man and superman-第42章
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one who has made money； and something of the truculence of one
who has made it in a brutalizing struggle； his civility having
under it a perceptible menace that he has other methods in
reserve if necessary。 Withal； a man to be rather pitied when he
is not to be feared； for there is something pathetic about him at
times； as if the huge commercial machine which has worked him
into his frock coat had allowed him very little of his own way
and left his affections hungry and baffled。 At the first word
that falls from him it is clear that he is an Irishman whose
native intonation has clung to him through many changes of place
and rank。 One can only guess that the original material of his
speech was perhaps the surly Kerry brogue； but the degradation of
speech that occurs in London； Glasgow； Dublin and big cities
generally has been at work on it so long that nobody but an
arrant cockney would dream of calling it a brogue now； for its
music is almost gone； though its surliness is still perceptible。
Straker； as a very obvious cockney； inspires him with implacable
contempt； as a stupid Englishman who cannot even speak his own
language properly。 Straker； on the other hand； regards the old
gentleman's accent as a joke thoughtfully provided by Providence
expressly for the amusement of the British race； and treats him
normally with the indulgence due to an inferior and unlucky
species； but occasionally with indignant alarm when the old
gentleman shows signs of intending his Irish nonsense to be taken
seriously。
STRAKER。 I'll go tell the young lady。 She said you'd prefer to
stay here ＇he turns to go up through the garden to the villa＇。
MALONE。 ＇who has been looking round him with lively curiosity＇
The young lady？ That's Miss Violet； eh？
STRAKER。 ＇stopping on the steps with sudden suspicion＇ Well； you
know； don't you？
MALONE。 Do I？
STRAKER。 ＇his temper rising＇ Well； do you or don't you？
MALONE。 What business is that of yours？
Straker； now highly indignant； comes back from the steps and
confronts the visitor。
STRAKER。 I'll tell you what business it is of mine。 Miss
Robinson
MALONE。 ＇interrupting＇ Oh； her name is Robinson； is it？ Thank
you。
STRAKER。 Why； you don't know even her name？
MALONE。 Yes I do； now that you've told me。
STRAKER。 ＇after a moment of stupefaction at the old man's
readiness in repartee＇ Look here： what do you mean by gittin into
my car and lettin me bring you here if you're not the person I
took that note to？
MALONE。 Who else did you take it to； pray？
STRAKER。 I took it to Mr Ector Malone； at Miss Robinson's
request； see？ Miss Robinson is not my principal： I took it to
oblige her。 I know Mr Malone； and he ain't you； not by a long
chalk。 At the hotel they told me that your name is Ector Malone。
MALONE。 Hector Malone。
STRAKER。 ＇with calm superiority＇ Hector in your own country：
that's what comes o livin in provincial places like Ireland and
America。 Over here you're Ector： if you avn't noticed it before
you soon will。
The growing strain of the conversation is here relieved by
Violet； who has sallied from the villa and through the garden to
the steps； which she now descends； coming very opportunely
between Malone and Straker。
VIOLET。 ＇to Straker＇ Did you take my message？
STRAKER。 Yes； miss。 I took it to the hotel and sent it up；
expecting to see young Mr Malone。 Then out walks this gent； and
says it's all right and he'll come with me。 So as the hotel
people said he was Mr Ector Malone； I fetched him。 And now he
goes back on what he said。 But if he isn't the gentleman you
meant； say the word： it's easy enough to fetch him back again。
MALONE。 I should esteem it a great favor if I might have a short
conversation with you； madam。 I am Hector's father； as this
bright Britisher would have guessed in the course of another hour
or so。
STRAKER。 ＇coolly defiant＇ No； not in another year or so。 When
we've ad you as long to polish up as we've ad im； perhaps you'll
begin to look a little bit up to is mark。 At present you fall a
long way short。 You've got too many aitches； for one thing。 ＇To
Violet； amiably＇ All right； Miss： you want to talk to him： I
shan't intrude。 ＇He nods affably to Malone and goes out through
the little gate in the paling＇。
VIOLET。 ＇very civilly＇ I am so sorry； Mr Malone； if that man has
been rude to you。 But what can we do？ He is our chauffeur。
MALONE。 Your what？
VIOLET。 The driver of our automobile。 He can drive a motor car at
seventy miles an hour； and mend it when it breaks down。 We are
dependent on our motor cars； and our motor cars are dependent on
him； so of course we are dependent on him。
MALONE。 I've noticed； madam； that every thousand dollars an
Englishman gets seems to add one to the number of people he's
dependent on。 However； you needn't apologize for your man： I made
him talk on purpose。 By doing so I learnt that you're staying
here in Grannida with a party of English； including my son
Hector。
VIOLET。 ＇conversationally＇ Yes。 We intended to go to Nice； but we
had to follow a rather eccentric member of our party who started
first and came here。 Won't you sit down？ ＇She clears the nearest
chair of the two books on it＇。
MALONE。 ＇impressed by this attention＇ Thank you。 ＇He sits down；
examining her curiously as she goes to the iron table to put down
the books。 When she turns to him again； he says＇ Miss Robinson； I
believe？
VIOLET。 ＇sitting down＇ Yes。
MALONE。 ＇Taking a letter from his pocket＇ Your note to Hector runs
as follows ＇Violet is unable to repress a start。 He pauses
quietly to take out and put on his spectacles； which have gold
rims＇： 〃Dearest： they have all gone to the Alhambra for the
afternoon。 I have shammed headache and have the garden all to
myself。 Jump into Jack's motor： Straker will rattle you here in a
jiffy。 Quick； quick； quick。 Your loving Violet。〃 ＇He looks at
her； but by this time she has recovered herself； and meets his
spectacles with perfect composure。 He continues slowly＇ Now I
don't know on what terms young people associate in English
society； but in America that note would be considered to imply a
very considerable degree of affectionate intimacy between the
parties。
VIOLET。 Yes： I know your son very well； Mr Malone。 Have you any
objection？
MALONE。 ＇somewhat taken aback＇ No； no objection exactly。 Provided
it is understood that my son is altogether dependent on me； and
that I have to be consulted in any important step he may propose
to take。
VIOLET。 I am sure you would not be unreasonable with him； Mr
Malone。
MALONE。 I hope not； Miss Robinson； but at your age you might
think many things unreasonable that don't seem so to me。
VIOLET。 ＇with a little shrug＇ Oh well； I suppose there's no use
our playing at cross purposes； Mr Malone。 Hector wants to marry
me。
MALONE。 I inferred from your note that he might。 Well； Miss
Robinson； he is his own master； but if he marries you he shall
not have a rap from me。 ＇He takes off his spectacles and pockets
them with the note＇。
VIOLET。 ＇with some severity＇ That is not very complimentary to
me； Mr Malone。
MALONE。 I say nothing against you； Miss Robinson： I daresay you
are an amiable and excellent young lady。 But I have other views
for Hector。
VIOLET。 Hector may not have other views for himself； Mr Malone。
MALONE。 Possibly not。 Then he does without me： that's all。 I
daresay you are prepared for that。 When a young lady writes to a
young man to come to her quick； quick； quick； money seems nothing
and love seems everything。
VIOLET。 ＇sharply＇ I beg your pardon； Mr Malone： I do not think
anything so foolish。 Hector must have money。
MALONE。 ＇staggered＇ Oh； very well； very well。 No doubt he can
work for it。
VIOLET。 What is the use of having money if you have to work for
it？ ＇She rises impatiently＇。 It's all nonsense； Mr Malone： you
must enable your son to keep up his position。 It is his right。
MALONE。 ＇grimly＇ I should not advise you to marry him on the
strength of that right； Miss Robinson。
Violet； who has almost lost her temper； controls herself with an
effort； unclenches her fingers； and resumes her seat with studied
tranquillity an
