count bunker-第17节

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；　〃My　dears；　Count　Bunker！〃　and　pressed　the　Count's　hand　even　as　he　was　effecting　this　introduction。

〃Very　pleased　to　have　met　you；　Count。　　Good　day；〃　he　ejaculated；　and　vanished　on　the　instant。



CHAPTER　XVII

Raising　his　eyes　after　the　profound　bow　which　the　Count　considered　appropriate　to　his　character　of　plenipotentiary；　he　beheld　at　last　the　object　of　his　mission；　and　whether　or　not　she　was　the　absolutely　peerless　beauty　her　father　had　vaunted；　he　at　once　decided　that　she　was　lovely　enough　to　grace　Hechnahoul；　or　any　other；　Castle。　　Black　eyes　and　a　mass　of　coal…black　hair；　an　ivory　pale　skin；　small　well…chiselled　features；　and　that　distinctively　American　plumpness　of　contourthese　marked　her　face；　while　as　for　her　figure；　it　was　the　envy　of　her　women　friends　and　the　distraction　of　all　mankind　who　saw　her。

〃Fortunate　Baron！〃　thought　Bunker。

Beside　her；　though　sufficiently　in　the　rear　to　mark　the　relative　position　of　the　sexes　in　the　society　they　adorned；　stood　Darius　P。　Maddison；　junioror　〃Ri；〃　in　the　phrase　of　his　relatives　and　friendsa　broad…　shouldered；　well…featured　young　man；　with　keen　eyes；　a　mouth　compressed　with　the　stern　resolve　to　die　richer　than　Mr。　Rockefeller；　and　a　pair　of　perfectly　ironed　trousers。

〃I　am　very　delighted　to　meet　you；〃　declared　the　heiress。

〃Very　honored　to　have　this　pleasure；〃　said　the　brother。

〃While　I　enjoy　both　sensations；〃　replied　the　Count；　with　his　most　agreeable　smile。

A　little　preliminary　conversation　ensued；　in　the　course　of　which　the　two　parties　felt　an　increasing　satisfaction　in　one　another's　society；　while　Bunker　had　the　further　pleasure　of　enjoying　a　survey　of　the　room　in　which　they　sat。　　Evidently　it　was　Miss　Maddison's　peculiar　sanctum；　and　it　revealed　at　once　her　taste　and　her　power　of　gratifying　it。　　The　tapestry　that　covered　two　sides　of　the　room　could　be　seen　at　a　glance　to　be　no　mere　modern　imitation；　but　a　priceless　relic　of　the　earlier　middle　ages。　　The　other　walls　were　so　thickly　hung　with　pictures　that　one　could　scarcely　see　the　pale…　green　satin　beneath；　and　among　these　paintings　the　Count's　educated　eye　recognized　the　work　of　Raphael；　Botticelli；　Turner；　and　Gainsborough　among　other　masters；　while　beneath　the　cornice　hung　a　well…chosen　selection　from　the　gems　of　the　modern　Anglo…American　school。　　The　chairs　and　sofa　were　upholstered　in　a　figured　satin　of　a　slightly　richer　hue　of　green；　and　on　several　priceless　oriental　tables　lay　displayed　in　ivory；　silver；　crystal；　and　alabaster　more　articles　of　vertu　than　were　to　be　found　in　the　entire　house　of　an　average　collector。

〃Fortunate　Tulliwuddle！〃　thought　Bunker。

They　had　been　conversing　on　general　topics　for　a　few　minutes；　when　Miss　Maddison　turned　to　her　brother　and　said；　with　a　frankness　that　both　pleased　and　entertained　the　Count

〃Ri；　dear；　don't　you　think　we　had　better　come　right　straight　to　the　point？　　I　feel　sure　Count　Bunker　is　only　waiting　till　he　knows　us　a　little　better；　and　I　guess　it　will　save　him　considerable　embarrassment　if　we　begin。〃

〃You　are　the　best　judge；　Eleanor。　　I　guess　your　notions　are　never　far　of　being　all　right。〃

With　a　gratified　smile　Eleanor　addressed　the　Count。

〃My　brother　and　I　are　affinities；〃　she　said。　　〃You　can　speak　to　him　just　as　openly　as　you　can　to　me。　　What　is　fit　for　me　to　hear　is　fit　for　him。〃

Assuring　her　that　he　would　not　hesitate　to　act　upon　this　guarantee　if　necessary；　the　Count　nevertheless　diplomatically　suggested　that　he　would　sooner　leave　it　to　the　lady　to　open　the　discussion。

〃Well；〃　she　said；　〃I　suppose　we　may　presume　you　have　called　here　as　Lord　Tulliwuddle's　friend？〃

〃You　may；　Miss　Maddison。〃

〃And　no　doubt　he　has　something　pretty　definite　to　suggest？〃

〃Matrimony；〃　smiled　the　Count。

Her　brother　threw　him　a　stern　smile　of　approval。

〃That's　right　slick　THERE！〃　he　exclaimed。

〃Lord　Tulliwuddle　has　made　a　very　happy　selection　in　his　ambassador；〃　said　Eleanor；　with　equal　cordiality。　　〃People　who　are　afraid　to　come　to　facts　tire　me。　　No　doubt　you　will　think　it　strange　and　forward　of　me　to　talk　in　this　spirit；　Count；　but　if　you'd　had　to　go　through　the　worry　of　being　an　American　heiress　in　a　European　state　you　would　sympathize。　　Why；　I'm　hardly　ever　left　in　peace　for　twenty…four　hoursam　I；　Ri？〃

〃That　is　so；〃　quoth　Ri。

〃What　would　you　guess　my　age　to　be；　Count　Bunker？〃

〃Twenty…one；〃　suggested　Bunker；　subtracting　two　or　three　years　on　general　principles。

〃Well；　you're　nearer　it　than　most　people。　　Nineteen　on　my　last　birthday；　Count！〃

The　Count　murmured　his　surprise　and　pleasure；　and　Ri　again　declared；　〃That　is　so。〃

〃And　it　isn't　the　American　climate　that　ages　one；　but　the　terrible　persecutions　of　the　British　aristocracy！　　I　can　be　as　romantic　as　any　girl；　Count　Bunker；　why；　Ri；　you　remember　poor　Abe　Sellar　and　the　stolen　shoe…lace？〃

〃Guess　I　do！〃　said　Ri。

〃That　was　a　romance　if　ever　there　was　one！　　But　I　tell　you；　Count；　sentiment　gets　rubbed　off　pretty　quick　when　you　come　to　a　bankrupt　Marquis　writing　three　ill…spelled　sheets　to　assure　me　of　the　disinterested　affection　inspired　by　my　photograph；　or　a　divorced　Duke　offering　to　read　Tennyson　to　me　if　I'll　hire　a　punt！〃

〃I　can　well　believe　it；〃　said　the　Count　sympathetically。

〃Well；　now；〃　the　heiress　resumed；　with　a　candid　smile　that　made　her　cynicism　become　her　charmingly；　〃you　see　how　it　is。　　I　want　a　man　one　can　RESPECT；　even　if　he　is　a　peer。　　He　may　have　as　many　titles　as　dad　has　dollars；　but　he　must　be　a　MAN！〃

〃That　is　so；〃　said　Ri；　with　additional　emphasis。

〃I　can　guarantee　Lord　Tulliwuddle　as　a　model　for　a　sculptor　and　an　eligible　candidate　for　canonization；〃　declared　the　Count。

〃I　guess　we　want　something　grittier　than　that；〃　said　Ri。

〃And　what　there　is　of　it　sounds　almost　too　good　news　to　be　true；〃　added　his　sister。　　〃I　don't　want　a　man　like　a　stained…glass　window；　Count；　because　for　one　thing　I　couldn't　get　him。〃

〃If　you　specify　your　requirements　we　shall　do　our　best　to　satisfy　you；〃　replied　the　Count　imperturbably。

〃Well；　now；〃　said　Eleanor　thoughtfully；　〃I　may　just　as　well　tell　you　that　if　I'm　going　to　take　a　peer　and　I　must　own　peers　are　rather　my　fancy　at　present　it　was　Mohammedan　pashas　last　year；　wasn't　it；　Ri？〃　（〃That　is　so；〃　from　Ri。）〃If　I　AM　going　to　take　a　peer；　I　must　have　a　man　that　LOOKS　a　peer。　　I've　been　plagued　with　so　many　undersized　and　round…　shouldered　noblemen　that　I'm　beginning　to　wonder　whether　the　aristocracy　gets　proper　nourishment。　　How　tall　is　Lord　Tulliwuddle？〃

〃Six　feet　and　half　an　inch。〃

〃That's　something　more　like！〃　said　Ri；　and　his　sister　smiled　her　acquiescence。

〃And　does　he　weigh　up　to　it？〃　she　inquired。

〃Fourteen；　twelve；　and　three…quarters。〃

〃What's　that　in　pounds；　Ri？　　We　don't　count　people　in　stones　in　America。〃

A　tense　frown；　a　nervous　twitching　of　the　lip；　and　in　an　instant　the　young　financier　produced　the　answer

〃Two　hundred　and　nine　pounds　all　but　four　ounces。〃

〃Well；〃　said　Eleanor；　〃it　all　depends　on　how　he　holds　himself。　　That's　a　lot　to　carry　for　a　young　man。〃

〃He　holds　himself　like　one　of　his　native　pine…trees；　Miss　Maddison！〃

She　clapped　her　hands。

〃Now　I　call　that　just　a　lovely　metaphor；　Count　Bunker！〃　she　cried。　　〃Oh；　if　he's　going　to　look　like　a　pine；　and　walk　like　the　pipers　at　the　Torrydhulish　gathering；　and　really　be　a　chief　like　Fergus　MacIvor　or　Roderick　Dhu；　I　do　believe　I'll　actually　fall　in　love　with　him！〃

〃Say；　Count；〃　interposed　Ri；　〃I　guess　we've　heard　he's　half　German。〃

〃It　was　indeed　in　Germany　that　he　learned　his　thorough　grasp　of　politics；　statesmanship；　business；　and　finance；　and　acquired　his　lofty　ambitions　and　indomitable　perseverance。〃

〃He'll　do；　Eleanor；〃　said　the　young　man。　　〃That's　to　say；　if　he　is　anything　like　the　prospectus。〃

His　sister　made　no　immediate　reply。　　She　seemed　to　be　musingand　not　unpleasantly。

At　that　moment　a　motor　car　passed　the　window。

〃My！〃　exclaimed　Eleanor；　〃I'd　quite　forgot！　　That　will　be　to　take　the　Honorable　Stanley　to　the　station。　　We　must　say　good…by　to　him；　I　suppose〃

She　turned　to　the　Count　and　added　in　explanation

〃The　last　to　apply　was　the　Honorable　Stanley　PilkingtonLord　Didcott's　heir；　you　know。　　Oh；　if　you　could　see　him；　you'd　realize　what　I've　had　to　go　through！〃

Even　as　she　spoke　he　was　given　the　opportunity；　for　the　door　somewhat　diffidently　opened　and　an　unhappy…　looking　young　man　came　slowly　into　the　room。　　He　was　clearly　to　be　classified　among　the　round…shouldered　ineligibles；　being　otherwise　a　tall　and　slender　youth；　with　an　amiable　expression　and　a　smoothly　well…bred　voice。

〃I've　come　to　say　good…by；　Miss　Maddison；〃　he　said；　with　a　mournful　air。　　〃II've　enjoyed　my　visit　very　much；〃　he　added；　as　he　timidly　shook　her　hand。

〃So　glad　you　have；　Mr。　Pilkington；〃　she　replied　cordially。　　〃It　has　been　a　very　great　pleasure　to　entertain　you。　　Our　friend　Count　BunkerMr。　Pilkington。〃

The　young　man　bowed　with　a　look　in　his　eye　that　clearly　said

〃The　nest　candidate；　I　perceive。〃

Then　having　said　good…by　to　Ri；　the　Count　heard　him　murmur　to　Eleanor

〃Couldn't　youercouldn't　you　just　manage　to　see　me　of？〃

〃With　very　great　pleasure！〃　she　replied　in　a　hearty　voice　that　seemed　curiously　enough　rather　to　damp　than　cheer　his　drooping　spirits。

No　soon