"Alexei Panshin - New Celebrations" - читать интересную книгу автора (Panshin Alexei)

“Good evening, Mr. Villiers.”

Villiers turned to find that the voice belonged to Norman Adams, a young gentleman he had had occasion
to share a dinner table with. Though Adams was only a few years younger, he had a helter-skelter
eagerness that made Villiers feel a sober dog.

“Mr. Adams,” he said.

Adams nodded in the direction Villiers had been looking. “In truth,” he said, “Godwin dresses well. I like
the cut of his coat.”

“Yes,” said Villiers. “For parts as lonely as these, he manages to present an appearance that would pass
inspection in grander company than he is likely to find here.”

“Do you think so?”

Adams himself was dressed well, but conservatively, as though he had been much influenced by the taste
of older men, or perhaps had but recently arrived from some comparative backwater. Nonetheless,
Villiers had seen one recent ex-priest and any number of off-duty Naval officers on Nashua itself in
whose company Adams could comfortably have fitted.

“Yes,” Villiers said. “If you like his tastes, you might ask him for the name of his tailor while you have the
opportunity to take advantage of it.”

Adams nodded. “A good idea, sir,” he said. “But Godwin is not precisely anapproachable man. At least
I don’t find him so. He makes me feel like a puppy who doesn’t know enough to sit quietly in the corner,
and the more he retreats, the more I feel myself to press.”

“Well, perhaps an opportunity will present itself,” Villiers said.

Adams rattled the stack of tokens in his hand. “Do you gamble?”

Villiers said, “I seek to ape affluence by compounding my bills, but I have yet to find a game to my
liking.”

Adams laughed.

“Would you care to join me in a small game between ourselves?” Villiers asked. “Raffles, perhaps?”

Adams made a face. “I used to play that with my sisters.”

“Simple games can still be interesting.”

“No disrespect, sir, but I think I’d prefer a more active pleasure.” Adams pointed at the colored fountain
of the Flambeau. The red ball danced on the cone of flame and then fell as the fire died. “I feel my luck
tonight.”

“In that case, allow me to accompany you.”