his own people-第3节

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his　horses　to　a　walk。

〃You　speak　Italian？〃　she　inquired。

〃Oh；　not　a　great　deal　more　than　a　smattering；〃　he　replied　airily
a　truthful　answer；　inasmuch　as　a　vocabulary　consisting　simply
of　~〃quanty　costy〃~　and　~〃troppo〃~　cannot　be　seriously　considered
much　more　than　a　smattering。　　Fortunately　she　made　no　test　of　his
linguistic　attainment；　but　returned　to　her　former　subject。

〃Ah；　yes；　all　the　worl'　to…day　know'　the　new　class　of　American；〃
she　said〃~your~　class。　　Many　year'　ago　we　have　another　class　which
Europe　didn'　like。　　That　was　when　the　American　was　ter…ri…ble！
He　was　thewhat　is　that　you　call？oh；　yes；　he　'make　himself；'
you　say：　that　is　it。　　My　frien'；　he　was　abominable！　　He　brag'；　he
talk'　through　the　nose；　yes；　and　he　was　niggardly；　rich　as　he　was！
But　you；　you　yo'ng　men　of　the　new　generation；　you　are　gentlemen　of
the　idleness；　you　are　aristocrats；　with　polish　an'　with　culture。
An'　yet　you　throw　your　money　awayyes；　you　throw　it　to　poor　Europe
as　if　to　a　beggar！〃

〃No；　no；〃　he　protested　with　an　indulgent　laugh　which　confessed　that
the　truth　was　really　〃Yes；　yes。〃

〃Your　smile　betray'　you！〃　she　cried　triumphantly。　　〃More　than　jus'
bein'　guilty　of　that　fault；　I　am　goin'　to　tell　you　of　others。　　You
are　not　the　ole…timewhat　is　it　you　say？Ah；　yes；　the　'goody…
goody。'　　I　have　heard　my　great　American　frien'；　Honor…able　Chanlair
Pedlow；　call　it　the　Sonday…school。　　Is　it　not？　　Yes；　you　are　not
the　Sonday…school　yo'ng　men；　you　an'　your　class！〃

〃No；〃　he　said；　bestowing　a　long　glance　upon　a　stout　nurse　who　was
sitting　on　a　bench　near　the　drive　and　attending　to　twins　in　a
perambulator。　　〃No；　we're　not　exactly　dissenting　parsons。〃

〃Ah；　no！〃　　She　shook　her　head　at　him　prettily。　　〃You　are　wicked！
You　are　up　into　all　the　mischief！　　Have　I　not　hear　what　wild　sums
you　risk　at　your　game；　that　poker？　　You　are　famous　for　it。〃

〃Oh；　we　play；〃　he　admitted　with　a　reckless　laugh；　〃and　I　suppose　we
do　play　rather　high。〃

〃High！〃　she　echoed。　　〃~Souzands！~　　But　that　is　not　all。　　Ha；　ha；　ha；
naughty　one！　　Have　I　not　observe'　you　lookin'　at　these　pretty
creature'；　the　little　contadina…girl；　an'　the　poor　ladies　who　have
hire'　their　carriages　for　two　lire　to　drive　up　and　down　the　Pincio
in　their　bes'　dress　an'　be　admire'　by　the　yo'ng　American　while　the
music　play'？　　Which　one　I　wonder；　is　it　on　whose　wrist　you　would
mos'　like　to　fasten　a　bracelet　of　diamon's？　　Wicked；　I　have　watch'
you　look　at　them…？

〃No；　no；〃　he　interrupted　earnestly。　　〃I　have　not　once　looked　away
from　you；　I　~could　n't~。〃　　Their　eyes　met；　but　instantly　hers　were
lowered；　the　bright　smile　with　which　she　had　been　rallying　him
faded　and　there　was　a　pause　during　which　he　felt　that　she　had　become
very　grave。　　When　she　spoke；　it　was　with　a　little　quaver；　and　the
controlled　pathos　of　her　voice　was　so　intense　that　it　evoked　a
sympathetic　catch　in　his　own　throat。

〃But；　my　frien'；　if　it　should　be　that　I　cannot　wish　you　to　look　so
at　me；　or　to　speak　so　to　me？〃

〃I　beg　your　pardon！〃　he　exclaimed；　almost　incoherently。　　〃I　didn't
mean　to　hurt　your　feelings。　　I　wouldn't　do　anything　you'd　think
ungentlemanly　for　the　world！〃

Her　eyes　lifted　again　to　his　with　what　he　had　no　difficulty　in
recognizing　as　a　look　of　perfect　trust；　but；　behind　that；　he
perceived　a　darkling　sadness。

〃I　know　it　is　true；〃　she　murmured　〃I　know。　　But　you　see　there　are
time'　when　a　woman　has　sorrowsorrow　of　one　kindwhen　she　mus'　be
sure　that　there　is　onlyonly　rispec'　in　the　hearts　of　her　frien's。〃

With　that；　the　intended　revelation　was　complete；　and　the　young　man
understood；　as　clearly　as　if　she　had　told　him　in　so　many　words；
that　she　was　not　a　widow　and　that　her　husband　was　the　cause　of　her
sorrow。　　His　quickened　instinct　marvelously　divined　（or　else　it　was
conveyed　to　him　by　some　intangible　method　of　hers）　that　the　Count
de　Vaurigard　was　a　very　bad　case；　but　that　she　would　not　divorce
him。

〃I　know；〃　he　answered；　profoundly　touched。　　〃I　understand。〃

In　silent　gratitude　she　laid　her　hand　for　a　second　upon　his　sleeve。
Then　her　face　brightened；　and　she　said　gayly：

〃But　we　shall　not　talk　of　~me！~　　Let　us　see　how　we　can　keep　you　out
of　mischief　at　leas'　for　a　little　while。　　I　know　very　well　what　you
will　do　to…night：　　you　will　go　to　Salone　Margherita　an'　sit　in　a　box
like　all　the　wicked　Americans〃

〃No；　indeed；　I　shall　not！〃

〃Ah；　yes；　you　will！〃　she　laughed。　　〃But　until　dinner　let　me　keep
you　from　wickedness。　　Come　to　tea　jus'　wiz　me；　not　at　the　hotel；
but　at　the　little　apartment　I　have　taken；　where　it　is　quiet。　　The
music　is　finish'；　an'　all　those　pretty　girl'　are　goin'　away；　you
see。　　I　am　not　selfish　if　I　take　you　from　the　Pincio　now。　　You
will　come？





III。　　Glamour

It　was　some　fair　dream　that　would　be　gone　too　soon；　he　told　himself；
as　they　drove　rapidly　through　the　twilight　streets；　down　from　the
Pincio　and　up　the　long　slope　of　the　Quirinal。　　They　came　to　a　stop
in　the　gray　courtyard　of　a　palazzo；　and　ascended　in　a　sleepy
elevator　to　the　fifth　floor。　　Emerging；　they　encountered　a　tall　man
who　was　turning　away　from　the　Countess'　door；　which　he　had　just
closed。　　The　landing　was　not　lighted；　and　for　a　moment　he　failed
to　see　the　American　following　Madame　de　Vaurigard。

〃Eow；　it's　you；　is　it；〃　he　said　informally。　　〃Waitin'　a　devil　of　a
long　time　for　you。　　I've　gawt　a　message　for　you。　　~He's~　comin'。
He　writes　that　Cooley〃

~〃Attention！〃~　she　interrupted　under　her　breath；　and；　stepping
forward　quickly；　touched　the　bell。　　〃I　have　brought　a　frien'　of　our
dear；　droll　Cooley　with　me　to　tea。　　Monsieur　Mellin；　you　mus'　make
acquaintance　with　Monsieur　Sneyd。　　He　is　English；　but　we　shall
forgive　him　because　he　is　a　such　ole　frien'　of　mine。〃

〃Ah；　yes；〃　said　Mellin。　　〃Remember　seeing　you　on　the　boat；　running
across　the　pond。〃

〃Yes；　ev　coss；〃　responded　Mr。　Sneyd　cordially。　　〃I　wawsn't　so
fawchnit　as　to　meet　you；　but　dyuh　eold　Cooley's　talked　ev　you
often。　　Heop　I　sh'll　see　maw　of　you　hyuh。〃

A　very　trim；　very　intelligent…looking　maid　opened　the　door；　and
the　two　men　followed　Madame　de　Vaurigard　into　a　square　hall；　hung
with　tapestries　and　lit　by　two　candles　of　a　Brobdingnagian　species
Mellin　had　heretofore　seen　only　in　cathedrals。　　Here　Mr。　Sneyd
paused。


〃I　weon't　be　bawthring　you；〃　he　said。　　〃Just　a　wad　with　you；
Cantess；　and　I'm　off。〃

The　intelligent…looking　maid　drew　back　some　heavy　curtains　leading
to　a　salon　beyond　the　hall；　and　her　mistress　smiled　brightly　at
Mellin。

〃I　shall　keep　him　to　jus'　his　one　word；〃　she　said；　as　the　young
man　passed　between　the　curtains。

It　was　a　nobly　proportioned　room　that　he　entered；　so　large　that；
in　spite　of　the　amount　of　old　furniture　it　contained；　the　first
impression　it　gave　was　one　of　spaciousness。　　Panels　of　carved　and
blackened　wood　lined　the　walls　higher　than　his　head；　above　them；
Spanish　leather　gleamed　here　and　there　with　flickerings　of　red　and
gilt；　reflecting　dimly　a　small　but　brisk　wood　fire　which　crackled
in　a　carved　stone　fireplace。　　His　feet　slipped　on　the　floor　of
polished　tiles　and　wandered　from　silky　rugs　to　lose　themselves　in
great　black　bear　skins　as　in　unmown　sward。　　He　went　from　the
portrait　of　a　〃cinquecento〃　cardinal　to　a　splendid　tryptich　set
over　a　Gothic　chest；　from　a　cabinet　sheltering　a　collection　of　old
glass　to　an　Annunciation　by　an　unknown　Primitive。　　He　told　himself
that　this　was　a　〃room　in　a　book；〃　and　became　dreamily　assured　that
he　was　a　man　in　a　book。　　Finally　he　stumbled　upon　something　almost
grotesquely　out　of　place：　　a　large；　new；　perfectly…appointed　card…
table　with　a　sliding　top；　a　smooth；　thick；　green　cover　and　patent
compartments。

He　halted　before　this　incongruity；　regarding　it　with　astonishment。
Then　a　light　laugh　rippled　behind　him；　and　he　turned　to　find　Madame
de　Vaurigard　seated　in　a　big　red　Venetian　chair　by　the　fire。

She　wore　a　black　lace　dress；　almost　severe　in　fashion；　which
gracefully　emphasized　her　slenderness；　and　she　sat　with　her　knees
crossed；　the　firelight　twinkling　on　the　beads　of　her　slipper；
on　her　silken　instep；　and　flashing　again　from　the　rings　upon　the
slender　fingers　she　had　clasped　about　her　knee。

She　had　lit　a　thin；　long　Russian　cigarette。

〃You　see？〃　she　laughed。　　〃I　mus'　keep　up　with　the　time。　　I　mus'　do
somesing　to　hold　my　frien's　about　me。　　Even　the　ladies　like　to　play
nowthat　breedge　w'ich　is　so　tiresomethey　play；　play；　play！
And　youyou　Americans；　you　refuse　to　endure　us　if　we　do　not　let
you　play。　　So　for　my　frien's　when　they　come　to　my　houseif　they
wish　it；　there　is　that　foolish　little　table。　　I　fear〃she　concluded
with　a　bewitching　affectation　of　sadness〃they　prefer　that　to
talkin'　wiz　me。〃

〃You　know　that　couldn't　be　so；　~Comtesse~；〃　he　said。　　〃I　would
rather　talk　to　you　thanthan〃

〃Ah；　yes；　you　say　so；　Monsieur！〃　　She　looked　at　him　gravely；　a
little　sigh　seemed　to　breathe　upon　her　lips；　she　leaned　forward
nearer　the　fire；　her　face　wistful　in　the　thin；　rosy　light；　and　it
seemed　to　him　he　had　never　seen　anything　so　beautiful　in　his　life。

He　came　across　to　her　and　sat　upon　a　stool　at　her　feet。　　〃On　my
soul；〃　he　began　huskily；　〃I　swear〃

She　laid　her　finger　on　her　lips；　shaking　her　head　gently；　and　he
was　silent；　while　the　intel