count bunker-第7节

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t　streams　and　granite　pinnacles；　with　the　gloom　of　pines　and　the　freshness　of　the　birch　blended　like　a　May　and　December　marriage；　all　appearance；　at　least；　of　disquietude　had　passed　away。

Yet　the　Count　kept　an　anxious　eye　upon　him。　　He　was　becoming　decidedly　restless。　　At　one　moment　he　would　rave　about　the　glorious　scenery；　the　next；　plunge　into　a　brown　study　of　the　Tulliwuddle　rent…　roll；　and　then　in　an　instant　start　humming　an　air　and　smoking　so　fast　that　both　their　cases　were　empty　while　they　were　yet　half　an　hour　from　Torrydhulish　Station。　　Now　the　Baron　took　to　biting　his　nails；　looking　at　his　watch；　and　answering　questions　at　randoma　very　different　spectacle　from　the　enthusiastic　traveller　of　yesterday。

〃Only　ten　minutes　more；〃　observed　Bunker　in　his　most　cheering　manner。

The　Baron　made　no　reply。

They　were　now　running　along　the　brink　of　a　glimmering　loch；　the　piled　mountains　on　the　farther　shore　perfectly　mirrored；　a　tern　or　two　lazily　fishing；　a　delicate　summer　sky　smiling　above。　　All　at　once　Count　Bunker　started

〃That　must　be　Hechnahoul！〃　said　he。

The　Baron　looked　and　beheld；　upon　an　eminence　across　the　loch；　the　towers　and　turrets　of　an　imposing　mansion　overtopping　a　green　grove。

〃And　here　is　the　station；〃　added　the　Count。

The　Baron's　face　assumed　a　piteous　expression。

〃Bonker；〃　he　stammered；　〃II　am　afraid！　　You　be　ze　TollyvoddleI　cannot　do　him！〃

〃My　dear　Baron！〃

〃Oh；　I　cannot！〃

〃Be　bravefor　the　honor　of　the　fatherland。　　Play　the　bold　Blitzenberg！〃

〃Ach；　ja；　but　not　bold　Tollyvoddle。　　Zat　picture　you　vere　rightit　vas　omen！〃

Never　did　the　genius　of　Bunker　rise　more　audaciously　to　an　occasion。

〃My　dear　Baron；〃　said　he；　assuming　on　the　instant　a　confidence…inspiring　smile；　〃that　print　was　a　hoax；　it　wasn't　old　Tulliwuddle　at　all。　　I　faked　it　myself。〃

〃So？〃　gasped　the　Baron。　　〃You　assure　me　truly？〃

Muttering　（the　historian　sincerely　hopes）　a　petition　for　forgiveness；　Bunker　firmly　answered

〃I　do　assure　you！〃

The　train　had　stopped；　and　as　they　were　the　only　first…class　passengers　on　board；　a　peculiarly　magnificent　footman　already　had　his　hand　upon　the　door。　　Before　turning　the　handle；　he　touched　his　hat。

〃Lord　Tulliwuddle？〃　he　respectfully　inquired。

〃Jazat　is；　yes；　I　am；〃　replied　the　Baron。



CHAPTER　VIII

From　the　platform　down　to　the　pier　was　only　some　fifty　yards；　and　before　them　the　travellers　perceived　an　exceedingly　smart　steam…　launch；　and　a　stout　middle…aged　gentleman；　in　a　blue　serge　suit　and　yachting　cap；　advancing　from　it　to　greet　them。　　They　had　only　time　to　observe　that　he　had　a　sanguine　complexion；　iron…gray　whiskers；　and　a　wide…open　eye；　before　he　raised　the　cap　and；　in　a　decidedly　North　British　accent；　thus　addressed　them

〃My　lordahem！your　lordship；　I　should　say　I　presume　I've　the　pleasure　of　seeing　Lord　Tulliwuddle？〃

The　Count　gently　pushed　his　more　distinguished　friend　in　front。　　With　an　embarrassment　equal　to　their　host's；　his　lordship　bowed　and　gave　his　hand。

〃I　am　ze　Tollyvoddlevary　pleasedMistair　Gosh；　I　soppose？〃

〃Gallosh；　my　lord。　　Very　honored　to　welcome　you。〃

In　the　round　eyes　of　Mr。　Gallosh；　Count　Bunker　perceived　an　unmistakable　stare　of　astonishment　at　the　sound　of　his　lordship's　accented　voice。　　The　Baron；　on　his　part；　was　evidently　still　suffering　from　his　attack　of　stage　fright；　but　again　the　Count's　gifts　smoothed　the　creases　from　the　situation。

〃You　have　not　introduced　me　to　our　host；　Tulliwuddle；〃　he　said；　with　a　gay；　infectious　confidence。

〃Ah；　so！　　Zis　is　my　friend　Count　Bunkergom　all　ze　vay　from　Austria；〃　responded　the　Baron；　with　no　glimmer　of　his　customary　aplomb。

Making　a　mental　resolution　to　warn　his　ally　never　to　say　one　word　more　about　his　fictitious　past　than　was　wrung　by　cross…examination；　the　distinguished…　looking　Austrian　shook　his　host's　hand　warmly。

〃From　Austria　via　London；〃　he　explained　in　his　pleasantest　manner。　　〃I　object　altogether　to　be　considered　a　foreigner；　Mr。　Gallosh；　and；　in　fact；　I　often　tell　Tulliwuddle　that　people　will　think　me　more　English　than　himself。　　The　German　fashions　so　much　in　vogue　at　Court　are　transforming　the　very　speech　of　your　nobility。　　Don't　you　sometimes　notice　it？〃

Thus　directly　appealed　to；　Mr。　Gallosh　became　manifestly　perplexed。

〃Yesyes；　you're　right　in　a　way；〃　he　pronounced　cautiously。　　〃I　suppose　they　do　that。　　But　will　ye　not　take　a　seat？　　This　is　my　launch。　　Hi！　　Robert；　give　his　lordship　a　hand　on　board！〃

Two　mariners　and　a　second　tall　footman　assisted　the　guests　to　embark；　and　presently　they　were　cutting　the　waters　of　the　loch　at　a　merry　pace。

In　the　prow；　like　youth；　the　Baron　insisted　upon　sitting　with　folded　arms　and　a　gloomy　aspect；　and　as　his　nerve　was　so　patently　disturbed；　the　Count　decidedly　approved　of　an　arrangement　which　left　his　host　and　himself　alone　together　in　the　stern。　　In　his　present　state　of　mind　the　Baron　was　capable　of　any　indiscretion　were　he　compelled　to　talk；　while；　silent　and　brooding　in　isolated　majesty；　he　looked　to　perfection　the　part　of　returning　exile。　　So；　evidently；　thought　Mr。　Gallosh。

〃His　lordship　is　looking　verra　well；〃　he　confided　to　the　Count　in　a　respectfully　lowered　voice。

〃The　improvement　has　been　remarkable　ever　since　his　foot　touched　his　native　heath。〃

〃You　don't　say　so；〃　said　Mr。　Gallosh；　with　even　greater　interest。　　〃Was　he　delicate　before？〃

〃A　London　life；　Mr。　Gallosh。〃

〃Truetrue；　he'll　have　been　busy　seeing　his　friends；　it'll　have　been　verra　wearing。〃

〃The　anxiety；　the　business　of　being　invested；　and　so　on；　has　upset　him　a　trifle。　　You　must　put　down　any　littlewell；　peculiarity　to　that；　Mr。　Gallosh。〃

〃I　understandaye；　umh'm；　quite　so。　　He'll　like　to　be　left　to　himself；　perhaps？〃

〃That　depends　on　his　condition；〃　said　the　Count　diplomatically。

〃It's　a　great　responsibility　for　a　young　man；　yon's　a　big　property　to　look　after；〃　observed　Mr。　Gallosh　in　a　moment。

〃You　have　touched　the　spot！〃　said　the　Count　warmly。　　〃That　is；　in　fact；　the　chief　cause　of　Tulliwuddle's　curious　moodiness　ever　since　he　succeeded　to　the　title。　　He　feels　his　responsibilities　a　little　too　acutely。〃

Again　Mr。　Gallosh　ruminated；　while　his　guest　from　the　corner　of　his　eye　surveyed　him　shrewdly。

〃My　forecast　was　wonderfully　accurate；〃　he　said　to　himself。

The　silence　was　first　broken　by　Mr。　Gallosh。　　As　if　thinking　aloud；　he　remarked

〃I　was　awful　surprised　to　hear　him　speak！　　It's　the　Court　fashion；　you　say？〃

〃Partly　that；　partly　a　prolonged　residence　on　the　Continent　in　his　youth。　　He　acquired　his　accent　then；　he　has　retained　it　for　fashion's　sake；〃　explained　the　Count；　who　thought　it　as　well　to　bolster　up　the　weakest　part　of　his　case　a　little　more　securely。

With　this　prudent　purpose；　he　added；　with　a　flattering　air　of　taking　his　host　into　his　aristocratic　confidence

〃You　will　perhaps　be　good　enough　to　explain　this　to　the　friends　and　dependants　Lord　Tulliwuddle　is　about　to　meet？　　A　breath　of　unsympathetic　criticism　would　grieve　him　greatly　if　it　came　to　his　ears。〃

〃Quite；　quite；〃　said　Mr。　Gallosh　eagerly。　　〃I'll　make　it　all　right。　　I　understand　the　sentiment　pairfectly。　　It's　verra　naturalverra　natural　indeed。〃

At　that　moment　the　Baron　started　from　his　reverie　with　an　affrighted　air。

〃Vat　is　zat　strange　sound！〃　he　exclaimed。

The　others　listened。

〃That's　just　the　pipes；　my　lord；〃　said　Mr。　Gallosh。　　〃They're　tuning　up　to　welcome　you。〃

His　lordship　stared　at　the　shore　ahead　of　them。

〃Zere　are　many　peoples　on　ze　coast！〃　he　cried。　　〃Vat　makes　it　for？〃

〃They've　come　to　receive　you；〃　his　host　explained。　　〃It's　just　a　little　spontaneous　demonstration；　my　lord。〃

His　lordship's　composure　in　no　way　increased。

〃It　was　Mrs。　Gallosh　organized　a　wee　bit　entertainment　on　his　lordship's　landing；〃　their　host　explained　confidentially　to　the　Count。　　〃It's　just　informal；　ye　understand。　　She's　been　instructing　some　of　the　tenants　and　ma　own　girls　will　be　therebut；　oh；　it's　nothing　to　speak　of。　　If　he　says　a　few　words　in　reply；　that'll　be　all　they'll　be　expecting。〃

The　strains　of　〃Tulliwuddle　wha　hae〃　grew　ever　louder　and；　to　an　untrained　ear；　more　terrific。　　In　a　moment　they　were　mingled　with　a　clapping　of　hands　and　a　Highland　cheer；　the　launch　glided　alongside　the　pier；　and；　supported　on　his　faithful　friend's　arm；　the　panic…stricken　Tulliwuddle　staggered　ashore。　　Before　his　dazed　eyes　there　seemed　to　be　arrayed　the　vastest　and　most　barbaric　concourse　his　worst　nightmare　had　ever　imagined。　　Six　pipers　played　within　ten　paces　of　him；　each　of　them　arrayed　in　the　full　panoply　of　the　clan；　at　least　a　dozen　dogs　yelped　their　exultation；　and　from　the　surrounding　throng　two　ancient　men　in　tartan　and　four　visions　in　snowy　white　stepped　forth　to　greet　the　distinguished　visitors。

The　first　hitch　in　the　proceedings　occurred　at　this　point。　　According　to　the　unofficial　but　carefully　considered　programme；　the　pipers　ought　to　have　ceased　their　melody；　but；　whether　inspired　by　ecstatic　loyalty　or　because　the　Tulliwuddle　pibroch　took　longer　to　perform　than　had　been　anticipated；　they　continued　to　skirl　with　such　vigor　that　expostulations　passed　entirely　unheard。　　Under　the　circumstances　there　was　nothing　for　it　but　shouting；　and　in　a　stentorian　yell　Mr。　Gallosh　introduced　his　wife