the fortunes of oliver horn-第73节
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two men in armorrather tired knights by this time； but still on dutyran down the carpeted hall between the lines of palms and up one flight of stairs。 Then came a series of low knocks。 A few minutes later he bounded in again； his rapier in his hand to give his legs freer play。
〃I rapped up Mitchell； who's sick in his studio upstairs； and got his flute；〃 he whispered to Waller。 〃If you think my father can play you should hear Uncle Nat Gill；〃 and he walked toward Nathan； the flute held out toward him。
The old gentleman woke to consciousness at the sight of the instrument； and a slight flush overspread his face。
〃Oh； Oliver！ Really； gentlemenIOf course； I love the instrument； but here among you all〃 and he looked up in a helpless way。
〃No； no； Uncle Nat；〃 cried Oliver； pressing the flute into Nathan's hand。 〃We won't take any excuse。 There is no one in my town； gentlemen；〃 and he faced the others； 〃who can play as he does。 Please； Uncle Natjust for me； it's so long since I heard you play；〃 and he caught hold of Nathan's arm to lift him to his feet。
〃You are quite right； my son；〃 cried Richard； 〃and I will play his accompaniment。〃
Oliver's announcement and Richard's endorsement caused a stir as great as Richard's own performance。 A certain curiosity took possession of the room； quite distinct from the spirit of merriment which had characterized it before。 Many of the men now left their seats and began crowding about the pianored cardinals； cavaliers； nobles； and black…coated guests looking over each other's shoulders。 Everybody was getting more and more mystified。
〃Really； Fred；〃 whispered Waller； who still sat quietly watching the two visitorshe had not taken his eyes from them since Richard in his enthusiasm sprang forward to grasp Simmons's hand；〃this is the most ridiculous thing I ever saw in my life。 First comes this fossil thoroughbred who outplays Simmons； and now comes this old nut…cracker with his white tow…hair sticking out in two straight mops； who is going to play the flute！ What in thunder is coming next？ Pretty soon one of them will be pulling rabbits out of somebody's ears； or rubbing gold watches into canary birds。〃
Nathan took the flute from Oliver's outstretched hand； bowed in a timid way like a school…boy about to speak a piece； turned it over carefully； tried the silver keys to see that they responded easily to the pressure of his fingers； and raised it to his lips。 Richard picked up the violin and whispered to Munson； with whom he had been talkingthe one member who could play the piano as well as he could paint or fencewho nodded his head in assent。
Then； with Richard leading； the fourone of the guests a 'cellist of distinction took Max Unger's placebegan Max's arrangement of the overture to 〃Fidelio〃； the one Richard and Nathan had played so often together in the old parlor in Kennedy Square； with Miss Clendenning and Unger： an arrangement which had now become known to most musical amateurs。
There is not a man yet alive who has forgotten the tones of Nathan's flute as they soared that night through the clouds of tobacco…smoke that filled the great banquet…hall。 Every shade and gradation of tone was a delight。 Now soft as the cooing of doves； now low as the music of a brook rippling over the shallows and again swelling into song like a chorus of birds rejoicing in the coming of spring。
Not until the voice in the slender instrument had become silent and the last note of Richard's bow had ceased reverberatingnot in fact； until both men had laid down their instruments； and had turned from the pianodid the room seem to recover from the spell that had bound it。 Even then there was no applause； no clapping of hands nor stamping of feet。 There followed； from members and guests alike； only a deep； pent…up sigh and a long breath of relief； as if from a strain unbearable。 Simmons； who had sat with his head buried in his hands； gave no other sign of his approval than by rising from his chair； taking Nathan's thin hand in his own and grasping it tightly； without a word。 Stedman blurted out； in a low voice to himself： 〃My God！ Who ever heard anything like that？〃 and remained fixed to his seat。 As for Richard and Nathan； they resumed their places on the divan as men who had read a message not their own to willing ears。
Another； and quite a different mood now took possession of the room。 Somehow the mellow tones of Nathan's flute had silenced the spirit of the rollicking buffoonery which had pervaded the evening。
The black…coated guests； with superlative praise of the good time they had had； and with renewed thanks for the privilege； began to bid Fred； the Master of Ceremonies； good…night。 Soon only the costumed members； with Richard and Nathan； were left。 So far from being tired out with the night's diversion； these two old gentlemen seemed to have just wakened up。
Those remaining drew their chairs together； lighted fresh cigars； and sat down to talk over the events of the evening。 Richard related an anecdote of Macready when playing the part of Hamlet； Stedman told of the graceful manner； in which Booth； a few months before； in the same part； had handed the flageolet to the musicians； and the way the words fell from his lips； 〃You would play upon me 〃； Oliver； addressing his words rather to his father than to the roomacting the scene as he talked； and in his tight… fitting doublet； looking not unlike the tragedian himself； cut in with a description of the great tragedian's first night at the Winter Garden after his seclusion a night when the whole house rose to greet their favorite and cheered and roared and pounded everything within reach of their hands and feet for twenty minutes； while Booth stood with trembling knees； the tears rolling down his cheeks。 Munson remarked with some feelinghe was an intimate friend of the actorthat he remembered the night perfectly； having sat behind Oliver； and that Booth was not only the most accomplished actor but the best swordsman ever seen on the American or any other stage。 Munson was an expert fencer himself； as was evidenced by the scar on his left cheek； received when be was a student at Heidelberg； and so thought himself competent to judge。
While Munson was speaking the great Waller had risen from his seat for the first time； gathered his gorgeous raiment closer about him； crossed the room； and now stood filling a thin glass from a Venetian flagon that graced the demoralized table。
〃Booth's a swordsman； is he？〃 he said； pushing back his turban from his forehead； and walking toward Munson； glass in hand； his baggy trousers and tunic making him look twice his regular size。 〃You know as much about fencing； Munson； as you do about the lost tribes of Israel。 Booth handles his foil as a policeman does a rattan cane in the pit of the Bowery。 Forrest is the only man in this country who can handle a blade。〃
〃I do； do I？〃 cried Munson； springing to his feet and unhooking a pair of foils decorating the wall。 〃Stop where you are； you caricature of Nana Sahib； or I'll run you through the body and pin you to the wall like a beetle； where you can kick to your heart's content。 Here； catch this；〃 and he tossed one of the foils to Waller。
〃A ring！ A ring！〃 cried the men； with one of those sudden inspirations that often swept over them； jumping from their seats and pushing back the chairs and music…racks to give the contestants room。
Waller laid down his wine…glass； slipped off his turban and gold embroidered tunic with great deliberation； threw them over to Oliver； who caught them in his arms； tightened his sash； grasped the foil in his fat hand； and with great gravity made a savage lunge at the counterfeit presentment of William Shakespeare； who parried his blow without moving from where he stood。 Thereupon the lithe； well…built young fellow teetered his foil in the air； and with great nicety pinked his fat antagonist in the stomach； selecting a gilt band just above his sash as the point of contact。
A mock battle now ensued； Munson chasing Waller about the room； the； members roaring with laughter； Richard； with Oliver's assistance； having mounted the divan to see the better； clapping his hands like any boy and shouting； 〃Bravo！ Bravo！ Now the uppercut； now the thrust！ Ah； well done。 Capital！ Capital！〃
Oliver listened in wonder to the strange expressions that dropped from his father's lips。 Up to that moment he had never known that the old gentleman had ever touched a foil in his life。
The next instant Richard was on the floor again； commiserating with Waller； who was out of Munson's reach and out of breath with laughter； and congratulating Munson on his skill as a swordsman。
〃I only noticed one flaw； my dear Mr。 Munson； in your handling；〃 he cried； with a graceful wave of the hand； 〃and that may be due to your more modern way of fencing。 Pardon me〃and he picked up Waller's foil where he had dropped it； and the fine wrist with the nimble fingers； that had served him so well all his days； closed over the handle of the foil。 〃The thrust in the old days was made SO。 You； I think； made it SO〃and two flashes at different angles gleamed in the candle…light。
Munson； as if to humor the old gentleman； threw up his foil； made
