"Sean Russell - River Into Darkness 1 - Beneath the Vaunted Hills" - читать интересную книгу автора (Russell Sean)

тАЬAh,тАЭ she said, stepping aside to let people pass and pressing herself softly against him. тАЬAre you trying
to keep me at a distance then?тАЭ

тАЬItтАЩs very likely, I fear.тАЭ Erasmus glanced around the room. тАЬIтАЩm looking for friends, actually.тАЭ

тАЬDo they have names?тАЭ she asked, speaking near to his ear in a tone so intimate that Erasmus could
hardly help but respond.

Erasmus hesitated. тАЬI believe so, though theyтАЩve never told them to me.тАЭ

This caused her to pause for a moment, then she laughed.



тАЬRas! Short for rascal, I see,тАЭ came a voice from behind. Erasmus felt a hand on his shoulder and turned
to find Barton, an old classmate from his Merton days. тАЬCome out for an evening of wickedness, I see?тАЭ
The man was beaming at him a bit foolishly, as though overcome with delight at finding Erasmus Flattery
in a brothel, of all places.

тАЬI was invited by the marchioness,тАЭ Erasmus said, not quite sure why he was trying to explain his
presence.

тАЬOh, to be sure! As were we all.тАЭ Barton laughed. тАЬBut have you seen the contortionists? Well, I tell you,
it will fire your imagination. Possibilities undreamed of!тАЭ He laughed again, and snatched a glass from a
passing tray. BartonтАЩs face was red, even his now completely bald pate was flushed. тАЬYou look a bit out
of sorts, Ras,тАЭ he said sympathetically, and then suddenly looked a little self-conscious himself, as though
afraid heтАЩd been caught in the act of frivolity. тАЬI hear youтАЩre setting your stamp on the Society. Making
quite a name for yourself,тАЭ he offered, perhaps searching for some topic that would put Erasmus at ease.
It was not a good choiceтАФErasmus did not like to be patronized. He nodded distractedly, and the
woman who still held his arm pressed against him again, calling for his attention.

Barton smiled and drained his glass. тАЬWell, mustnтАЩt keep you from your friend,тАЭ he said, nodded to the
woman on ErasmusтАЩ arm and turned to go.

тАЬBut, BartonтАжтАЭ but Barton was gone.

The woman, pressing her arm into Erasmus, leaned close to his ear and made a rather outrageous
suggestion. Erasmus disentangled himself. тАЬAh, тАШIf it were not a phantom moon, and your affections,
Lady, were but true.тАЩ

She looked at him, confused.

тАЬDenis,тАЭ Erasmus said. тАЬThe Prince Alexander.тАЭ And seeing that this information did not help, he added:
тАЬItтАЩs a play, my dear.тАЭ

She released him, her look of confusion not fading, and Erasmus set out into the fray. Tight little alleys
opened up in the knots of people, and he pushed his way down these, awash in the scents and sounds,
the colors and shapes.

He jostled someone accidentally and a rather poorly dressed young man shot him a look.