THE LUNCHEON W.Somerset Maugham I c

THE LUNCHEON

W.Somerset Maugham

I caught sight of her at the play, and in answer to her beckoning I went over during the interval and sat down beside her. It was long since I had last seen her, and if someone had not mentioned her name I hardly think I would have recognised her. She addressed me brightly.
"Well, it's many years since we first met. How time does fly! We're none of us getting any younger. Do you remember the first time I saw you? You asked me to luncheon."
Did I remember?
It was twenty years ago and I was living in Paris. I had a tiny apartment in the Latin Quarter overlooking a cemetery, and I was earning barely enough money to keep body and soul together. She had read a book of mine and had written to me about it. I answered, thanking her, and presently I received from her another letter saying that she was passing through Paris and would like to have a chat with me; but her time was limited, and the only free moment she had was on the following Thursday; she was spending the morning at the Luxembourg and would I give her a little luncheon at Foyot's afterwards? Foyot's is a restaurant at which the French senators eat, and it was so far beyond my means that I had never even thought of going there. But I was flattered, and I was too young to have learned to say no to a woman. (Few men, I may add, learn this until they are too old to make it of any consequence to a woman what they say.) I had eight francs (gold francs) to last me the rest of the month, and a modest luncheon should not cost more than fifteen. If I cut out coffee for the next two weeks I could manage well enough.
I answered that I would meet my friend -- by correspondence -- at Foyot's on Thursday at half past twelve. She was not so young as I expected and in appearance imposing rather than attractive, she was, in fact, a woman of forty (a charming age, but not one that excites a sudden and devastating passion at first sight), and she gave me the impression of having more teeth, white and large and even, than were necessary for any practical purpose. She was talkative, but since she seemed inclined to talk about me I was prepared to be an attentive listener.
I was startled when the bill of fare was brought, for the prices were a great deal higher than I had anticipated. But she reassured me.
"I never eat anything for luncheon," She said.
"Oh, don't say that!" I answered generously.
"I never eat more than one thing. I think people eat far too much nowadays. A little fish, perhaps. I wonder if they have any salmon.
Well, it was early in the year for salmon and it was not on the bill of fare, but I asked the waiter if there was any. Yes, a beautiful salmon had just come in, it was the first they had had. I ordered it for my guest. The waiter asked her if she would have something while it was being cooked.
"No," she answered, "I never eat more than one thing. Unless you have a little caviare. I never mind caviare."
My heart sank a little. I knew I could not afford caviare, but I could not very well tell her that. I told the waiter by all means to bring caviare. For myself I chose the cheapest dish on the menu and that was a mutton chop.
" I think you are unwise to eat meat," she said. " I don't know how you can expect to work after eating heavy things like chops. I don't believe in overloading my stomach."
Then came the question of drink.
"I never drink anything for luncheon," she said.
"Neither do I," I answered promptly.
"Except whiter wine," she proceeded as though I had not spoken. "These French white wines are so light. They're wonderful for the digestion."
"What would you like?" I asked, hospitable still, but not exactly effusive.
She gave me a bright and amicable flash of her white teeth.
"My doctor won't let me drink anything but champagne."
I fancy I turned a trifle pale. I ordered half a bottle. I mentioned casually that my doctor had absolutely forbidden me to drink champagne.
"What are you going to drink, then?"
"Water."
She ate the caviare and she ate the salmon. She talked gaily of art and literature and music. But I wondered what the bill would come to. When my mutton chop arrived she took me quite seriously to task.
"I see that you're in the habit of eating a heavy luncheon. I'm sure it's a mistake. Why don't you follow my example and just eat one thing? I'm sure you'd feel ever so much better for it."
"I am only going to eat one thing." I said, as the waiter came again with the bill of fare.
She waved him aside with an airy gesture.
"No, no, I never eat anything for luncheon. Just a bite, I never want more than that, and I eat that more as an excuse for conversation than anything else. I couldn't possibly eat anything more unless they had some of those giant asparagus. I should be sorry to leave Paris without having some of them."
My heart sank. I had seen them in the shops, and I knew that they were horribly expensive. My mouth had often watered at the sight of them.
"Madame wants to know if you have any of those giant asparagus," I asked the waiter.
I tried with all my might too will him to say no. A happy smile spread over his broad, pries-like face, and he assured me that they had some so large, so splendid, so tender, that it was a marvel.
"I'm not in the least hungry," my guest sighed, "but if you insist I don't mind having some asparagus."
I ordered them.
"Aren't you going to have any?"
"No, I never eat asparagus."
"I know there are people who don't like them. The fact is, you ruin your taste by all the meat you eat."
We waited for the asparagus to be cooked. Panic seized me. It was not a question now how much money I should have left over for the rest of the month, but whether I had enough to pay the bill. It would be embarrassing to find myself ten francs short and be obliged to borrow from my guest. I could not bring myself to do that. I knew exactly how much I had, and if the bill came to more I made up my mind that I would put my hand in my pocket and with a dramatic cry start up and say it had been picked. Of course, it would be awkward if she had not money enough either to pay the bill. Then the only thing would be to leave my watch and say I would come back and pay later.
The asparagus appeared. They were enormous, juicy, and appetising. I watched the wicked woman thrust them down her throat in large mouthfuls, and in my polite way I spoke about the condition of the drama in the Balkans. At last the finished.
"Coffee?" I said.
"Yes, just an ice-cream and coffee," she answered.
I was past caring now, so I ordered coffee for myself and an ice-cream and coffee for her.
"You know, there's one thing I thoroughly believe in," she said, as she ate the ice-cream. "One should always get up from a meal feeling one could eat a little more."
"Are you still hungry?" I asked faintly.
"Oh, no, I'm not hungry; you see, I don't eat luncheon. I have a cup of coffee in the morning and then dinner, but I never eat more than one thing for luncheon. I was speaking for you."
"Oh, I see!"
Then a terrible thing happened. While we were waiting for the coffee the head waiter, with an ingratiating smile on his false face, came up to us bearing a large basket full of huge peaches. They had the blush of an innocent girl; they had the rich tone of an Italian landscape. But surely peaches were not in season then? Lord knew what they cost. I knew too -- a little later, for my guest, going on with her conversation, absentmindedly took one.
"You see, you've filled your stomach with a lot of meat" -- my one miserable little chop -- "and you can't eat any more. But I've just had a snack and I shall enjoy a peach."
The bill came, and when I paid it I found that I had only enough for a quite inadequate tip. Her eyes rested for an instant on the three francs I left for the waiter, and I knew that she thought me mean. But when I walked out of the restaurant I had the whole month before me and not a penny in my pocket.
"Follow my example," she said as we shook hands, "and never eat more than one thing for luncheon."
"I'll do better than that," I retorted. "I'll eat nothing for dinner tonight."
"Humorist!" she cried gaily, jumping into a cab. "You're quite a humorist!"
But I have had my revenge at last. I do not believe that I am a vindictive man, but when the immortal gods take a hand in matter it is pardonable to observe the result with complacency. Today she weighs twenty-one stone.

Результаты (русский) 1:

ВРЕМЯ ЗАВТРАКА W.Somerset Моэма Я поймал ее взгляд на игру, и в ответ на ее манит я подошел во время интервала и сел рядом с ней. Это был длинный, так как я последний раз видели ее, и если кто-то не упомянул ее имя я думаю вряд ли, что я бы признали ее. Она затронула меня ярко. «Ну, это много лет так как мы впервые встретились. Как время летать! Мы ни один из нас становится моложе. Вы помните первый раз, я видел, как ты? Вы просили меня на завтрак." Я помню? Это было двадцать лет назад, и я жил в Париже. У меня была крошечная квартира в Латинском квартале с видом на кладбище, и я зарабатывают едва достаточно денег, чтобы держать тело и душа вместе. Она читать книгу шахты и написал мне об этом. Я ответил, поблагодарив ее, и в настоящее время я получил от ее еще одно письмо, заявив, что она проходила через Париж и хотели бы иметь чат со мной; но ее время было ограничено, и только свободный момент, она была на следующих четверг; она тратить утром в Люксембурге и бы я дать ей мало обед на Foyot потом? Foyot находится ресторан, в котором есть Французские сенаторы, и он был так далеко за рамки моей означает, что я никогда даже не думал идти туда. Но я был польщен, и я был слишком молод, чтобы научились сказать нет на женщине. (Несколько мужчин, я могу добавить, узнать это, до тех пор, пока они являются слишком стар, чтобы сделать его о каких-либо последствий для женщины, что они говорят.) Я имел восемь франков (золотых франков) будет длиться меня до конца месяца, и скромный обед не должно стоить больше чем пятнадцать. Если вырезать кофе для следующих двух недель я мог управлять достаточно хорошо. Я ответил, что я хотел бы встретиться моего друга--по переписке--на Foyot в четверг в половине прошлые двенадцать. Она не был так молод, как я ожидал, и по внешнему виду, наложения, а не привлекательной, она была, по сути, женщина сорока (очаровательный возраст, но не один, что волнует внезапной и разрушительные страсти на первый взгляд), и она дала мне впечатление наличия более зубов, белый и большой и даже, чем были необходимы для любых практических целей. Она была разговорчив, но поскольку она, как представляется, склонны говорить обо мне, я был готов быть внимательного слушателя. Я был поражен, когда законопроект о тариф был доставлен, цены были очень много выше, чем я ожидал. Но она заверила меня. «Я никогда не ем ничего на обеде»,-сказала она. «Ах, не говорите что!» Я ответил, щедро. «Я никогда не едят больше, чем одну вещь. Я думаю, что люди едят далеко слишком много сегодня. Мало рыбы, возможно. Интересно, если они имеют любые лосося. Ну это было в начале года для лосося и он был не на законопроект о тариф, но я спросил официант, если существует какой-либо. Да, красивая лосося только что пришел, это было первое, что они имели. Я приказал его для моего гостя. Официант спросил ее, если она будет иметь что-то, хотя он варился. «Нет», ответила она, «я никогда не едят больше, чем одну вещь. Если у вас есть немного икры. Я никогда не возражаете икры.» Мое сердце затонул немного. Я знал, я не мог позволить икры, но я очень хорошо не мог сказать ей, что. Я сказал официант всеми средствами для того, чтобы принести икры. Для себя я выбрал дешевым блюдо в меню и что Баранина отбивная. «Я думаю, что ты неразумно едят мясо»,-сказала она. «Я не знаю, как вы можете ожидать работать после еды тяжелые вещи, как котлеты. Я не верю в перегрузка моего желудка.» Потом вопрос о напитка. «Я никогда не пить ничего, на обеде»,-сказала она. «Не я», я ответил оперативно. «За исключением белее вино,» она продолжалась, как будто я не говорил. «Эти французские белые вина настолько легкая. Они очень хорошо для пищеварения». «Что бы вы хотели?» Я спросил, гостеприимный до сих пор, но не совсем эффузивных. Она дала мне яркий и дружные вспышки ее белые зубы. «Мой доктор обыкновение позвольте мне пить ничего, кроме шампанского.» Мне кажется, что я побледнел мелочь. Я приказал полбутылки. Я упомянула вскользь, что мой доктор абсолютно запретил мне пить шампанское. «То, что вы собираетесь пить, затем?» «Вода». Она съела икры и она съела лосося. Она говорила, весело, искусства и литературы и музыки. Но я подумал, что этот законопроект будет прийти к. Когда прибыл мой Баранина отбивная она взяла меня вполне серьезно задачи. «Я вижу, что вы находитесь в привычку еды большой обед. Я уверен, что это ошибка. Почему вы не следуйте моему примеру и просто съесть одну вещь? Я уверен, что вы когда-либо будет чувствовать намного лучше для него.» «Я только собираюсь съесть одну вещь.» Я сказал, как официант пришли снова с Билл платы за проезд. Она помахал ему сторону с Эйри жест. "No, no, I never eat anything for luncheon. Just a bite, I never want more than that, and I eat that more as an excuse for conversation than anything else. I couldn't possibly eat anything more unless they had some of those giant asparagus. I should be sorry to leave Paris without having some of them." My heart sank. I had seen them in the shops, and I knew that they were horribly expensive. My mouth had often watered at the sight of them. "Madame wants to know if you have any of those giant asparagus," I asked the waiter. I tried with all my might too will him to say no. A happy smile spread over his broad, pries-like face, and he assured me that they had some so large, so splendid, so tender, that it was a marvel. "I'm not in the least hungry," my guest sighed, "but if you insist I don't mind having some asparagus." I ordered them. "Aren't you going to have any?" "No, I never eat asparagus." "I know there are people who don't like them. The fact is, you ruin your taste by all the meat you eat." We waited for the asparagus to be cooked. Panic seized me. It was not a question now how much money I should have left over for the rest of the month, but whether I had enough to pay the bill. It would be embarrassing to find myself ten francs short and be obliged to borrow from my guest. I could not bring myself to do that. I knew exactly how much I had, and if the bill came to more I made up my mind that I would put my hand in my pocket and with a dramatic cry start up and say it had been picked. Of course, it would be awkward if she had not money enough either to pay the bill. Then the only thing would be to leave my watch and say I would come back and pay later. The asparagus appeared. They were enormous, juicy, and appetising. I watched the wicked woman thrust them down her throat in large mouthfuls, and in my polite way I spoke about the condition of the drama in the Balkans. At last the finished. "Coffee?" I said. "Yes, just an ice-cream and coffee," she answered. I was past caring now, so I ordered coffee for myself and an ice-cream and coffee for her. "You know, there's one thing I thoroughly believe in," she said, as she ate the ice-cream. "One should always get up from a meal feeling one could eat a little more." "Are you still hungry?" I asked faintly. "Oh, no, I'm not hungry; you see, I don't eat luncheon. I have a cup of coffee in the morning and then dinner, but I never eat more than one thing for luncheon. I was speaking for you." "Oh, I see!" Then a terrible thing happened. While we were waiting for the coffee the head waiter, with an ingratiating smile on his false face, came up to us bearing a large basket full of huge peaches. They had the blush of an innocent girl; they had the rich tone of an Italian landscape. But surely peaches were not in season then? Lord knew what they cost. I knew too -- a little later, for my guest, going on with her conversation, absentmindedly took one. "You see, you've filled your stomach with a lot of meat" -- my one miserable little chop -- "and you can't eat any more. But I've just had a snack and I shall enjoy a peach." The bill came, and when I paid it I found that I had only enough for a quite inadequate tip. Her eyes rested for an instant on the three francs I left for the waiter, and I knew that she thought me mean. But when I walked out of the restaurant I had the whole month before me and not a penny in my pocket. "Follow my example," she said as we shook hands, "and never eat more than one thing for luncheon." "I'll do better than that," I retorted. "I'll eat nothing for dinner tonight." "Humorist!" she cried gaily, jumping into a cab. "You're quite a humorist!" But I have had my revenge at last. I do not believe that I am a vindictive man, but when the immortal gods take a hand in matter it is pardonable to observe the result with complacency. Today she weighs twenty-one stone.