count bunker-第21节

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To　the　banquet　itself　it　is　scarcely　possible　for　a　mere　mortal　historian　to　pay　a　fitting　tribute。　　Every　rarity　known　to　the　gourmet　that　telegraph　could　summon　to　the　table　in　time　was　served　in　course　upon　course。　　Even　the　sweetmeats　in　the　little　gold　dishes　cost　on　an　average　a　dollar　a　bon…bon；　while　the　wine　was　hardly　less　valuable　than　liquid　radium。　　Or　at　least　such　was　the　sworn　information　subsequently　supplied　by　Count　Bunker　to　the　reporter　of　〃The　Torrydhulish　Herald。〃

Eleanor　was　in　her　highest　spirits。　　She　sat　between　the　Baron　and　Mr。　Gallosh；　delighted　with　the　honest　pleasure　and　admiration　of　the　merchant；　and　all　the　time　becoming　more　satisfied　with　the　demeanor　and　conversation　of　the　chief。　　In　fact；　the　only　disappointment　she　felt　was　connected　with　the　appearance　of　Miss　Gallosh。　　Much　as　she　had　desired　a　confidante；　she　had　never　demanded　one　so　remarkably　beautiful；　and　she　could　not　but　feel　that　a　very　much　plainer　friend　would　have　served　her　purpose　quite　as　well　and　indeed　better。　　Once　or　twice　she　intercepted　a　glance　passing　between　this　superfluously　handsome　lady　and　the　principal　guest；　until　at　last　it　occurred　to　her　as　a　strange　and　unseemly　thing　that　Lord　Tulliwuddle　should　be　paying　so　long　a　visit　to　his　shooting　tenants。　　Eva；　on　her　part；　felt　a　curiously　similar　sensation。　　These　American　gentlemen　were　as　pleasant　as　report　had　painted　them；　but　she　now　discovered　an　odd　antipathy　to　American　women；　or　at　least　to　their　unabashed　method　of　making　themselves　agreeable　to　noblemen。　　It　confirmed；　indeed；　the　worst　reports　she　had　heard　concerning　the　way　in　which　they　raided　the　British　marriage　market。

Being　placed　beside　one　of　these　lovely　girls　and　opposite　the　other；　the　Baron；　one　would　think；　would　be　in　the　highest　state　of　contentment；　but　though　still　flushed　with　his　triumphant　caperings　over　the　broadswords；　and　exhibiting　a　graciousness　that　charmed　his　hosts；　he　struck　his　observant　friend　as　looking　a　trifle　disturbed　at　soul。　　He　would　furtively　glance　across　the　table　and　then　as　furtively　throw　a　sidelong　look　at　his　neighbor；　and　each　time　he　appeared　to　grow　more　thoughtful。　　And　yet　he　did　not　look　precisely　unhappy　either。　　In　fact；　there　was　a　gleam　in　his　eye　during　each　of　these　glances　which　suggested　that　both　fell　upon　something　he　approved　of。

The　after…luncheon　procedure　had　been　carefully　arranged　between　the　two　adventurers。　　The　Count　was　to　keep　by　the　Baron's　side；　and；　thus　supported；　negotiations　were　to　be　delicately　opened。　　Accordingly；　when　the　party　rose；　the　Count　whispered　a　word　in　Mr。　Maddison's　ear。　　The　millionaire　answered　with　a　grave；　shrewd　look；　and　his　daughter；　as　if　perfectly　grasping　the　situation；　led　the　Galloshes　out　to　inspect　the　new　fir　forest。　　And　then　the　two　noblemen　and　the　two　Dariuses　faced　one　another　over　their　cigars。



CHAPTER　XXI

〃Well；　gentlemen；〃　said　Mr。　Maddison；　〃pleasure　is　pleasure；　and　business　is　business。　　I　guess　we　mean　to　do　a　little　of　both　to…day；　if　you　are　perfectly　disposed。　　What　do　you　say；　Count？〃

〃I　consider　that　an　occasion　selected　by　you；　Mr。　Maddison；　is　not　to　be　neglected。〃

The　millionaire　bowed　his　acknowledgment　of　the　compliment；　and　turned　to　the　Baron；　who；　it　may　be　remarked；　was　wearing　an　expression　of　thoughtful　gravity　not　frequently　to　be　noted　at　Hechnahoul。

〃You　desire　to　say　a　few　words　to　me；　Lord　Tulliwuddle；　I　understand。　　I　shall　be　pleased　to　hear　them。〃

With　this　both　father　and　son　bent　such　earnest　brows　on　the　Baron　and　waited　for　his　answer　in　such　intense　silence；　that　he　began　to　regret　the　absence　of　his　inspiring　pipers。

〃I　vould　like　ze　honor　to　address　minemine〃

He　threw　an　imploring　glance　at　his　friend；　who；　without　hesitation；　threw　himself　into　the　breach。

〃Lord　Tulliwuddle　feels　the　natural　diffidence　of　a　lover　in　adequately　expressing　his　sentiments。　　I　understand　that　he　craves　your　permission　to　lay　a　certain　case　before　a　certain　lady。　　I　am　right；　Tulliwuddle？〃

〃Pairfectly；〃　said　the　Baron；　much　relieved；　〃to　lay　a　certain　case　before　a　certain　lady。　　Zat　is　so；　yes；　exactly。〃

Father　and　son　glanced　at　one　another。

〃Your　delicacy　does　you　honor；　very　great　honor；〃　said　Mr。　Maddison；　〃but　business　is　business；　Lord　Tulliwuddle；　and　I　should　like　to　hear　your　proposition　more　precisely　stated。　　In　fact；　sir；　I　like　to　know　just　where　I　am。〃

〃That's　just　about　right；〃　assented　Ri。

〃I　vould　perhaps　vish　to　marry　her。〃

〃Perhaps！〃　exclaimed　the　two　together。

Again　the　Count　adroitly　interposed

〃You　mean　that　you　do　not　intend　to　thrust　your　attentions　upon　an　unwilling　lady？〃

〃Yes；　yes；　zat　is　vat　I　mean。〃

〃I　see；〃　said　Mr。　Maddison　slowly。　　〃H'm；　yes。〃

〃Sounds　what　you　Scotch　call　'canny；'　〃　commented　Ri　shrewdly。

〃Well；〃　resumed　the　millionaire；　〃I　have　nothing　to　say　against　that；　providedprovided；　I　say；　that　you　stipulate　to　marry　the　lady　so　long　as　she　has　no　objections　to　you。　　No　fooling　aroundthat's　all　we　want　to　see　to。　　Our　time；　sir；　is　too　valuable。〃

〃That　is　so；〃　said　Ri。

The　Baron's　color　rose；　and　a　look　of　displeasure　came　into　his　eyes；　but　before　he　had　time　to　make　a　retort　that　might　have　wrecked　his　original's　hopes；　Bunker　said　quickly

〃Tulliwuddle　places　himself　in　your　hands；　with　the　implicit　confidence　that　one　gentleman　reposes　in　another。〃

Gulping　down　his　annoyance；　the　Baron　assented

〃Yes；　I　vill　do　zat。〃

Again　father　and　son　looked　at　one　another；　and　this　time　exchanged　a　nod。

〃That；　sir；　will　satisfy　us；〃　said　Mr。　Maddison。　　〃Ri；　you　may　turn　off　the　phonograph。〃

And　thereupon　the　cessation　of　a　loud　buzzing　sound；　which　the　visitors　had　hitherto　attributed　to　flies；　showed　that　their　host　now　considered　he　had　received　a　sufficient　guarantee　of　his　lordship's　honorable　intentions。

〃So　far；　so　good；〃　resumed　Mr。　Maddison。　　〃I　may　now　inform　you；　Lord　Tulliwuddle；　that　the　reports　about　you　which　I　have　been　able　to　gather　read　kind　of　mixed；　and　before　consenting　to　your　reception　within　my　daughter's　boudoir　we　should　feel　obliged　if　you　would　satisfy　us　that　the　worst　of　them　are　not　trueor；　at　least；　sir；　exaggerated。〃

This　time　the　Baron　could　not　restrain　an　exclamation　of　displeasure。

〃Vat；　sir！〃　he　cried；　addressing　the　millionaire。　　〃Do　you　examine　me　on　my　life！〃

〃No；　sir；〃　said　Ri；　frowning　his　most　determined　frown。　　〃It　is　to　ME　you　will　be　kind　enough　to　give　any　explanation　you　have　to　offer！　　Dad　may　be　the　spokesman；　but　I　am　the　inspirer　of　these　interrogations。　　My　sister；　sir；　the　purest　girl　in　America；　the　most　beautiful　creature　beneath　the　star…spangled　banner　of　Columbia；　is　not　going　to　be　the　companion　of　dissolute　idleness　and　gilded　dishonornot；　sir；　if　_I_　know　it。〃

Too　confounded　by　this　unusual　warning　to　think　of　any　adequate　retort；　the　Baron　could　only　stare　his　sensations；　while　Mr。　Maddison；　taking　up　the　conversation　the　instant　his　son　had　ceased；　proceeded　in　a　deliberate　and　impressive　voice　to　say

〃Yes；　sir；　my　sonand　I　associate　myself　with　him　my　son　and　I；　sir；　would　be　happy　to　learn　that　it　is　NOT　the　case　as　here　stated〃　（he　glanced　at　a　paper　in　his　hand）；　〃namely；　Item　1；　that　you　sup　rather　too　frequently　with　ladiesI　beg　your　pardon；　Count　Bunker；　for　introducing　the　themewith　ladies　of　the　theatrical　profession。〃

〃I！〃　gasped　the　Baron。　　〃I　do　only　vish　I　sometimes　had　ze　cha〃

〃Tulliwuddle！〃　interrupted　the　Count。　　〃Don't　let　your　natural　indignation　carry　you　away！　　Mr。　Maddison；　that　statement　is　not　true。　　I　can　vouch　for　it。〃

〃Ach；　of　course　it　is　not　true；〃　said　the　Baron　more　calmly；　as　he　began　to　realize　that　it　was　not　his　own　character　that　was　being　aspersed。

〃I　am　very　glad　to　hear　it；〃　continued　Mr。　Maddison；　who　apparently　did　not　share　the　full　austerity　of　his　son's　views；　since　without　further　question　he　hurried　on　to　the　next　point。

〃Item　2；　sir；　states　that　at　least　two　West　End　firms　are　threatening　you　with　proceedings　if　you　do　not　discharge　their　accounts　within　a　reasonable　time。〃

〃A　lie！〃　declared　the　Baron　emphatically。

〃Will　you　be　so　kind　as　to　favor　us　with　the　name　of　the　individual　who　is　thus　libelling　his　lordship？〃　demanded　the　Count　with　a　serious　air。

Mr。　Maddison　hastily　put　the　paper　back　in　his　pocket；　and　with　a　glance　checked　his　son's　gesture　of　protest。

〃Guess　we'd　better　pass　on　to　the　next　thing；　Ri。　　I　told　you　it　wasn't　any　darned　use　just　asking。　　But　you　boys　always　think　you　know　better　than　your　Poppas；〃　said　he；　and　then；　turning　to　the　Count；　〃It　isn't　worth　while　troubling；　Count；　I'll　see　that　these　reports　get　contradicted；　if　I　have　to　buy　up　a　daily　paper　and　issue　it　at　a　halfpenny。　　Yes；　sir；　you　can　leave　it　to　me。〃

The　Count　glanced　at　his　friend；　and　they　exchanged　a　grave　look。

〃Again　we　place　ourselves　in　your　hands；〃　said　Bunker。

Though　considerably　impressed　with　these　repeated　evidences　of　confidence　on　the　part　of　two　such　important　personages；　their　host　nevertheless　maintained　something　of　his　inquisitorial　air　as　he　proceeded

〃For　my　own　satisfaction；　Lord　Tulliwuddle；　and　meaning　to　convey　no　aspersion　whatsoever　upon　your　character；　I　w