his own people-第4章
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with tapestries and lit by two candles of a Brobdingnagian species
Mellin had heretofore seen only in cathedrals。 Here Mr。 Sneyd
paused。
〃I weon't be bawthring you；〃 he said。 〃Just a wad with you；
Cantess； and I'm off。〃
The intelligent…looking maid drew back some heavy curtains leading
to a salon beyond the hall； and her mistress smiled brightly at
Mellin。
〃I shall keep him to jus' his one word；〃 she said； as the young
man passed between the curtains。
It was a nobly proportioned room that he entered； so large that；
in spite of the amount of old furniture it contained； the first
impression it gave was one of spaciousness。 Panels of carved and
blackened wood lined the walls higher than his head； above them；
Spanish leather gleamed here and there with flickerings of red and
gilt； reflecting dimly a small but brisk wood fire which crackled
in a carved stone fireplace。 His feet slipped on the floor of
polished tiles and wandered from silky rugs to lose themselves in
great black bear skins as in unmown sward。 He went from the
portrait of a 〃cinquecento〃 cardinal to a splendid tryptich set
over a Gothic chest； from a cabinet sheltering a collection of old
glass to an Annunciation by an unknown Primitive。 He told himself
that this was a 〃room in a book；〃 and became dreamily assured that
he was a man in a book。 Finally he stumbled upon something almost
grotesquely out of place： a large； new； perfectly…appointed card…
table with a sliding top； a smooth； thick； green cover and patent
compartments。
He halted before this incongruity； regarding it with astonishment。
Then a light laugh rippled behind him； and he turned to find Madame
de Vaurigard seated in a big red Venetian chair by the fire。
She wore a black lace dress； almost severe in fashion； which
gracefully emphasized her slenderness； and she sat with her knees
crossed； the firelight twinkling on the beads of her slipper；
on her silken instep； and flashing again from the rings upon the
slender fingers she had clasped about her knee。
She had lit a thin； long Russian cigarette。
〃You see？〃 she laughed。 〃I mus' keep up with the time。 I mus' do
somesing to hold my frien's about me。 Even the ladies like to play
nowthat breedge w'ich is so tiresomethey play； play； play！
And youyou Americans； you refuse to endure us if we do not let
you play。 So for my frien's when they come to my houseif they
wish it； there is that foolish little table。 I fear〃she concluded
with a bewitching affectation of sadness〃they prefer that to
talkin' wiz me。〃
〃You know that couldn't be so； ~Comtesse~；〃 he said。 〃I would
rather talk to you thanthan〃
〃Ah； yes； you say so； Monsieur！〃 She looked at him gravely； a
little sigh seemed to breathe upon her lips； she leaned forward
nearer the fire； her face wistful in the thin； rosy light； and it
seemed to him he had never seen anything so beautiful in his life。
He came across to her and sat upon a stool at her feet。 〃On my
soul；〃 he began huskily； 〃I swear〃
She laid her finger on her lips； shaking her head gently； and he
was silent； while the intelligent maidat that moment entering
arranged a tea…table and departed。
〃American an' Russian； they are the worse；〃 said the Countess
thoughtfully； as she served him with a generous cup； laced with
rum； 〃but the American he is the bes' to play ~wiz~。〃 Mellin
found her irresistible when she said 〃wiz。〃
〃Why is that？〃
〃Oh； the Russian play high； yesbut the American〃she laughed
delightedly and stretched her arms wide〃he make' it all a joke！
He is beeg like his beeg country。 If he win or lose； he don' care！
Ah； I mus' tell you of my great American frien'； that Honor…able
Chanlair Pedlow； who is comin' to Rome。 You have heard of
Honor…able Chanlair Pedlow in America？〃
〃I remember hearing that name。〃
〃Ah； I shall make you know him。 He is a man of distinction； he
did sit in your Chamber of Deputieswhat you call it？yes； your
Con…gress。 He is funny； eccentricalways he roar like a lion
Boum！but so simple； so good； a man of such fine heartso
lovable！〃
〃1'll be glad to meet him；〃 said Mellin coldly。
〃An'； oh； yes； I almos' forget to tell you；〃 she went on； 〃your
frien'； that dear Cooley； he is on his way from Monte Carlo in
his automobile。 I have a note from him to…day。〃
〃Good sort of fellow； little Cooley； in his way；〃 remarked her
companion graciously。 〃Not especially intellectual or that； you
know。 His father was a manufacturer chap； I believe； or something
of the sort。 I suppose you saw a lot of him in Paris？〃
〃Eh； I thought he is dead！〃 cried Madame de Vaurigard。
〃The father is。 I mean； little Cooley。〃
〃Oh； yes；〃 she laughed softly。 〃We had some gay times； a little
party of us。 We shall be happy here； too； you will see。 I mus'
make a little dinner very soon； but not unless you will come。 You
will？〃
〃Do you want me very much？〃
He placed his empty cup on the table and leaned closer to her；
smiling。 She did not smile in response； instead； her eyes fell
and there was the faintest； pathetic quiver of her lower lip。
〃Already you know that；〃 she said in a low voice。
She rose quickly； turned away from him and walked across the room
to the curtains which opened upon the hall。 One of these she drew
back。
〃My frien'； you mus' go now；〃 she said in the same low voice。
〃To…morrow I will see you again。 Come at four an' you shall drive
with mebut notnot more~now~。 Please！〃
She stood waiting； not looking at him； but with head bent and eyes
veiled。 As he came near she put out a limp hand。 He held it for
a few seconds of distinctly emotional silence； then strode swiftly
into the hall。
She immediately let the curtain fall behind him； and as he got his
hat and coat he heard her catch her breath sharply with a sound
like a little sob。
Dazed with glory； he returned to the hotel。 In the lobby he
approached the glittering concierge and said firmly：
〃What is the Salone Margherita？ Cam you get me a box there
to…night？〃
IV。 Good Fellowship
He confessed his wickedness to Madame de Vaurigard the next
afternoon as they drove out the Appian Way。 〃A fellow must have
just a bit of a fling； you know；〃 he said； 〃and； really； Salone
Margherita isn't so tremendously wicked。〃
She shook her head at him in friendly raillery。 〃Ah； that may be；
but how many of those little dancing…girl' have you invite to
supper afterward？〃
This was a delicious accusation； and though he shook his head in
virtuous denial he was before long almost convinced that he ~had~
given a rather dashing supper after the vaudeville and had ~not~
gone quietly back to the hotel； only stopping by the way to purchase
an orange and a pocketful of horse…chestnuts to eat in his room。
It was a happy drive for Robert Russ Mellin； though not happier than
that of the next day。 Three afternoons they spent driving over the
Campagna； then back to Madame de Vaurigard's apartment for tea by
the firelight； till the enraptured American began to feel that the
dream in which he had come to live must of happy necessity last
forever。
On the fourth afternoon； as he stepped out of the hotel elevator
into the corridor； he encountered Mr。 Sneyd。
〃Just stottin'； eh？〃 said the Englishman； taking an envelope from
his pocket。 〃Lucky I caught you。 This is for you。 I just saw the
Cantess and she teold me to give it you。 Herry and read it and kem
on t' the Amairikin Baw。 Chap I want you to meet。 Eold Cooley's
thyah too。 Gawt in with his tourin'…caw at noon。〃
〃You will forgive； dear friend；〃 wrote Madame de Vaurigard； 〃if
I ask you that we renounce our drive to…day。 You see； I wish to
have that little dinner to…night and must make preparation。
Honorable Chandler Pedlow arrived this morning from Paris and that
droll Mr。 Cooley I have learn is coincidentally arrived also。 You
see I think it would be very pleasant to have the dinner to welcome
these friends on their arrival。 You will come surelyor I shall
be so truly miserable。 You know it perhaps too well！ We shall
have a happy evening if you come to console us for renouncing our
drive。 A thousand of my
