) at not having been asked (что их не попросили) for a sitting (сеанс (позирования). But Dick closed (закрыть) the subject (тема) with a somewhat (некоторый) tart (резкий, колкий, ядовитый) discussion of actors: «The strongest guard (караульный; сторож; конвоир) is placed at the gateway (ворота) to nothing,» he said. «Maybe because the condition of emptiness (пустота) is too shameful (позорный; постыдный, скандальный) to be divulged (разглашать, раскрывать).»

In the taxi with Dick and Collis Clay — they were dropping (бросать) Collis, and Dick was taking (вести) Rosemary to a tea from which Nicole and the Norths had resigned (отказаться) in order to do the things Abe had left undone (не сделанный, не выполненный) till the last (до последнего момента) — in the taxi Rosemary reproached (упрекать) him.

«I thought if the test turned out (оказаться) to be good I could take it to California with me. And then maybe if they liked it you’d come out and be my leading man in a picture.»

He was overwhelmed (ошеломлённый, поражённый, потрясённый). «It was a darn (чёртов, дьявольский, адский) sweet (приятный, милый) thought, but I’d rather look at YOU. You were about (почти) the nicest sight (самый приятный вид) I ever looked at (на который я когда-либо смотрел).»

«That’s a great picture,» said Collis. «I’ve seen it four times (четыре раза). I know one boy at New Haven who’s seen it a dozen (дюжина, десяток) times (раз) — he went all the way to Hartford to see it one time. And when I brought Rosemary up to New Haven he was so shy (застенчивый) he wouldn’t meet her. Can you beat (побеждать, побивать) that? This little girl knocks them cold.»

Dick and Rosemary looked at each other, wanting to be alone, but Collis failed to understand.

«I’ll drop (довозить, высаживать) you where you’re going,» he suggested. «I’m staying at the Lutetia.»

«We’ll drop you,» said Dick.

«It’ll be easier for me to drop you. No trouble at all.»

«I think it will be better if we drop you.»

«But — » began Collis; he grasped (понять) the situation at last and began discussing with Rosemary when he would see her again.

Finally, he was gone, with the shadowy unimportance but the offensive (обиженный) bulk (груда, масса) of the third party (сторона). The car stopped unexpectedly (неожиданно), unsatisfactorily (неудовлетворительно), at the address Dick had given. He drew a long breath (глубоко вздохнуть).

«Shall we go in?»

«I don’t care (мне всё равно),» Rosemary said. «I’ll do anything you want.»

He considered (взвешивать, обдумывать, продумывать).

«I almost have to go in — she wants to buy some pictures from a friend of mine who needs the money.»

Rosemary smoothed (гладить) the brief expressive (выразительный) disarray (беспорядок) of her hair.

«We’ll stay just five minutes,» he decided. «You’re not going to like these people.»

She assumed (допускать, предполагать) that they were dull (скучный) and stereotyped (стереотипный, трафаретный, шаблонный) people, or gross (большой, крупный; толстый, тучный) and drunken (пьяный) people, or tiresome (надоедливый, неинтересный, скучный), insistent (привлекающий внимание, бросающийся в глаза, необычный) people, or any of the sorts of people that the Divers avoided (избегать). She was entirely (совершенно) unprepared (неготова) for the impression (впечатление) that the scene (сцена) made (производить) on her.

XVII

It was a house hewn (высеченный, тёсаный, вырубленный) from the frame (каркас, строение) of Cardinal de Retz’s palace (дворец) in the Rue Monsieur, but once inside the door there was nothing of the past, nor of any present that Rosemary knew. The outer shell (внешняя оболочка), the masonry (каменная кладка), seemed rather to enclose (включать в себя, охватывать) the future so that it was an electric-like shock, a definite nervous experience (опыт), perverted (извращать, искажать) as a breakfast of oatmeal (овсяная мука, толокно) and hashish (гашиш), to cross that threshold (порог), if it could be so called (если это можно так назвать), into the long hall of blue steel (сталь), silver-gilt (позолоченное серебро), and the myriad (несметное число, мириады) facets (аспект, грань, сторона) of many oddly (странно) beveled (скошенный, срезанный на конус) mirrors (зеркало). The effect was unlike (отличаться) that of any part of the Decorative Arts (декоративное искусство) Exhibition (выставка) — for there were people IN it, not in front of it. Rosemary had the detached (беспристрастный; объективный) false-and-exalted (ложный, поддельный и экзальтированный, восторженный) feeling of being on a set (набор, декорация, коллекция, гарнитур, комплект, ряд, серия) and she guessed (думать, догадываться) that every one else present (присутствующий) had that feeling too.

There were about thirty people, mostly (большей частью) women, and all fashioned (создавать, моделировать) by Louisa M. Alcott or Madame de Ségur; and they functioned on this set as cautiously (осторожно), as precisely (точно), as does a human (человек) hand picking up (подбирать) jagged (зубчатый, зазубренный; неровно оторванный) broken glass. Neither individually (ни индивидуально) nor as a crowd (ни как толпа; ни в качестве толпы) could they be said (можно было сказать) to dominate (доминировать, превалировать) the environment (окружающая среда), as one comes to dominate a work of art he may possess (обладать), no matter how (независимо от того, каким) esoteric (эзотерический, тайный, известный или понятный лишь посвящённым), no one knew what this room meant because it was evolving (развивать (ся), эволюционировать) into something else, becoming everything a room was not; to exist (существовать) in it was as difficult as walking (было столь же трудно, как ходить) on a highly polished (полированный) moving stairway (лестничный марш), and no one could succeed (преуспевать) at all save (за исключением, кроме) with the aforementioned (вышеупомянутый) qualities (качество) of a hand moving among broken glass — which qualities (качества которого) limited (ограничивать) and defined (определять) the majority (большую часть, большинство) of those present (присутствующий).

These were of two sorts. There were the Americans and English who had been dissipating (диссипировать; рассеивать) all spring and summer, so that (так что) now everything they did had a purely (чисто) nervous inspiration (нервное воодушевление). They were very quiet (тихий, спокойный) and lethargic (апатичный, безразличный, вялый) at certain (определенный) hours and then they exploded (взрываться) into sudden quarrels (ссора) and breakdowns (полный упадок сил, здоровья) and seductions (обольщение, соблазн, искушение). The other class, who might be called (кого можно назвать) the exploiters (эксплуататор), was formed by the sponges (губка), who were sober (трезвомыслящий), serious (серьёзный) people by comparison (по сравнению), with a purpose (цель) in life and no time for fooling (глупость). These kept their balance best in that environment (окружение), and what tone there was, beyond (за пределами) the apartment’s novel (новый, оригинальный, нестандартный) organization of light (лёгкий, легковесный) values (ценность), came from them.

The Frankenstein took down Dick and Rosemary at a gulp (залпом, одним глотком) — it separated them immediately and Rosemary suddenly discovered herself to be an insincere (неискренний) little person, living all in the upper registers (регистр, диапазон голоса) of her throat and wishing the director would come.

There was however such a wild (дикий) beating (хлопанье, стучание, биение) of wings (крыло) in the room that she did not feel her position was more incongruous (нелепый, неподходящий, несочетаемый) than any one else’s. In addition (кроме того), her training told and after a series of semi-military (полу-военный) turns (поворот), shifts (поворот), and marches (хождение, вышагивание) she found herself presumably (предположительно) talking to a neat (аккуратный, опрятный), slick (ловкий; искусный, умелый) girl with a lovely boy’s face, but actually absorbed (поглощенный) by a conversation taking place on a sort (что-то вроде) of gun-metal (пушечная бронза, бронзовый сплав) ladder (лестница) diagonally (диагонально) opposite (противоположной) her and four feet away (на расстоянии четырёх футов от неё).

There was a trio of young women sitting on the bench. They were all tall and slender with small heads groomed (холить; приводить в надлежащий вид; наводить лоск) like manikins’ (манекен) heads, and as they talked the heads waved (колыхаться; развеваться) gracefully (изящно, грациозно) about (вокруг) above their dark tailored (выполненный или оформленный в строгом стиле) suits (костюм), rather (довольно, вполне, в какой-то степени) like (как, подобно, напоминающий) long-stemmed flowers (цветок на длинном стебле) and rather like (скорее похожий) cobras’ (кобра) hoods (капюшон).

«Oh, they give a good show,» said one of them, in a deep rich voice. «Practically the best show in Paris — I’d be the last one to deny (отрицать) that. But after all — » She sighed (вздохнуть). «Those phrases he uses over and over — „Oldest inhabitant (житель) gnawed (грызть, глодать) by rodents (грызун).“ You laugh once.»

«I prefer people whose lives have more corrugated (морщиться, сморщиваться) surfaces (поверхность),» said the second, «and I don’t like her.»

«I’ve never really been able to get very excited about them, or their entourage (окружение, антураж, окружающая обстановка) either (тоже, также). Why, for example, the entirely (совершенно) liquid (жидкий) Mr. North?»

«He’s out,» said the first girl. «But you must admit that the party (участник) in question (о котором идет речь) can be one of the most charming (очаровательный) human beings (человеческое существо) you have ever met (которое вы когда-либо встречали).»

It was the first hint (намек, лёгкая подсказка) Rosemary had had that they were talking about the Divers, and her body grew tense (напрягаться) with indignation (от возмущения). But the girl talking to her, in the starched (накрахмаленный) blue shirt with the bright (яркий) blue eyes and the red cheeks (щека) and the very gray suit, a poster (афиша, объявление, плакат, постер) of a girl, had begun to play up. Desperately (отчаянно) she kept sweeping (выметать) things from between them, afraid that Rosemary couldn’t see her, sweeping them away until presently (вскоре) there was not so much as a veil (вуаль) of brittle (хрупкий; ломкий) humor (гумор, тканевая жидкость) hiding (скрывать) the girl, and with distaste (отвращение; неприязнь) Rosemary saw her plain (некрасивый).

«Couldn’t you have lunch, or maybe dinner, or lunch the day after?» begged (спросить) the girl. Rosemary looked about for Dick, finding him with the hostess (хозяйка), to whom he had been talking since they came in. Their eyes met and he nodded (кивнуть) slightly (слегка), and simultaneously (одновременно) the three cobra women noticed her; their long necks darted (устремиться) toward her and they fixed (устремить, фиксировать) finely (тонко) critical glances upon her. She looked back at them defiantly (вызывающе; дерзко, демонстративно), acknowledging (признавать) that she had heard what they said. Then she threw off her exigent (разборчивый, привередливый; взыскательный) vis-à-vis (партнёр) with a polite (вежливый) but clipped (резкий) parting (расставание) that she had just learned from Dick, and went over to join (присоединиться) him. The hostess (хозяйка) — she was another tall rich American girl, promenading (прохаживаться, фланировать) insouciantly (беззаботный, безразличный) upon the national prosperity (успех) — was asking Dick innumerable (бесчисленный) questions about Gausse’s Hôtel, whither (куда) she evidently wanted to come, and battering (выбивать) persistently (настойчиво) against his reluctance (неохота, нежелание, нерасположение). Rosemary’s presence reminded (напоминать) her that she had been recalcitrant (непокорный человек, упрямец, бунтарь, мятежник) as a hostess (хозяйка) and glancing about (оглядываться вокруг) she said: «Have you met any one amusing (интересный), have you met Mr. — » Her eyes groped for (искать) a male who might interest Rosemary, but Dick said they must go. They left immediately (сразу), moving over the brief threshold (порог) of the future to the sudden past of the stone façade without (наружу).

«Wasn’t it terrible?» he said.

«Terrible,» she echoed (отозваться эхом) obediently (покорно).

«Rosemary?»

She murmured (бормотать), «What?» in an awed (полный ужаса) voice.

«I feel terribly about this.»

She was shaken with audibly (явно) painful (мучительный, тягостный) sobs (рыдание; всхлипывание). «Have you got a handkerchief (носовой платок)?» she faltered (заикаться, запинаться, мямлить). But there was little time to cry, and lovers now they fell ravenously (жадно) on the quick seconds while outside the taxi windows (пока за окнами такси) the green and cream twilight (сумерки) faded (расплываться, растворяться), and the fire-red, gas-blue, ghost-green signs (знак) began to shine smokily (дымчато) through the tranquil (мирный; безмятежный) rain. It was nearly six, the streets were in movement, the bistros gleamed (сверкать), the Place de la Concorde moved by in pink majesty (розовое величие) as the cab turned north.

They looked at each other at last, murmuring (бормотать) names that were a spell (заклинание; произносить (слово) по буквам). Softly (мягко) the two names lingered on (помедлить, задерживаться в) the air, died away (затихать, замирать) more slowly than other words, other names, slower (медленнее) than music in the mind (в голове, в уме).

«I don’t know what came over me last night,» Rosemary said. «That glass of champagne? I’ve never done anything like that before.»

«You simply said you loved me.»

«I do (действительно, на самом деле) love you — I can’t change that.» It was time for Rosemary to cry, so she cried a little in her handkerchief.

«I’m afraid I’m in love with you,» said Dick, «and that’s not the best thing (не лучшее) that could happen (что могло случиться).»

Again the names — then they lurched together as if the taxi had swung (вертеть; поворачивать) them. Her breasts crushed flat against him, her mouth was all new and warm, owned in common (в совместном владении). They stopped thinking with an almost painful (болезненный) relief (облегчение), stopped seeing; they only breathed (дышать) and sought (искать) each other. They were both in the gray gentle (нежный) world of a mild (мягкий) hangover (похмелье) of fatigue (усталость, утомление) when the nerves relax (расслабляться) in bunches (связка, пучок, пачка) like piano strings (струна, клавиша), and crackle (потрескивать, трещать, хрустеть) suddenly like wicker chairs (плетёный стул). Nerves so raw (сырой) and tender (нежный) must surely (несомненно, конечно) join (присоединиться) other nerves, lips to lips, breast (грудь) to breast….

They were still in the happier stage of love. They were full of brave (смелый) illusions (иллюзия) about each other, tremendous (классный, обалденный, потрясающий) illusions, so that the communion (соединение) of self (эго, личность) with self seemed to be on a plane (плоскость, пространство) where no other (никакой другой) human (человеческий) relations (отношение) mattered (иметь значение). They both seemed to have arrived there with an extraordinary (чрезвычайный, крайний) innocence (невинность) as though (как будто) a series (серия, последовательность) of pure (чистый) accidents (случай; случайность) had driven them together (сводить вместе), so many accidents (случайность) that at last they were forced (быть вынужденным) to conclude (сделать вывод) that they were for each other. They had arrived with clean hands, or so it seemed, after no traffic (движение; транспорт) with the merely (только, всего лишь, единственно) curious (любознательный) and clandestine ([klæn’destɪn] тайный, скрытый, секретный; нелегальный).

But for Dick that portion of the road was short; the turning came before they reached the hotel.

«There’s nothing to do about it (С этим ничего уже не поделать),» he said, with a feeling of panic (с ощущением паники). «I’m in love with you but it doesn’t change (менять) what I said last night (прошлая ночь).»

«That doesn’t matter now. I just wanted to make you love me — if you love me everything’s all right.»

«Unfortunately (к сожалению) I do (мне не всё равно; для меня это значит что-то). But Nicole mustn’t know — she mustn’t suspect (подозревать) even faintly (чуть-чуть). Nicole and I have got to go on together (идти дальше вместе). In a way (в некоторой степени; в некотором смысле) that’s more important than just wanting to go on.»

«Kiss me once more (ещё раз).»

He kissed her, but momentarily (сразу же) he had left her.

«Nicole mustn’t suffer (страдать) — she loves me and I love her — you understand that.»

She did understand (она на самом деле понимала) — it was the sort of thing (нечто такое) she understood well, not hurting people (не задевать чувства людей). She knew the Divers loved each other because it had been her primary (первый, первичный) assumption (догадка, предположение, допущение). She had thought however that it was a rather cooled (охлажденный) relation, and actually (на самом деле) rather like (больше похоже) the love of herself and her mother. When people have so much for outsiders (посторонний, чужой) didn’t it indicate (указывать) a lack (отсутствие, недостаток) of inner (внутренний) intensity (сила чувства)?

«And I mean love,» he said, guessing (догадываться о) her thoughts. «Active love — it’s more complicated (сложный) than I can tell you. It was responsible for that crazy duel.»

«How did you know about the duel? I thought we were to keep it from you.»

«Do you think Abe can keep a secret?» He spoke with incisive irony. «Tell a secret over the radio, publish it in a tabloid, but never tell it to a man who drinks more than three or four a day.»

She laughed in agreement, staying close to him.

«So you understand my relations with Nicole are complicated. She’s not very strong — she looks strong but she isn’t. And this makes rather a mess.»

«Oh, say that later! But kiss me now — love me now. I’ll love you and never let Nicole see.»

«You darling.»

They reached the hotel and Rosemary walked a little behind him, to admire (восхищаться) him, to adore (обожать) him. His step was alert (бдительный, внимательный, настороженный) as if he had just come from some great doings and was hurrying on toward others. Organizer of private gaiety (веселье), curator of a richly incrusted (инкрустированный) happiness. His hat was a perfect hat and he carried a heavy stick and yellow gloves. She thought what a good time they would all have being with him to-night.

They walked upstairs — five flights (пролёт лестницы). At the first landing (лестничная площадка) they stopped and kissed; she was careful on the next landing, on the third more careful still. On the next — there were two more — she stopped half way and kissed him fleetingly (быстро; мимолётно) good-by. At his urgency (настойчивость) she walked down with him to the one below for a minute — and then up and up. Finally (наконец) it was good-by with their hands stretching (при этом их руки вытягивались) to touch along the diagonal of the banister (перила) and then the fingers slipping apart (размыкаться). Dick went back downstairs to make some arrangements for the evening — Rosemary ran to her room and wrote a letter to her mother; she was conscience-stricken (её мучила совесть) because she did not miss (скучать) her mother at all.

XVIII

Although the Divers were honestly apathetic (равнодушный, безразличный, апатичный) to organized fashion, they were nevertheless (тем не менее) too acute (проницательный; сообразительный) to abandon (отказаться, отбросить) its contemporaneous (современный; происходящий в одно время, одновременный) rhythm and beat (такт, ритм) — Dick’s parties (группа) were all concerned (охваченный) with excitement (волнение), and a chance (случайный, непредвиденный) breath of fresh night air was the more precious (драгоценный, сокровенный) for being experienced (опытный, искусный) in the intervals of the excitement.

The party that night moved with the speed of a slapstick (фарс, дешёвое развлечение) comedy. They were twelve, they were sixteen, they were quartets (квартет) in separate motors bound on a quick Odyssey over Paris. Everything had been foreseen (предвидеть). People joined them as if (как бы, как будто) by magic (волшебство, магия), accompanied (сопровождать) them as specialists, almost guides (гид, проводник), through a phase of the evening, dropped out (выбывать, отходить) and were succeeded (за ними следовали) by other people, so that (так что) it appeared (оказываться) as if the freshness (свежесть, новизна) of each one had been husbanded (возделывать, культивировать) for them all day. Rosemary appreciated (оценивать) how (насколько) different (другой, отличающийся) it was from any (любой) party (вечеринка) in Hollywood, no matter (всё равно, неважно, не имеет значения) how (каким-бы ни) splendid (великолепный) in scale (по масштабу). There was, among many diversions (отклонение, отступление), the car of the Shah of Persia. Where Dick had commandeered (реквизировать, экспроприировать) this vehicle (средство передвижения), what bribery (взяточничество; подкуп) was employed (использовать), these were facts of irrelevance (не иметь значения). Rosemary accepted (принимать) it as merely (как просто) a new facet (грань) of the fabulous (потрясающий, изумительный), which for two years had filled (наполнять) her life. The car had been built on a special chassis (шасси; ходовая часть) in America. Its wheels (колесо) were of silver (серебро), so was the radiator (а также радиатор). The inside (внутренняя часть) of the body (корпус) was inlaid (инкрустированный; мозаичный) with innumerable (бесчисленный) brilliants which would be replaced (заменять) with true (настоящий, неподдельный) gems (драгоценный камень) by the court jeweler (придворный ювелир) when the car arrived in Teheran the following week. There was only one real seat in back, because the Shah must ride (ехать, кататься) alone, so they took turns (по очереди) riding in it and sitting on the marten (куница) fur that covered the floor.

But always there was Dick. Rosemary assured (уверять) the image (образ) of her mother, ever carried with her (который был всегда с ней), that never, never had she known any one so nice, so thoroughly (совершенно) nice as Dick was that night. She compared him with the two Englishmen, whom Abe addressed conscientiously (добросовестно, честно) as «Major Hengest and Mr. Horsa,» and with the heir (наследник) to a Scandinavian throne (трон) and the novelist (писатель-романист) just back (только что вернувшийся) from Russia, and with Abe, who was desperate (отчаянный) and witty (остроумный), and with Collis Clay, who joined (присоединиться) them somewhere (где-то) and stayed along — and felt there was no comparison. The enthusiasm, the selflessness (бескорыстность) behind the whole performance ravished (доставлять большое удовольствие, приводить в восторг, восхищать) her, the technic of moving many varied types, each as immobile (неподвижный, стационарный), as dependent on (зависящий от) supplies (запас, поставка) of attention as an infantry (пехота) battalion (батальон, артиллерийский дивизион) is dependent on rations (рацион, паёк), appeared (оказаться) so effortless (не требующий усилий; лёгкий; естественный, непринуждённый) that he still had pieces (кусок, доля) of his own most personal self («я», эго) for everyone.

— Afterward she remembered the times when she had felt the happiest. The first time was when she and Dick danced together and she felt her beauty sparkling (сверкаать) bright against his tall, strong form as they floated (плыть), hovering (парить) like people in an amusing (забавный, занимательный) dream — he turned her here and there with such a delicacy (тонкость) of suggestion (предложение, намёк) that she was like a bright bouquet (букет), a piece of precious (драгоценный) cloth (ткань) being displayed (проявлять, открывать, показывать) before fifty eyes. There was a moment when they were not dancing at all, simply clinging (крепко держаться, прислоняться) together. Some time in the early morning they were alone, and her damp (влажный, запотевший) powdery (припорошенный) young body came up close to him in a crush (смятие) of tired (усталый) cloth (ткань), and stayed there, crushed against a background of other people’s hats and wraps (одежда, покров, оболочка) ….

The time she laughed most was later, when six of them, the best of them, noblest (наиблагороднейший) relics (реликвия) of the evening, stood in the dusky (тусклый, слабо освещённый) front lobby (передняя; прихожая; коридор; кулуары) of the Ritz telling the night concierge (консьерж, персональный ассистент, консьерж-менеджер; менеджер по работе с постояльцами, гостями) that General Pershing was outside and wanted caviare (икра) and champagne. «He brooks [терпеть, выносить, допускать (в отрицательных предложениях)] no delay (задержка). Every man, every gun is at his service (к его услугам).» Frantic (неистовый) waiters (официант) emerged (появляться) from nowhere (из ниоткуда), a table was set (быть накрытым) in the lobby (холл, вестибюль), and Abe came in representing (представлять) General Pershing while they stood up and mumbled (бормотать, мямлить) remembered (заученный) fragments of war songs (военные песня) at him. In the waiters’ injured (задетый, раненный) reaction to this anti-climax (разрядка напряжения; спад) they found themselves neglected (игнорировать, не обращать внимания), so they built a waiter trap (ловушка) — a huge (огромный) and fantastic device (механизм) constructed (сконструированный, построенный) of all the furniture (мебель) in the lobby (вестибюль) and functioning like one of the bizarre (странный) machines (механизм) of a Goldberg (Голдберг Вупи) cartoon (комикс; карикатура; шарж). Abe shook his head doubtfully (с сомнением) at it.

«Perhaps it would be better to steal (украсть) a musical saw (пила) and — »

«That’s enough,» Mary interrupted (прерывать). «When Abe begins bringing up (выдвигать, вытаскивать) that it’s time to go home.» Anxiously (тревожно, с волнением, с беспокойством) she confided (довериться) to Rosemary:

«I’ve got to get Abe home. His boat train leaves at eleven. It’s so important — I feel the whole future depends on his catching it (успеть; сесть на поезд), but whenever (когда бы ни) I argue with him he does the exact opposite (делать точно наоборот).»

«I’ll try and persuade (уговорить) him,» offered (предлагать) Rosemary.

«Would you?» Mary said doubtfully (с сомнением). «Maybe you could.»

Then Dick came up to Rosemary:

«Nicole and I are going home and we thought you’d want to go with us.»

Her face was pale with fatigue (усталость) in the false dawn (рассвет, утренняя заря). Two wan (бледный; тусклый) dark spots (точка) in her cheek marked where the color was by day.

«I can’t,» she said. «I promised Mary North to stay along with them — or Abe’ll never go to bed. Maybe you could do something.»

«Don’t you know you can’t do anything about people?» he advised her. «If Abe was my room-mate in college, tight (тесный, близкий) for the first time, it’d be different (было бы по-друому). Now there’s nothing to do (теперь ничего уже не сделаешь).»

«Well, I’ve got to stay (мне нужно остаться). He says he’ll go to bed if we only come to the Halles with him,» she said, almost defiantly (вызывающе; дерзко, непокорно; демонстративно).

He kissed the inside (внутренняя часть, впадина) of her elbow (локоть) quickly.

«Don’t let Rosemary go home alone,» Nicole called to Mary as they left. «We feel responsible to her mother.»

— Later Rosemary and the Norths and a manufacturer (производитель, изготовитель) of dolls’ voices from Newark and ubiquitous ([ju’bɪkwɪtəs] вездесущий; повсеместный) Collis and a big splendidly (великолепно) dressed oil Indian named George T. Horseprotection were riding along on top of thousands of carrots (морковь) in a market wagon (тележка, повозка). The earth (земля) in the carrot beards was fragrant (ароматный, душистый, благоуханный) and sweet in the darkness, and Rosemary was so high up in the load at she could hardly (с трудом, едва) see the others in the long shadow between infrequent (редкий) street lamps. Their voices came from far off (издалека), as if they were having experiences (опыт, впечатление, переживание) different (отличающийся, отличный) from hers, different (другой) and far away (далёкий), for (потому что) she was with Dick in her heart, sorry (сожалеющий) she had come with the Norths, wishing she was at the hotel and him asleep across the hall, or that he was here beside her with the warm darkness streaming (вытекать, литься, струиться, течь) down.

«Don’t come up,» she called to Collis, «the carrots will all roll (покатиться).» She threw one at Abe who was sitting beside the driver, stiffly (чопорно, натянуто) like an old man…. Later she was homeward bound (направляться домой) at last in broad daylight, with the pigeons already breaking over Saint-Sulpice. All of them began to laugh spontaneously (самопроизвольно, спонтанно) because they knew it was still last night while the people in the streets had the delusion (заблуждение; иллюзия) that it was bright hot morning.

«At last I’ve been on a wild party,» thought Rosemary, «but it’s no fun (нерадостно) when Dick isn’t there.»

She felt a little betrayed (предавать) and sad, but presently (вскоре) a moving object came into sight. It was a huge (огромный) horse-chestnut (конский каштан) tree in full bloom (Universal (в полном цвету) bound (направляющийся) for the Champs Élysées, strapped (стягивать ремнем) now into a long truck (грузовик) and simply shaking with laughter — like a lovely person in an undignified (недостойный) position yet confident none the less of being lovely. Looking at it with fascination (очарование; обаяние; прелесть) Rosemary identified herself (сравнить себя) with it, and laughed cheerfully (весело) with it, and everything all at once seemed gorgeous (великолепный, прекрасный).

XIX

Abe left from the Gare Saint Lazare at eleven — he stood alone under the fouled (загрязнённый) glass dome (купол), relic (реликвия) of the seventies (семидесятые годы), era (эра, эпоха) of the Crystal Palace; his hands, of that vague (неясный, туманный) gray color that only twenty-four hours can produce, were in his coat pockets to conceal (прятать, скрывать) the trembling (трясущийся) fingers. With his hat removed (убрать, снять) it was plain (ясный) that only the top (верхушка, вершина) layer (слой) of his hair was brushed back (назад) — the lower levels were pointed (направленный; острый; заостренный;) resolutely (твердо, решительно) sidewise (вбок). He was scarcely (едва) recognizable (узнаваемый) as the man who had swum (плыть) upon Gausse’s Beach a fortnight (две недели) ago (тому назад).

He was early (рано); he looked from left to right with his eyes only; it would have taken nervous forces out of his control to use any other part of his body. New-looking baggage (багаж) went past him; presently (вскоре) prospective (будущий) passengers (пассажир), with dark little bodies, were calling: «Jew-uls-HOO-OO!» in dark (угрюмый, печальный) piercing (пронзительный, резкий) voices.

At the minute when he wondered (думать, удивляться) whether or not he had time for a drink at the buffet, and began clutching (хвататься, схватить, зажать) at the soggy (сырой, мокрый) wad (пачка, связка,) of thousand-franc notes in his pocket, one end of his pendulous (сомневающийся, колеблющийся) glance came to rest upon the apparition (появление, явление) of Nicole at the stairhead (верхняя площадка лестницы). He watched her — she was self-revelatory (саморазоблачающий) in her little expressions as people seem to some one waiting for them, who as yet is himself unobserved (незамеченный). She was frowning (хмуриться), thinking of her children, less gloating (тайно злорадствовать, торжествовать) over them than merely (просто) animally (по-животному) counting (считать) them — a cat checking (проверять) her cubs (детёныш) with a paw (лапа).

When she saw Abe, the mood passed out (сходить) of her face; the glow (свет) of the morning skylight was sad (печальный), and Abe made a gloomy (мрачный) figure with dark circles that showed through the crimson (тёмно-красный, малиновый) tan (загар) under his eyes. They sat down on a bench.

«I came because you asked me,» said Nicole defensively (с оправдывающимся видом). Abe seemed to have forgotten why he asked her and Nicole was quite content (довольный, удовлетворенный) to look at the travellers passing by (проходящий мимо).

«That’s going to be the belle (красавица) of your boat — that one with all the men to say good-by — you see why she bought (купить) that dress?» Nicole talked faster (быстрее) and faster. «You see why nobody else would buy it except the belle of the world cruise (круиз)? See? No? Wake up (проснуться)! That’s a story dress — that extra material tells a story and somebody on world cruise would be lonesome (одинокий; томящийся одиночеством) enough to want to hear it.»

She bit (прикусить, зажать close her last words; she had talked too much for her; and Abe found it difficult to gather (сделать вывод, понять) from her serious (серьёзный) set (сосредоточенный) face that she had spoken at all. With an effort (усилие) he drew himself up to a posture (принимать позу) that looked (выглядеть) as if (как будто) he were standing up (вставать на ноги) while (в то время, как он сидел) he was sitting down.

«The afternoon you took me to that funny (забавный) ball — you know, St. Genevieve’s — » he began.

«I remember. It was fun (было весело), wasn’t it (не так ли)?»

«No fun for me. I haven’t had fun seeing you this time. I’m tired of you both, but it doesn’t show because you’re even more tired of me — you know what I mean. If I had any enthusiasm (воодушевление, энтузиазм), I’d go on to new people.»

There was a rough nap (ворс, пушок) on Nicole’s velvet (бархатный, вельветовый) gloves as she slapped him (резко бросить ему в ответ):

«Seems rather foolish to be unpleasant, Abe. Anyhow you don’t mean that. I can’t see why you’ve given up about everything.»

Abe considered (взвешивать, обдумывать, продумывать), trying hard not to cough (кашлянуть) or blow his nose (высморкаться).

«I suppose I got bored (мне стало надоело); and then it was such a long way to go back in order to get anywhere.»

Often a man can play the helpless (беззащитный) child in front of a woman, but he can almost never bring it off when he feels most like a helpless child.

«No excuse for it,» Nicole said crisply (решительно, твёрдо).

Abe was feeling worse every minute — he could think of nothing but disagreeable (неприятный) and sheerly (всецело, совершенно; абсолютно) nervous remarks (замечание). Nicole thought that the correct attitude (позиция) for her was to sit staring (сидеть уставившись) straight ahead (прямо перед собой), hands in her lap (положив руки на колени). For a while (в течение некоторого времени) there was no communication between them (они не разговаривали) — each was racing away (убегать) from the other, breathing (дышать) only insofar (насколько, в той мере, до таких пределов) as there was blue space ahead (впереди), a sky not seen by the other. Unlike (в отличие от) lovers they possessed no past (у них не было прошлого); unlike man and wife, they possessed no future; yet up to this morning Nicole had liked Abe better than any one except (кроме) Dick — and he had been heavy, belly-frightened, with love for her for years.

«Tired of women’s worlds,» he spoke up suddenly.

«Then why don’t you make a world of your own?»

«Tired of friends. The thing is to have sycophants (льстец, подхалим; лизоблюд).»

Nicole tried to force the minute hand around on the station clock, but, «You agree?» he demanded.

«I am a woman and my business (моё дело) is to hold things together (не дать развалиться чему-либо).»

«My business is to tear them apart (разорвать их).»

«When you get drunk you don’t tear anything apart except (кроме) yourself,» she said, cold now, and frightened (испуганный) and unconfident (неуверенный). The station was filling but no one she knew came. After a moment her eyes fell gratefully (с благодарностью, благодарно) on a tall girl with straw (соломенный) hair like a helmet (шлем; каска), who was dropping (письмо) letters in the mail slot (щель почтового ящика).

«A girl I have to (должен) speak to, Abe. Abe, wake up (просыпаться)! You fool (дурак)!»

Patiently (терпеливо) Abe followed (проводить) her with his eyes. The woman turned in a startled (испугать, вздрагивать) way to greet Nicole, and Abe recognized (узнать) her as some one he had seen around Paris. He took advantage (воспользоваться) of Nicole’s absence to cough (кашлять) hard and retchingly (чувствовать позыв к рвоте) into his handkerchief (носовой платок), and to blow his nose (высморкаться) loud. The morning was warmer and his underwear (нижнее бельё) was soaked (промочить) with sweat (пот). His fingers trembled (трястись) so violently (сильно, яростно) that it took (понадобиться) four (понадобиться) matches (спичка) to light (прикуривать, зажигать) a cigarette; it seemed absolutely necessary to make his way (идти, направиться) into the buffet for a drink, but immediately (тотчас же) Nicole returned.

«That was a mistake,» she said with frosty (ледяной) humor (настроение). «After begging (просить) me to come and see her, she gave me a good snubbing (пренебрежительное обхождение, резкое оскорбительное замечание, выговор). She looked at me as if I were rotted (проклятый).» Excited (взволнованный), she did a little laugh (смешок), as with two fingers high in the scales. «Let people come to you.»

Abe recovered (оправиться) from a cigarette cough and remarked:

«Trouble is when you’re sober (рассудительный; благоразумный, здравомыслящий, трезвый) you don’t want to see anybody, and when you’re tight (пьяный) nobody wants to see you.»

«Who, me?» Nicole laughed again; for some reason (по какой-то причине) the late (недавний, последний) encounter (случайная встреча) had cheered (придать бодрость) her.

«No — me.»

«Speak for yourself. I like people, a lot of people — I like — »

Rosemary and Mary North came in sight (появиться в поле зрения), walking (шагать) slowly and searching for (искать) Abe, and Nicole burst forth (внезапно или бурно начинать) grossly (грубо, некрасиво) with «Hey! Hi! Hey!» and laughed and waved (махать) the package (пачка) of handkerchiefs (носовой платок) she had bought for Abe.

They stood in an uncomfortable little group weighted down (приниженный) by Abe’s gigantic presence: he lay athwart (напротив) them like the wreck (остов) of a galleon (галеон), dominating with his presence his own weakness and self-indulgence (потворство своим желаниям, потакание своим желаниям), his narrowness (узость) and bitterness (горечь). All of them were conscious (осознавать) of the solemn (торжественный) dignity (достоинство) that flowed (исходить) from him, of his achievement (успех, достижение), fragmentary (фрагментарный), suggestive (вызывающий мысли, двусмысленный) and surpassed (превосходить; превышать). But they were frightened at (быть напуганным) his survivant will (воля), once (однажды) a will to live, now become a will to die.

Dick Diver came and brought with him a fine glowing (светиться, сверкать, озарять) surface (поверхность) on which the three women sprang (прыгать) like (как) monkeys (обезьяна) with cries of relief (облегчение), perching on (опереться на) his shoulders, on the beautiful crown (корона) of his hat or the gold (золотой) head (набалдашник) of his cane (трость). Now, for a moment, they could disregard (не обращать внимания, не придавать значения) the spectacle (зрелище; вид) of Abe’s gigantic obscenity (непристойность, цинизм). Dick saw the situation quickly and grasped (осознать; постичь) it quietly (спокойно). He pulled them out (вытащить) of themselves (из них самих) into the station, making plain (явный) its wonders (чудо; нечто удивительное). Nearby, some Americans were saying good-by in voices that mimiced (крпировать, пародировать) the cadence (ритм, темп, такт) of water running into a large old bathtub (ванна). Standing in the station, with Paris in back of (позади) them, it seemed as if they were vicariously (искупительно) leaning (наклоняться) a little over the ocean, already undergoing (проходить, подвергаться) a sea-change, a shifting about (перемещение) of atoms to form (чтобы сформировать, для сформирования) the essential (основной, существенный) molecule of a new people.

So the well-to-do (обеспеченный, состоятельный) Americans poured through (изливаться через) the station onto the platforms with frank (искренний; открытый) new faces, intelligent (сообразительный, смышлёный), considerate (внимательный, деликатный), thoughtless (беспечный; невнимательный), thought-for. An occasional (случайный) English face among them seemed sharp (острый, резкий) and emergent (внезапно возникающий; непредвиденный). When there were enough Americans on the platform the first impression of their immaculacy (безукоризненность, безупречность, незапачканность) and their money began to fade (тускнеть, постепенно исчезать, расплываться) into a vague (туманный) racial (расовый; национальный) dusk (сумерки; сумрак) that hindered (задерживать) and blinded (ослеплять) both them and their observers (наблюдатель).

Nicole seized Dick’s arm crying, «Look!» Dick turned in time (повернуться вр время) to see what took place in half a minute. At a Pullman entrance two cars off, a vivid scene detached itself (выделяться) from the tenor (содержание; тема) of many farewells (прощание). The young woman with the helmet-like (шлемообразный) hair to whom Nicole had spoken made an odd (странный) dodging (увёртываться, уклоняться) little run away from the man to whom she was talking and plunged (погружать; положить) a frantic (неистовый) hand into her purse (сумка); then the sound of two revolver shots (выстрел) cracked (раскалывать) the narrow air of the platform. Simultaneously (одновременно) the engine whistled (свистеть) sharply (резко) and the train began to move, momentarily (моментально) dwarfing (преуменьшить, заставить казаться незначительным) the shots in significance (по значимости). Abe waved again from his window, oblivious (забывчивый; не помнящий) to what had happened. But before the crowd closed in (сокращаться, расходиться), the others had seen the shots take effect (дать желательный результат, подействовать, возыметь действие), seen (видеть) the target (мишень) sit down upon the platform.

Only after a hundred years did the train stop; Nicole, Mary, and Rosemary waited on the outskirts (на краю) while (пока) Dick fought his way through (прокладывать себе дорогу). It was five minutes before he found them again — by this time the crowd had split (расколоться) into two sections, following, respectively (соответственно), the man on a stretcher (носилки) and the girl walking pale and firm between distraught (смятенный) gendarmes [«ʒɔndɑm] (жандарм).

«It was Maria Wallis,» Dick said hurriedly (поспешно). «The man she shot was an Englishman — they had an awful time finding out (выяснять) who, because she shot him through his identification card (удостоверение личности).» They were walking quickly from the train, swayed (идти, покачиваясь) along with the crowd. «I found out (выяснить) what poste de police they’re taking her to so I’ll go there — »

«But her sister lives in Paris,» Nicole objected (возразить). «Why not phone her? Seems very peculiar (своеобразный, странный) nobody thought of that. She’s married to a Frenchman, and he can do more than we can.»

Dick hesitated (колебаться), shook his head and started off.

«Wait!» Nicole cried after him. «That’s foolish — how can you do any good — with your French?»

«At least (по крайней мере) I’ll see they don’t do anything outrageous (жестокий,) to her.»

«They’re certainly going to hold on (удерживать) to her,» Nicole assured (заверить) him briskly (живо, оживленно). «She DID shoot the man. The best thing is to phone right away to Laura — she can do more than we can.»

Dick was unconvinced (неубеждённый; остаться при своём мнении) — also he was showing off (рисоваться) for Rosemary.

«You wait,» said Nicole firmly (твёрдо), and hurried off (поспешить) to a telephone booth (будка).

«When Nicole takes things into her hands,» he said with affectionate (любящий; нежный) irony (ирония), «there is nothing more to be done (нечего больше делать).»

He saw Rosemary for the first time that morning. They exchanged glances (обменяться взглядами), trying to recognize (узнать, заметить) the emotions of the day before (предыдущий день). For a moment each seemed unreal to the other — then the slow warm hum (глухой, приглушённый звук) of love began again.

«You like to help everybody, don’t you?» Rosemary said.

«I only pretend to (притворяться).»

«Mother likes to help everybody — of course she can’t help as many people (такое большое количество людей) as you do (как ты).» She sighed (вздыхать). «Sometimes I think I’m the most selfish (эгоистичный) person in the world.»

For the first time the mention (упоминание) of her mother annoyed (раздосадовать) rather than (а не) amused (умилять) Dick. He wanted to sweep away (отодвинуть в сторону) her mother, remove (убрать) the whole affair from the nursery (ясли) footing (опора; фундамент) upon which Rosemary persistently (постоянно) established (основывать) it. But he realized (осознавать) that this impulse was a loss (потеря) of control — what would become of Rosemary’s urge (тяготение, порыв, сильное желание) toward him if, for even a moment, he relaxed (расслабиться). He saw, not without panic, that the affair was sliding (скользить, скатываться) to rest; it could not stand still (неподвижно), it must go on or go back; for the first time it occurred to him (ему пришло в голову; его осенило) that Rosemary had her hand on the lever (рычаг) more authoritatively (уверенно, авторитетно) than he.

Before he had thought out a course (ход, течение) of procedure (мероприятие, последовательность действий), Nicole returned.

«I found Laura. It was the first news she had and her voice kept fading away (ослабляться, замирать) and then getting loud (становиться громким) again — as if she was fainting (терять сознание) and then pulling herself together (брать себя в руки). She said she knew something was going to happen this morning.»

«Maria ought to be with Diaghileff,» said Dick in a gentle (нежный) tone, in order to bring them back to quietude (покой). «She has a nice sense of decor (художественное оформление, декор) — not to say rhythm (ритм). Will any of us ever see a train pulling out (трогаться с места) without hearing a few shots (выстрел)?»

They bumped down (с шумом подпрыгивая, спускаться) the wide steel (стальной) steps (ступень). «I’m sorry for the poor man,» Nicole said. «Course that’s why she talked so strange (странно) to me — she was getting ready (готовиться) to open fire (выстрелить, открыть огонь).»

She laughed, Rosemary laughed too, but they were both horrified (в ужасе), and both of them deeply wanted Dick to make a moral comment on the matter (по этому делу) and not leave (оставлять) it to them. This wish was not entirely (всецело, полностью, абсолютно) conscious (осознанный), especially (особенно) on the part (со стороны) of Rosemary, who was accustomed (быть привычным) to having shell (внешний, обёрточный) fragments of such events (событие) shriek (с визгом, криком, воплями) past (проноситься мимо) her head. But a totality (вся совокупность) of shock had piled up (накапливаться) in her too. For the moment, Dick was too shaken (потрясенный) by the impetus (импульс, побуждение) of his newly recognized (вновь осознаваемый; по-новому осознаваемый) emotion to resolve (врисовывать) things into the pattern (схема, модель) of the holiday, so the women, missing (пропускать) something, lapsed into (впадать, погружаться) a vague (туманный) unhappiness.

Then, as if nothing had happened, the lives of the Divers and their friends flowed out (вытекать, выплывать) into the street.

However, everything had happened — Abe’s departure (отъезд) and Mary’s impending (предстоящий, надвигающийся) departure for Salzburg this afternoon had ended the time in Paris. Or perhaps the shots, the concussions () that had finished God knew what dark matter, had terminated () it. The shots had entered into all their lives: echoes () of violence () followed them out onto the pavement (тротуар) where two porters (носильщик; грузчик; перевозчик) held (обсуждать) a post-mortem (дело по вскрытию трупа) beside them as (пока) they waited for a taxi.

«Tu as vu le revolver? Il était très petit, vraie perle — un jouet.»

«Mais, assez puissant!» said the other porter sagely (глубокомысленно). «Tu as vu sa chemise? Assez de sang pour se croire à la guerre.»

XX

In the square, as they came out, a suspended (висящий, подвешенный) mass of gasoline exhaust (выпускной трубопровод) cooked (жариться) slowly in the July sun. It was a terrible thing — unlike (в отличие) pure heat it held no promise (сулить обещание; надежду; перспективу) of rural escape (убежище в сельской местности) but suggested (предлагать) only roads choked (душить, сдавливать горло) with the same foul (гадкий, отвратительный, скверный) asthma. During their luncheon, outdoors, across from the Luxembourg Gardens, Rosemary had cramps (колики; приступ острой боли) and felt fretful (капризный, раздражительный) and full of impatient (нетерпимый) lassitude (усталость, утомление; апатия) — it was the foretaste (предвкушение) of this that had inspired (вызывать) her self-accusation (самообвинение) of selfishness (эгоизм, себялюбие) in the station.

Dick had no suspicion (подозрение) of the sharpness (резкость, острота) of the change; he was profoundly (глубоко) unhappy and the subsequent (последующий) increase (увеличение, рост) of egotism tended (быть склонным, иметь тенденцию) momentarily (тотчас) to blind (ослепить) him to what was going on round about him, and deprive (лишить) him of the long ground-swell (донные волны, мёртвая зыбь) of imagination that he counted on (рассчитывать, полагаться) for his judgments (суждение).

After Mary North left them, accompanied by the Italian singing teacher who had joined (присоединиться) them for coffee and was taking (проводить) her to her train, Rosemary, too, stood up, bound for an engagement (встреча) at her studio: «meet some officials (официальное лицо).»

«And oh — » she proposed (предложить, предположить)» — if Collis Clay, that Southern (южный, с юга) boy — if he comes while you are still sitting here, just tell him I couldn’t wait; tell him to call me to-morrow.»

Too insouciant ([ɪn’susɪənt] беззаботный), in reaction from the late disturbance (беспокойство, тревога; возбуждение), she had assumed (допускать) the privileges of a child — the result being to remind the Divers of their exclusive (исключительный) love for their own children; Rosemary was sharply (резко) rebuked (упрекать; осуждать) in a short passage (общение) between the women: «You’d better leave (Вам бы лучше оставить) the message (записка) with a waiter (у официанта),» Nicole’s voice was stern (суровый) and unmodulated (немодулированный), «we’re leaving immediately (мы уезжаем немедленно).»

Rosemary got it, took it without resentment (негодование, возмущение; чувство обиды).

«I’ll let it go then. Good-by, you darlings (дорогие).»

Dick asked for the check; the Divers relaxed (расслабиться), chewing (пожёвывать) tentatively (осторожно) on toothpicks (зубочистка).

«Well — » they said together.

He saw a flash (проблеск, вспышка) of unhappiness on her mouth, so brief (короткий) that only he would have noticed, and he could pretend (сделать вид, притвориться) not to have seen. What did Nicole think? Rosemary was one of a dozen (десяток, дюжина) people he had «worked over» in the past years: these had included a French circus (цирковой) clown (клоун), Abe and Mary North, a pair of dancers, a writer, a painter, a comedienne from the Grand Guignol, a half-crazy (полусумасшедший) pederast from the Russian Ballet, a promising (многообещающий) tenor (тенор) they had staked (финансировать, поддерживать материально) to a year in Milan. Nicole well knew how seriously (серьёзно) these people interpreted his interest and enthusiasm (энтузиазм, воодушевление); but she realized (осознавать) also that, except (за исключением) while their children were being born, Dick had not spent a night apart (отдельно) from her since their marriage (свадьба). On the other hand (с другой стороны), there was a pleasingness (притягательность) about him that simply had to be used (который надо было просто использовать) — those who possessed (владеть) that pleasingness had to keep their hands in, and go along attaching (привлекать) people that they had no use to make of (от которых им не было никакой пользы).

Now Dick hardened himself and let minutes pass without making any gesture (жест) of confidence (доверие), any representation (показ, проявление, демонстрация) of constantly renewed (постоянно обновляющееся) surprise that they were one (едины, одно целое) together.

Collis Clay out of the South edged (окаймлять, обрамлять) a passage between the closely packed tables and greeted the Divers cavalierly (презрительно, высокомерно). Such salutations (приветствие) always astonished (удивлять, поражать) Dick — acquaintances saying «Hi!» to them, or speaking only to one of them. He felt so intensely about people that in moments of apathy (апатия) he preferred (предпочитать) to remain (оставаться) concealed (маскировать; скрывать); that one could parade (демонстрировать, выставлять напоказ) a casualness (небрежность) into his presence was a challenge (вызов) to the key (ключевой принцип) on which he lived.

Collis, unaware (не знающий, не ведающий) that he was without a wedding (свадьба; венчание, бракосочетание) garment (одеяние, облачение, покров), heralded (возвещать; объявлять, уведомлять) his arrival (прибытие) with: «I reckon (полагать, думать) I’m late — the beyed has flown (прибывать).» Dick had to wrench (выворачивать) something out of himself before he could forgive him (до того, как смог простить себя) for not having first complimented Nicole (за то, что не первым сделал комплимент Николь).

She left (выйти, уйти) almost immediately (почти сразу) and he sat with Collis, finishing the last of his wine. He rather liked Collis — he was «post-war»; less difficult than most of the Southerners he had known at New Haven a decade (десятилетие) previously (ранее). Dick listened with amusement (удовольствие, наслаждение) to the conversation that accompanied (сопровождать) the slow, profound (глубокомысленный) stuffing (набивать) of a pipe (трубка). In the early afternoon children and nurses were trekking (переходить) into the Luxembourg Gardens; it was the first time in months (за месяцы) that Dick had let this part of the day out of his hands.

Suddenly his blood ran cold as he realized the content of Collis’s confidential (доверительный) monologue.

« — she’s not so cold as you’d probably think. I admit I thought she was cold for a long time. But she got into a jam (попасть в переплёт) with a friend of mine going from New York to Chicago at Easter — a boy named Hillis she thought was pretty nutsey at New Haven — she had a compartment with a cousin of mine but she and Hillis wanted to be alone, so in the afternoon my cousin came and played cards in our compartment. Well, after about two hours we went back and there was Rosemary and Bill Hillis standing in the vestibule arguing with the conductor — Rosemary white as a sheet. Seems they locked the door and pulled down the blinds (занавеска, штора, жалюзи) and I guess there was some heavy stuff going on when the conductor came for the tickets and knocked on the door. They thought it was аs kidding (разыгрывать, подшучивать) them and wouldn’t let him in at first, and when they did, he was plenty sore (раздражённый, сердитый). He asked Hillis if that was his compartment and whether he and Rosemary were married that they locked the door, and Hillis lost his temper (выйти из себя) trying to explain there was nothing wrong (не было ничего плохого). He said the conductor had insulted (оскорбить) Rosemary and he wanted him to fight (драться), but that conductor could have made trouble (неприятность) — and believe me I had an awful time smoothing it over (сглаживать).»

With every detail imagined, with even envy for the pair’s community of misfortune in the vestibule, Dick felt a change taking place within him. Only the image of a third person, even a vanished (исчезнувший) one, entering into his relation with Rosemary was needed (было необходимо, было достаточно) to throw him off his balance (чтобы вывести его из равновесия) and send through him waves (пронзать его волнами) of pain (боль), misery (физическое страдание, боль), desire, desperation (отчаяние). The vividly (ярко, красочно) pictured (нарисованный) hand on Rosemary’s cheek (щека), the quicker breath (ускоренное дыхание), the white excitement of the event (эпизод, событие, происшествие) viewed (рассматривать, оценивать) from outside (извне), the inviolable (нерушимый, непоколебимый) secret warmth within.

— Do you mind if I pull down (задёргивать, опускать) the curtain (занавеска, штора)?

— Please do. It’s too light in here.

Collis Clay was now speaking about fraternity (братство; содружество) politics at New Haven, in the same tone, with the same emphasis (выразительность, эмфаза). Dick had gathered (делать вывод) that he was in love with Rosemary in some curious (чудной, необычный) way Dick could not have understood. The affair (дело) with Hillis seemed (как казалось) to have made no emotional impression (не произвело никакого эмоционального впечатления) on Collis save (кроме того, что) to give him the joyful (радостный) conviction (убеждение, уверенность) that Rosemary was «human (человечный, гуманный).»

«Bones got a wonderful crowd (люди, толпа, сборище),» he said. «We all did, as a matter of fact (на самом деле, фактически). New Haven’s so big now, the sad (печальный) thing is the men we have to leave out (оставлять, покидать).»

— Do you mind (Вы не против) if I pull down the curtain?

— Please do. It’s too light in here.

…Dick went over Paris to his bank — writing a check, he looked along the row of men at the desks deciding to which one he would present (дарить, предоставлять) it for an O.K. As he wrote he engrossed himself (углубиться, сосредоточиться) in the material act, examining (осматривать) meticulously (дотошно; педантично) the pen, writing laboriously (старательно) upon the high glass-topped (покрытый стеклом) desk. Once he raised glazed (тусклый, стеклянный, безжизненный) eyes to look toward the mail (почтовый) department, then glazed (полировать; лакировать) his spirit (дух, настроение) again by concentration (сосредоточившись) upon the objects he dealt with (на том, чем был занят).

Still he failed (не мог) to decide to whom the check should be presented, which man in the line would guess least of the unhappy predicament (затруднительное положение) in which he found himself (очутиться) and, also, which one would be least likely to talk (который из них будет меньше всего настроен поговорить). There was Perrin, the suave (учтивый, обходительный; вежливый) New Yorker, who had asked him to luncheons at the American Club, there was Casasus, the Spaniard, with whom he usually discussed a mutual (общий) friend in spite of the fact that (несмотря на то, что) the friend had passed out of his life (уйти из жизни) a dozen (дюжина) years before (тому назад); there was Muchhause, who always asked him whether he wanted to draw upon his wife’s money or his own.

As he entered the amount on the stub (корешок квитанции), and drew (провести) two lines under it, he decided to go to Pierce, who was young and for whom he would have to put on (ставить (на сцене) only a small (небольшой) show. It was often easier to give a show than to watch (смотреть, наблюдать) one.

He went to the mail desk first — as the woman who served him pushed up (сбросить) with her bosom (грудь) a piece (кусок, обрывок) of paper that had nearly escaped the desk (который чуть не упал со стола), he thought how differently (насколько иначе) women use their bodies from men. He took his letters aside (в сторону) to open: There was a bill (счёт) for seventeen psychiatric books from a German concern (концерн), a bill from Brentano’s, a letter from Buffalo from his father, in a handwriting (почерк) that year by year (из года в год) became more indecipherable (неразборчивый); there was a card from Tommy Barban postmarked (почтовый штемпель) Fez and bearing a facetious (шутливый; весёлый) communication (послание); there were letters from doctors in Zurich, both in German; a disputed bill from a plasterer (скульптор, использующий гипс; лепщик из гипса) in Cannes; a bill from a furniture maker (мебельщик); a letter from the publisher of a medical journal in Baltimore, miscellaneous (разный) announcements (объявление) and an invitation to a showing of pictures by an incipient (появляющийся, зарождающийся) artist; also there were three letters for Nicole, and a letter for Rosemary sent in his care (доверенный ему).

— Do you mind if I pull down the curtain?

He went toward Pierce but he was engaged with a woman, and Dick saw with his heels (пятка, каблук) that he would have to present his check to Casasus at the next desk who was free.

«How are you, Diver?» Casasus was genial (весёлый, общительный; доброжелательный). He stood up, his mustache (усы) spreading (расширяться) with his smile. «We were talking about Featherstone the other day and I thought of you — he’s out in California now.»

Dick widened (расширить) his eyes and bent forward (наклониться вперед) a little.

«In Cali-FOR-nia?»

«That’s what I heard (Это то, что я слышал).»

Dick held the check poised (балансировать; удерживать равновесие); to focus the attention of Casasus upon it he looked toward Pierce’s desk, holding the latter (последний) for a moment in a friendly eye-play (игра глазами, обмен взглядом) conditioned (обусловленный, основанный) by an old joke of three years before when Pierce had been involved (иметь отношения) with a Lithuanian (литовский) countess (графиня). Pierce played up with a grin (усмешка) until Casasus had authorized (разрешать; санкционировать; авторизовать) the check and had no further recourse (обращение за помощью) to detain (задерживать) Dick, whom he liked, than to stand up holding his pince-nez (пенсне) and repeat, «Yes, he’s in California.»

Meanwhile (тем временем) Dick had seen that Perrin, at the head (во главе) of the line of desks, was in conversation with the heavyweight (тяжелый вес) champion of the world; from a sidesweep of Perrin’s eye Dick saw that he was considering (размышлять) calling him over and introducing him, but that he finally decided against it (против этого).

Cutting across (идти вразрез) the social mood of Casasus with the intensity he had accumulated (собрать, накопить, аккумулировать) at the glass desk — which is to say he looked hard (смотреть пристально) at the check, studying it, and then fixed (фиксировать) his eyes on grave (серьёзный) problems beyond (за пределами) the first marble (сраморный) pillar (колона, столб) to the right of the banker’s head and made a business (потрудиться, взять на себя труд) of shifting (переместить) the cane (трость), hat, and letters he carried — he said good-by and went out. He had long ago purchased (уплатить) the doorman (портье); his taxi sprang to (нарваться на) the curb (бордюрный камень; обочина тротуара).

«I want to go to the Films Par Excellence Studio — it’s on a little street in Passy. Go to the Muette. I’ll direct you from there.»

He was rendered so uncertain (приводить в некое состояние неуверенности) by the events (событие) of the last (последний, предыдущий) forty-eight hours that he was not even sure of what he wanted to do; he paid off (расплатиться с) the taxi at the Muette and walked in the direction of the studio, crossing to the opposite side (переходить на противоположную сторону) of the street before he came to the building. Dignified (уверенный) in his fine (хороший) clothes, with their fine accessories (прекрасные аксессуры), he was yet swayed (покачиваться) and driven (быть управляемым) as an animal. Dignity (чувство достоинства) could come only with an overthrowing (выброс, отказ от) of his past, of the effort (усилие) of the last six years. He went briskly (живо) around the block with the fatuousness (слабоумие; тупость; идиотизм) of one of Tarkington’s adolescents (юноша; девушка; подросток), hurrying at the blind (тупиковый; непроходимый с одного из концов) places lest (чтобы не) he miss Rosemary’s coming out of the studio. It was a melancholy (меланхоличный, унылый, подавленный) neighborhood (район, место). Next door to the place he saw a sign (вывеска): «1000 chemises (женская сорочка, платье покроя „рубашка“).» The shirts filled the window, piled, cravated, stuffed, or draped with shoddy (ткан шодди) grace on the showcase floor: «1000 chemises» — count (считать) them! On either side (на обеих сторонах) he read: «Papeterie,» «Pâtisserie,» «Solde,» «Réclame» — and Constance Talmadge in «Déjeuner de Soleil,» and farther away there were more somber (мрачный) announcements (объявление): «Vêtements Ecclésiastiques,» «Déclaration de Décès» and «Pompes Funèbres». Life and death (жизнь и смерть).

He knew that what he was now doing (то, что он делал сейчас) marked (отмечать, ознаменовать) a turning point (поворотный пункт) in his life — it was out of line (не имеющий ничего общего; неприемлемый, неуместный) with everything that had preceded (предшествовать) it — even out of line with what effect he might hope to produce (с тем, какой эффект он мог произвести на) upon Rosemary. Rosemary saw him always as a model of correctness (образец корректности) — his presence walking around this block was an intrusion (вторжение, появление без приглашения, нежданный визит). But Dick’s necessity (необходимость) of behaving as he did (вести себя так, как он вёл себя) was a projection (проекция) of some submerged reality (исчезающей реальности): he was compelled (быть вынужденным) to walk there, or stand there, his shirt-sleeve (рукав сорочки) fitting his wrist (запястье) and his coat sleeve encasing (охватывать) his shirt-sleeve like a sleeve valve (клапан), his collar molded (формировать; моделировать) plastically (пластично, гибко) to his neck, his red hair cut exactly, his hand holding his small briefcase (портфель, кейс) like a dandy (денди, франт, щёголь, хлыщ) — just as another man once found (однажды осознавший) it necessary (необходимость; что необходимо) to stand in front of a church (церковь) in Ferrara, in sackcloth (холст; мешковина; дерюга) and ashes (пепел). Dick was paying some tribute to things unforgotten (незабитый), unshriven (не исповедоваться), unexpurgated (не вычёркивать, не исключать).

XXI

After three-quarters (три четверти) of an hour of standing around, he became suddenly involved (он неожиданно был вовлечен) in a human contact (беседу с одним человеком). It was just the sort of thing (это было как раз то) that was likely to happen (что, по всей вероятности, должно было случиться) to him when he was in the mood (в таком настроении) of not wanting to see any one (что никого не хотел видеть). So rigidly did he sometimes guard his exposed self-consciousness (так жестко он иногда охранял своё самосознание) that frequently he defeated his own purposes (что часто он защищал свои собственные устремления); as an actor who underplays a part (играть ниже своих возможностей, играть «в поддавки») sets up (устанавливать) a craning (операторская кран-тележка) forward (впереди), a stimulated (вызывать, стимулировать) emotional attention in an audience, and seems (как кажется) to create in others an ability to bridge the gap (преодолеть разрыв, «навести мосты») he has left open (открытый, разведенный, разомкнутый). Similarly (подобным образом) we are seldom (редко) sorry for those (жалеть тех) who need and crave (жаждать) our pity (наша жалость) — we reserve (откладывать, приберегать, сохранять) this for those who, by other means (другими средствами), make us exercise (осуществлять, проявлять) the abstract function of pity (жалость).

So Dick might, himself, have analyzed the incident (инцидент) that ensued (который последовал за этим). As he paced (шагать) the Rue des Saintes-Anges he was spoken to (с ним заговорил) by a thin-faced (тонколицый) American, perhaps thirty (возможно, тридцати лет), with an air of being scarred (с таким видом, как будто он был испуган) and a slight (лёгкий) but sinister (зловещий, мрачный) smile. As Dick gave him the light (дал ему прикурить) he requested (спросить), he placed (ранжировать) him as one of a type of which he had been conscious (знать) since early youth (с ранней юности) — a type that loafed (бездельничать; зря терять время) about tobacco stores (табачный киоск) with one elbow (локоть) on the counter (прилавок) and watched, through heaven knew what small chink (щель; скважина) of the mind (ум, сознание), the people who came in and out. Intimate (близкий друг; наперсник) to garages (гараж), where he had vague (туманный) business conducted in undertones (вполголоса), to barber shops (парикмахерская), to the lobbies (фойе, вестибюль) of theatres — in such places, at any rate (во всяком случае), Dick placed (распологать, помещать) him. Sometimes the face bobbed up (подпрыгивать, подскакивать) in one of Tad’s more savage (дикий) cartoons (комикс) — in boyhood (мальчишество) Dick had often thrown an uneasy (беспокойный) glance (взгляд) at the dim (тусклый, неяркий; слабый) borderland (граница) of crime (преступление) on which he stood.

«How do you like Paris, Buddy?»

Not waiting for an answer the man tried to fit in his footsteps (шагать в ногу) with Dick’s: «Where you from?» he asked encouragingly (ободряюще).

«From Buffalo.»

«I’m from San Antone — but I been over here since the war.»

«You in the army?»

«I’ll say I was. Eighty-fourth Division — ever heard of that outfit (часть, подразделение)?»

The man walked a little ahead of him and fixed him with eyes that were practically menacing (угрожающий, зловещий; опасный).

«Staying in Paris awhile (пока, на время), Buddy? Or just passing through (проездом).»

«Passing through.»

«What hotel you staying at?»

Dick had begun laughing to himself — the party had the intention of rifling (проделывание нарезов) his room that night. His thoughts were read apparently (явно) without self-consciousness (чувство неловкости, смущения).

«With a build like yours you oughtn’t to be afraid of me, Buddy. There’s a lot of bums (бездельник, лентяй, лодырь) around just laying for (подкарауливать) American tourists, but you needn’t be afraid of me.»

Becoming bored (скучающий), Dick stopped walking: «I just wonder (мне просто интересно) why you’ve got so much time to waste (тратить).»

«I’m in business here in Paris.»

«In what line?»

«Selling papers.»

The contrast between the formidable (грозный, устрашающий) manner and the mild (мягкий, невинный) profession was absurd ([əb’sɜd] абсурдный) — but the man amended (поправить) it with:

«Don’t worry; I made plenty money last year — ten or twenty francs for a Sunny Times that cost (стоить) six.»

He produced (протянуть) a newspaper clipping (вырезка) from a rusty (выцветший, порыжевший) wallet (бумажник) and passed it over to one who had become a fellow stroller (прогуливающийся человек) — the cartoon (комикс) showed a stream (поток) of Americans pouring from the gangplank (сходня, трап) of a liner (лайнер, рейсовое судно) freighted (нагруженный) with gold (золото).

«Two hundred thousand — spending ten million a summer.»

«What you doing out here in Passy?»

His companion looked around cautiously (осторожно; осмотрительно). «Movies,» he said darkly. «They got an American studio over there. And they need guys can speak English. I’m waiting for a break (благоприятная возможность, счастливый случай, шанс).»

Dick shook him off (отделаться) quickly and firmly (твёрдо).

It had become apparent (очевидный) that Rosemary either (либо) had escaped (выходить) on one of his early circuits (объезд; обход) of the block or else (либо, иначе, в противном случае) had left before he came into the neighborhood (район, место); he went into the bistro on the corner, bought a lead disk and, squeezed in (втиснуться) an alcove (альков, углубление, ниша) between the kitchen and the foul (грязный, отвратительный) toilet, he called the Roi George. He recognized (узнать) Cheyne-Stokes tendencies in his respiration (дыхание) — but like everything the symptom served only to turn him in toward his emotion. He gave the number of the hotel; then stood holding the phone and staring into (уставиться, вглядываться) the café; after a long while a strange little voice said hello.

«This is Dick — I had to call you.»

A pause from her — then bravely, and in key with his emotion: «I’m glad you did.»

«I came to meet you at your studio — I’m out in Passy across the way from it. I thought maybe we’d ride around through the Bois.»

«Oh, I only stayed there a minute! I’m so sorry.» A silence.

«Rosemary.»

«Yes, Dick.»

«Look, I’m in an extraordinary condition about you. When a child can disturb (беспокоить; тревожить) a middle-aged gent (джентльмен среднего возраста) — things get difficult (дела усложняются).»

«You’re not middle-aged (ты не средних лет), Dick — you’re the youngest person in the world.»

«Rosemary?» Silence while he stared at (уставиться на) a shelf that held (содержать) the humbler (более простой, скромный) poisons (яд) of France — bottles of Otard, Rhum St. James, Marie Brizzard, Punch Orangeade, André Fernet Blanco, Cherry Rochet, and Armagnac.

«Are you alone?»

— Do you mind if I pull down (опустить, закрыть) the curtain (занавес)?

«Who do you think I’d be with?»

«That’s the state I’m in. I’d like to be with you now.»

Silence, then a sigh (вздох) and an answer. «I wish you were with me now.»

There was the hotel room where she lay behind a telephone number, and little gusts (звук) of music wailed (завывать) around her—

«And two — for tea

And me for you,

And you for me

Alow-own.»

There was the remembered dust (пыль) of powder over her tan (загар) — when he kissed her face it was damp (влажный) around the corners of her hair; there was the flash (вспышка) of a white face under his own, the arc (дуга) of a shoulder.

«It’s impossible,» he said to himself. In a minute he was out in the street marching along toward the Muette, or away from it, his small brief-case still in his hand, his gold-headed stick held at a sword-like (напоминающий меч) angle (угол).

Rosemary returned to her desk and finished a letter to her mother.

« — I only saw him for a little while but I thought he was wonderful looking. I fell in love with him (Of course I Do Love Dick Best but you know what I mean). He really is going to direct the picture and is leaving immediately for Hollywood, and I think we ought to leave, too. Collis Clay has been here. I like him all right but have not seen much (часто) of him because of the Divers, who really are divine (божественный), about the Nicest People I ever Knew. I am feeling not very well to-day and am taking the Medicine, though see No need for it. I’m not even Going to Try to tell you All that’s Happened until I see YOU!!! So when you get this letter WIRE, WIRE, WIRE (прислать телеграмму, телеграфировать)! Are you coming north or shall I come south with the Divers?»

At six Dick called Nicole.

«Have you any special (особый) plans?» he asked. «Would you like to do something quiet (тихий, спокойный) — dinner at the hotel and then a play?»

«Would you? I’ll do whatever you want. I phoned Rosemary a while ago and she’s having dinner in her room. I think this upset (расстраивать) all of us, don’t you?»

«It didn’t upset me,» he objected (возразить). «Darling, unless you’re physically tired let’s do something. Otherwise we’ll get south and spend a week wondering (удивляться) why we didn’t see Boucher. It’s better than brooding [размышлять; вынашивать (в уме, в душе)] — »

This was a blunder [грубая ошибка; промах, просчёт] and Nicole took him up [осадить] sharply [резко].

«Brooding about what?»

«About Maria Wallis.»

She agreed to go to a play. It was a tradition between them that they should never be too tired for anything, and they found it made the days better on the whole (в целом) and put the evenings more in order. When, inevitably (неизбежно), their spirits (душевный настрой, моральное состояние, расположение духа) flagged (ослабевать, уменьшаться) they shifted (переносить) the blame (вина) to the weariness (усталость) and fatigue (слабость) of others. Before they went out, as fine-looking a couple (как хорошо выглядящая пара) as could be found in Paris (какую только можно было найти в Париже), they knocked (стучать) softly (мягко, тихо) at Rosemary’s door. There was no answer; judging (судить, делать вывод) that she was asleep they walked into a warm strident (хриплый; резкий) Paris night, snatching (схватить) a vermouth and bitters (горькая настойка, настойка из трав и кореньев для приготовления коктейлей) in the shadow (тень) by Fouquet’s bar.

XXII

Nicole awoke late, murmuring (бормотать) something back into her dream (сон) before she parted (разделить) her long lashes (ресница) tangled (запутывать) with sleep. Dick’s bed was empty — only after a minute did she realize (понять, осознать) that she had been awakened (разбудить) by a knock at their salon (гостиная, приёмная) door.

«Entrez!» she called, but there was no answer, and after a moment she slipped on (накинуть) a dressing-gown (пеньюар, домашний халат) and went to open it. A sergent-de-ville confronted (стоять лицом к лицу) her courteously (вежливо) and stepped (шагнуть) inside the door.

«Mr. Afghan North — he is here?»

«What? No — he’s gone to America.»

«When did he leave, Madame?»

«Yesterday morning.»

He shook (трясти) his head and waved (махать) his forefinger (указательный палец) at her in a quicker rhythm (в более быстром темпе).

«He was in Paris last night. He is registered (регистрироваться) here but his room is not occupied (занятый). They told me I had better ask (что мне лучше спросить) at this room.»

«Sounds (звучать) very peculiar (интересный, своеобразный) to me — we saw him off (проводить) yesterday morning on the boat train (поезд, согласованный с расписанием пароходов).»

«Be that as it may (как бы то ни было, даже если это правда), he has been seen here (его видели здесь) this morning (сегодня утром). Even his carte d’identité (удостоверение личности) has been seen (видели). And there you are.»

«We know nothing about it,» she proclaimed (провозглашать, объявлять) in amazement (в изумлении).

He considered (размышлять, задуматься). He was an ill-smelling (дурно пахнущий), handsome man.

«You were not with him at all last night?»

«But no.»

«We have arrested a Negro. We are convinced (мы убеждены) we have at last arrested the correct Negro.»

«I assure (уверять) you that I haven’t an idea what you’re talking about. If it’s the Mr. Abraham North, the one (тот, кого) we know, well, if he was in Paris last night we weren’t aware of it (мы не знали об этом).»

The man nodded (кивнуть), sucked (пососать) his upper lip, convinced (убежденный) but disappointed (разочарованный).

«What happened?» Nicole demanded (спрашивать, задавать вопрос).

He showed his palms (ладонь), puffing out (надувать) his closed mouth. He had begun to find her attractive (привлекательный) and his eyes flickered (сверкать; мигать) at her.

«What do you wish, Madame? A summer affair (дело, афёра). Mr. Afghan North was robbed (ограбить) and he made a complaint (жалоба). We have arrested the miscreant (злодей, негодяй). Mr. Afghan should come to identify (опознавать) him and make the proper (соответствующий) charges (обвинение, предписание).»

Nicole pulled (затянуть) her dressing-gown closer around her and dismissed (выпроводить) him briskly (живо, быстро). Mystified (озадачивать; ставить в тупик) she took a bath (принять ванну) and dressed. By this time (к этому времени) it was after ten and she called Rosemary but got no answer — then she phoned the hotel office and found that Abe had indeed registered (зарегистрировался), at six-thirty this morning. His room, however, was still unoccupied (все ещё незанятый). Hoping for a word from Dick she waited in the parlor (гостиная) of the suite (номер); just as she had given up (бросить, сдаться) and decided to go out, the office (пост, служба) called and announced (объявить):

«Meestaire Crawshow, un nègre.»

«On what business (по какому делу)?» she demanded (спросить).

«He says he knows you and the doctaire. He says there is a Meestaire Freeman into prison that is a friend of all the world. He says there is injustice (несправедливость) and he wishes to see Meestaire North before he himself is arrested.»

«We know nothing about it.» Nicole disclaimed (отрекаться, отрицать, не признавать) the whole business with a vehement (резкий) clap (хлопок) of the receiver (телефонная трубка). Abe’s bizarre (странный) reappearance (повторное появление) made it plain (ясный) to her how fatigued (насколько она устала) she was with his dissipation (легкомысленные развлечения; разгульный образ жизни). Dismissing him from her mind (выбросив его из головы) she went out, ran into Rosemary at the dressmaker’s (ателье, портной, пошивочная), and shopped (ходить по магазинам, рассматривать товары, присматривать вещь) with her for artificial (искусственный) flowers and all-colored (разноцветный) strings (нитка) of colored beads (бусы) on the Rue de Rivoli. She helped Rosemary choose a diamond (алмаз) for her mother, and some scarfs (платок) and novel (оригинальный, нестандартный) cigarette cases (портсигар) to take home to business associates (коллега; компаньон, партнёр) in California. For her son she bought Greek and Roman soldiers, a whole army of them, costing over a thousand francs. Once again they spent their money in different ways and again Rosemary admired (восхищаться) Nicole’s method of spending. Nicole was sure that the money she spent was hers — Rosemary still thought her money was miraculously (чудесным образом, чудотворно) lent (одалживать, давать взаймы) to her and she must consequently (следовательно) be very careful of it.

It was fun spending money in the sunlight of the foreign city with healthy bodies under them that sent streams (поток) of color up to their faces; with arms and hands, legs and ankles (лодышка) that they stretched out (вытягивать) confidently (доверительно), reaching (вытягивать) or stepping (ступать) with the confidence (доверие) of women lovely (привлекательный) to men.

When they got back to the hotel and found Dick, all bright and new in the morning, both of them had a moment of complete childish joy.

He had just received a garbled (путаный, несвязный, искажённый) telephone call (звонок) from Abe who, so it appeared (как оказалось), had spent the forenoon (время до полудня; утро) in hiding (прятаться).

«It was one of the most extraordinary (необычный, странный; удивительный) telephone conversations I’ve ever held.»

Dick had talked not only to Abe but to a dozen (десяток, дюжина) others. On the phone these supernumeraries (избыточный, присутствующий в излишнем количестве, лишний) had been typically (обычно) introduced as (представлять как):» — man wants to talk to you is in the teput dome (купол; верх, свод), well he says he was in it — what is it?

«Hey, somebody, shut-up (заткнись) — anyhow (во всяком случае), he was in some shandel-scandal and he kaa POS-sibly go home. My own PER-sonal is that — my personal is he’s had a — » Gulps (задохнуться, захлебнуться) sounded and thereafter (после этого, впоследствии) what the party had, rested with the unknown.

The phone yielded up (производить, приносить) a supplementary (дополнительный) offer (предложение):

«I thought it would appeal (понравиться) to you anyhow (так или иначе) as a psychologist (психолог).» The vague (неясный, туманный) personality (личность) who corresponded to this statement was eventually (в конце концов) hung on to the phone; in the sequence he failed to appeal (не понравиться) to Dick, as a psychologist (психолог), or indeed as anything else (как что-то еще). Abe’s conversation flowed (протекать) on as follows (следующим образом):

«Hello.»

«Well?»

«Well, hello.»

«Who are you?»

«Well.» There were interpolated (вставлять, делать интерполяции) snorts (фырканье; храпение) of laughter.

«Well, I’ll put somebody else on the line (на линию).»

Sometimes Dick could hear Abe’s voice, accompanied (сопровождаемый) by scufflings (шарканье), droppings (падение) of the receiver (трубка), far-away (отдаленный) fragments such as, «No, I don’t, Mr. North….» Then a pert (бойкий) decided (решительный) voice had said: «If you are a friend of Mr. North you will come down and take him away.»

Abe cut in (вмешаться), solemn (официальный; формальный) and ponderous (весомый), beating it all down with an overtone (намек, подтекст) of earth-bound (житейский, жизненный) determination (решимость).

«Dick, I’ve launched (запускать) a race riot (расовый беспорядок) in Montmartre. I’m going over and get Freeman out of jail (тюрьма). If a Negro from Copenhagen that makes shoe polish (обувной крем) — hello, can you hear me — well, look, if anybody comes there — » Once again the receiver was a chorus (хор) of innumerable (бесчисленный) melodies.

«Why you back in Paris?» Dick demanded.

«I got as far as (до) Evreux, and I decided to take a plane (самолёт) back so I could compare (сравнить) it with St. Sulpice. I mean I don’t intend (намереваться) to bring St. Sulpice back to Paris. I don’t even mean Baroque! I meant St. Germain. For God’s sake (ради бога), wait a minute and I’ll put the chasseur ([ʃæ’sɜ] егерь) on the wire (связь, провод).

«For God’s sake, don’t.»

«Listen — did Mary get off all right?»

«Yes.»

«Dick, I want you to talk with a man I met here this morning, the son of a naval (морской) officer that’s been to every doctor in Europe. Let me tell you about him — »

Dick had rung off (прервать разговор) at this point — perhaps that was a piece of ingratitude (неблагодарность) for he needed grist (зерно, солод) for the grinding (помол, оттачивание, репетирование) activity of his mind.

«Abe used to be so nice,» Nicole told Rosemary. «So nice. Long ago — when Dick and I were first married (были только что женаты). If you had known him then. He’d come to stay with us for weeks and weeks and we scarcely (едва) knew he was in the house. Sometimes he’d play — sometimes he’d be in the library with a muted (приглушенный) piano, making love to it by the hour — Dick, do you remember that maid (служанка)? She thought he was a ghost (привидение) and sometimes Abe used to meet her in the hall and moo (мычать) at her, and it cost us a whole tea service (чайный сервиз) once (однажды) — but we didn’t care (но нам было всё равно).»

So much fun (веселье, забава) — so long ago. Rosemary envied (завидовать) them their fun, imagining a life of leisure (досуг, удовольствие) unlike (не похожее на) her own. She knew little of leisure (досуг, свободное время) but she had the respect for it of those who have never had it. She thought of it as a resting, without realizing (не осознавая) that the Divers were as far from relaxing (отдых, расслабление, релаксация) as she was herself.

«What did this to him?» she asked. «Why does he have to drink?»

Nicole shook (покачать) her head right and left, disclaiming (отрицать, отказаться признать) responsibility (ответственность) for the matter (дело): «So many smart (хороший) men go to pieces (утратить самоконтроль) nowadays (в наши дни).»

«And when haven’t they?» Dick asked. «Smart men play close to the line because they have to — some of them can’t stand (вынести) it, so they quit (прекращать, оставлять, покидать).»

«It must lie (лежать) deeper than that.» Nicole clung to (цепляться; прилипать; крепко держаться) her conversation; also she was irritated (быть раздраженным) that Dick should contradict (противоречить, возражать) her before Rosemary. «Artists like — well, like Fernand don’t seem to have to wallow (погрязнуть в) in alcohol. Why is it just Americans who dissipate (кутить, развлекаться; вести распутный образ жизни)?»

There were so many answers to this question that Dick decided to leave it in the air, to buzz () victoriously () in Nicole’s ears. He had become intensely (чрезвычайно, крайне, в высшей степени) critical of her. Though he thought she was the most attractive human creature he had ever seen, though he got from her everything he needed, he scented (чуять) battle from afar (издалека), and subconsciously (подсознательно) he had been hardening (становиться твёрдым) and arming himself (вооружаться), hour by hour (час за часом). He was not given to self-indulgence (потакание, потворство своим желаниям, слабостям) and he felt comparatively (сравнительно) graceless безнравственный, развращённый; бесстыдный) at this moment of indulging himself (потакание себе), blinding his eyes with the hope (ослепляться надеждой) that Nicole guessed at (догадываться о) only an emotional excitement (эмоциональное волнение) about Rosemary. He was not sure — last night at the theatre she had referred pointedly (многозначительно; подчёркнуто) to Rosemary as a child.

The trio (трио, тройка, трое) lunched downstairs in an atmosphere of carpets and padded (полный) waiters, who did not march at the stomping (тяжело вышагивать, топать ногами) quick-step of those men who brought good food to the tables whereon they had recently dined. Here there were families of Americans staring around at families of Americans, and trying to make conversation with one another (друг с другом).

There was a party at the next table that they could not account for (вычислять). It consisted of an expansive (экспансивный, необузданный, несдержанный), somewhat (несколько, отчасти, в некоторой степени) secretarial (секретарский), would-you-mind-repeating (повторяющий слова «вы не против») young man, and a score of (несколько; десяток) women. The women were neither (ни) young nor (ни) old nor (ни) of any particular (определённый, конкретный) social class; yet the party (группа, компания) gave the impression (производить впечатление) of a unit (чего-то единого), held more closely together (держались ближе друг к другу) for example than a group of wives stalling through a professional congress of their husbands. Certainly it was more of a unit (единое целое) than any conceivable (вероятный, возможный) tourist party (группа).

An instinct made Dick suck back the grave derision (высмеивание, насмешка) that formed on his tongue; he asked the waiter to find out (выяснить) who they were.

«Those are the gold-star muzzers,» explained the waiter.

Aloud and in low voices they exclaimed. Rosemary’s eyes filled with tears.

«Probably the young ones are the wives,» said Nicole.

Over his wine Dick looked at them again; in their happy faces, the dignity (достоинство) that surrounded and pervaded (пропитывать) the party, he perceived (почувствовать) all the maturity (зрелость) of an older America. For a while (на некоторое время) the sobered (отрезвленный) women who had come to mourn (оплакивать) for their dead (покойный), for something they could not repair (вернуть назад), made the room beautiful. Momentarily (моментально; мгновенно), he sat again (снова) on his father’s knee (колено), riding (кататься) with Moseby while the old loyalties (верность, преданность, лояльность) and devotions (преданность; сильная привязанность) fought (вести свою борьбу) on around him. Almost with an effort (с усилием) he turned back to his two women at the table and faced (стоять лицом к лицу) the whole new world in which he believed (верить).

— Do you mind (вы не против) if I pull down (опустить) the curtain (занавес)?

XXIII

Abe North was still in the Ritz bar, where he had been since nine in the morning. When he arrived seeking (в поисках) sanctuary (убежище, прибежище) the windows were open and great beams (луч) were busy at pulling up (поднимать) the dust from smoky (закоптелый) carpets and cushions (подушка). Chasseurs (егерь) tore through (пробираться через) the corridors, liberated (освобождать) and disembodied (избавлять от телесной, материальной оболочки), moving for the moment in pure (чистый) space. The sit-down bar for women, across from the bar proper (собственно), seemed very small — it was hard to imagine what throngs (толпа, толчея) it could accommodate (вмещать) in the afternoon.

The famous Paul, the concessionaire ([kənseʃ (ə) ’neə] концессионер), had not arrived, but Claude, who was checking stock (акционерный капитал, основной капитал; фонды), broke off his work with no improper surprise to make Abe a pick-me-up (тонизирующее средство, медицинский препарат, алкогольный напиток или еда). Abe sat on a bench against a wall. After two drinks he began to feel better — so much better that he mounted (подняться) to the barber’s shop and was shaved. When he returned to the bar Paul had arrived — in his custom-built (построенный по специальному заказу) motor, from which he had disembarked (высаживать) correctly at the Boulevard des Capucines. Paul liked Abe and came over to talk.

«I was supposed to ship home this morning,» Abe said. «I mean yesterday morning, or whatever this is.»

«Why din you?» asked Paul.

Abe considered (взвешивать, обдумывать, продумывать), and happened finally to a reason: «I was reading a serial in Liberty and the next installment (выпуск, серия) was due here in Paris — so if I’d sailed (уплыть) I’d have missed it (пропустить) — then I never would have read it.»

«It must be a very good story.»

«It’s a terr-r-rible story.»

Paul arose chuckling (смеяться, посмеиваться) and paused (делать паузу, временно прекращать, останавливаться), leaning (отклониться) on the back (спинка) of a chair:

«If you really want to get off, Mr. North, there are friends of yours going to-morrow on the France — Mister what is this name — and Slim Pearson. Mister — I’ll think of it — tall with a new beard.»

«Yardly,» Abe supplied (добавлять).

«Mr. Yardly. They’re both going on the France.»

He was on his way to his duties but Abe tried to detain (задержать) him: «If I didn’t have to go by way of (через) Cherbourg. The baggage went that way.»

«Get your baggage in New York,» said Paul, receding (отступать, удаляться, ретироваться).

The logic of the suggestion (предложение) fitted (подходить, соответствовать) gradually into Abe’s pitch (срыв, напряжение) — he grew rather enthusiastic (восторженный; полный энтузиазма) about being cared for (из-за того, что о нём заботились), or rather (или скрее всего) of prolonging (продление) his state of irresponsibility (безответственность).

Other clients had meanwhile (тем временем) drifted (смещаться, переходить) in to the bar: first came a huge Dane whom Abe had somewhere encountered (встречаться). The Dane took a seat across the room, and Abe guessed (догадаться) he would be there all the day, drinking, lunching, talking or reading newspapers. He felt a desire to out-stay (оставаться дольше) him. At eleven the college boys began to step in, stepping gingerly (осмотрительно, предусмотрительно; робко) lest (чтобы не) they tear one another bag from bag. It was about then he had the chasseur (егерь) telephone to the Divers; by the time he was in touch with them he was in touch also with other friends — and his hunch (предчувствие; интуиция) was to put them all on different phones at once — the result was somewhat (в какой-то степени) general. From time to time (время от времени) his mind reverted (возвращаться к прежнему состоянию) to the fact that he ought to go over and get Freeman out of jail (из тюрьмы), but he shook off all facts as parts of the nightmare (кошмар).

By one o’clock the bar was jammed (переполненный); amidst (среди) the consequent (логичный, являющийся логически последовательным) mixture (смешение) of voices the staff (штат) of waiters functioned, pinning down (заставить) their clients to the facts of drink and money.

«That makes two stingers (коктейль „стингер“ из виски и мятного ликёра; коктейль „колючка“ из коньяка с мятным ликёром) … and one more… two martinis and one… nothing for you, Mr. Quarterly (издание, выходящее раз в три месяца) … that makes three rounds. That makes seventy-five francs, Mr. Quarterly. Mr. Schaeffer said he had this — you had the last… I can only do what you say… thanks vera-much.»

In the confusion Abe had lost his seat; now he stood gently swaying (мягко покачиваясь) and talking to some of the people with whom he had involved himself (с которыми он общался). A terrier (терьер) ran a leash (на поводке) around his legs but Abe managed to extricate himself (высвобождаться; выпутываться) without upsetting (опрокидываться, переворачиваться) and became the recipient (получатель) of profuse (обильный, щедрый) apologies (извинение). Presently (вскоре) he was invited to lunch, but declined (отклонить, отказаться). It was almost Briglith, he explained, and there was something he had to do at Briglith. A little later (немного позднее), with the exquisite (изящный) manners of the alcoholic that are like the manners of a prisoner or a family servant, he said good-by to an acquaintance (знакомый), and turning around discovered (обнаружить) that the bar’s great moment was over as precipitately (опрометчивый, безрассудный) as it had begun.

Across from him the Dane and his companions had ordered luncheon. Abe did likewise (также) but scarcely (едва) touched (прикоснуться) it. Afterwards (впоследствии), he just sat, happy to live in the past. The drink made past happy things contemporary (современный) with the present, as if they were still going on, contemporary even with the future as if they were about to happen again.

At four the chasseur (егерь) approached (приближаться) him:

«You wish to see a colored (цветной) fellow of the name Jules Peterson?»

«God! How did he find me?»

«I didn’t tell him you were present.»

«Who did?» Abe fell over his glasses but recovered himself (оправиться).

«Says he’s already been around to all the American bars and hotels.»

«Tell him I’m not here — » As the chasseur (егерь) turned away Abe asked: «Can he come in here?»

«I’ll find out (выяснять).»

Receiving the question Paul glanced (взглянуть) over his shoulder; he shook his head, then seeing Abe he came over.

«I’m sorry; I can’t allow it.»

Abe got himself up with an effort and went out to the Rue Cambon.

XXIV

With his miniature (миниатюрный) leather (кожаный) brief-case (портфель) in his hand Richard Diver walked from the seventh arrondisement — where he left a note for Maria Wallis signed (с надписью) «Dicole,» the word with which he and Nicole had signed (подписывать) communications (записка, сообщение) in the first days of love — to his shirt-makers where the clerks made a fuss (суета) over him out of proportion to the money he spent (в соответствии с суммой денег, которые он потратил). Ashamed (пристыженный) at promising (тем, что обещал) so much to these poor Englishmen, with his fine manners, his air of having the key to security (безопасность), ashamed (пристыженный) of making (тем, что заставил) a tailor shift an inch (ушить на один дюйм) of silk on his arm. Afterward he went to the bar of the Crillon and drank a small coffee and two fingers of gin.

As he entered the hotel the halls had seemed unnaturally bright; when he left he realized that it was because it had already turned dark (уже стемнело) outside (снаружи, на дворе, на улице). It was a windy four-o’clock night with the leaves on the Champs Élysées singing and failing (затихать), thin and wild. Dick turned down the Rue de Rivoli, walking two squares (сквер, площадь) under the arcades (аркада) to his bank where there was mail. Then he took a taxi and started up the Champs Élysées through the first patter (стук) of rain, sitting alone with his love.

Back at two o’clock in the Roi George corridor the beauty of Nicole had been to the beauty of Rosemary as the beauty of Leonardo’s girl was to that of the girl of an illustrator (художник-иллюстратор, художник-оформитель). Dick moved on through the rain, demoniac and frightened, the passions of many men inside him and nothing simple that he could see.

Rosemary opened her door full of emotions no one else knew of (о которых никто другой не знал). She was now what is sometimes called a «little wild thing (маленькая дикарка)» — by twenty-four full hours she was not yet unified (собранный, сосредоточенный) and she was absorbed (поглощенный) in playing around (валять дурака, играться) with chaos (хаос); as if (как будто) her destiny (судьба) were a picture puzzle (пазл) — counting (считать) benefits (выгода, прибыль), counting hopes, telling off (ругать) Dick, Nicole, her mother, the director she met yesterday (которого она встретила вчера), like stops (ограничитель, утолщение) on a string (нитка) of beads (бусы). When Dick knocked she had just dressed and been watching the rain, thinking of some poem, and of full gutters (канавка, бороздка вымоина; водосточный жёлоб) in Beverly Hills. When she opened the door she saw him as something fixed (неподвижный; застывший) and Godlike (богоподобный; божественный) as he had always been, as older people are to younger, rigid (жёсткий, резкий) and unmalleable (неподатливый; неуступчивый, непослушный). Dick saw her with an inevitable (неизбежный, неминуемый) sense (ощущение, чувство) of disappointment (разочарование). It took him a moment to respond (ответить) to the unguarded (незащищённый; неохраняемый) sweetness (сладость, приятность, добродушие) of her smile, her body calculated (рассчитанный) to a millimeter to suggest (предполагать, наводить на мысль) a bud (почка, бутон, зародыш) yet guarantee (гарантировать) a flower. He was conscious of (знать, сознавать, чувствовать) the print (след) of her wet (мокрый) foot on a rug (коврик) through the bathroom door.

«Miss Television,» he said with a lightness (лёгкость) he did not feel. He put his gloves, his brief-case on the dressing-table, his stick against the wall. His chin dominated the lines of pain (боль) around his mouth, forcing them up into his forehead and the corner of his eyes, like fear (страх) that cannot be shown in public.

«Come and sit on my lap (на моих коленях) close to me,» he said softly (мягко), «and let me see about your lovely mouth.»

She came over and sat there and while the dripping (капанье; просачивание) slowed down outside — drip — dri-i-ip, she laid her lips to the beautiful cold image (образ) she had created.

Presently (вскоре) she kissed him several times (несколько раз) in the mouth, her face getting big as it came up to him; he had never seen anything so dazzling (ослепляющий) as the quality of her skin, and since sometimes beauty gives back the images of one’s best thoughts he thought of his responsibility (ответственность) about Nicole, and of the responsibility of her being two doors down across the corridor.

«The rain’s over,» he said. «Do you see the sun on the slate (шиферная плита, грифельная доска)?»

Rosemary stood up and leaned down (неклониться) and said her most sincere (искренний) thing to him:

«Oh, we’re such ACTORS — you and I.»

She went to her dresser (туалетный столик или комод с зеркалом) and the moment that she laid her comb (расческа) flat (плоско) against her hair there was a slow persistent (настойчивый) knocking at the door.

They were shocked motionless (неподвижный, без движения); the knock was repeated insistently (настойчиво), and in the sudden realization that the door was not locked Rosemary finished her hair with one stroke (взмах, расчёс), nodded at Dick who had quickly jerked (приглаживать, поправлять) the wrinkles (морщинка, неровность, углубление) out of the bed where they had been sitting, and started for (направиться к) the door. Dick said in quite a natural voice, not too loud (громко):

« — so if you don’t feel up (ну, если тебе не хочется) to going out, I’ll tell Nicole and we’ll have a very quiet (спокойный, тихий) last evening.»

The precautions (мера предосторожности) were

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