count bunker-第22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！


er；　I　would　venture　to　inquire　what　are　your　views　upon　some　of　the　current　topics。　　Take　any　one　you　like；　sir；　so　long　as　it's　good　and　solid；　and　let　me　hear　what　you　have　to　say　about　it。　　What　you　favor　us　with　will　not　be　repeated　beyond　this　room；　but　merely　regarded　by　my　son　and　myself　as　proving　that　we　are　getting　no　dunder…headed　dandy　for　our　Eleanor；　but　an　article　of　real　substantial　valuethe　kind　of　thing　they　might　make　into　a　Lord…lieutenant　or　a　Viceroy　in　a　bad　year。〃

Tempting　in　every　way　as　this　suggestion　sounded；　his　lordship　nevertheless　appeared　to　find　a　little　initial　difficulty　in　choosing　a　topic。

〃Speak　out；　sir；〃　said　Mr。　Maddison　in　an　encouraging　tone。　　〃Our　standard　for　noblemen　isn't　anything　remarkably　high。　　With　a　duke　I'd　be　content　with　just　a　few　dates　and　something　about　model　cottages；　and；　though　a　baron　ought　to　know　a　little　more　than　that；　still　we'll　count　these　feudal　bagpipers　and　that　ancestral　hop…scotch　performance　as　a　kind　of　set…　off　to　your　credit。　　Suppose　you　just　say　a　few　words　on　the　future　of　the　Anglo…Saxon　race。　　What　you've　learned　from　the　papers　will　do；　so　long　as　you　seem　to　understand　it。〃

Perceiving　that　his　Teutonic　friend　looked　a　trifle　dismayed　at　this　selection；　Count　Bunker　suggested　the　Triple　Alliance　as　an　alternative。

〃That　needs　more　facts；　I　guess；〃　said　the　millionaire；　〃but　it　will　be　all　the　more　creditable　if　you　can　manage　it。〃

The　Baron　cleared　his　throat　to　begin；　and　as　he　happened　（as　the　Count　was　well　aware）　to　have　the　greatest　enthusiasm　for　this　policy；　and　to　have　recently　read　the　thirteen　volumes　of　Professor　Bungstrumpher　on　the　subject；　he　delivered　a　peroration　so　remarkable　alike　for　its　fervor；　its　facts；　and　its　phenomenal　length；　that　when；　upon　a　gentle　hint　from　the　Count；　he　at　last　paused；　all　traces　of　objection　had　vanished　from　the　minds　of　Darius　P。　Maddison；　senior　and　junior。

〃I　need　no　longer　detain　you；　Lord　Tulliwuddle；〃　said　the　millionaire　respectfully。　　〃Ri；　fetch　your　sister　into　her　room。　　Your　lordship；　I　have　received　an　intellectual　treat。　　I　am　very　deeply　gratified；　sir。　　Allow　me　to　conduct　you　to　my　daughter's　boudoir。〃

Flushed　with　his　exertions　and　his　triumph　though　the　Baron　was；　he　yet　remembered　so　vividly　the　ordeal　preceding　the　oration　that　as　they　went　he　whispered　in　his　friend's　ear

〃Ah；　Bonker；　stay　mit　me；　I　pray　you！　　If　she　should　ask　more　questions！

〃Mr。　Maddison；　ze　Count　will　stay　mit　me。〃

Though　a　little　surprised　at　this　arrangement；　which　scarcely　accorded　with　his　lordship's　virile　appearance　and　dashing　air；　Mr。　Maddison　was　by　this　time　too　favorably　disposed　to　question　the　wisdom　of　any　suggestion　he　might　make；　and　accordingly　the　two　friends　found　themselves　closeted　together　in　Miss　Maddison's　sanctum　awaiting　the　appearance　of　the　heiress。

〃Shall　I　remain　through　the　entire　interview？〃　asked　the　Count。

〃Oh　yes；　mine　Bonker；　you　most！　　Orvell；　soppose　it　gets　unnecessary　zen　vill　I　cry　'By　ze　Gad！'　and　you　vill　know　to　go。〃

〃　'By　the　Gad'？　　I　see。〃

〃Orvell；　not　ze　first　time；　but　if　I　say　it　tree　times；　zen　vill　you　make　an　excuse。〃

〃Three　times？　　I　understand；　Baron。〃



CHAPTER　XXII

In　the　eye　of　the　heiress；　as　in　her　father's；　might　be　noted　a　shade　of　surprise　at　finding　two　gentlemen　instead　of　one。　　But　though　the　Count　instantly　perceived　his　superfluity；　and　though　it　had　been　his　greatest　ambition　throughout　his　life　to　add　no　shade　to　the　dullness　with　which　he　frequently　complained　that　life　was　overburdened；　yet　his　sense　of　obligation　to　his　friend　was　so　strong　that　he　preferred　to　bore　rather　than　desert。　　As　the　only　compensation　he　could　offer；　he　assumed　the　most　retiring　look　of　which　his　mobile　features　were　capable；　and　pretended　to　examine　one　of　the　tables　of　curios。

〃Lord　Tulliwuddle；　I　congratulate　you　on　the　very　happy　impression　you　have　made！〃　began　Eleanor　with　the　most　delightful　frankness。

But　his　lordship　had　learned　to　fear　the　Americans；　even　bearing　compliments。

〃So？〃　he　answered　stolidly。

〃Indeed　you　have！　　Ri　is　just　wild　about　your　cleverness。〃

〃Zat　is　kind　of　him。〃

〃He　declares　you　are　quite　an　authority　on　European　politics。　　Now　you　will　be　able　to　tell　me〃

〃Ach；　no！　　I　shall　not　to…day；　please！〃　interrupted　the　Baron　hurriedly。

The　heiress　seemed　disconcerted。

〃Oh；　not　if　you'd　rather　not；　Lord　Tulliwuddle。〃

〃Not　to…day。〃

〃Well！〃

She　turned　with　a　shrug　and　cast　her　eyes　upon　the　wall。

〃How　do　you　like　this　picture？　　It's　my　latest　toy。　　I　call　it　just　sweet！〃

He　cautiously　examined　the　painting。

〃It　is　vary　pretty。〃

〃Do　you　know　Romney's　work？〃

The　Baron　shrank　back。

〃Not　again　to…day；　please！〃

Miss　Maddison　opened　her　handsome　eyes　to　their　widest。

〃My　word！〃　she　cried。　　〃If　these　are　Highland　manners；　Lord　Tulliwuddle！〃

In　extreme　confusion　the　Baron　stammered

〃I　beg　your　pardon！　　Forgif　mebutach；　not　zose　questions；　please！〃

Relenting　a　little；　she　inquired

〃What　may　I　ask　you；　then？　　Do　tell　me！　　You　see　I　want　just　to　know　all　about　you。〃

With　an　affrighted　gesture　the　Baron　turned　to　his　friend。

〃Bonker；〃　said　he；　〃she　does　vant　to　know　yet　more　about　me！　　Vill　you　please　to　tell　her。〃

The　Count　looked　up　from　the　curios　with　an　expression　so　bland　that　the　air　began　to　clear　even　before　he　spoke。

〃Miss　Maddison；　I　must　explain　that　my　friend's　proud　Highland　spirit　has　been　a　little　disturbed　by　some　inquiries；　made　in　all　good　faith　by　your　father。　　No　offence；　I　am　certain；　was　intended；　erroneous　informationa　little　hastiness　in　jumping　to　conclusions　a　sensitive　nature　wounded　by　the　least　insinuation　such　were　the　unfortunate　causes　of　Tulliwuddle's　excusable　reticence。　　Believe　me；　if　you　knew　all；　your　opinion　of　him　would　alter　very；　very　considerably！〃

The　perfectly　accurate　peroration　to　this　statement　produced　an　immediate　effect。

〃What　a　shame！〃　cried　Eleanor；　her　eyes　sparkling　brightly。　　〃Lord　Tulliwuddle；　I　am　so　sorry！〃

The　Baron　looked　into　these　eyes；　and　his　own　mien　altered　perceptibly。　　For　an　instant　he　gazed；　and　then　in　a　low　voice　remarked

〃By　ze　Gad！〃

〃Once！〃　counted　the　conscientious　Bunker。

〃Lord　Tulliwuddle；〃　she　continued；　〃I　declare　I　feel　so　ashamed　of　those　stupid　men；　I　could　just　wring　their　necks！　　Now；　just　to　make　us　quits；　you　ask　me　anything　in　the　world　you　like！〃

Over　his　shoulder　the　Baron　threw　a　stealthy　glance　at　his　friend；　but　this　time　he　did　not　invoke　his　assistance。　　Instead；　he　again　murmured　very　distinctly

〃By　ze　Gad！〃

〃Twice！〃　counted　Bunker。

〃Miss　Maddison；〃　said　the　Baron　to　the　flushed　and　eager　girl；　〃am　I　to　onderstand　zat　you　now　are　satisfied　zat　I　am　not　too　vicked；　too　suspeecious；　too　unvorthy　of　your　charming　society？　　I　do　not　say　I　am　yet　vorthybot　jost　not　too　bad！〃

Had　the　Baroness　at　that　moment　heard　merely　the　intonation　of　his　voice；　she　would　undoubtedly　have　preferred　a　Chinese　prison。

〃Indeed；　Lord　Tulliwuddle；　you　may。〃

〃By　ze　Gad！〃　announced　the　Baron；　in　a　voice　braced　with　resolution。

〃May　I　take　the　liberty　of　inspecting　the　aviary？〃　said　the　Count。

〃With　the　very　greatest　pleasure；〃　replied　the　heiress　kindly。

His　last　distinct　impression　as　he　withdrew　was　of　the　Baron　giving　his　mustache　a　more　formidable　twirl。

〃A　very　pretty　little　scene；〃　he　reflected；　as　he　strolled　out　in　search　of　others。　　〃Though；　hang　me；　I'm　not　sure　if　it　ended　in　the　right　man　leaving　the　stage！〃

This　〃second…fiddle　feeling；〃　as　he　styled　it　humorously　to　himself；　was　further　increased　by　the　demeanor　of　Miss　Gallosh；　to　whom　he　now　endeavored　to　make　himself　agreeable。　　Though　sharing　the　universal　respect　felt　for　the　character　and　talents　of　the　Count；　she　was　evidently　too　perturbed　at　seeing　him　appear　alone　to　appreciate　his　society　as　it　deserved。　　Ever　since　luncheon　poor　Eva's　heart　had　been　sinking。　　The　beauty；　the　assurance；　the　cleverness；　and　the　charm　of　the　fabulously　wealthy　American　heiress　had　filled　her　with　vague　misgivings　even　while　the　gentlemen　were　safely　absent；　but　when　Miss　Maddison　was　summoned　away；　and　her　father　and　brother　took　her　place；　her　uneasiness　vastly　increased。　　Now　here　was　the　last　buffer　removed　between　the　chieftain　and　her　audacious　rival　（so　she　already　counted　her）。　　What　drama　could　these　mysterious　movements　have　been　leading　to？

In　vain　did　Count　Bunker　exercise　his　unique　powers　of　conversation。　　In　vain　did　he　discourse　on　the　beauties　of　nature　as　displayed　in　the　wooded　valley　and　the　towering　hills；　and　the　beauties　of　art　as　exhibited　in　the　aviary　and　the　new　fir　forest。　　Eva's　thoughts　were　too　much　engrossed　with　the　beauties　of　woman；　and　their　dreadful　consequences　if　improperly　used。

〃Isis　Miss　Maddison　still　in　the　house？〃　she　inquired；　with　an　effort　to　put　the　question　carelessly。

〃I　believe　so；〃　said　the　Count　in　his　kindest　voice。

〃Andandthat　isn't　Lord　Tulliwuddle　with　my　father；　is　it？〃

〃I　believe　not；〃　said　the　Count；　still　more　sympathetically。

She　could　no　longer　withhold　a　sigh；　and　the　Count　tactfully　turned　the　conversation　to　the　symbolical　eagle　arrived　that　morning　from　Mr。　Maddiso