Алая чума
Chapter 5
Once,Iremember,therewasMrs.Goldwin,wifeofoneofthegreatmagnates. Itwasonalandingstage,justasshewasembarkinginherprivatedirigible,thatshedroppedherparasol. Aservantpickeditupandmadethemistakeofhandingittoher—toher,oneofthegreatestroyalladiesoftheland! Sheshrankback,asthoughhewerealeper,andindicatedhersecretarytoreceiveit. Also,sheorderedhersecretarytoascertainthecreature’snameandtoseethathewasimmediatelydischargedfromservice. AndsuchawomanwasVestaVanWarden. AndhertheChauffeurbeatandmadehisslave.
“—Bill—thatwasit;Bill,theChauffeur.Thatwashisname. Hewasawretched,primitiveman,whollydevoidofthefinerinstinctsandchivalrouspromptingsofaculturedsoul. No,thereisnoabsolutejustice,fortohimfellthatwonderofwomanhood,VestaVanWarden. Thegrievous-nessofthisyouwillneverunderstand,mygrandsons;foryouareyourselvesprimitivelittlesavages,unawareofaughtelsebutsavagery. WhyshouldVestanothavebeenmine? Iwasamanofcultureandrefinement,aprofessorinagreatuniversity. Evenso,inthetimebeforetheplague,suchwasherexaltedposition,shewouldnothavedeignedtoknowthatIexisted. Mark,then,theabysmaldegradationtowhichshefellatthehandsoftheChauffeur. NothinglessthanthedestructionofallmankindhadmadeitpossiblethatIshouldknowher,lookinhereyes,conversewithher,touchherhand—ay,andloveherandknowthatherfeelingstowardmewereverykindly.
