tommy and co[1].(托米和科)-第30节
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in the language of the prompt…book； 〃left struggling。〃 The Briefless
one； entering the smoking…room； lifted a chair and let it fall again with a
crash； and sitting down upon it； crossed his legs and rang the bell。
〃Ye're doing it verra weel；〃 remarked approvingly the Wee Laddie。
〃Ye're just fitted for it by nature。〃
〃Fitted for what？〃 demanded the Briefless one； waking up apparently
from a dream。
〃For an Adelphi guest at eighteenpence the night；〃 assured him the
Wee Laddie。 〃Ye're just splendid at it。〃
The Briefless one； muttering that the worst of mixing with
journalists was that if you did not watch yourself； you fell into their
ways； drank his whisky in silence。 Later； the Babe swore on a copy of
Sell's Advertising Guide that； crossing the Park； he had seen the
Briefless one leaning over the railings of Rotten Row； clad in a pair of
new kid gloves； swinging a silver…headed cane。
One morning towards the end of the week； Joseph Loveredge； looking
twenty years younger than when Peter had last seen him； dropped in at
the editorial office of Good Humour and demanded of Peter Hope how
he felt and what he thought of the present price of Emma Mines。
Peter Hope's fear was that the gambling fever was spreading to all
classes of society。
〃I want you to dine with us on Sunday；〃 said Joseph Loveredge。
〃Jack Herring will be there。 You might bring Tommy with you。〃
Peter Hope gulped down his astonishment and said he should be
delighted； he thought that Tommy also was disengaged。 〃Mrs。
Loveredge out of town； I presume？〃 questioned Peter Hope。
〃On the contrary；〃 replied Joseph Loveredge； 〃I want you to meet
her。〃
Joseph Loveredge removed a pile of books from one chair and placed
them carefully upon another； after which he went and stood before the
fire。
〃Don't if you don't like；〃 said Joseph Loveredge； 〃but if you don't
mind； you might call yourself； just for the eveningsay； the Duke of
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Warrington。〃
〃Say the what？〃 demanded Peter Hope。
〃The Duke of Warrington；〃 repeated Joey。 〃We are rather short of
dukes。 Tommy can be the Lady Adelaide； your daughter。〃
〃Don't be an ass！〃 said Peter Hope。
〃I'm not an ass；〃 assured him Joseph Loveredge。 〃He is wintering
in Egypt。 You have run back for a week to attend to business。 There is
no Lady Adelaide； so that's quite simple。〃
〃But what in the name of〃 began Peter Hope。
〃Don't you see what I'm driving at？〃 persisted Joey。 〃It was Jack's
idea at the beginning。 I was frightened myself at first； but it is working
to perfection。 She sees you； and sees that you are a gentleman。 When
the truth comes outas； of course； it must later onthe laugh will be
against her。〃
〃You thinkyou think that'll comfort her？〃 suggested Peter Hope。
〃It's the only way； and it is really wonderfully simple。 We never
mention the aristocracy nowit would be like talking shop。 We just
enjoy ourselves。 You； by the way； I met in connection with the
movement for rational dress。 You are a bit of a crank； fond of
frequenting Bohemian circles。〃
〃I am risking something； I know；〃 continued Joey； 〃but it's worth it。
I couldn't have existed much longer。 We go slowly； and are very
careful。 Jack is Lord Mount…Primrose； who has taken up with anti…
vaccination and who never goes out into Society。 Somerville is Sir
Francis Baldwin； the great authority on centipedes。 The Wee Laddie is
coming next week as Lord Garrick； who married that dancing…girl；
Prissy Something； and started a furniture shop in Bond Street。 I had
some difficulty at first。 She wanted to send out paragraphs； but I
explained that was only done by vulgar personsthat when the nobility
came to you as friends； it was considered bad taste。 She is a dear girl；
as I have always told you； with only one fault。 A woman easier to
deceive one could not wish for。 I don't myself see why the truth ever
need come out provided we keep our heads。〃
〃Seems to me you've lost them already；〃 commented Peter； 〃you're
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overdoing it。〃
〃The more of us the better；〃 explained Joey； 〃we help each other。
Besides； I particularly want you in it。 There's a sort of superior
Pickwickian atmosphere surrounding you that disarms suspicion。〃
〃You leave me out of it；〃 growled Peter。
〃See here；〃 laughed Joey； 〃you come as the Duke of Warrington； and
bring Tommy with you； and I'll write your City article。〃
〃For how long？〃 snapped Peter。 Incorruptible City editors are not
easily picked up。
〃Oh； well； for as long as you like。〃
〃On that understanding；〃 agreed Peter； 〃I'm willing to make a fool of
myself in your company。〃
〃You'll soon get used to it；〃 Joey told him； 〃eight o'clock； then； on
Sunday； plain evening dress。 If you like to wear a bit of red ribbon in
your buttonhole； why； do so。 You can get it at Evans'； in Covent
Garden。〃
〃And Tommy is the Lady〃
〃Adelaide。 Let her have a taste for literature； then she needn't wear
gloves。 I know she hates them。〃 Joey turned to go。
〃Am I married？〃 asked Peter。
Joey paused。 〃I should avoid all reference to your matrimonial
affairs if I were you；〃 was Joey's advice。 〃You didn't come out of that
business too well。〃
〃Oh！ as bad as that； was I？ You don't think Mrs。 Loveredge will
object to me？〃
〃I have asked her that。 She's a dear； broad…minded girl。 I've
promised not to leave you alone with Miss Montgomery； and Willis has
had instructions not to let you mix your drinks。〃
〃I'd have liked to have been someone a trifle more respectable；〃
grumbled Peter。
〃We rather wanted a duke；〃 explained Joey； 〃and he was the only one
that fitted in all round。〃
The dinner a was a complete success。 Tommy； entering into the
spirit of the thing； bought a new pair of open…work stockings and
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assumed a languid drawl。 Peter； who was growing forgetful；
introduced her as the Lady Alexandra； it did not seem to matter； both
beginning with an A。 She greeted Lord Mount…Primrose as 〃Billy；〃 and
asked affectionately after his mother。 Joey told his raciest stories。
The Duke of Warrington called everybody by their Christian names； and
seemed well acquainted with Bohemian society a more amiable
nobleman it would have been impossible to discover。 The lady whose
real name was not Miss Montgomery sat in speechless admiration。 The
hostess was the personification of gracious devotion。
Other little dinners； equally successful； followed。 Joey's
acquaintanceship appeared to be confined exclusively to the higher
circles of the British aristocracywith one exception： that of a German
baron； a short； stout gentleman； who talked English well； but with an
accent； and who； when he desired to be impressive； laid his right
forefinge
