"mnkmb10" - читать интересную книгу автора (Trollope Anthony)

"I suppose it must be safe," said Mrs. Greene to me, ignoring the fact
that the cabin waiter understood English, although she had just
ordered some veal cutlets in that language.

"As safe as a church," I replied, not wishing to give much apparent
importance to the subject.

"They can't carry it off here," said Mr. Greene. But he was innocent
of any attempt at a joke, and was looking at me with all his eyes.

"They might throw it overboard," said Sophonisba. I at once made up
my mind that she could not be a good-natured girl. The moment that
breakfast was over, Mrs. Greene returned again up-stairs, and I found
her seated on one of the benches near the funnel, from which she could
keep her eyes fixed upon the box. "When one is obliged to carry about
one's jewels with one, one must be careful, Mr. Robinson," she said to
me apologetically. But I was becoming tired of the box, and the
funnel was hot and unpleasant, therefore I left her.

I had made up my mind that Sophonisba was ill-natured; but,
nevertheless, she was pretty, and I now went through some little
manoeuvres with the object of getting into conversation with her.
This I soon did, and was surprised by her frankness. "How tired you
must be of mamma and her box," she said to me. To this I made some
answer, declaring that I was rather interested than otherwise in the
safety of the precious trunk. "It makes me sick," said Sophonisba,
"to hear her go on in that way to a perfect stranger. I heard what
she said about her jewellery."

"It is natural she should be anxious," I said, "seeing that it
contains so much that is valuable."

"Why did she bring them?" said Sophonisba. "She managed to live very
well without jewels till papa married her, about a year since; and now
she can't travel about for a month without lugging them with her
everywhere. I should be so glad if some one would steal them."

"But all Mr. Greene's money is there also."

"I don't want papa to be bothered, but I declare I wish the box might
be lost for a day or so. She is such a fool; don't you think so, Mr.
Robinson?"

At this time it was just fourteen hours since I first had made their
acquaintance in the yard of Conradi's hotel, and of those fourteen
hours more than half had been passed in bed. I must confess that I
looked upon Sophonisba as being almost more indiscreet than her
mother-in-law. Nevertheless, she was not stupid, and I continued my
conversation with her the greatest part of the way down the lake