count bunker-第9节

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rs。　Cameron…Campbell　on　one　side；　and　a　minister's　lady　upon　the　other；　his　host　two　places　distant；　and　a　considerable　audience　of　silent　eaters　within　earshot；　he　successfully　managed　to　divert　the　attention　of　quite　half　the　table　from　the　chieftain's　moody　humor。

〃I　always　feel　at　home　with　a　Scotsman；〃　he　discoursed　genially。　　〃His　imagination　is　so　quick；　his　intellect　so　clear；　his　honesty　so　remarkable；　and〃　（with　an　irresistible　glance　at　the　minister's　lady）　〃his　wife　so　charming。〃

〃Ha；　ha！〃　laughed　Mr。　Gallosh；　who　was　mellowing　rapidly　under　the　influence　of　his　own　champagne。　　〃I'm　verra　glad　to　see　you　know　good　folks　when　you　meet　them。　　What　do　you　think　now　of　the　English？〃

Having　previously　assured　himself　that　his　audience　was　neat　Scotch；　the　polished　Austrian　unblushingly　replied

〃The　Englishman；　I　have　observed；　has　a　slightly　slower　imagination；　a　denser　intelligence；　and　is　less　conspicuous　for　perfect　honesty。　　His　womankind　also　have　less　of　that　nameless　grace　and　ethereal　beauty　which　distinguish　their　Scottish　sisters。〃

It　is　needless　to　say　that　a　more　popular　visitor　never　was　seen　than　this　discriminating　foreigner；　and　if　his　ambitions　had　not　risen　above　a　merely　personal　triumph；　he　would　have　been　in　the　highest　state　of　satisfaction。　　But　with　a　disinterested　eye　he　every　now　and　then　sought　the　farther　end　of　the　table；　where；　between　his　hostess　and　her　charming　eldest　daughter；　and　facing　his　factor；　the　Baron　had　to　endure　his　ordeal　unsupported。

〃I　wonder　how　the　devil　he's　getting　on！〃　he　more　than　once　said　to　himself。

For　better　or　for　worse；　as　the　dinner　advanced；　he　began　to　hear　the　Court　accent　more　frequently；　till　his　curiosity　became　extreme。

〃His　lordship　seems　in　better　spirits；〃　remarked　Mr。　Gallosh。

〃I　hope　to　Heaven　he　may　be！〃　was　the　fervent　thought　of　Count　Bunker。

At　that　moment　the　point　was　settled。　　With　his　old　roar　of　exuberant　gusto　the　Baron　announced；　in　a　voice　that　drowned　even　the　five　ministers

〃Ach；　yes；　I　vill　toss　ze　caber　to…morrow！　　I　vill　toss　himso　high！〃　（his　napkin　flapped　upwards）。　　〃How　long　shall　he　be？　　So　tall　as　my　castle：　　Mees　Gallosh；　you　shall　help　me？　　Ach；　yes！　　Mit　hands　so　fair　ze　caber　vill　spring　like　zis！〃

His　pudding…spoon；　in　vivid　illustration；　skipped　across　the　table　and　struck　his　factor　smartly　on　the　shirt…front。

〃Sare；　I　beg　your　pardon；〃　he　beamed　with　a　graciousness　that　charmed　Mrs。　Gallosh　even　more　than　his　spirited　conversation〃Ach；　do　not　return　it；　please！　　It　is　from　my　castle　silverkeep　it　in　memory　of　zis　happy　night！〃

The　royal　generosity　of　this　act　almost　reconciled　Mrs。　Gallosh　to　the　loss　of　one　of　her　own　silver　spoons。

〃Saved！〃　sighed　Bunker；　draining　his　glass　with　a　relish　he　had　not　felt　in　any　item　of　the　feast　hitherto。

Now　that　the　Baron's　courage　had　returned；　no　heraldic　lion　ever　pranced　more　bravely。　　His　laughter；　his　jests；　his　compliments　were　showered　upon　the　delighted　diners。　　Mr。　Gallosh　and　he　drank　healths　down　the　whole　length　of　the　table　〃mit　no　tap…heels！〃　at　least　four　times。　　He　peeled　an　orange　for　Miss　Gallosh；　and　cut　the　skin　into　the　most　diverting　figures；　pressing　her　hand　tenderly　as　he　presented　her　with　these　works　of　art。　　He　inquired　of　Mrs。　Gallosh　the　names　of　the　clergymen；　and；　shouting　something　distantly　resembling　these；　toasted　them　each　and　all　with　what　he　conceived　to　be　appropriate　comments。　　Finally　he　rose　to　his　feet；　and；　to　the　surprise　and　delight　of　all；　delivered　the　speech　they　had　been　disappointed　of　earlier　in　the　day。

〃Goot　Mr。　Gallosh；　fair　Mrs。　Gallosh；　divine　Mees　Gallosh；　and　all　ze　ladies　and　gentlemans；　how　sorry　I　vas　I　could　not　make　my　speech　before；　I　cannot　eggspress。　　I　had　a　headache；　and　vas　not　vell　vithin。　　Ach；　soch　zings　vill　happen　in　a　new　climate。　　Bot　now　I　am　inspired　to　tell　you　I　loff　you　all！　　I　zank　you　eggstremely！　　How　can　I　return　zis　hospitality？　　I　vill　tell　you！　　You　must　all　go　to　Bavaria　and　stay　mit〃

〃Tulliwuddle！　　Tulliwuddle！〃　shouted　Bunker　frantically；　to　the　great　amazement　of　the　company。　　〃Allow　me　to　invite　the　company　myself　to　stay　with　me　in　Bavaria！〃

The　Baron　turned　crimson；　as　he　realized　the　abyss　of　error　into　which　he　had　so　nearly　plunged。　　Adroitly　the　Count　covered　his　confusion　with　a　fit　of　laughter　so　ingeniously　hearty　that　in　a　moment　he　had　joined　in　it　too。

〃Ha；　ha；　ha！〃　he　shouted。　　〃Zat　was　a　leetle　joke　at　my　friend's　eggspense。　　It　is　here；　in　my　castle；　you　shall　visit　me；　some　day　very　soon　I　shall　live　in　him。　　Meanvile；　dear　Mrs。　Gallosh；　gonsider　it　your　home！　　For　me　you　make　it　heaven；　and　I　cannot　ask　more　zan　zat！　　Now　let　us　gom　and　have　some　fon！〃

A　salvo　of　applause　greeted　this　conclusion。　　At　the　Baron's　impetuous　request　the　cigars　were　brought　into　the　hall；　and　ladies　and　gentlemen　all　trooped　out　together。

〃I　cannot　vait　till　I　have　seen　Miss　Gallosh　dance　ze　Highland　reel；〃　he　explained　to　her　gratified　mother；　〃she　has　promised　me。〃

〃But　you　must　dance　too；　Lord　Tulliwuddle；〃　said　ravishing　Miss　Gallosh。　　〃You　know　you　said　you　would。〃

〃A　promise　to　a　lady　is　a　law；〃　replied　the　Baron　gallantly；　adding　in　a　lower　tone；　〃especially　to　so　fair　a　lady！〃

〃It's　a　pity　his　lordship　hadn't　on　his　kilt；〃　put　in　Mr。　Gallosh　genially。

〃By　ze　Gad；　I　vill　put　him　on！　　Hoch！　　Ve　vill　have　some　fon！〃

The　Baron　rushed　from　the　hall；　followed　in　a　moment　by　his　noble　friend。　　Bunker　found　him　already　wrapping　many　yards　of　tartan　about　his　waist。

〃But；　my　dear　fellow；　you　must　take　off　your　trousers；〃　he　expostulated。

Despite　his　glee；　the　Baron　answered　with　something　of　the　Blitzenberg　dignity

〃Ze　bare　leg　I　cannot　show　to…nightnot　to　dance　mit　ze　young　ladies。　　Ven　I　have　practised；　perhaps；　but　not　now；　Bonker。〃

Accordingly　the　portraits　of　four　centuries　of　Tulliwuddles　beheld　their　representative　appear　in　the　very　castle　of　Hechnahoul　with　his　trouser…legs　capering　beneath　an　ill…hung　petticoat　of　tartan。　　And；　to　make　matters　worse　in　their　canvas　eyes；　his　own　shameless　laugh　rang　loudest　in　the　mirth　that　greeted　his　entrance。

〃Ze　garb　of　Gaul！〃　he　announced；　shaking　with　hilarity。　　〃Gom；　Bonker；　dance　mit　me　ze　Highland　fling！〃

The　first　night　of　Lord　Tulliwuddle's　visit　to　his　ancestral　halls　is　still　remembered　among　his　native　hills。　　The　Count　also；　his　mind　now　rapturously　at　ease；　performed　prodigies。　　They　danced　together　what　they　were　pleased　to　call　the　latest　thing　in　London；　sang　a　duet；　waltzed　with　the　younger　ladies；　till　hardly　a　head　was　left　unturned；　and；　in　short；　sent　away　the　ministers　and　their　ladies；　the　five　Miss　Cameron…Campbells；　the　reading…party；　and　particularly　the　factor；　with　a　new　conception　of　a　Highland　chief。　　As　for　the　house…party；　they　felt　that　they　were　fortunate　beyond　the　lot　of　most　ordinary　mortals。



CHAPTER　X

The　Baron　sat　among　his　heirlooms；　laboriously　disengaging　himself　from　his　kilt。　　Fitfully　throughout　this　process　he　would　warble　snatches　of　an　air　which　Miss　Gallosh　had　sung。

〃Whae　vould　not　dee　for　Sharlie？〃　he　trolled；　〃Ze　yong　chevalier！〃

〃Then　you　don't　think　of　leaving　to…morrow　morning？〃　asked　Count　Bunker；　who　was　watching　him　with　a　complacent　air。

〃Mein　Gott；　no　fears！〃

〃We　had　better　wait；　perhaps；　till　the　afternoon？〃

〃I　go　not　for　tree　veeks！　　Gaben　siedas　ist；　gim'me　zat　tombler。　　Vun　more　of　mountain　juice　to　ze　health　of　all　Galloshes！　　Partic'ly　of　vun！　　Eh；　old　Bonker？〃

The　Count　took　care　to　see　that　the　mountain　juice　was　well　diluted。　　His　friend　had　already　found　Scottish　hospitality　difficult　to　enjoy　in　moderation。

〃Baron；　you　gave　us　a　marvellously　lifelike　representation　of　a　Jacobite　chieftain！〃

The　Baron　laughed　a　trifle　vacantly。

〃Ach；　it　is　easy　for　me。　　Himmel；　a　Blitzenberg　should　know　how！　　VollytoddleToddyvollywhatsh　my　name；　Bonker？〃

The　Count　informed　him。

〃Tollivoddlesh　is　nozing　to　vat　I　am　at　home！　　Abs'lutely　nozing！　　I　have　a　house　twice　as　big　as　zis；　and　servantsAch；　so　many　I　know　not！　　Bot；　mein　Bonker；　it　is　not　soch　fon　as　zis！　　Mein　Gott；　I　most　get　to　bed。　　I　toss　ze　caber　to…morrow。〃

And　upon　the　arm　of　his　faithful　ally　he　moved　cautiously　towards　his　bedroom。

But　if　he　had　enjoyed　his　evening　well；　his　pleasure　was　nothing　to　the　gratification　of　his　hosts。　　They　could　not　bring　themselves　to　break　up　their　party　for　the　night：　there　were　so　many　delightful　reminiscences　to　discuss。

〃Of　all　the　evenings　ever　I　spent；〃　declared　Mr。　Gallosh；　〃this　fair　takes　the　cake。　　Just　to　think　of　that　aristocratic　young　fellow　being　as　companionable…　like！　　When　first　I　put　eyes　on　him；　I　said　to　myself　'You're　not　for　the　likes　of　us。　　All　lords　and　ladies　is　your　kind。　　Never　a　word　did　he　say　in　the　boat　till　he　heard　the　pipes　play；　and　then　I　really　thought　he　was　frightened！　　It　must　just　have　been　a　kind　of　home…sickness　or　something。〃

〃It'll　have　been　the　tuning　up　that　set　his　teeth　on　edge；〃　Mrs。　Gallosh　suggested　practically。

〃Or　perhaps　his　heart　was　stirred　with　thoughts　of　the　past！〃　said　Miss　Gallosh；　her　eyes　brightening。

In　any　case；　all　were　agreed　that　the　development　of　his　hereditary　instincts　had　been