count bunker-第28节

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so　alarmed　that　she　was　twenty　times　on　the　point　of　telling　everything　to　her　mother。　　But　the　arrival　of　a　note　from　Sir　Justin　ended　her　irresolution。　　It　ran　thus：


〃MY　DEAR　ALICIA；I　have　just　learned　for　certain　that　Lord　T。　is　at　his　place　in　Scotland。　　Singularly　enough；　he　is　described　as　apparently　of　foreign　extraction；　and　I　hear　that　he　is　accompanied　by　a　friend　of　the　name　of　Count　Bunker。　　I　am　just　setting　out　for　the　North　myself；　and　trust　that　I　may　be　able　to　elucidate　the　mystery。　　Yours　very　truly；　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　〃JUSTIN　WALLINGFORD。〃


〃Foreign　extraction！　　Count　Bunker！〃　gasped　the　Baroness；　and　without　stopping　to　debate　the　matter　again；　she　rushed　into　her　mother's　arms；　and　there　sobbed　out　the　strange　story　of　her　second　letter　and　the　two　Lord　Tulliwuddles。

It　were　difficult　to　say　whether　anger　at　her　daughter's　deceit；　indignation　with　the　treacherous　Baron；　or　a　stern　pleasure　in　finding　her　worst　prognostications　in　a　fair　way　to　being　proved；　was　the　uppermost　emotion　in　Lady　Grillyer's　mind　when　she　had　listened　to　this　relation。　　Certainly　poor　Alicia　could　not　but　think　that　sympathy　for　her　troubles　formed　no　ingredient　in　the　mixture。

〃To　think　of　your　concealing　this　from　me　for　so　long！〃　she　cried：　〃and　Sir　Justin　abetting　you！　　I　shall　tell　him　very　plainly　what　I　think　of　him！　　But　if　my　daughter　sets　an　example　in　treachery；　what　can　one　expect　of　one's　friends？〃

〃After　all；　mamma；　it　was　my　own　and　Rudolph's　concern　more　than　your's！〃　exclaimed　Alicia；　flaring　up　for　an　instant。

〃Don't　answer　me；　child！〃　thundered　the　Countess。　　〃Fetch　me　a　railway　time…table；　and　say　nothing　that　may　add　to　your　sin！〃

〃A　time…table。　　mamma？　　What　for？〃

〃I　am　going　to　Scotland；〃　pronounced　the　Countess。

〃Then　I　shall　go　too！〃

〃Indeed　you　shall　not。　　You　will　wait　here　till　I　have　brought　Rudolph　back　to　you。〃

The　Baroness　said　nothing　aloud；　but　within　her　wounded　heart　she　thought　bitterly

〃Mamma　seems　to　forget　that　even　worms　will　turn　sometimes！〃



CHAPTER　XXVIII

A　decidedly　delectable　residence；〃　said　Count　Bunker　to　himself　as　his　dog…cart　approached　the　lodge　gates　of　The　Lash。　　〃And　a　very　proper　setting　for　the　pleasant　scenes　so　shortly　to　be　enacted。　　Lodge；　avenue；　a　bogus　turret　or　two；　and　a　flagstaff　on　top　of　'em　by　Gad；　I　think　one　may　safely　assume　a　tolerable　cellar　in　such　a　mansion。〃

As　he　drove　up　the　avenue　between　a　double　line　of　ancient　elms　and　sycamores；　his　satisfaction　increased　and　his　spirits　rose　ever　higher。

〃I　wonder　if　I　can　forecast　the　evening：　a　game　of　three…handed　bridge；　in　which　I　trust　I'll　be　lucky　enough　to　lose　a　little　silver；　that'll　put　'em　in　good…　humor　and　make　old　Miss　What…d'ye…may…call…her　the　more　willing　to　go　to　bed　early；　then　the　departure　of　the　chaperon；　and　then　the　tete…a…tete！　　I　hope　to　Heaven　I　haven't　got　rusty！〃

With　considerable　satisfaction　he　ran　over　the　outfit　he　had　brought；　deeming　it　even　on　second　thoughts　a　singularly　happy　selection：　the　dining　coat　with　pale…　blue　lapels；　the　white　tie　of　a　new　material　and　cut　borrowed　from　the　Baron's　finery；　the　socks　so　ravishingly　embroidered　that　he　had　more　than　once　caught　the　ladies　at　Hechnahoul　casting　affectionate　glances　upon　them。

〃A　first…class　turn…out；〃　he　thought。　　〃And　what　a　lucky　thing　I　thought　of　borrowing　a　banjo　from　young　Gallosh！　　A　coon　song　in　the　twilight　will　break　the　ground　prettily。〃

By　this　time　they　had　stopped　before　the　door；　and　an　elderly　man…servant；　instead　of　waiting　for　the　Count；　came　down　the　steps　to　meet　him。　　In　his　manner　there　was　something　remarkably　sheepish　and　constrained；　and；　to　the　Count's　surprise；　he　thrust　forth　his　hand　almost　as　if　he　expected　it　to　be　shaken。　　Bunker；　though　a　trifle　puzzled；　promptly　handed　him　the　banjo　case；　remarking　pleasantly

〃My　banjo；　take　care　of　it；　please。〃

The　man　started　so　violently　that　he　all　but　dropped　it　upon　the　steps。

〃What　the　deuce　did　he　think　I　said？〃　wondered　the　Count。　　〃　'Banjo'　can't　have　sounded　'dynamite。'　〃

He　entered　the　house；　and　found　himself　in　a　pleasant　hall；　where　his　momentary　uneasiness　was　at　once　forgotten　in　the　charming　welcome　of　his　hostess。　　Not　only　she；　but　her　chaperon；　received　him　with　a　flattering　warmth　that　realized　his　utmost　expectations。

〃It　was　so　good　of　you　to　come！〃　cried　Miss　Wallingford。

〃So　very　kind；〃　murmured　Miss　Minchell。

〃I　knew　you　wouldn't　think　it　too　unorthodox！〃　added　Julia。

〃I'm　afraid　orthodoxy　is　a　crime　I　shall　never　swing　for；〃　said　the　Count；　with　his　most　charming　smile。

〃I　am　sure　my　father　wouldn't　REALLY　mind；〃　said　Julia。

〃Not　if　Sir　Justin　shared　your　enthusiasm；　dear；〃　added　Miss　Minchell。

〃I　must　teach　him　to！〃

〃Good　Lord！〃　thought　the　Count。　　〃This　is　friendly　indeed。〃

A　few　minutes　passed　in　the　exchange　of　these　preliminaries；　and　then　his　hostess　said；　with　a　pretty　little　air　of　discipleship　that　both　charmed　and　slightly　puzzled　him

〃You　do　still　think　that　nobody　should　dine　later　than　six；　don't　you？　　I　have　ordered　dinner　for　six　to…night。〃

〃Six！〃　exclaimed　the　Count；　but　recovering　himself；　added；　〃An　ideal　hourand　it　is　half…past　five　now。　　Perhaps　I　had　better　think　of　dressing。〃

〃What　YOU　call　dressing！〃　smiled　Julia；　to　his　justifiable　amazement。　　〃Let　me　show　you　to　your　room。〃

She　led　him　upstairs；　and　finally　stopped　before　an　open　door。

〃There！〃　she　said；　with　an　air　of　pride。　　〃It　is　really　my　father's　bedroom　when　he　is　at　home；　but　I've　had　it　specially　prepared　for　YOU！　　Is　it　just　as　you　would　like？〃

Bunker　was　incapable　of　observing　anything　very　particularly　beyond　the　fact　that　the　floor　was　uncarpeted；　and　as　nearly　free　from　furniture　as　a　bedroom　floor　could　well　be。

〃It　is　ravishing！〃　he　murmured；　and　dismissed　her　with　a　well…feigned　smile。

Bereft　even　of　expletives；　he　gazed　round　the　apartment　prepared　for　him。　　It　was　a　few　moments　before　he　could　bring　himself　to　make　a　tour　of　its　vast　bleakness。

〃I　suppose　that's　what　they　call　a　truckle…bed；〃　he　mused。　　〃Oh；　there　is　one　chairnothing　but　cold　water…towels　made　of　vegetable　fibre　apparently。　　The　devil　take　me；　is　this　a　reformatory　for　bogus　noblemen！〃

He　next　gazed　at　the　bare　whitewashed　wall。　　On　it　hung　one　picturethe　portrait　of　a　strangely　attired　man。

〃What　n　shocking…looking　fellow！〃　he　exclaimed；　and　went　up　to　examine　it　more　closely。

Then；　with　a　stupefying　shock；　he　read　this　legend　beneath　it

〃Count　Bunker。　　Philosopher；　teacher；　and　martyr。〃

For　a　minute　he　stared　in　rapt　amazement；　and　then　sharply　rang　the　bell。

〃Hang　it；〃　he　said　to　himself；　〃I　must　throw　a　little　light　on　this　somehow！〃

Presently　the　elderly　man…servant　appeared；　this　time　in　a　state　of　still　more　obvious　confusion。　　For　a　moment　he　stared　at　the　Countwho　was　too　discomposed　by　his　manner　to　open　his　lipsand　then；　once　more　stretching　out　his　hand；　exclaimed　in　a　choked　voice　and　a　strong　Scotch　accent

〃How　are　ye；　Bunker！〃

〃What　the　deuce！〃　shouted　the　Count；　evading　the　proffered　hand…shake　with　an　agile　leap。

The　poor　fellow　turned　scarlet；　and　in　an　humble　voice　blurted　out

〃She　told　me　to　do　it！　　Miss　Julia　said　ye'd　like　me　to　shake　hands　and　just　ca'　ye　plain　Bunker。　　I　beg　your　pardon；　sir；　oh；　I　beg　your　pardon　humbly！〃

The　Count　looked　at　him　keenly。

〃He　is　evidently　telling　the　truth；〃　he　thought。

Thereupon　he　took　from　his　pocket　half　a　sovereign。

〃My　good　fellow；〃　he　began。　　〃By　the　way；　what's　your　name？〃

〃Mackenzie；　sir。〃

〃Mackenzie；　my　honest　friend；　I　clearly　perceive　that　Miss　Wallingford；　in　her　very　kind　efforts　to　gratify　my　unconventional　tastes；　has　put　herself　to　quite　unnecessary　trouble。　　She　has　even　succeeded　in　surprising　me；　and　I　should　be　greatly　obliged　if　you　would　kindly　explain　to　me　the　reasons　for　her　conduct；　so　far　as　you　can。〃

At　this　point　the　half…sovereign　changed　hands。

〃In　the　first　place；〃　resumed　the　Count；　〃what　is　the　meaning　of　this　remarkably　villainous　portrait　labelled　with　my　name？〃

〃That；　sir；〃　stammered　Mackenzie；　greatly　taken　aback　by　the　inquiry。　　〃Why；　sir；　that's　the　famous　Count　Bunkeryour　uncle；　sir；　is　he　no'？〃

Bunker　began　to　see　a　glimmer　of　light；　though　the　vista　it　illumined　was　scarcely　a　much　pleasanter　prospect　than　the　previous　bank　of　fog。　　He　remembered　now；　for　the　first　time　since　his　journey　north；　that　the　Baron；　in　dubbing　him　Count　Bunker；　had　encouraged　him　to　take　the　title　on　the　ground　that　it　was　a　real　dignity　once　borne　by　a　famous　personage；　and　in　a　flash　he　realized　the　pitfalls　that　awaited　a　solitary　false　step。

〃THAT　my　uncle！〃　he　exclaimed　with　an　air　of　pleased　surprise；　examining　the　portrait　more　attentively；　〃by　Gad；　I　suppose　it　is！　　But　I　can't　say　it　is　a　flattering　likeness。　　'Philosopher；　teacher；　and　martyr'how　apt　a　description！　　I　hadn't　noticed　that　before；　or　I　should　have　known　at　once　who　it　was。〃

Still　Mackenzie　was　looking　at　him　with　a　perplexed　and　uneasy　air。

〃Miss　Wallingford；　sir；　seems　under　the　impression　that　you　would　be　wanting　jist　the　same　kind　of　things　as　he　likit；〃　he　remarked　diffidently。

The　Count　laughed。

〃Hence　the　conde