Любимые повести на английском / Best Short Novels

It was only when they were in the train that Percy became, for the first time, rather communicative. One day while they were eating lunch in the dining-car and discussing the imperfect characters of several of the boys at school, Percy suddenly changed his tone and made an abrupt remark.

�My father,’ he said, �is by far the richest man in the world.’

�Oh,’ said John, politely. He could think of no answer to make to this confidence. He considered �That’s very nice,’ but it sounded hollow and was on the point of saying, �Really?’ but refrained since it would seem to question Percy’s statement.

And such an astounding statement could scarcely be questioned.

�By far the richest,’ repeated Percy.

�I was reading in the �World Almanac,’’ began John, �that there was one man in America with an income of over five million a year and four men with incomes of over three million a year, and – ’

�Oh, they’re nothing.

’ Percy’s mouth was a half-moon of scorn. �Catchpenny capitalists, financial small-fry, petty merchants and money-lenders. My father could buy them out and not know he’d done it.’

�But how does he – ’

�Why haven’t they put down his income tax? Because he doesn’t pay any. At least he pays a little one – but he doesn’t pay any on his real income.’

�He must be very rich,’ said John simply. �I’m glad.

I like very rich people.

�The richer a fella is, the better I like him.’ There was a look of passionate frankness upon his dark face. �I visited the Schnlitzer-Murphys last Easter. Vivian Schnlitzer-Murphy had rubies as big as hen’s eggs, and sapphires that were like globes with lights inside them – ’

�I love jewels,’ agreed Percy enthusiastically. �Of course I wouldn’t want any one at school to know about it, but I’ve got quite a collection myself.

I used to collect them instead of stamps.’

�And diamonds,’ continued John eagerly. �The Schnlit-zer-Murphys had diamonds as big as walnuts – ’

�That’s nothing.’ Percy had leaned forward and dropped his voice to a low whisper. �That’s nothing at all. My father has a diamond bigger than the Ritz-Carlton Hotel.[9 - The Ritz Carlton Hotel – роскошный отель «Ритц-Карлтон».