The Last Tycoon / Последний магнат. Книга для чтения на английском языке

“There’s nothing to be done – absolutely nothing. I’m sorry I was short with him – but I don’t like a man to approach me telling me it’s for my sake.”

“Maybe it was,” said Wylie.

“It’s poor technique.”

“I’d fall for it,” said Wylie. “I’m vain as a woman. If anybody pretends to be interested in me, I’ll ask for more. I like advice.”

Stahr shook his head distastefully. Wylie kept on ribbing him – he was one of those to whom this privilege was permitted.

“You fall for some kinds of flattery,” he said.

“It makes me sick,” said Stahr, “but it’s not as bad as some man trying to help you.”

“If you don’t like advice, why do you pay me?”

“That’s a question of merchandise,” said Stahr. “I’m a merchant. I want to buy what’s in your mind.”

“You’re no merchant,” said Wylie. “I knew a lot of them when I was a publicity man, and I agree with Charles Francis Adams[24 - Charles Francis Adams – Чарльз Френсис Адамс (1807–1886), сын Джона Квинси Адамса (1767–1848), 6-го президента США; писатель, дипломат].

“What did he say?”

“He knew them all – Gould[25 - Gould – Джейсон Гулд (1836–1892), американский финансист], Vanderbilt[26 - Vanderbilt – Корнелиус Вандербильд (1794–1877), американский промышленник], Carnegie[27 - Carnegie – Эндрю Карнеги (1835–1919), американский промышленник, филантроп], Astor[28 - Astor – Джон Джейкоб Астор (1763–1848), американский торговец мехом, капиталист] – and he said there wasn’t one he’d care to meet again in the hereafter.

“Adams was probably a sourbelly,” said Stahr.

“He had brains,” said Wylie rather tartly.

“It takes more than brains.[29 - It takes more than brains. – (разг.) Здесь нужны не только мозги.] You writers and artists poop out and get all mixed up, and somebody has to come in and straighten you out.” He shrugged his shoulders.