count bunker-第36节

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〃Miss　Gallosh！〃

Nor　is　it　less　impossible　to　supply　the　significance　of　Eleanor's　intonation。

〃Ladies；　ladies！〃　he　implored；　〃do　not；　I　pray　you；　misunderstand！　　I　vas　not　responsibleI　could　not　help　it。　　You　both　VOULD　come　mit　me！　　No；　no；　do　not　look　so　at　me！　　I　mean　not　zatI　mean　I　could　not　do　vizout　both　of　you。　　Ach；　Himmel！　　Vat　do　I　say？　　I　should　say　zatzat〃

He　broke　off　with　a　start　of　apprehension。

〃Look！　　Zere　comes　a　man　mit　a　bicycle！　　Zis　is　too　public！　　Come　mit　me　into　ze　station　and　I　shall　eggsplain！　　He　waves　his　fist！　　Come！　you　vould　not　be　seen　here？〃

He　offered　one　arm　to　Eva；　the　other　to　Eleanor；　and　so　alarming　were　the　gesticulations　of　the　approaching　cyclist；　and　so　beseeching　the　Baron's　tones；　that　without　more　ado　they　clung　to　him　and　hurried　on　to　the　platform。

〃Come　to　ze　vaiting…room！〃　he　whispered。　　〃Zere　shall　ve　be　safe！〃

Alack　for　the　luck　of　the　Baron　von　Blitzenberg！　　Out　of　the　very　door　they　were　approaching　stepped　a　solitary　lady；　sole　passenger　from　the　south　train；　and　at　the　sight　of　those　three；　linked　arm　in　arm；　she　staggered　back　and　uttered　a　cry　more　piercing　than　the　engine's　distant　whistle。

〃Rudolph！〃　cried　this　lady。

〃Alicia！〃　gasped　the　Baron。

His　rescuers　said　nothing；　but　clung　to　him　the　more　tightly；　while　in　the　Baroness's　startled　eyes　a　harder　light　began　to　blaze。

〃Who　are　these；　Rudolph？〃

He　cleared　his　throat；　but　the　process　seemed　to　take　some　time；　and　in　the　meanwhile　he　felt　the　grip　of　his　deliverers　relax。

〃Who　is　that　lady？〃　demanded　Eleanor。

〃His　wife；〃　replied　the　Baroness。

The　Baron　felt　his　arms　freed　now；　but　still　his　Alicia　waited　an　answer。　　It　came　at　last；　but　not　from　the　Baron's　lips。

〃Well；　here　you　all　are！〃　said　a　cheerful　voice　behind　them。



CHAPTER　XXXVII

They　turned　as　though　they　expected　to　see　an　apparition。　　Nor　was　the　appearance　of　the　speaker　calculated　to　disappoint　such　expectations。　　Their　startled　eyes　beheld　indeed　the　most　remarkable　figure　that　had　ever　wheeled　a　bicycle　down　the　platform　of　Torrydhulish　Station。　　Hatless；　in　evening　clothes　with　blue　lapels　upon　the　coat；　splashed　liberally　with　mud；　his　feet　equipped　only　with　embroidered　socks　and　saturated　pumps；　his　shirt…front　bestarred　with　souvenirs　of　all　the　soils　for　thirty　miles；　Count　Bunker　made　a　picture　that　lived　long　in　their　memories。　　Yet　no　foolish　consciousness　of　his　plight　disturbed　him　as　he　addressed　the　Baron。

〃Thank　you；　Baron；　for　escorting　my　fair　friends　so　far。　　I　shall　now　take　them　off　your　hands。〃

He　smiled　with　pleasant　familiarity　upon　the　two　astonished　girls；　and　then　started　as　though　for　the　first　time　he　recognized　the　Baroness。

〃Baroness！〃　he　cried；　bowing　profoundly；　〃this　is　a　very　unexpected　pleasure！　　You　came　by　the　early　train；　I　presume？　　A　tiresome　journey；　isn't　it？〃

But　bewilderment　and　suspicion　were　all　that　he　could　read　in　reply。

〃Whatwhat　are　YOU　doing　here？〃

He　was　not　in　the　least　disconcerted。

〃Meeting　my　cousins〃　（he　indicated　the　Misses　Gallosh　and　Maddison　with　an　amiable　glance）；　〃whom　the　Baron　has　been　kind　enough　to　look　after　till　my　arrival。〃

Audaciously　approaching　more　closely；　he　added；　in　a　voice　intended　for　her　ear　and　the　Baron's　alone

〃I　must　throw　myself；　I　see；　upon　your　mercy；　and　ask　you　not　to　tell　any　tales　out　of　school。　　Cousins；　you　know；　don't　always　want　their　meetings　advertised　do　they；　Baron？〃

Alicia's　eyes　softened　a　little。

〃Then；　they　are　really　your〃

〃Call　'em　cousins；　please！　　I　have　your　pledge　that　you　won't　tell？　　Ah；　Baron；　your　charming　wife　and　I　understand　one　another。〃

Then　raising　his　voice　for　the　benefit　of　the　company　generally

〃Well；　you　two　will　want　to　have　a　little　talk　in　the　waiting…room；　I've　no　doubt。　　We　shall　pace　the　platform。　　Very　fit　Rudolph's　looking；　isn't　he；　Baroness？　　You've　no　idea　how　his　lungs　have　strengthened。〃

〃His　lungs！〃　exclaimed　the　Baroness　in　a　changed　voice。

Giving　the　Baron　a　wink　to　indicate　that　there　lay　the　ace　of　trumps；　he　answered　reassuringly

〃When　you　learn　how　he　has　improved　you'll　forgive　me；　I'm　sure；　for　taking　him　on　this　little　trip。　　Well；　see　you　somewhere　down　the　line；　no　doubtI'm　going　by　the　same　train。〃

He　watched　them　pass　into　the　waiting…room；　and　then　turned　an　altered　face　to　the　two　dumbfounded　girls。　　It　was　expressive　now　solely　of　sympathy　and　contrition。

〃Let　us　walk　a　little　this　way；〃　he　began；　and　thus　having　removed　them　safely　from　earshot　of　the　waiting…　room　door；　he　addressed　himself　to　the　severest　part　of　his　task。

〃My　dear　girls；　I　owe　you　I　don't　know　how　many　apologies　for　presuming　to　claim　you　as　my　friends。　　The　acuteness　of　the　emergency　is　my　only　excuse；　and　I　throw　myself　most　contritely　upon　your　mercy！〃

This　second　projection　of　himself　upon　a　lady's　mercy　proved　as　successful　as　the　first。

〃Well；〃　said　Eleanor　slowly；　〃I　guess　maybe　we　can　forgive　you　for　that；　but　what　I　want　to　know　iswhat's　happened？who's　who？and　where　just　exactly　are　we？〃

〃That's　just　what　I　want　to　know　too；〃　added　Eva　sadly。

Indeed；　they　both　had　a　hint　of　tears　in　their　eyes；　and　in　their　voices。

〃What　has　happened；〃　replied　the　Count；　〃is　that　a　couple　of　thoughtless　masqueraders　came　up　here　to　play　a　little　joke；　and　succeeded　in　getting　themselves　into　a　scrape。　　For　your　share　in　getting　us　out　of　it　we　cannot　feel　too　grateful。〃

〃But；　who　is？〃　the　girls　began　together；　and　then　stopped；　with　a　rise　of　color　and　a　suspicion　of　displeasure　in　their　interchange　of　eyes。

〃Who　is　who？　　Well；　my　friend　is　the　Baron　von　Blitzenberg；　and　the　lady　is；　as　she　stated；　his　wife。〃

〃Then　all　this　time〃　began　Eva。

〃He　was　married！〃　Eleanor　finished　for　her。　　〃Oh；　the　heartless　scoundrel！　　To　think　that　I　rescued　him！〃

〃I　wouldn't　have　either！〃　said　Eva；　〃I　mean　if　if　I　had　known　he　treated　you　so　badly。〃

〃Treated　ME！　　I　was　only　thinking　of　YOU；　Miss　Gallosh！〃

〃Dear　ladies！〃　interposed　the　Count　with　his　ready　tact；　〃remember　his　excuse。〃

〃His　excuse？〃

〃The　beauty；　the　charm；　the　wit　of　the　lady　who　took　by　storm　a　heart　not　easily　captured！　　He　himself；　poor　fellow；　thought　it　love…proof；　but　he　had　not　then　met　HER。　　Think　mercifully　of　him！〃

He　was　so　careful　to　give　no　indication　which　of　the　rival　belles　was　〃her；〃　that　each　was　able　to　take　to　herself　a　certain　mournful　consolation。

〃That　wasn't　MUCH　excuse；〃　said　Eleanor；　yet　with　a　less　vindictive　air。

〃Certainly　not　VERY　much；〃　murmured　Eva。

〃He　ought　to　have　thought　of　the　pain　he　was　giving　HER；〃　added　Eleanor。

〃Yes；〃　said　Eva。　　〃Indeed　he　ought！〃

〃Yes；　that　is　true；〃　allowed　the　Count；　〃but　remember　his　punishment！　　To　be　married　already　now　proves　to　be　less　his　fault　than　his　misfortune。〃

By　this　time　he　had　insidiously　led　them　back　to　their　car。

〃And　must　you　return　at　once？〃　he　exclaimed。

〃We　had　better；〃　said　Eleanor；　with　a　suspicion　of　a　sigh。　　〃Miss　Gallosh；　I'll　drive　you　home　first。〃

〃You're　too　kind；　Miss　Maddison。〃

〃Oh；　no！〃

The　Count　assisted　them　in；　greatly　pleased　to　see　this　amicable　spirit。　　Then　shaking　hands　heartily　with　each；　he　said

〃I　can　speak　for　my　friend　with　conviction；　because　my　own　regard　for　the　lady　in　question　is　as　deep　and　as　sincere　as　his。　　Believe　me；　I　shall　never　forget　her！〃

He　was　rewarded　with　two　of　the　kindest　smiles　ever　bestowed　upon　him；　and　as　they　drove　away　each　secretly　wondered　why　she　had　previously　preferred　the　Baron　to　the　Count。　　It　seemed　a　singular　folly。

〃Two　deuced　nice　girls；〃　mused　he；　〃I　do　believe　I　told　'em　the　truth　in　every　particular！〃

He　watched　their　car　dwindle　to　a　scurrying　speck；　and　then　strolled　back　thoughtfully　to　purchase　his　ticket。

He　found　the　signals　down；　and　the　far…off　clatter　of　the　train　distinctly　audible　through　the　early　morning　air。　　A　few　minutes　more　and　he　was　stepping　into　a　first…class　compartment；　his　remarkable　costume　earning　（he　could　not　but　observe）　the　pronounced　attention　of　the　guard。　　The　Baron　and　Alicia；　with　an　air　of　mutual　affection；　entered　another；　both　the　doors　were　closed；　everything　seemed　ready；　yet　the　train　lingered。

〃Start　ze　train！　　Start　ze　train！　　I　vill　give　you　a　poundtwo　poundtree　pound；　to　start　him！〃

The　Count　leaped　up　and　thrust　his　head　through　the　window。

〃What　the　dickens！〃　thought　he。

Hanging　out　of　the　other　window　he　beheld　the　clamant　Baron　urging　the　guard　with　frenzied　entreaty。

〃But　they're　wanting　to　go　by　the　train；　sir；〃　said　the　guard。

〃No；　no。　　Zey　do　not！　　It　is　a　mistake！　　Start　him！〃

Following　their　gaze　he　saw；　racing　toward　them；　the　cause　of　their　delay。　　It　was　a　motor　car；　yet　not　the　same　that　had　so　lately　departed。　　In　this　were　seated　a　young　man　and　an　elderly　lady；　both　waving　to　hold　back　the　train；　and　to　his　vast　amazement　he　recognized　in　the　man　Darius　Maddison；　junior；　in　the　lady　the　Countess　of　Grillyer。

The　car　stopped；　the　occupants　alighted；　and　the　Countess；　supported　on　the　strong　arm　of　Ri；　scuttled　down　the　platform。

〃Bonker；　take　her　in　mit　you！〃　groaned　the　Baron；　and　his　head　vanished　from　the　Count's　sight。

Even　this　ordeal　was　not　too　m