"John Kessel - Pride and Prometheus" - читать интересную книгу автора (Kessel John)

“Yes. He is an acquaintance of the Mayor. He’s from Switzerland! Mr.
Clerval, on holiday.”

The tall, fair-haired Clerval stood with a darker, brooding young man,
both impeccably dressed in dove gray breeches, black jackets, and
waistcoats, with white tie and gloves.

“Switzerland! I would not have you marry any Dutchman—though ‘tis
said their merchants are uncommonly wealthy. And who is that gentleman
with whom he speaks?”

“I don’t know, Mother—but I can find out.”

Mrs. Bennet’s curiosity was soon to be relieved, as the two men
crossed the drawing room to the sisters and their chaperones.

“Henry Clerval, madame,” the fair-haired man said, “And this is my
good friend, Mr. Victor Frankenstein.”

Mr. Frankenstein bowed but said nothing. He had the darkest eyes
that Mary had ever encountered, and an air of being there only on
obligation. Whether this was because he was as uncomfortable in these
social situations as she, Mary could not tell, but his diffident air intrigued
her. She fancied his reserve might bespeak sadness rather than pride. His
manners were faultless, as was his command of English, though he spoke
with a slight French accent. When he asked Mary to dance she suspected
he did so only at the urging of Mr. Clerval; on the floor, once the orchestra
of pianoforte, violin, and cello struck up the quadrille, he moved with some
grace but no trace of a smile.

At the end of the dance, Frankenstein asked whether Mary would like
some refreshment, and they crossed from the crowded ballroom to the
sitting room, where he procured for her a cup of negus. Mary felt obliged to
make some conversation before she should retreat to the safety of her
wallflower’s chair.

“What brings you to England, Mr. Frankenstein?”
 “I come to meet with certain natural philosophers here in London, and
in Oxford—students of magnetism.”

“Oh! Then have you met Professor Langdon, of the Royal Society?”

Frankenstein looked at her as if seeing her for the first time. “How is it
that you are acquainted with Professor Langdon?”

“I am not personally acquainted with him, but I am, in my small way, an
enthusiast of the sciences. You are a natural philosopher?”

“I confess that I can no longer countenance the subject. But yes, I did