count bunker-第15节

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！



〃Reginaldoh　yes；　so　he　did！〃

She　looked　a　trifle　disappointed。

〃If　I　were　you　I　should　know　them　all　by　heart；〃　said　she。

〃I　vill　learn　zem。　　Oh　yes；　I　most　not　make　soch　mistakes。〃

Indeed　he　registered　a　very　sincere　vow　to　study　his　family　history　that　afternoon。

〃What　was　I　saying？　　Oh　yesabout　your　brave　great…grandfather。　　Do　you　know；　Lord　Tulliwuddle；　I　want　to　ask　you　a　strange　favor？　　You　won't　think　it　very　odd　of　me？〃

〃Odd？　　Never！　　Already　it　is　granted。〃

〃I　want　to　hear　from　your　own　lipsfrom　the　lips　of　an　actual　Lord　Tulliwuddlethe　story　of　your　ancestor　Ian's　exploit。〃

With　beseeching　eyes　and　a　face　flushed　with　a　sense　of　her　presumption；　she　uttered　this　request　in　a　voice　that　tore　the　Baron　with　conflicting　emotions。

〃Vich　exploit　do　you　mean？〃　he　asked　in　a　kindly　voice　but　with　a　troubled　eye。

〃You　must　know！　　When　he　defended　the　pass；　of　course。〃

〃Ach；　so！〃

The　Baron　looked　at　her；　and　though　he　boasted　of　no　such　inventive　gifts　as　his　friend　Bunker；　his　ardent　heart　bade　him　rather　commit　himself　to　perdition　than　refuse。

〃You　will　tell　it　to　me？〃

〃I　vill！〃

Making　as　much　as　possible　of　the　raconteur's　privileges　of　clearing　his　throat；　settling　himself　into　good　position；　and　gazing　dreamily　at　the　tree…tops　for　inspiration；　he　began　in　a　slow；　measured　voice

〃In　ze　pass　he　stood。　　Zen　gomed　his　enemies。　　He　fired　his　gon　and　shooted　some　dead。　　Zen　did　zey　run　avay。　　Zat　vas　vat　happened。〃

When　he　ventured　to　meet　her　candid　gaze　after　thus　lamely　libelling　his　forefather；　he　was　horrified　to　observe　that　she　had　already　recoiled　some　feet　away　from　him；　and　seemed　still　to　be　in　the　act　of　recoiling。

〃It　would　have　been　kinder　to　tell　me　at　once　that　I　had　asked　too　much！〃　she　exclaimed　in　a　voice　affected　by　several　emotions。　　〃I　only　wanted　to　hear　you　repeat　his　death…cry　as　his　foes　slew　him；　so　that　it　might　always　seem　more　real　to　me。　　And　you　snub　me　like　this！〃

The　Baron　threw　himself　upon　one　knee。

〃Forgive　me！　　I　did　jost　lose　mine　head　mit　your　eyes　looking　so　at　me！　　I　get　confused；　you　are　so　lovely！　　I　did　not　mean　to　snob！〃

In　the　ardor　of　his　penitence　he　discovered　himself　holding　her　hand；　she　no　longer　seemed　to　be　recoiling；　and　Heaven　knows　what　might　have　happened　next　if　an　ostentatious　sound　of　whistling　had　not　come　to　their　rescue。

〃Bot　you　vill　forgive？〃　he　whispered；　as　they　sprang　up　from　their　shady　seat。

〃Ye…es；〃　she　answered；　just　as　the　serene　glance　of　Count　Bunker　fell　humorously　upon　them。

〃You　seem　to　have　been　plucking　flowers；　Tulliwuddle；〃　he　observed。

〃Flowers？　　Oh；　no。〃

The　Count　glanced　pointedly　at　his　soiled　knee。

〃Indeed！〃　said　he。　　〃Don't　I　see　traces　of　a　flower…bed？〃

〃I　think　I　should　go　in；〃　murmured　Eva；　and　she　was　gone　before　the　Count　had　time　to　frame　a　compensating　speech。

His　friend　Tulliwuddle　looked　at　him　with　marked　displeasure；　yet　seemed　to　find　some　difficulty　in　adequately　expressing　it。

〃I　do　not　care　for　vat　you　said；〃　he　remarked　stiffly。　　〃Nor　for　ze　look　now　on　your　face。〃

〃Baron；〃　said　the　Count　imperturbably；　〃what　did　you　tell　me　the　Wraith　said　to　yousomething　about　'Beware　of　the　ladies；'　wasn't　it？〃

〃You　do　not　onderstand。　　Ze　ghost〃　（he　found　some　difficulty　in　pronouncing　the　spirit's　chosen　name）　〃did　soppose　naturally　zat　I　vas　ze　real　Lord　Tollyvoddle；　who　is；　as　you　have　told　me　yourself；　Bonker；　somezing　of　a　fast　fish。　　Ze　varning　vas　to　him　obviously；　so　you　should　not　turn　it　upon　me。〃

Bunker　opened　his　eyes。

〃A　deuced　ingenious　argument；〃　he　commented。　　〃It　wouldn't　have　occurred　to　me　if　you　hadn't　explained。　　Then　you　claim　the　privilege　of　wooing　whom　you　wish？〃

〃Wooing！　　You　forget　zat　I　am　married；　Bonker。〃

〃Oh　no；　I　remember　perfectly。〃

His　tone　disturbed　the　Baron。　　Taking　the　Count's　arm；　he　said　to　him　with　moving　earnestness

〃Have　I　not　told　you　how　constant　I　amlike　ze　magnet　and　ze　pole？〃

〃I　have　heard　you　employ　the　simile。〃

〃Ach；　bot　it　is　true！　　I　am　inside　my　heart　so　constant　as　it　is　possible！　　But　I　now　represent　Tollyvoddle；　and　for　his　sake　most　try　to　do　my　best。〃

Again　Count　Bunker　glanced　at　his　knee。

〃And　that　is　your　best；　then？〃

〃Listen；　Bonker；　and　try　to　onderstandnot　jost　to　make　jokes。　　It　appears　to　me　zat　Miss　Gallosh　vill　make　a　good　vife　to　Tollyvoddle。　　She　is　so　fair；　so　amiable；　and　so　rich。　　Could　he　do　better？　　Should　I　not　lay　ze　foundations　of　a　happy　marriage　mit　her？　　Soppose　ve　do　get　her　instead　of　Miss　Maddison；　eh？〃

His　artful　eloquence　seemed　to　impress　his　friend；　for　he　smiled　thoughtfully　and　did　not　reply　at　once。　　More　persuasively　than　ever　the　Baron　continued

〃I　do　believe　mit　patience　and　mitermit　kindness；　Bonker；　I　might　persuade　Miss　Gallosh　to　listen　to　ze　proposal　of　Tollyvoddle。　　And　vould　it　not　be　better　far　to　get　him　a　lady　of　his　own　people；　and　not　a　stranger　from　America？　　Ve　vill　not　like　Miss　Maddison；　I　feel　sure。　　Vy　troble　mit　hereh；　Bonker？〃

〃But　don't　you　think；　Baron；　that　we　ought　to　give　Tulliwuddle　his　choice？　　He　may　prefer　an　American　heiress　to　a　Scottish。〃

〃Not　if　he　sees　Eva　Gallosh！〃

Again　the　Count　gently　raised　his　eyebrows　in　a　way　that　the　Baron　could　not　help　considering　unsuitable　to　the　occasion。

〃On　the　other　hand；　Baron；　Miss　Maddison　will　probably　have　five　or　ten　times　as　much　money　as　Miss　Gallosh。　　In　arranging　a　marriage　for　another　man；　one　must　attend　to　such　trifles　as　a　few　million　dollars　more　or　less。〃

For　the　moment　the　Baron　was　silenced；　but　evidently　not　convinced。

〃Supposing　I　were　to　call　upon　the　Maddisons　as　your　envoy？〃　suggested　Bunker；　who；　to　tell　the　truth；　had　already　begun　to　tire　of　a　life　of　luxurious　inaction。

〃Pairhaps　in　a　few　days　we　might　gonsider　it。〃

〃We　have　been　here　for　a　week　already。〃

〃Ven　vould　you　call？〃

〃To…morrow；　for　instance。〃

The　Baron　frowned；　but　argument　was　difficult。

〃You　only　jost　vill　go　to　see？〃

〃And　report　to　you。〃

〃And　suppose　she　is　oglyor　not　so　niceor　so　onzen　vill　I　not　see　her；　eh？〃

〃But　suppose　she　is　tolerable？〃

〃Zen　vill　ve　give　him　a　choice；　and　I　vill　continue　to　be　polite　to　Miss　Gallosh。　　Ah；　Bonker；　she　is　so　nice！　　He　vill　not　like　Miss　Maddison　so　vell！　　Himmel；　I　do　admire　her！〃

The　Baron's　eyes　shone　with　reminiscent　affection。

〃To　how　many　poles　is　the　magnet　usually　constant？〃　inquired　the　Count　with　a　serious　air。

The　Baron　smiled　a　little　foolishly；　and　then；　with　a　confidential　air；　replied

〃Ach；　Bonker；　marriage　is　blessed　and　it　is　happy；　and　it　is　everyzing　that　my　heart　desires；　only　I　jost　sometimes　vish　it　vas　not　qviteqvite　so　uninterruptable！〃



CHAPTER　XVI

In　a　dog…cart　borrowed　from　his　obliging　host；　Count　Bunker　approached　the　present　residence　of　Mr。　Darius　P。　Maddison。　　He　saw；　andin　his　client's　interestnoted　with　approval　the　efforts　that　were　being　made　to　convert　an　ordinary　fishing…lodge　into　a　suitable　retreat　for　a　gentleman　worth　so　many　million　dollars。　　〃Corryvohr；〃　as　the　house　was　originally　styled；　or　〃Lincoln　Lodge；〃　as　the　patriotic　Silver　King　had　re…named　it；　had　already　been　enlarged　for　his　reception　by　the　addition　of　four　complete　suites　of　apartments；　each　suitable　for　a　nobleman　and　his　retinue；　an　organ　hall；　10；000　cubic　yards　of　scullery　accommodation；　and　a　billiard…room　containing　three　tables。　　But　since　he　had　taken　up　his　residence　there　he　had　discovered　the　lack　of　several　other　essentials　for　a　quiet　〃mountain　life〃　（as　he　appropriately　phrased　it）；　and　these　defects　were　rapidly　being　remedied　as　our　friend　drove　up。　　The　conservatory　was　already　completed；　with　the　exception　of　the　orchid　and　palm　houses；　the　aviary　was　practically　ready；　and　several　crates　of　the　rarer　humming…birds　were　expected　per　goods　train　that　evening；　while　a　staff　of　electricians　could　be　seen　erecting　the　private　telephone　by　which　Mr。　Maddison　proposed　to　keep　himself　in　touch　with　the　silver　market。

The　Count　had　no　sooner　pressed　the　electric　bell　than　a　number　of　men…servants　appeared；　sufficient　to　conduct　him　in　safety　to　a　handsome　library　fitted　with　polished　walnut；　and　carpeted　as　softly　as　the　moss　on　a　mountain…side。　　Having　sent　in　his　card；　he　entertained　himself　by　gazing　out　of　the　window　and　wondering　what　strange　operation　was　being　conducted　on　a　slope　above　the　house；　where　a　grove　of　pines　were　apparently　being　rocked　to　and　fro　by　a　concourse　of　men　with　poles　and　pulleys。　　But　he　had　not　to　wait　long；　for　with　a　promptitude　that　gave　one　some　inkling　of　the　secret　of　Mr。　Maddison's　business　success；　the　millionaire　entered。

In　a　rapid　survey　the　Count　perceived　a　tall　man　in　the　neighborhood　of　sixty：　gray…haired；　gray…eyed；　and　gray…faced。　　The　clean…shaved　and　well…cut　profile　included　the　massive　foundation　of　jaw　which　Bunker　had　confidently　anticipated；　and　though　his　words　sounded　florid　in　a　European　ear；　they　were　uttered　in　a　voice　that　corresponded　excellently　with　this　predominant　chin。

〃I　am　very　pleased　to　see　you；　sir；　very　pleased　indeed；〃　he　assured　the　Count　not　once　but　several　times；　shaking　him　heartily　by　the　hand　and　eyeing　him　with　a　glance　accustomed　to　foresee　several