count bunker-第35节

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Their　jailor　was　courtesy　itself；　but　it　was　in　their　prison　that　they　suppeda　silent　meal；　and　very　plain。　　And；　bitterest　pill　of　all；　they　were　further　informed　that　in　their　prison　they　must　pass　the　night。

〃In　ze　same　room！〃　cried　the　Baron　frantically。　　〃Impossible！　　Improper！〃

Even　his　mother…in…law's　solicitude　shrank　from　this　vigil；　but　with　unruffled　consideration　for　their　comfort　their　guardian　and　his　assistants　made　up　two　beds　forthwith。　　The　Baron；　subdued　to　a　fierce　and　snarling　moodiness；　watched　their　preparations　with　a　lurid　eye。

〃Put　not　zat　bed　so　near　ze　door；〃　he　snapped。

In　his　ear　his　jailor　whispered；　〃That　one's　for　you；　sir；　and　dinna　put　off　your　clothes！〃

The　Baron　started；　and　from　that　moment　his　air　of　resignation　began　to　affront　the　Countess　as　deeply　as　his　previous　violence。　　When　they　were　again　alone；　stretched　in　black　darkness　each　upon　their　couch；　she　lifted　up　her　voice　in　a　last　word　of　protest

〃Rudolph！　have　you　no　single　feeling　for　me　left？　　Why　didn't　you　stab　that　man？〃

But　the　Baron　merely　retorted　with　a　lifelike　affectation　of　snoring。



CHAPTER　XXXVI

For　a　long　time　the　Baron　lay　wide　awake；　every　sense　alert；　listening　for　the　creak　of　a　footstep　on　the　wooden　stair　that　led　up　from　the　harness…room　to　his　prison。　　What　else　could　the　strange　words　of　Dugald　have　meant；　save　that　some　friend　proposed　to　climb　those　stairs　and　gently　open　that　stubborn　door？　　And　in　this　opinion　he　had　been　confirmed　when　he　observed　that　on　Dugald's　departure　the　key　turned　with　a　silence　suggesting　a　recently　oiled　lock。　　His　bed　lay　along　the　wall；　with　the　head　so　close　to　the　door　that　any　one　opening　it　and　stretching　forth　a　hand　could　tweak　him　by　the　nose　without　an　effort　（supposing　that　were　the　object　of　their　visit）。　　Clearly；　he　thought；　it　was　not　thus　arranged　without　some　very　special　purpose。　　Yet　when　hour　after　hour　passed　and　nothing　happened；　he　began　to　sleep　fitfully；　and　at　last；　worn　out　with　fruitless　waiting；　dropped　into　a　profound　slumber。

He　was　in　the　midst　of　a　harassing　dream　or　drama；　wherein　Bunker　and　Eva　played　an　incoherent　part　and　he　himself　passed　wearily　from　peril　to　peril；　when　the　stage　suddenly　was　cleared；　his　eyes　started　open；　and　he　became　wakefully　conscious　of　a　little　ray　of　light　that　fell　upon　his　face。　　Before　he　could　raise　his　head　a　soft　voice　whispered　urgently；

〃Don't　move！〃

With　admirable　self…control　he　obeyed　implicitly。

〃Who　is　zere？〃　he　whispered　back。

The　voice　seemed　for　a　moment　to　hesitate；　and　then　answered

〃Eleanor　Maddison！〃

He　started　so　audibly　that　again　she　breathed　peremptorily

〃Hush！　　Lie　still　till　I　come　back。　　Youyou　don't　deserve　it；　but　I　want　to　save　you　from　the　disgrace　of　arrest。〃

〃Ach；　zank　youmine　better　angel！〃　he　murmured；　with　a　fervor　that　seemed　not　unpleasing　to　his　rescuer。

〃You　really　are　a　nobleman　in　trouble？〃

〃I　swear　I　am！〃

〃And　didn't　mean　anything　really　wrong？〃

〃Neveroh；　never！〃

More　kindly　than　before　she　murmured

〃Well；　I　guess　I'll　take　you　out；　then。　　I've　bribed　Dugald；　so　that's　all　right。　　When　my　car's　ready　I'll　send　him　up　for　you。　　You　just　lie　still　till　he　comes。〃

From　which　it　appears　that　Count　Bunker's　appreciation　of　the　sex　fell　short　of　their　meed。

Hardly　daring　to　breathe　for　fear　of　awakening　his　fellow…prisoner；　trembling　with　agitation；　and　consumed　by　a　mad　impatience　for　action；　the　Baron　passed　five　of　the　longest　minutes　he　had　ever　endured。　　At　the　end　of　that　time　he　heard　a　stealthy　step　upon　the　stairs；　and　with　infinite　precautions　threw　off　his　bedclothes　and　sat　upright；　ready　for　instant　departure。　　But　how　slowly　and　with　what　a　superfluity　of　precaution　his　jailor　moved！　　When　the　door　at　length　opened　he　wondered　that　no　ray　of　light　fell　this　time。

〃Dugald！〃　he　whispered　eagerly。

〃Hush！〃　replied　a　softer　voice　than　Dugald's；　as　soft；　indeed；　as　Eleanor's；　yet　clearly　different。

〃Who　is　zat？〃　he　gasped。

〃Eva　Gallosh！〃　said　the　silken　voice。　　〃Oh；　is　that　you？〃

〃Yesyesit　is　me。〃

〃And　are　you　really　a　Baron　and　an　ambassador？〃

〃Oh　yesyescertainly　I　am。〃

〃Thenthen　I've　come　to　help　you　to　escape！　　I've　bribed　Dugaldand　I've　got　a　dog…cart　here。　　Come　quicklybut　oh；　be　very　quiet！〃

For　a　moment　the　Baron　actually　hesitated　to　flee　from　that　loathed　apartment。　　It　seemed　to　him　that　if　Fortune　desired　to　provide　him　with　opportunities　of　escape　she　might　have　had　the　sense　to　offer　these　one　at　a　time。　　For　how　could　he　tell　which　of　these　overtures　to　close　with？　　A　wrong　decision　might　be　fatal；　yet　time　unquestionably　pressed。

〃Mein　Gott！〃　he　muttered　irresolutely；　〃vich　shall　I　do？〃

At　that　moment　the　other　bed　creaked；　and；　to　his　infinite　horror；　he　heard　a　suspicious　voice　demand

〃Is　that　you　talking；　Rudolph？〃

Poor　Eva；　who　was　quite　unaware　of　the　presence　of　another　prisoner；　uttered　a　stifled　shriek；　with　a　cry　of　〃Fly；　quickly！〃　the　Baron　leaped　from　his　bed；　and　headlong　down　the　wooden　stairs　they　clattered　for　freedom。

A　dim　vision　of　the　thrice…bribed　Dugald；　screeching；　〃The　car's　ready　for　ye；　sir！〃　but　increased　their　speed。

Outside；　a　motor　car　stood　panting　by　the　door；　and　in　the　youthful　driver；　turning　a　pale　face　toward　them　in　the　lamp's　radiance；　the　Baron　had　just　time　to　recognize　his　first　fair　deliverer。

〃Good…bye！〃　he　whispered　to　his　second；　and　flung　himself　in。

Some　one　followed　him；　the　door　was　slammed；　and　with　a　mighty　throbbing　they　began　to　move。

〃Rudolph！　　Rudolph！〃　wailed　a　voice　behind　them。

〃Zank　ze　goodness　SHE　is　not　here！〃　exclaimed　the　Baron。

〃Whisht！　whisht！〃　he　could　hear　Dugald　expostulate。

With　a　violent　start　he　turned　to　the　fellow…passenger　who　had　followed　him　in。

〃Are　you　not　Dugald？〃　he　demanded　hoarsely。

〃Noit'sit's　me！　　I　dursn't　wait　for　my　dog…　cart！〃

〃Eva！〃　he　murmured。　　〃Oh；　Himmel！　　Vat　shall　I　do？〃

Only　a　screen　of　glass　separated　his　two　rescuers；　and　the　one　had　but　to　turn　her　head　and　look　inside；　or　the　other　to　study　with　any　attention　the　roll　of　hair　beneath　their　driver's　cap；　in　order　to　lead　to　most　embarrassing　consequences。　　Not　that　it　was　his　fault　he　should　receive　such　universal　sympathy：　but　would　these　charming　ladies　admit　his　innocence？

〃How　thoughtful　of　Dugald　to　have　this　car〃　began　Eva。

〃Hush！〃　he　muttered　hoarsely。　　〃Yes；　it　was　thoughtful；　but　you　most　not　speak　too　loudly。〃

〃For　fear？〃　she　smiled；　and　turned　her　eyes　instinctively　toward　their　driver。

〃Excuse　me；〃　he　muttered；　sweeping　her　as　gently　as　possible　from　her　seat　and　placing　her　upon　the　floor。

〃It　vill　not　do　for　zem　to　see　you；〃　he　explained　in　a　whisper。

〃How　awful　a　position；〃　he　reflected。　　〃Oh；　I　hope　it　may　still　be　dark　ven　we　get　to　ze　station。〃

But　with　rising　concern　he　presently　perceived　that　the　telegraph　posts　along　the　roadside　were　certainly　grown　plainer　already；　he　could　even　see　the　two　thin　wires　against　a　paling　sky；　the　road　behind　was　visible　for　half　a　mile；　the　hill…tops　might　no　longer　be　confounded　with　the　clouds…day　indubitably　was　breaking。　　Also　he　recollected　that　to　go　from　Lincoln　Lodge　to　Torrydhulish　Station　one　had　to　make　a　vast　detour　round　half　the　loch；　and；　further；　began　to　suspect　that　though　Miss　Maddison's　driving　was　beyond　reproach　her　knowledge　of　topography　was　scarcely　so　dependable。　　In　point　of　fact　she　increased　the　distance　by　at　least　a　third；　and　all　the　while　day　was　breaking　more　fatally　clear。

To　discourage　Miss　Gallosh's　efforts　at　conversation；　yet　keep　her　sitting　contentedly　upon　the　floor；　to　appear　asleep　whenever　Miss　Maddison　turned　her　head　and　threw　a　glance　inside；　and　to　devise　some　adequate　explanation　against　the　inevitable　discovery　at　the　end　of　their　drive；　provided　him　with　employment　worthy　of　a　diplomatist's　steel。　　But　now；　at　last；　they　were　within　sight　of　railway　signals　and　a　long　embankment；　and　over　a　pine　wood　a　stream　of　smoke　moved　with　a　swelling　roar。　　Then　into　plain　view　broke　the　engine　and　carriage　after　carriage　racing　behind。　　Regardless　of　risk；　he　leaped　from　his　seat　and　flung　up　the　window；　crying

〃Ach；　look！　　Ve　shall　be　late！〃

〃That　train　is　going　north；〃　said　Eleanor。　　〃Guess　we've　half　an　hour　good　before　yours　comes　in。〃

So　little　can　mortals　read　the　stars　that　he　heaved　a　sigh　of　relief；　and　even　murmured

〃Ve　have　timed　him　very　luckily！〃

Ten　minutes　later　they　descended　the　hill　to　Torrydhulish　Station。　　The　north…going　train　had　paid　its　brief　call　and　vanished　nearly　from　sight　again；　no　one　seemed　to　be　moving　about　the　station；　and　the　Baron　told　himself　that　nothing　worse　remained　than　the　exercise　of　a　little　tact　in　parting　with　his　deliverers。

〃Ach！　I　shall　carry　it　off　gaily；〃　he　thought；　and　leaping　lightly　to　the　ground；　exclaimed　with　a　genial　air；　as　he　gave　his　hand　to　Eva。

〃Vell！　　Now　have　I　a　leetle　surprise　for　you；　ladies！〃

Nor　did　he　at　all　exaggerate　their　sensation。

〃Miss　Maddison！〃

Alas；　that　it　should　be　so　far　beyond　the　power　of　mere　inky　words　to　express　all　that　was　implied　in　Eva's　accents！

〃Miss　Gallosh！〃

Nor　is　it　less　impossible　to　supply　the　significance