count bunker-第14节

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She　was　already　on　her　feet　to　leave　them；　when　her　mother　stopped　her；　and　Sir　Justin　hastened　to　explain。

〃No　reflection　upon　the　Baron's　character　was　intended；　I　assure　you。　　The　Prince　merely　meant　to　imply　that　he　represented　the　social　rather　than　the　business　side　of　the　embassy。　　And　both　are　equally　necessary；　I　assure　youequally　essential；　Baroness；　believe　me。〃

〃In　fact；〃　said　the　Countess；　〃the　remark　comes　to　this；　that　Rudolph　would　never　be　sent　to　Russia；　whatever　else　they　might　expect　of　him。〃

Even　through　their　tears　Alicia's　eyes　brightened　with　triumph。

〃But　he　HAS　gone；　mamma！　　I　got　a　letter　from　him　this　morningfrom　St。　Petersburg！〃

The　satisfaction　of　her　two　physicians　on　hearing　this　piece　of　good　news　took　the　form　of　a　start　which　might　well　have　been　mistaken　for　mere　astonishment；　or　even　for　dismay。

〃And　you　did　not　tell　ME　of　it！〃　cried　her　mother。

〃Rudolph　did　not　wish　me　to。　　I　have　only　told　you　now　to　prove　how　utterly　wrong　you　both　are。〃

〃Let　me　see　this　letter！〃

〃Indeed；　mamma；　I　won't！〃

The　two　ladies　looked　at　one　another　with　such　animosity　that　Sir　Justin　felt　called　upon　to　interfere。

〃Suppose　the　Baroness　were　to　read　us　as　much　as　is　necessary　to　convince　us　that　there　is　no　possibility　of　a　mistake；〃　he　suggested。

So　profoundly　did　the　Countess　respect　his　advice　that　she　graciously　waived　her　maternal　rights　so　far　as　actually　following　the　text　with　her　eyes　went；　while　her　daughter；　after　a　little　demur；　was　induced　to　depart　this　one　step　further　from　her　husband's　injunctions。

〃You　have　no　objections　to　my　glancing　at　the　post…mark？〃　said　Sir　Justin　when　this　point　was　settled。

With　a　toss　of　her　head　the　Baroness　silently　handed　him　the　envelope。

〃It　seems　correct；〃　he　observed　cautiously。

〃But　post…marks　can　be　forged；　can't　they？〃　inquired　the　Countess。

〃I　fear　they　can；〃　he　admitted；　with　a　sorrowful　air。

Scorning　to　answer　this　insinuation；　the　Baroness　proceeded　to　read　aloud　the　following　extracts

〃　'I　travelled　with　comfort　through　Europe；　and　having　by　many　countries　passed；　such　as　Germany　and　others；　I　arrived；　my　dear　Alicia；　in　Russia。'　〃

〃Is　that　all　he　says　about　his　journey？〃　interrupted　Lady　Grillyer。

〃It　is　certainly　a　curiously　insufficient　description　of　a　particularly　interesting　route；〃　commented　Sir　Justin。

〃It　almost　seems　as　if　he　didn't　know　what　other　countries　lie　between　England　and　Russia；〃　added　the　Countess。

〃It　only　means　that　he　knows　geography　doesn't　interest　me！〃　replied　Alicia。　　〃And　he　does　say　more　about　his　journey'Alone　by　myself；　in　a　carriage　very　quietly　I　travelled。'　　And　again'To　be　observed　not　wishing；　and　strict　orders　being　given　to　me；　with　no　man　I　spoke　all　the　way。'　　There！〃

〃That　certainly　makes　it　more　difficult　to　check　his　statements；〃　Sir　Justin　admitted。

〃Ah；　he　evidently　thought　of　that！〃　said　the　Countess。　　〃If　he　had　said　there　was　anyone　with　him；　we　could　have　asked　him　afterwards　who　it　was。　　What　a　pity！　　Read　on；　my　childwe　are　vastly　interested。〃

Thus　encouraged；　the　Baroness　continued

〃　'In　Russia　the　crops　are　good；　and　from　my　window　with　pleasure　I　observe　them。　　Petersburg　is　a　nice　town；　and　I　have　a　pleasant　apartment　in　it！'　〃

〃What！〃　exclaimed　the　Countess。　　〃He　is　looking　at　the　crops　from　his　window　in　St。　Petersburg！〃

Sir　Justin　grimly　pursed　his　lips；　but　his　silence　was　more　ominous　than　speech。　　In　fact；　the　Baron's　unfortunate　effort　at　realism　by　the　introduction　of　his　window　struck　the　first　blow　at　his　wife's　implicit　trust　in　him。　　She　was　evidently　a　little　disconcerted；　though　she　stoutly　declared

〃He　is　evidently　living　in　the　suburbs；　mamma。〃

〃Will　you　be　so　kind　as　to　read　on　a　little　farther？〃　interposed　Sir　Justin　in　a　grave　voice。

〃　'The　following　reflections　have　I　made。　　Russia　is　very　large　and　cold；　where　people　in　furs　are　to　be　seen；　and　sledges。　　Bombs　are　thrown　sometimes；　and　the　marine　is　not　good　when　it　does　drink　too　much。'　　Now；　mamma；　he　must　have　seen　these　things　or　he　wouldn't　put　them　in　his　letter。〃

The　Baroness　broke　of　somewhat　hurriedly　to　make　this　comment；　almost　indeed　as　though　she　felt　it　to　be　necessary。　　As　for　her　two　comforters；　they　looked　at　one　another　with　so　much　sorrow　that　their　eyes　gleamed　and　their　lips　appeared　to　smile。

〃The　Baron　did　not　write　that　letter　in　Russia；〃　said　Sir　Justin　decisively。　　〃Furs　are　not　worn　in　summer；　nor　do　the　inhabitants　travel　in　sledges　at　this　time　of　the　year。〃

〃Butbut　he　doesn't　say　he　actually　saw　them；〃　pleaded　the　Baroness。

〃Then　that　remark；　just　like　the　rest　of　his　reflections；　makes　utter　nonsense；〃　rejoined　her　mother。

〃Is　that　all？〃　inquired　Sir　Justin。

〃Almost　allall　that　is　important；〃　faltered　the　Baroness。

〃Let　us　hear　the　rest；〃　said　her　mother　inexorably。

〃There　is　only　a　postscript；　and　that　merely　says　'The　flask　that　you　filled　I　thank　you　for；　it　was　so　large　that　it　was　sufficient　for'　　I　can't　read　the　last　word。〃

〃Let　me　see　it；　Alicia。〃

A　few　minutes　ago　Alicia　would　have　torn　the　precious　letter　up　rather　than　let　another　eye　fall　upon　it。　　That　her　devotion　was　a　little　disturbed　was　proved　by　her　allowing　her　two　advisers　to　study　even　a　single　sentence。　　Keeping　her　hand　over　the　rest；　she　showed　it　to　them。　　They　bent　their　brows；　and　then　simultaneously　exclaimed

〃　'Us　both！'　〃

〃Oh；　it　can't　be！〃　cried　the　poor　Baroness。

〃It　is　absolutely　certain；〃　said　her　mother　in　a　terrible　voice〃　'It　was　so　large　that　it　was　sufficient　for　us　both！'　〃

〃There　is　no　doubt　about　it；〃　corroborated　Sir　Justin　sternly。　　〃The　unfortunate　young　man　has　inadvertently　confessed　his　deception。〃

〃It　cannot　be！〃　murmured　the　Baroness。　　〃He　said　at　the　beginning　that　he　travelled　quite　alone。〃

〃That　is　precisely　what　condemns　him；〃　said　her　mother。

〃Precisely；〃　reiterated　Sir　Justin。

The　Baroness　audibly　sobbed；　while　the　two　patchers　of　her　peace　of　mind　gazed　at　her　commiserately。

〃What　am　I　to　do？〃　she　asked　at　length。　　〃I　can't　believe　he　really　　But　how　am　I　to　find　out？〃

〃I　shall　make　further　investigations；〃　promptly　replied　Sir　Justin。

〃And　I　also；〃　added　the　Countess。

〃Meanwhile；〃　said　Sir　Justin；　〃we　shall　be　exceedingly　interested　to　learn　what　further　particulars　of　his　wanderings　the　Baron　supplies　you　with。〃

〃Yes；〃　observed　the　Countess；　〃he　can　fortunately　be　trusted　to　betray　himself。　　You　will　inform　me；　Alicia；　as　soon　as　you　hear　from　him　again。〃

Her　daughter　made　no　reply。

Sir　Justin　rose　and　bade　them　a　grave　farewell。

〃In　my　daughter's　name　I　thank　you　cordially；〃　said　the　Countess；　as　she　pressed　his　hand。

〃Anything　I　have　done　has　been　a　pleasure　to　me；〃　he　assured　them　with　a　sincerity　there　was　no　mistaking。



CHAPTER　XV

In　an　ancient　and　delightful　garden；　where　glimpses　of　the　loch　below　gleamed　through　a　mass　of　summer　foliage；　and　the　gray　castle　walls　looked　down　on　smooth；　green　glades；　the　Baron　slowly　paced　the　shaven　turf。　　But　he　did　not　pace　it　quite　alone；　for　by　his　side　moved　a　graceful　figure　in　a　wide；　sun…shading　hat　and　a　frock　entirely　irresistible。　　Beneath　the　hat；　by　bending　a　little　down；　you　could　have　seen　the　dark　liquid　eyes　and　tender　lips　of　Eva　Gallosh。　　And　the　Baron　frequently　bent　down。

〃I　am　proud　of　everyzing　zat　I　find　in　my　home；〃　said　the　Baron　gallantly。

The　lady's　color　rose；　but　not　apparently　in　anger。

〃Ach；　here　is　a　pretty　leetle　seat！〃　he　exclaimed　in　a　tone　of　pleased　discovery；　just　as　though　he　had　not　been　leading　her　insidiously　towards　it　ever　since　they；　came　into　the　garden。

It　was；　indeed；　a　most　shady　and　secluded　bench；　an　ideal　seat　for　any　gallant　young　Baron　who　had　left　his　Baroness　sufficiently　far　away。　　He　glanced　down　complacently　upon　his　brawny　knees；　displayed　（he　could　not　but　think）　to　great　advantage　beneath　his　kilt　and　sporran；　and　then　with　a　tenderer　complacency；　turned　his　gaze　upon　his　fair　companion。

〃You　say　you　like　me　in　ze　tartan？〃　he　murmured。

〃I　adore　everything　Highland！　　Oh；　Lord　Tulliwuddle；　how　fortunate　you　are！〃

Nature　had　gifted　Miss　Gallosh　with　a　generous　share　of　romantic　sentiment。　　It　was　she　who　had　egged　on　her　father　to　rent　this　Highland　castle　for　the　summer；　instead　of　chartering　a　yacht　as　he　had　done　for　the　past　few　years；　and　ever　since　they　had　come　here　that　sentiment　had　grown；　till　she　was　ready　to　don　the　white　cockade　and　plot　a　new　Jacobite　uprising。　　Then；　while　her　heart　was　in　this　inspired　condition；　a　noble　young　chief　had　stepped　in　to　complete　the　story。　　No　wonder　her　dark　eyes　burned。

〃What　attachment　you　must　feel　for　each　stone　of　the　Castle！〃　she　continued　in　a　rapt　voice。　　〃How　your　heart　must　beat　to　remember　that　your　great…　grandfatherwasn't　his　name　Fergus？〃

〃Fergus：　yes；〃　said　the　Baron；　blindly　but　promptly。

〃No；　no；　it　was　Ian；　of　course。〃

〃Ach；　so！　　Ian　he　vas。〃

〃You　were　thinking　of　his　father；〃　she　smiled。

〃Yes；　his　fazzer。〃

She　reflected　sagely。

〃I　am　afraid　I　get　my　facts　mixed　up　some　times。　　Ianah；　Reginald　came　before　himnot　Fergus！〃

〃Reginaldoh　yes；　so　he　did！〃

She　looked　a　trifle　disappointed。

〃If　I　were　you