Поющие в терновнике

           Therewasnodifficultyatallindisposingoftheleasetothemewsflatforitwasinahigh-demandcategory;infact,oncethewordleakedoutpeoplerangeveryfiveminutesuntilshetookthephoneoffthehook.Mrs.Kelly,whohad"done"forhersincethosefar-offdayswhenshehadfirstcometoLondon,ploddeddolefullyaroundamidajungleofwoodshavingsandcrates,bemoaningherfateandsurreptitiouslyputtingthephonebackonitscradleinthehopesomeonewouldringwiththepowertopersuadeJustinetochangehermind.Inthemidstoftheturmoil,someonewiththatpowerdidring,onlynottopersuadehertochangehermind;Raindidn’tevenknowshewasgoing.HemerelyaskedhertoactashishostessforadinnerpartyhewasgivingathishouseonParkLane.

           "Whatdoyoumean,houseonParkLane?"Justinesqueaked,astonished.

           "Well,withgrowingBritishparticipationintheEuropeanEconomicCommunity,I’mspendingsomuchtimeinEnglandthatit’sbecomemorepracticalformetohavesomesortoflocalpied-à-terre,soI’veleasedahouseonParkLane,"heexplained.

           "Yegods,Rain,youflamingsecretivebastard!Howlonghaveyouhadit?"

           "Aboutamonth."

           "Andyouletmegothroughthatidioticcharadetheothernightandsaidnothing?Goddamnyou!"Shewassoangryshecouldn’tspeakproperly.

           "Iwasgoingtotellyou,butIgotsuchakickoutofyourthinkingIwasflyingoverallthetimethatIcouldn’tresistpretendingabitlonger,"hesaidwithalaughinhisvoice.