a ward of the golden gate(金门一区)-第24节
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〃Tell him；〃 said Pendleton； in scathing tones； to some invisible
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interpreter；〃tell； him； sir； that a more infamous caricature of the blankest
caricature that ever maligned a free people； sir； I never before had the
honor of witnessing。 Tell him that I； sirI； Harry Pendleton； of Kentucky；
a Southerner； siran old slaveholder； sir； declare it to be a tissue of
falsehoods unworthy the credence of a Christian civilization like this
unworthy the attention of the distinguished ladies and gentlemen that are
gathered here to…night。 Tell him； sir； he has been imposed upon。 Tell him I
am responsiblegive him my card and addresspersonally responsible for
what I say。 If he wants proofsblank it all！ tell him you yourself have
been a slaveMY slave； sir！ Take off your hat； sir！ Ask him to look at you…
…ask him if he thinks you ever looked or could look like that lop…eared；
psalm…singing； white…headed hypocrite on the stage！ Ask him； sir； if he
thinks that blank ringmaster they call St。 Clair looks like ME！〃
At this astounding exordium Paul eagerly pressed forward and entered
the bureau。 There certainly was Colonel Pendleton； in spotless evening
dress； erect； flashing； and indignant； his aquiline nose lifted like a hawk's
beak over his quarry； his iron… gray moustache； now white and waxed；
parted like a swallow's tail over his handsome mouth； and between him
and the astounded 〃Direction〃 stood the apparition of the AlleeGeorge！
There was no mistaking him now。 What Paul had thought was a curled wig
or powder was the old negro's own white knotted wool； and the astounding
livery he wore was carried off as no one but George could carry it。
But he was still more amazed when the old servant； in a German as
exaggerated； as incoherent； but still as fluent and persuasive as his own
native speech； began an extravagant but perfectly dignified and diplomatic
translation of his master's protests。 Where and when； by what instinct； he
had assimilated and made his own the grotesque inversions and ponderous
sentimentalities of Teutonic phrasing； Paul could not guess； but it was with
breathless wonder that he presently became aware that； so perfect and
convincing was the old man's style and deportment； not only the simple
officials but even the bystanders were profoundly impressed by this
farrago of absurdity。 A happy word here and there； the full title and rank
given； even with a slight exaggeration； to each individual； brought a deep
and guttural 〃So！〃 from lips that would have found it difficult to repeat a
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line of his ceremonious idiocy。
In their preoccupation neither the colonel nor George had perceived
Paul's entrance； but； as the old servant turned with magnificent courtesy
towards the bystanders； his eyes fell upon Paul。 A flash of surprise；
triumph； and satisfaction lit up his rolling eyes。 Paul instantly knew that he
not only recognized him； but that he had already heard of and thoroughly
appreciated a certain distinguished position that Paul had lately held； and
was quick to apply it。 Intensifying for a moment the grandiloquence of his
manner； he called upon his master's most distinguished and happily arrived
old friend； the Lord Lieutenant Governor of the Golden Californias； to
corroborate his statement。 Colonel Pendleton started； and grasped Paul's
hand warmly。 Paul turned to the already half…mollified Director with the
diplomatic suggestion that the vivid and realistic acting of the admirable
company which he himself had witnessed had perhaps unduly excited his
old friend； even as it had undoubtedly thrown into greater relief the usual
exaggerations of dramatic representation； and the incident terminated with
a profusion of apologies； and the most cordial expressions of international
good feeling on both sides。
Yet； as they turned away from the theatre together； Paul could not help
noticing that； although the colonel's first greeting had been spontaneous
and unaffected； it was succeeded by an uneasy reserve。 Paul made no
attempt to break it； and confined himself to a few general inquiries； ending
by inviting the colonel to sup with him at the hotel。 Pendleton hesitated。
〃At any other time； Mr。 Hathaway； I should have insisted upon you； as the
stranger； supping with me； but since the absence ofofthe rest of my
partyI have given up my suite of rooms at the Bad Hof； and have taken
smaller lodgings for myself and the boy at the Schwartze Adler。 Miss
Woods and Miss Arguello have accepted an invitation to spend a few days
at the villa of the Baron and Baroness von Schilprechtan hour or two
from here。〃 He lingered over the title with an odd mingling of
impressiveness and inquiry； and glanced at Paul。 But Hathaway exhibiting
neither emotion nor surprise at the mention of Yerba's name or the title of
her host； he continued； 〃Miss Arguello； I suppose you know； is immensely
admired： she has been； sir； the acknowledged belle of Strudle Bad。〃
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〃I can readily believe it；〃 said Paul； simply。
〃And has taken the positionthe position； sir； to which she is entitled。〃
Without appearing to notice the slight challenge in Pendleton's tone；
Paul returned； 〃I am glad to hear it。 The more particularly as； I believe； the
Germans are great sticklers for position and pedigree。〃
〃You are right； sirquite right： they are；〃 said the colonel； proudly
〃although〃with a certain premeditated deliberation〃I have been
credibly informed that the King can； in certain cases； if he chooses；
supplyyes； sirSUPPLY a favored person with ancestorsyes； sir； with
ANCESTORS！〃
Paul cast a quick glance at his companion。
〃Yes； sirthat is； we will say； in the case of a lady of inferior rankor
even birth； the King of these parts can； on her marriage with a nobleman
blank it all！ennoble her father and mother； and their fathers and mothers；
though they've been dead； or as good as dead； for years。〃
〃I am afraid that's a slight exaggeration of the rare custom of granting
'noble lands；' or estates that carry hereditary titles with them；〃 said Paul；
more emphatically； perhaps； than the occasion demanded。
〃Fact； sirGeorge there knows it all；〃 said Pendleton。 〃He gets it from
the other servants。 I don't speak the language； sir； but HE does。 Picked it
up in a year。〃
〃I must compliment him on his fluency； certainly；〃 said Paul； looking
at George。
The old servant smiled； and not without a certain condescension。 〃Yes；
sah； I don' say to a scholar like yo'self； sah； dat I'se got de grandmatical
presichion； but as fah； sahas fah as de IDIOTISMS ob de language goes。
Sahit's gen'lly allowed I'm dar！ As to what Marse Harry says ob de
ignobling ob predecessors； I've had it； sah； from de best autority； sahde
furst； I may say； sahde real prima facie mende gemplum ob his Serene
Highness； in de korse eb ordinary conversashun； sah。〃
〃That'll do； George；〃 said Pendleton； with paternal brusqueness。 〃Run
on ahead and tell that blank chamberlain that Mr。 Hathaway is one of my
friendsand have supper accordingly。〃 As the negro hastened away he
turned to Paul： 〃What he says is true： he's the most popular man or boy in
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all Strudle Bada devilish sight more than his masterand goes anywhere
where I can't go。 Princes and princesses stop and talk to him in the street；
the Grand Duke asked permission to have him up in his carriage at the
races the other day； and； by the Eternal； sir； he gives the style to all the
flunkeys in town！〃
〃And I see； he dresses the character；〃 observed Paul。
〃His own ideaentirely。 And； by Jove！ he proves to be right。 You can't
do anything here without a uniform。 And they tell me he's got everything
correct； down to the crest on
