count bunker-第3节

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〃Yes；　she　has　rather　an　uncompromising　nose；　so　far　as　I　remember。〃

〃It　is　a　kind　nose　to　her　friends；　Bonker；〃　the　Baron　explained；　〃but　severe　towards〃

〃Myself；　for　instance；〃　laughed　Essington。　　〃Well；　what　do　you　suggest？〃

〃First；　zat　you　dine　mit　me　to…night。　　No；　I　vill　take　no　refusal！　　Listen！　　I　am　now　meeting　a　distinguished　person　on　important　international　businessdo　you　pairceive？　　Ha；　ha；　ha！　　To…night　it　vill　be　necessary　ve　most　dine　togezzer。　　I　have　an　engagement；　but　he　can　be　put　off　for　soch　a　great　person　as　the　man　I　am　now　meeting　at　ze　club！　　You　vill　gom？〃

〃I　should　have　been　delightedonly　unluckily　I　have　a　man　dining　with　me。　　I　tell　you　what！　　You　come　and　join　us！　　Will　you？〃

〃If　zat　is　ze　only　vayyes；　mit　pleasure！　　Who　is　ze　man？〃

〃Young　Tulliwuddle。　　Do　you　remember　going　to　a　dance　at　Lord　Tulliwuddle's；　some　five　and　a　half　years　ago？〃

〃Himmel！　　Ha；　ha！　　Vell　do　I　remember！〃

〃Well；　our　host　of　that　evening　died　the　other　day；　and　this　fellow　is　his　heira　second　or　third　cousin　whose　existence　was　so　displeasing　to　the　old　peer　that　he　left　him　absolutely　nothing　that　wasn't　entailed；　and　never　said　'How…do…you…do？'　to　him　in　his　life。　　In　consequence；　he　may　not　entertain　you　as　much　as　I　should　like。〃

〃If　he　is　your　friend；　I　shall　moch　enjoy　his　society！〃

〃I　am　flattered；　but　hardly　convinced。　　Tulliwuddle's　intellect　is　scarcely　of　the　sparkling　kind。　　However；　come　and　try。〃

The　hour；　the　place；　were　arranged；　a　reminiscence　or　two　exchanged；　fresh　suggestions　thrown　out　for　the　rejuvenation　of　a　Bavarian　magnate；　another　baronial　laugh　shook　the　foundations　of　the　club；　and　then；　as　the　afternoon　was　wearing　on；　the　Baron　hailed　a　cab　and　galloped　for　Belgrave　Square；　and　the　late　Mr。　Bunker　sauntered　off　along　Pall　Mall。

〃Who　can　despair　of　human　nature　while　the　Baron　von　Blitzenberg　adorns　the　earth？〃　he　reflected。　　〃The　discovery　of　champagne　and　the　invention　of　summer　holidays　were　minor　events　compared　with　his　descent　from　Olympus！〃

He　bought　a　button…hole　at　the　street　corner　and　cocked　his　hat；　more　airily　than　ever。

〃A　volcanic　eruption　may　inspire　one　to　succor　humanity；　a　wedding　to　condole　with　it；　and　a　general　election　to　warn　it　of　its　folly；　but　the　Baron　inspires　one　to　amuse！〃

Meanwhile　that　Heaven…sent　nobleman；　with　a　manner　enshrouded　in　mystery；　was　comforting　his　wife。

〃Ah；　do　not　grieve；　mine　Alicia！　　No　doubt　ze　Duke　vill　be　disappointed　not　to　see　us　to…night；　but　I　have　telegraphed。　　Ja；　I　have　said　I　had　so　important　an　affair。　　Ach；　do　not　veep！　　I　did　not　know　you　wanted　so　moch　to　dine　mit　ze　old　Duke。　　I　sopposed　you　vould　like　a　quiet　evening　at　home。　　But　anyhow　I　have　now　telegraphedand　my　leetle　dinner　mit　my　friendAch；　it　is　so　important　zat　I　most　rosh　and　get　dressed。　　Cheer　up；　my　loff！　　Good…by！〃

He　paused　in　answer　to　a　tearful　question。

〃His　name？　　Alas；　I　have　promised　not　to　say。　　You　vould　not　have　a　European　war　by　my　indiscretion？〃



CHAPTER　III

With　mirrors　reflecting　a　myriad　lights；　with　the　hum　of　voices；　the　rustle　of　satin　and　lace；　the　hurrying　steps　of　waiters；　the　bubbling　of　laughter；　of　life；　and　of　wineall　these　on　each　side　of　them；　and　a　plate；　a　foaming　glass；　and　a　friend　in　front；　the　Baron　and　his　host　smiled　radiantly　down　upon　less　favored　mortals。

〃Tulliwuddle　is　very　late；〃　said　Essington；　〃but　he's　a　devilish　casual　gentleman　in　all　matters。〃

〃I　am　selfish　enoff　to　hope　he　vill　not　gom　at　all！〃　exclaimed　the　Baron。

〃Unfortunately　he　has　had　the　doubtful　taste　to　conceive　a　curiously　high　opinion　of　myself。　　I　am　afraid　he　won't　desert　us。　　But　I　don't　propose　that　we　shall　suffer　for　his　slackness。　　Bring　the　fish；　waiter。〃

The　Baron　was　happy；　and　that　is　to　say　that　his　laughter　re…echoed　from　the　shining　mirrors；　his　tongue　was　loosed；　his　heart　expanded；　his　glass　seemed　ever　empty。

〃Ach；　how　to　make　zis　joie　de　vivre　to　last　beyond　to…　night！〃　he　cried。　　〃May　ze　Teufel　fly　off　mit　of　offeecial　duties　and　receptions　andand　even　mit　my　vife　for　a　few　days。〃

〃My　dear　Baron！〃

〃To　Alicia！〃　cried　the　Baron　hastily；　draining　his　glass　at　the　toast。　　〃But　some　fun　first！〃

　　　　　〃　'I　could　not　love　thee；　dear；　so　well；　　　　　　　　　　Loved　I　not　humor　more！'　〃

misquoted　his　host　gaily。　　〃Ah！〃　he　added；　〃here　comes　Tulliwuddle。〃

A　young　man；　with　his　hands　in　his　pockets　and　an　eyeglass　in　his　eye；　strolled　up　to　their　table。

〃I'm　beastly　sorry　for　being　so　late；〃　said　he；　〃but　I'm　hanged　if　I　could　make　up　my　mind　whether　to　risk　wearing　one　of　these　frilled　shirt…fronts。　　It's　not　bad；　I　think；　with　one's　tie　tied　this　way。　　What　do　you　say？〃

〃It　suits　you　like　a　halo；〃　Essington　assured　him。　　〃But　let　me　introduce　you　to　my　friend　the　Baron　Rudolph　von　Blitzenberg。〃

Lord　Tulliwuddle　bowed　politely　and　took　the　empty　chair；　but　it　was　evident　that　his　attention　could　not　concentrate　itself　upon　sublunary　matters　till　the　shirt…　front　had　been　critically　inspected　and　appreciatively　praised　by　his　host。　　Indeed；　it　was　quite　clear　that　Essington　had　not　exaggerated　his　regard　for　himself。　　This　admiration　was　perhaps　the　most　pleasing　feature　to　be　noted　on　a　brief　acquaintance　with　his　lordship。　　He　was　obviously　intended　neither　for　a　strong　man　of　action　nor　a　great　man　of　thought。　　A　tolerable　appearance　and　considerable　amiability　he　might　no　doubt　claim；　but　unfortunately　the　effort　to　retain　his　eye…　glass　had　apparently　the　effect　of　forcing　his　mouth　chronically　open；　which　somewhat　marred　his　appearance；　while　his　natural　good…humor　lapsed　too　frequently　into　the　lamentations　of　an　idle　man　that　Providence　neglected　him　or　that　his　creditors　were　too　attentive。

It　happens；　however；　that　it　is　rather　his　circumstances　than　his　person　which　concern　this　history。　　And；　briefly；　these　were　something　in　this　sort。　　Born　a　poor　relation　and　guided　by　no　strong　hand；　he　had　gradually　seen　himself；　as　Reverend　uncles　and　Right　Honorable　cousins　died　of；　approach　nearer　and　nearer　to　the　ancient　barony　of　Tulliwuddle　（created　1475　in　the　peerage　of　Scotland）；　until　this　year　he　had　actually　succeeded　to　it。　　But　after　his　first　delight　in　this　piece　of　good　fortune　had　subsided　he　began　to　realize　in　himself　two　notable　deficiencies　very　clearly；　the　lack　of　money；　and　more　vaguely；　the　want　of　any　preparation　for　filling　the　shoes　of　a　stately　courtier　and　famous　Highland　chieftain。　　He　would　often；　and　with　considerable　feeling；　declare　that　any　ordinary　peer　he　could　easily　have　become；　but　that　being　old　Tulliwuddle's　heir；　by　Gad！　he　didn't　half　like　the　job。

At　present　he　was　being　tolerated　or　befriended　by　a　small　circle　of　acquaintances；　and　rapidly　becoming　a　familiar　figure　to　three　or　four　tailors　and　half　a　dozen　door…keepers　at　the　stage　entrances　to　divers　Metropolitan　theatres。　　In　the　circle　of　acquaintances；　the　humorous　sagacity　of　Essington　struck　him　as　the　most　astonishing　thing　he　had　ever　known。　　He　felt；　in　fact；　much　like　a　village　youth　watching　his　first　conjuring　performance；　and　while　the　whim　lasted　（a　period　which　Essington　put　down　as　probably　six　weeks）　he　would　have　gone　the　length　of　paying　a　bill　or　ordering　a　tie　on　his　recommendation　alone。

To…night　the　distinguished　appearance　and　genial　conversation　of　Essington's　friend　impressed　him　more　than　ever　with　the　advantages　of　knowing　so　remarkable　a　personage。　　A　second　bottle　succeeded　the　first；　and　a　third　the　second；　the　cordiality　of　the　dinner　growing　all　the　while；　till　at　last　his　lordship　had　laid　aside　the　last　traces　of　his　national　suspicion　of　even　the　most　charming　strangers。

〃I　say；　Essington；〃　he　said；　〃I　had　meant　to　tell　you　about　a　devilish　delicate　dilemma　I'm　in。　　I　want　your　advice。〃

〃You　have　it；　interrupted　his　host。　　〃Give　her　a　five…pound　note；　see　that　she　burns　your　letters；　and　introduce　her　to　another　fellow。〃

〃Buterthat　wasn't　the　thing〃

〃Tell　him　you'll　pay　in　six　months；　and　order　another　pair　of　trousers；〃　said　Essington；　briskly　as　ever。

〃But；　I　say；　it　wasn't　that〃

〃My　dear　Tulliwuddle；　I　never　give　racing　tips。〃

〃Hang　it！〃

〃What　is　the　matter？〃

Tulliwuddle　glanced　at　the　Baron。

〃I　don't　know　whether　the　Baron　would　be　interested〃

〃Immensely；　my　goot　Tollyvoddle！　　Supremely！　hugely！　　I　could　be　interested　to…night　in　a　museum！〃

〃The　Baron's　past　life　makes　him　a　peculiarly　catholic　judge　of　indiscretions；〃　said　Essington。

Thus　reassured；　Tulliwuddle　began

〃You　know　I've　an　aunt　who　takes　an　interest　in　me　wants　me　to　collar　an　heiress　and　that　sort　of　thing。　　Well；　she　has　more　or　less　arranged　a　marriage　for　me。〃

〃Fill　your　glasses；　gentlemen！〃　cried　Essington。

〃Hoch；　hoch！〃　roared　the　Baron。

〃But；　I　say；　wait　a　minute！　　That's　only　the　beginning。　　I　don't　know　the　girland　she　doesn't　know　me。〃

He　said　the　last　words　in　a　peculiarly　significant　tone。

〃Do　you　wish　me　to　introduce　you？〃

〃Oh；　hang　it！　　Be　serious；　Essington。　　The　point　iswill　she　marry　me　if　she　does　know　me？〃

〃Himmel！　　Yes；　certainly！〃　cried　the　Baron。

〃Who　is　she？〃　asked　their　host；　more　seriously。

〃Her　father　is　Darius　P。　Maddison；　the　American　Silver　King。〃

The　other