The Wonderful Wizard of Oz / Волшебник из страны Оз. Книга для чтения на английском языке

Hilda said: �Play some Mozart[97 - Mozart – Вольфганг Амадей Моцарт (1756–1791), австрийский композитор], do.’

David shook his head. He began another Mendelssohn.

Then suddenly he brought his hands down upon the keys[98 - brought his hands down upon the keys – (разг.) уронил руки на клавиши] in a harsh discord. He got up. He was trembling all over. Hilda went to him.

She said: �David – David.’

He said: �It’s nothing – it’s nothing…’

IV

The bell pealed aggressively.

The bell pealed again. Tressilian frowned. Through the frosted glass of the door he saw the silhouette of a man wearing a slouch hat.

Tressilian passed a hand over his forehead.

Something worried him. It was as though everything was happening twice.

Surely this had happened before. Surely – He drew back the latch and opened the door.

Then the spell broke. The man standing there said: �Is this where Mr Simeon Lee lives?’

�Yes, sir.’

�I’d like to see him, please.’

A faint echo of memory awoke in Tressilian. It was an intonation of voice that he remembered from the old days when Mr Lee was first in England.

Tressilian shook his head dubiously. �Mr Lee is an invalid, sir. He doesn’t see many people now. If you – ’

The stranger interrupted. He drew out an envelope and handed it to the butler.

�Yes, sir.’

V

Simeon Lee took the envelope. He drew out the single sheet of paper it held. He looked surprised. His eyebrows rose, but he smiled.

�By all that’s wonderful!’ he said. Then to the butler: �Show Mr Farr up here, Tressilian.’

�Yes, sir.’

Simeon said: �I was just thinking of old Ebenezer Farr. He was my partner out there in Kimberley. Now here’s his son come along!’

Tressilian reappeared.

Stephen Farr came in with a trace of nervousness. He disguised it by putting on a little extraswagger. He said – and just for the moment his South African accent was more marked than usual: �Mr Lee?’

�I’m glad to see you. So you’re Eb’s boy?’

Stephen Farr grinned rather sheepishly. He said: �My first visit to the old country. Father always told me to look you up if I did come.’

�Quite right.