his own people-第6节

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of　Great　Britain；　in　Comtesse　de　Vaurigard's　salon。。。〃　　〃An　English
peeress　of　pronounced　literary　acumen　has　been　giving　me　rather
confidentially　her　opinion　of　our　American　poets。。。〃

The　inspiration　of　these　promising　fragments　was　a　large；　weary…
looking　person；　with　no　lack　of　powdered　shoulder　above　her　pink
bodice　and　a　profusion　of　〃undulated〃　hair　of　so　decided　a　blond
that　it　might　have　been　suspected　that　the　decision　had　lain　with
the　lady　herself。

〃Howjdo；〃　she　said　languidly；　when　Mellin's　name　was　pronounced　to
her。　　〃There's　a　man　behind　you　tryin'　to　give　you　something　to
drink。〃

〃Who　was　it　said　these　were　Martinis？〃　snorted　Pedlow。　　〃They've
got　perfumery　in　'em。〃

〃Ah；　what　a　bad　lion　it　is！〃　Madame　de　Vaurigard　lifted　both　hands
in　mock　horror。　　〃Roar；　lion；　roar！〃　she　cried。　　〃An'　think　of　the
emotion　of　our　good　Cavaliere　Corni；　who　have　come　an　hour　early
jus'　to　make　them　for　us！　　I　ask　Monsieur　Mellin　if　it　is　not　good。〃

〃And　I'll　leave　it　to　Cooley；〃　said　Pedlow。　〃If　he　can　drink　all　of
his　I'll　eat　crow！〃

Thus　challenged；　the　two　young　men　smilingly　accepted　glasses　from
the　waiter；　and　lifted　them　on　high。

〃Same　toast；〃　said　Cooley。　　〃Queen！〃

~〃A　la　belle　Marquise！〃~

Gallantly　they　drained　the　glasses　at　a　gulp；　　and　Madame　de
Vaurigard　clapped　her　hands。

〃Bravo！〃　she　cried。　　〃You　see？　　Corni　and　I；　we　win。〃

〃Look　at　their　faces！〃　said　Mr。　Pedlow；　tactlessly　drawing　attention
to　what　was；　for　the　moment；　an　undeniably　painful　sight。　　〃Don't
tell　me　an　Italian　knows　how　to　make　a　good　Martini！〃

Mellin　profoundly　agreed；　but；　as　he　joined　the　small　procession　to
the　Countess'　dinner…table；　he　was　certain　that　an　Italian　at　least
knew　how　to　make　a　strong　one。

The　light　in　the　dining…room　was　provided　by　six　heavily…shaded
candles　on　the　table；　the　latter　decorated　with　delicate　lines
of　orchids。　　The　chairs　were　large　and　comfortable；　covered　with
tapestry；　the　glass　was　old　Venetian；　and　the　servants；　moving
like　useful　ghosts　in　the　shadow　outside　the　circle　of　mellow　light；
were　particularly　efficient　in　the　matter　of　keeping　the　wine…
glasses　full。　　Madame　de　Vaurigard　had　put　Pedlow　on　her　right；
Cooley　on　her　left；　with　Mellin　directly　opposite　her；　next　to　Lady
Mount…Rhyswicke。　　Mellin　was　pleased；　because　he　thought　he　would
have　the　Countess's　face　toward　him。　　Anything　would　have　pleased
him　just　then。

〃This　is　the　kind　of　table　~everybody~　ought　to　have；〃　he　observed
to　the　party　in　general；　as　he　finished　his　first　glass　of　champagne。
〃I'm　going　to　have　it　like　this　at　my　place　in　the　Statesif　I　ever
decide　to　go　back。　　I'll　have　six　separate　candlesticks　like　this；
not　a　candelabrum；　and　that　will　be　the　only　light　in　the　room。　　And
I'll　never　have　anything　but　orchids　on　my　table〃

〃For　my　part；〃　Lady　Mount…Rhyswicke　interrupted　in　the　loud；　tired
monotone　which　seemed　to　be　her　only　manner　of　speaking；　〃I　like
more　light。　　I　like　all　the　light　that's　goin'。〃

〃If　Lady　Mount…Rhyswicke　sat　at　~my~　table；〃　returned　Mellin
dashingly；　〃I　should　wish　all　the　light　in　the　world　to　shine　upon
so　happy　an　event。〃

〃Hear　the　man！〃　she　drawled。　　〃He's　proposing　to　me。　　Thinks　I'm
a　widow。〃

There　was　a　chorus　of　laughter；　over　which　rose　the　bellow　of　Mr。
Pedlow。

〃'He's　game！'　she　saysand　~ain't~　he？〃

Across　the　table　Madame　de　Vaurigard's　eyes　met　Mellin's　with　a
mocking　intelligence　so　complete　that　he　caught　her　message　without
need　of　the　words　she　noiselessly　formed　with　her　lips：　　〃I　tol'　you
you　would　be　making　love　to　her！〃

He　laughed　joyously　in　answer。　　Why　shouldn't　he　flirt　with　Lady
Mount…Rhyswicke？　　He　was　thoroughly　happy；　his　Helene；　his　~belle
Marquise~；　sat　across　the　table　from　him　sending　messages　to　him
with　her　eyes。　　He　adored　her；　but　he　liked　Lady　Mount…Rhyswicke
…梙e　liked　everybody　and　everything　in　the　world。　He　liked　Pedlow
particularly；　and　it　no　longer　troubled　him　that　the　fat　man　should
be　a　friend　of　Madame　de　Vaurigard。　　Pedlow　was　a　〃character〃　and
a　wit　as　well。　　Mellin　laughed　heartily　at　everything　the　Honorable
Chandler　Pedlow　said。

〃This　is　life；〃　remarked　the　young　man　to　his　fair　neighbor。

〃What　is？　　Sittin'　round　a　table；　eatin'　and　drinkin'？〃

〃Ah；　lovely　skeptic！〃　She　looked　at　him　strangely；　but　he　continued
with　growing　enthusiasm：　　〃I　mean　to　sit　at　such　a　table　as　this；
with　such　a　chef；　with　such　winesto　know　one　crowded　hour　like
this　is　to　live！　　Not　a　thing　is　missing；　all　this　swagger　furniture；
the　rich　atmosphere　of　smartness　about　the　whole　place；　best　of　all；
the　company。　　It's　a　great　thing　to　have　the　~real~　people　around
you；　the　right　sort；　you　know；　socially；　people　you'd　ask　to　your
own　table　at　home。　　There　are　only　seven；　but　every　one　~distingue~；
every　one〃

She　leaned　both　elbows　on　the　table　with　her　hands　palm　to　palm；
and；　resting　her　cheek　against　the　back　of　her　left　hand；　looked
at　him　steadily。

〃And　youare　you　distinguished；　too？〃

〃Oh；　I　wouldn't　be　much　known　over　~here~；〃　he　said　modestly。

〃Do　you　write　poetry？〃

〃Oh；　not　professionally；　though　it　is　published。　　I　suppose〃he
sipped　his　champagne　with　his　head　a　little　to　one　side　as　though
judging　its　quality〃I　suppose　I　've　been　more　or　less　a　dilettante。
I've　knocked　about　the　world　a　good　bit。〃

〃Helene　says　you're　one　of　these　leisure　American　billionaires　like
Mr。　Cooley　there；〃　she　said　in　her　tired　voice。

〃Oh；　none　of　us　are　really　quite　billionaires。〃　　He　laughed
deprecatingly。

〃No；　I　suppose　not？not　really。　　Go　on　and　tell　me　some　more　about
life　and　this　distinguished　company。〃

〃Hey；　folks！〃　Mr。　Pedlow's　roar　broke　in　upon　this　dialogue。
〃You　two　are　gittin'　mighty　thick　over　there。　　We're　drinking　a
toast；　and　you'll　have　to　break　away　long　enough　to　join　in。〃

〃Queen！　　That's　what　she　is！〃　shouted　Cooley。

Mellin　lifted　his　glass　with　the　others　and　drank　to　Madame　de
Vaurigard；　but　the　woman　at　his　side　did　not　change　her　attitude
and　continued　to　sit　with　her　elbows　on　the　table；　her　cheek　on
the　back　of　her　hand；　watching　him　thoughtfully。





VI。　　Rake's　Progress

Many　toasts　were　uproariously　honored；　the　health　of　each　member
of　the　party　in　turn；　then　the　country　of　each：　　France　and　England
first；　out　of　courtesy　to　the　ladies；　Italy　next；　since　this
beautiful　and　extraordinary　meeting　of　distinguished　people　（as
Mellin　remarked　in　a　short　speech　he　felt　called　upon　to　make）　took
place　in　that　wonderful　land；　then　the　United　States。　　This　last
toast　the　gentlemen　felt　it　necessary　to　honor　by　standing　in　their
chairs。

＇~Song：　　The　Star…Spangled　Bannerwithout　wordsby　Mr。　Cooley　and
chorus。~＇

When　the　cigars　were　brought；　the　ladies　graciously　remained；　adding
tiny　spirals　of　smoke　from　their　cigarettes　to　the　layers　of　blue
haze　which　soon　overhung　the　table。　　Through　this　haze；　in　the
gentle　light　（which　seemed　to　grow　softer　and　softer）　Mellin　saw　the
face　of　Helene　de　Vaurigard；　luminous　as　an　angel's。　　She　~was~　an
angeland　the　others　were　gods。　　What　could　be　more　appropriate　in
Rome？　　Lady　Mount…Rhyswicke　was　Juno；　but　more　beautiful。　　For
himself；　he　felt　like　a　god　too；　Olympic　in　serenity。

He　longed　for　mysterious　dangers。　　How　debonair　he　would　stroll
among　them！　　He　wished　to　explore　the　unknown；　felt　the　need　of　a
splendid　adventure；　and　had　a　happy　premonition　that　one　was　coming
nearer　and　nearer。　　He　favored　himself　with　a　hopeful　vision　of　the
apartment　on　fire；　Robert　Russ　Mellin　smiling　negligently　among　the
flames　and　Madame　de　Vaurigard　kneeling　before　him　in　adoration。
Immersed　in　delight；　he　puffed　his　cigar　and　let　his　eyes　rest
dreamily　upon　the　face　of　Helene。　He　was　quite　undisturbed　by　an
argument；　more　a　commotion　than　a　debate；　between　Mr。　Pedlow　and
young　Cooley。　　It　ended　by　their　rising；　the　latter　overturning　a
chair　in　his　haste。

〃I　don't　know　the　rudiments；　don't　I！〃　cried　the　boy。　　〃You　wait！
Ole　Sneydie　and　I'II　trim　you　down！　　Corni　says　he'll　play；　too。
Come　on；　Mellin。〃

〃I　won't　go　unless　Helene　goes；〃　said　Mellin。　　〃What　are　you　going
to　do　when　you　get　there？〃

〃Alas；　my　frien'！〃　exclaimed　Madame　de　Vaurigard；　rising；　〃is　it
not　what　I　tol'　you？　　Always　you　are　never　content　wizout　your　play。
You　come　to　dinner　an'　when　it　is　finish'　you　play；　play；　play！〃

〃~Play~？〃　　He　sprang　to　his　feet。　　〃Bravo！　　That's　the　very　thing
I've　been　wanting　to　do。　　I　knew　there　was　something　I　wanted　to　do；
but　I　couldn't　think　what　it　was。〃

Lady　Mount…Rhyswicke　followed　the　others　into　the　salon；　but　Madame
de　Vaurigard　waited　just　inside　the　doorway　for　Mellin。

〃~High~　play！〃　he　cried。　　〃We　must　play　high！　　I　won't　play　any
other　way。I　want　to　play　~high~！〃

〃Ah；　wicked　one！　　What　did　I　tell　you？〃

He　caught　her　hand。　　〃And　you　must　play　too；　Helene。〃

〃No；　no；〃　she　laughed　breathlessly。

〃Then　you'll　watch。　　Promise　you'll　watch　me。　　I　won't　let　you　go
till　you　promise　to　watch　me。〃

〃I　shall　adore　it；　my　frien'！〃

〃Mellin；〃　called　Cooley　from　the　other　room。　　〃You　comin'　or　not？〃

〃Can't　you　see　me？〃　answered　Mellin　hilariously；　entering　with
Madame　de　Vaurigard；　who　was　rosy　with　laughter。