a ward of the golden gate-第20节

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never　before　had　the　honor　of　witnessing。　　Tell　him　that　I；　sirI；
Harry　Pendleton；　of　Kentucky；　a　Southerner；　siran　old
slaveholder；　sir；　declare　it　to　be　a　tissue　of　falsehoods　unworthy
the　credence　of　a　Christian　civilization　like　thisunworthy　the
attention　of　the　distinguished　ladies　and　gentlemen　that　are
gathered　here　to…night。　　Tell　him；　sir；　he　has　been　imposed　upon。
Tell　him　I　am　responsiblegive　him　my　card　and　addresspersonally
responsible　for　what　I　say。　　If　he　wants　proofsblank　it　all！
tell　him　you　yourself　have　been　a　slaveMY　slave；　sir！　　Take　off
your　hat；　sir！　　Ask　him　to　look　at　youask　him　if　he　thinks　you
ever　looked　or　could　look　like　that　lop…eared；　psalm…singing；
white…headed　hypocrite　on　the　stage！　　Ask　him；　sir；　if　he　thinks
that　blank　ringmaster　they　call　St。　Clair　looks　like　ME！〃

At　this　astounding　exordium　Paul　eagerly　pressed　forward　and
entered　the　bureau。　　There　certainly　was　Colonel　Pendleton；　in
spotless　evening　dress；　erect；　flashing；　and　indignant；　his
aquiline　nose　lifted　like　a　hawk's　beak　over　his　quarry；　his　iron…
gray　moustache；　now　white　and　waxed；　parted　like　a　swallow's　tail
over　his　handsome　mouth；　and　between　him　and　the　astounded
〃Direction〃　stood　the　apparition　of　the　AlleeGeorge！　　There　was
no　mistaking　him　now。　　What　Paul　had　thought　was　a　curled　wig　or
powder　was　the　old　negro's　own　white　knotted　wool；　and　the
astounding　livery　he　wore　was　carried　off　as　no　one　but　George
could　carry　it。

But　he　was　still　more　amazed　when　the　old　servant；　in　a　German　as
exaggerated；　as　incoherent；　but　still　as　fluent　and　persuasive　as
his　own　native　speech；　began　an　extravagant　but　perfectly　dignified
and　diplomatic　translation　of　his　master's　protests。　　Where　and
when；　by　what　instinct；　he　had　assimilated　and　made　his　own　the
grotesque　inversions　and　ponderous　sentimentalities　of　Teutonic
phrasing；　Paul　could　not　guess；　but　it　was　with　breathless　wonder
that　he　presently　became　aware　that；　so　perfect　and　convincing　was
the　old　man's　style　and　deportment；　not　only　the　simple　officials
but　even　the　bystanders　were　profoundly　impressed　by　this　farrago
of　absurdity。　　A　happy　word　here　and　there；　the　full　title　and　rank
given；　even　with　a　slight　exaggeration；　to　each　individual；　brought
a　deep　and　guttural　〃So！〃　from　lips　that　would　have　found　it
difficult　to　repeat　a　line　of　his　ceremonious　idiocy。

In　their　preoccupation　neither　the　colonel　nor　George　had　perceived
Paul's　entrance；　but；　as　the　old　servant　turned　with　magnificent
courtesy　towards　the　bystanders；　his　eyes　fell　upon　Paul。　　A　flash
of　surprise；　triumph；　and　satisfaction　lit　up　his　rolling　eyes。
Paul　instantly　knew　that　he　not　only　recognized　him；　but　that　he
had　already　heard　of　and　thoroughly　appreciated　a　certain
distinguished　position　that　Paul　had　lately　held；　and　was　quick　to
apply　it。　　Intensifying　for　a　moment　the　grandiloquence　of　his
manner；　he　called　upon　his　master's　most　distinguished　and　happily
arrived　old　friend；　the　Lord　Lieutenant　Governor　of　the　Golden
Californias；　to　corroborate　his　statement。　　Colonel　Pendleton
started；　and　grasped　Paul's　hand　warmly。　　Paul　turned　to　the
already　half…mollified　Director　with　the　diplomatic　suggestion　that
the　vivid　and　realistic　acting　of　the　admirable　company　which　he
himself　had　witnessed　had　perhaps　unduly　excited　his　old　friend；
even　as　it　had　undoubtedly　thrown　into　greater　relief　the　usual
exaggerations　of　dramatic　representation；　and　the　incident
terminated　with　a　profusion　of　apologies；　and　the　most　cordial
expressions　of　international　good　feeling　on　both　sides。

Yet；　as　they　turned　away　from　the　theatre　together；　Paul　could　not
help　noticing　that；　although　the　colonel's　first　greeting　had　been
spontaneous　and　unaffected；　it　was　succeeded　by　an　uneasy　reserve。
Paul　made　no　attempt　to　break　it；　and　confined　himself　to　a　few
general　inquiries；　ending　by　inviting　the　colonel　to　sup　with　him
at　the　hotel。　　Pendleton　hesitated。　　〃At　any　other　time；　Mr。
Hathaway；　I　should　have　insisted　upon　you；　as　the　stranger；　supping
with　me；　but　since　the　absence　ofofthe　rest　of　my　partyI　have
given　up　my　suite　of　rooms　at　the　Bad　Hof；　and　have　taken　smaller
lodgings　for　myself　and　the　boy　at　the　Schwartze　Adler。　　Miss　Woods
and　Miss　Arguello　have　accepted　an　invitation　to　spend　a　few　days
at　the　villa　of　the　Baron　and　Baroness　von　Schilprechtan　hour　or
two　from　here。〃　　He　lingered　over　the　title　with　an　odd　mingling　of
impressiveness　and　inquiry；　and　glanced　at　Paul。　　But　Hathaway
exhibiting　neither　emotion　nor　surprise　at　the　mention　of　Yerba's
name　or　the　title　of　her　host；　he　continued；　〃Miss　Arguello；　I
suppose　you　know；　is　immensely　admired：　she　has　been；　sir；　the
acknowledged　belle　of　Strudle　Bad。〃

〃I　can　readily　believe　it；〃　said　Paul；　simply。

〃And　has　taken　the　positionthe　position；　sir；　to　which　she　is
entitled。〃

Without　appearing　to　notice　the　slight　challenge　in　Pendleton's
tone；　Paul　returned；　〃I　am　glad　to　hear　it。　　The　more　particularly
as；　I　believe；　the　Germans　are　great　sticklers　for　position　and
pedigree。〃

〃You　are　right；　sirquite　right：　they　are；〃　said　the　colonel；
proudly〃although〃with　a　certain　premeditated　deliberation〃I
have　been　credibly　informed　that　the　King　can；　in　certain　cases；　if
he　chooses；　supplyyes；　sirSUPPLY　a　favored　person　with
ancestorsyes；　sir；　with　ANCESTORS！〃

Paul　cast　a　quick　glance　at　his　companion。

〃Yes；　sirthat　is；　we　will　say；　in　the　case　of　a　lady　of　inferior
rankor　even　birth；　the　King　of　these　parts　can；　on　her　marriage
with　a　noblemanblank　it　all！ennoble　her　father　and　mother；　and
their　fathers　and　mothers；　though　they've　been　dead；　or　as　good　as
dead；　for　years。〃

〃I　am　afraid　that's　a　slight　exaggeration　of　the　rare　custom　of
granting　'noble　lands；'　or　estates　that　carry　hereditary　titles
with　them；〃　said　Paul；　more　emphatically；　perhaps；　than　the
occasion　demanded。

〃Fact；　sirGeorge　there　knows　it　all；〃　said　Pendleton。　　〃He　gets
it　from　the　other　servants。　　I　don't　speak　the　language；　sir；　but
HE　does。　　Picked　it　up　in　a　year。〃

〃I　must　compliment　him　on　his　fluency；　certainly；〃　said　Paul；
looking　at　George。

The　old　servant　smiled；　and　not　without　a　certain　condescension。
〃Yes；　sah；　I　don'　say　to　a　scholar　like　yo'self；　sah；　dat　I'se　got
de　grandmatical　presichion；　but　as　fah；　sahas　fah　as　de　IDIOTISMS
ob　de　language　goes。　　Sahit's　gen'lly　allowed　I'm　dar！　　As　to
what　Marse　Harry　says　ob　de　ignobling　ob　predecessors；　I've　had　it；
sah；　from　de　best　autority；　sahde　furst；　I　may　say；　sahde　real
prima　facie　mende　gemplum　ob　his　Serene　Highness；　in　de　korse　eb
ordinary　conversashun；　sah。〃

〃That'll　do；　George；〃　said　Pendleton；　with　paternal　brusqueness。
〃Run　on　ahead　and　tell　that　blank　chamberlain　that　Mr。　Hathaway　is
one　of　my　friendsand　have　supper　accordingly。〃　　As　the　negro
hastened　away　he　turned　to　Paul：　〃What　he　says　is　true：　he's　the
most　popular　man　or　boy　in　all　Strudle　Bada　devilish　sight　more
than　his　masterand　goes　anywhere　where　I　can't　go。　　Princes　and
princesses　stop　and　talk　to　him　in　the　street；　the　Grand　Duke　asked
permission　to　have　him　up　in　his　carriage　at　the　races　the　other
day；　and；　by　the　Eternal；　sir；　he　gives　the　style　to　all　the
flunkeys　in　town！〃

〃And　I　see；　he　dresses　the　character；〃　observed　Paul。

〃His　own　ideaentirely。　　And；　by　Jove！　he　proves　to　be　right。　　You
can't　do　anything　here　without　a　uniform。　　And　they　tell　me　he's
got　everything　correct；　down　to　the　crest　on　the　buttons。〃

They　walked　on　in　silence　for　a　few　moments；　Pendleton　retaining　a
certain　rigidity　of　step　and　bearing　which　Paul　had　come　to
recognize　as　indicating　some　uneasiness　or　mental　disturbance　on
his　part。　　Hathaway　had　no　intention　of　precipitating　the
confidence　of　his　companion。　　Perhaps　experience　had　told　him　it
would　come　soon　enough。　　So　he　spoke　carelessly　of　himself。　　How
the　need　of　a　year's　relaxation　and　change　had　brought　him　abroad；
his　journeyings；　and；　finally；　how　he　had　been　advised　by　his
German　physician　to　spend　a　few　weeks　at　Strudle　Bad　preparatory　to
the　voyage　home。　　Yet　he　was　perfectly　aware　that　the　colonel　from
time　to　time　cast　a　furtive　glance　at　his　face。　　〃And　YOU；〃　he　said
in　conclusion〃when　do　you　intend　to　return　to　California？〃

The　colonel　hesitated　slightly。　　〃I　shall　remain　in　Europe　until
Miss　Arguello　is　settledI　mean；〃　he　added　hurriedly；　〃until　she
hasahem！completed　her　education　in　foreign　ways　and　customs。
You　see；　Hathaway；　I　have　constituted　myself；　after　a　certain
fashion；　I　may　saystill；　her　guardian。　　I　am　an　old　man；　with
neither　kith　nor　kin　myself；　sirI'm　a　little　too　old…fashioned
for　the　boys　over　there〃with　a　vague　gesture　towards　the　west；
which；　however；　told　Paul　how　near　it　still　was　to　him。　　〃But　then；
among　the　old　fogys　hereblank　it　all！it　isn't　noticed。　　So　I
look　after　her；　you　see；　or　rather　make　myself　responsible　for　her
generallyalthough；　of　course；　she　has　other　friends　and
associates；　you　understand；　more　of　her　own　age　and　tastes。〃

〃And　I've　no　doubt　she's　perfectly　satisfied；〃　said　Paul　in　a　tone
of　conviction。

〃Well；　yes；　sir；　I　presume　so；〃　said　the　colonel　slowly；　〃but　I've
sometimes　thought；　Mr