"Jack Vance - Elder Isles 2 - The Green Pearl" - читать интересную книгу автора (Vance Jack)

his interest and paid over Visbhume s price.

Among the objects in the box were fragments of an old manuscript.
When news of the transaction came by chance to the ears of the witch
Desmei, she wondered if the fragments might not fill out the gaps in a
manuscript which she had long been trying to restore. Without delay she
took herself to Tamurello's manse Paroli in the Forest of Tantrevalles, and
there applied for permission to inspect the fragments.

With all courtesy Tamurello displayed the fragments. "Are these the
missing pieces?"

Desmei looked through the fragments. "They are indeed!"

"In that case they are now yours," said Tamurello. "Accept them with my
compliments."

"I will do so most gratefully!" said Desmei. As she packed the fragments
into a portfolio, she studied Tamurello from the comer of her eye. She said:
"It is somewhat odd that we have not met before."

Tamurello smilingly agreed. "The world is long and wide. New
experiences await us always, for the most part to our pleasure." He inclined
his head with unmistakable gallantry toward his guest.

"Nicely spoken, Tamurello!" said Desmei. "Truly, you are most
gracious!"

"Only when circumstances warrant. Will you take refreshment? Here is
a soft wine pressed from the Alhadra grape."
another.

Tamurello became ever more unresponsive. Desmei sat long hours with
him, analyzing their relationship in all its phases, while Tamurello drank
wine and looked moodily off through the trees.

Neither sighs nor sentiment, Desmei discovered, affected Tamurello.
She learned that he was equally proof against cajolery, while reproaches
seemed only to bore him. At last, in a facetious manner, Desmei spoke of a
former lover who had caused her pain and hinted of the misfortunes which
thereafter had dogged his life. Finally she saw that she had captured
Tamurello's attention, and veered to more cheerful topics.

Tamurello let prudence guide his conduct, and once again Desmei had
no complaints.

After a hectic month Tamurello found that he could no longer maintain
his glassy-eyed zest. Once again he began to avoid Desmei, but now that
she understood the forces which guided his conduct, she brought him
smartly to heel.