his own people-第3章

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〃I　am　so　happy　to　fin'　myself　in　Rome　that　I　forget〃Madame　de
Vaurigard　went　on〃~ever'sing！~　　But　now　I　mus'　make　sure　not　to
lose　you。　　What　is　your　hotel？〃

〃Oh；　the　Magnifique；〃　Mellin　answered　carelessly。　　〃I　suppose
everybody　that　one　knows　stops　there。　　One　does　stop　there；　when
one　is　in　Rome；　doesn't　one？〃

〃Everybody　go'　there　for　tea；　and　to　eat；　sometime；　but　to　~stay~
ah；　that　is　for　the　American！〃　she　laughed。　　〃That　is　for　you
who　are　all　so　abomin…~ab~…ly　rich！〃　　She　smiled　to　the　Italian
again；　and　both　of　them　smiled　beamingly　on　Mellin。

〃But　that　isn't　always　our　fault；　is　it？〃　said　Mellin　easily。

〃Aha！　　You　mean　you　are　of　the　new　generation；　of　the　yo'ng
American'　who　come　over　an'　try　to　spen'　these　immense　fortune'
those　~'pile'~your　father　or　your　gran…father　make！　　I　know
quite　well。　　Ah？〃

〃Well；〃　he　hesitated；　smiling。　　〃I　suppose　it　does　look　a　little
by　way　of　being　like　that。〃

〃Wicked　fellow！〃　　She　leaned　forward　and　tapped　his　shoulder
chidingly　with　two　fingers。　　〃I　know　what　you　wish　the　mos'　in　the
worl'you　wish　to　get　into　mischief。　　That　is　it！　　No；　sir；　I
will　jus'　take　you　in　han'！〃

〃When　will　you　take　me？〃　he　asked　boldly。

At　this；　the　pleasant　murmur　of　laughterhalf　actual　and　half
suggestedwith　which　she　underlined　the　conversation；　became　loud
and　clear；　as　she　allowed　her　vivacious　glance　to　strike　straight
into　his　upturned　eyes；　and　answered：

〃As　long　as　a　little　turn　roun'　the　hill；　~now~。　Cavaliere　Corni〃

To　Mellin's　surprise　and　delight　the　Italian　immediately　descended
from　the　victoria　without　the　slightest　appearance　of　irritation；
on　the　contrary；　he　was　urbane　to　a　fine　degree；　and；　upon　Madame
de　Vaurigard's　formally　introducing　him　to　Mellin；　saluted　the
latter　with　grave　politeness；　expressing　in　good　English　a　hope
that　they　might　meet　often。　　When　the　American　was　installed　at
the　Countess'　side　she　spoke　to　the　driver　in　Italian；　and　they
began　to　move　slowly　along　the　ilex　avenue；　the　coachman　reining
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　ha