Любимые повести на английском / Best Short Novels

There was no fire – what smoke there was drifted off mingling with the sunshine, and for a few minutes longer a powdery dust of marble drifted from the great featureless pile that had once been the house of jewels. There was no more sound and the three people were alone in the valley.

XI

At sunset John and his two companions reached the high cliff which had marked the boundaries of the Washingtons’ dominion, and looking back found the valley tranquil and lovely in the dusk. They sat down to finish the food which Jasmine had brought with her in a basket.

�There!’ she said, as she spread the table-cloth and put the sandwiches in a neat pile upon it. �Don’t they look tempting? I always think that food tastes better outdoors.’

�With that remark,’ remarked Kismine, �Jasmine enters the middle class.’

�Now,’ said John eagerly, �turn out your pocket and let’s see what jewels you brought along. If you made a good selection we three ought to live comfortably all the rest of our lives.

Obediently Kismine put her hand in her pocket and tossed two handfuls of glittering stones before him.

�Not so bad,’ cried John, enthusiastically. �They aren’t very big, but – Hello!’ His expression changed as he held one of them up to the declining sun. �Why, these aren’t diamonds! There’s something the matter!’

�By golly!’[48 - By golly! – Ну и ну! (восклицание удивления)] exclaimed Kismine, with a startled look.

�Why, these are rhinestones![49 - Rhinestones – разновидность горного хрусталя; камни, имитирующие бриллианты.]’ cried John.

�I know.’ She broke into a laugh. �I opened the wrong drawer. They belonged on the dress of a girl who visited Jasmine. I got her to give them to me in exchange for diamonds.

�And this is what you brought?’

�I’m afraid so.’ She fingered the brilliants wistfully. �I think I like these better. I’m a little tired of diamonds.’

�Very well,’ said John gloomily. �We’ll have to live in Hades. And you will grow old telling incredulous women that you got the wrong drawer. Unfortunately your father’s bank-books were consumed with him.