count bunker-第11章

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ein　Gott；　I　most　get　to　bed。　　I　toss　ze　caber　to…morrow。〃

And　upon　the　arm　of　his　faithful　ally　he　moved　cautiously　towards　his　bedroom。

But　if　he　had　enjoyed　his　evening　well；　his　pleasure　was　nothing　to　the　gratification　of　his　hosts。　　They　could　not　bring　themselves　to　break　up　their　party　for　the　night：　there　were　so　many　delightful　reminiscences　to　discuss。

〃Of　all　the　evenings　ever　I　spent；〃　declared　Mr。　Gallosh；　〃this　fair　takes　the　cake。　　Just　to　think　of　that　aristocratic　young　fellow　being　as　companionable…　like！　　When　first　I　put　eyes　on　him；　I　said　to　myself　'You're　not　for　the　likes　of　us。　　All　lords　and　ladies　is　your　kind。　　Never　a　word　did　he　say　in　the　boat　till　he　heard　the　pipes　play；　and　then　I　really　thought　he　was　frightened！　　It　must　just　have　been　a　kind　of　home…sickness　or　something。〃

〃It'll　have　been　the　tuning　up　that　set　his　teeth　on　edge；〃　Mrs。　Gallosh　suggested　practically。

〃Or　perhaps　his　heart　was　stirred　with　thoughts　of　the　past！〃　said　Miss　Gallosh；　her　eyes　brightening。

In　any　case；　all　were　agreed　that　the　development　of　his　hereditary　instincts　had　been　extraordinarily　rapid。

〃I　never　really　properly　talked　with　a　lord　before；〃　sighed　Mrs。　Rentoul；　〃I　hope　they're　all　like　this　one。〃

Mrs。　Gallosh；　on　the　other　hand；　who　boasted　of　having　had　one　tete…a…tete　and　joined　in　several　general　conversations　with　the　peerage；　appraised　Lord　Tulliwuddle　with　greater　discrimination。

〃Ah；　he's　got　a　soupcon！〃　she　declared。　　〃That's　what　I　admire！〃

〃Do　you　mean　his　German　accent？〃　asked　Mr。　Cromarty…Gow；　who　was　renowned　for　a　cynical　wit；　and　had　been　seeking　an　occasion　to　air　it　ever　since　Lord　Tulliwuddle　had　made　Miss　Gallosh　promise　to　dance　a　reel　with　him。

But　the　feeling　of　the　party　was　so　strongly　against　a　breath　of　irreverent　criticism；　and　their　protest　so　emphatic；　that　he　presently　strolled　off　to　the　smoking…　room；　wishing　that　Miss　Gallosh；　at　least；　would　exercise　more　critical　discrimination。

〃Do　you　think　would　they　like　breakfast　in　their　own　room；　Duncan？〃　asked　Mrs。　Gallosh。

〃Offer　it　themoffer　it　them；　they　can　but　refuse；　and　it's　a　kind　of　compliment　to　give　them　the　opportunity。〃

〃His　lordship　will　not　be　wanting　to　rise　early；〃　said　Mr。　Rentoul。　　〃Did　you　notice　what　an　amount　he　could　drink；　Duncan？　　Man；　and　he　carried　it　fine！　　But　he'll　be　the　better　of　a　sleep…in　in　the　morning；　him　coming　from　a　journey　too。〃

Mr。　Rentoul　was　a　recognized　authority　on　such　questions；　having；　before　the　days　of　his　affluence；　travelled　for　a　notable　firm　of　distillers。　　His　praise　of　Lord　Tulliwuddle's　capacity　was　loudly　echoed　by　Mr。　Gallosh；　and　even　the　ladies　could　not　but　indulgently　agree　that　he　had　exhibited　a　strength　of　head　worthy　of　his　race。

〃And　yet　he　was　a　wee　thing　touched　too；〃　said　Mr。　Rentoul　sagely。　　〃Maybe　you　were　too　far　gone　yourself；　Duncan；　to　notice　it；　and　the　ladies　would　just　think　it　was　gallantry；　but　I　saw　it　in　his　voice　and　his　legsoh；　just　a　wee　thingie；　nothing　to　speak　of。〃

〃Surely　you　are　mistaken！〃　cried　Miss　Gallosh。　　〃Wasn't　it　only　excitement　at　finding　himself　at　Hechnahoul？〃

〃There's　two　kinds　of　excitement；〃　answered　the　oracle。　　〃And　this　was　the　kind　I'm　best　acquaint　with。　　Oh；　but　it　was　just　a　wee　bittie。〃

〃And　who　thinks　the　worse　of　him　for　it？〃　cried　Mr。　Gallosh。

This　question　was　answered　by　general　acclamation　in　a　manner　and　with　a　spirit　that　proved　how　deeply　his　lordship's　gracious　behavior　had　laid　hold　of　all　hearts。



CHAPTER　XI

Breakfast　in　the　private　parlor　was　laid　for　two；　but　it　was　only　Count　Bunker；　arrayed　in　a　becoming　suit　of　knickerbockers；　and　looking　as　fresh　as　if　he　had　feasted　last　night　on　aerated　water；　who　sat　down　to　consume　it。

〃Who　would　be　his　ordinary　everyday　self　when　there　are　fifty　more　amusing　parts　to　play；〃　he　reflected　gaily；　as　he　sipped　his　coffee。　　〃Blitzenberg　and　Essington　were　two　conventional　members　of　society；　ageing　ingloriously；　tamely　approaching　five…　and…thirty　in　bath…chairs。　　Tulliwuddle　and　Bunker　are　paladins　of　romance！　　We　thought　we　had　grown　upthank　Heaven；　we　were　deceived！〃

Having　breakfasted　and　lit　a　cigarette；　he　essayed　for　the　second　time　to　arouse　the　Baron；　but　getting　nothing　but　the　most　somnolent　responses；　he　set　out　for　a　stroll；　visiting　the　gardens；　stables；　kennels；　and　keeper's　house；　and　even　inspecting　a　likely　pool　or　two　upon　the　river；　and　making　in　the　course　of　it　several　useful　acquaintances　among　the　Tulliwuddle　retainers。

When　he　returned　he　found　the　Baron　stirring　a　cup　of　strong　tea　and　staring　at　an　ancestral　portrait　with　a　thoughtful　frown。

〃They　are　preparing　the　caber；　Baron；〃　he　remarked　genially。

〃Stoff　and　nonsense；　I　vill　not　fling　her！〃　was　the　wholly　unexpected　reply。　　〃I　do　not　love　to　play　ze　fool　alvays！〃

〃My　dear　Baron！〃

〃Zat　picture；〃　said　the　Baron；　nodding　his　head　solemnly　towards　the　portrait。　　〃It　is　like　ze　Lord　Tollyvoddle　in　ze　print　at　ze　hotel。　　I　do　believe　he　is　ze　same。〃

〃But　I　explained　that　he　wasn't　Tulliwuddle。〃

〃He　is　so　like；〃　repeated　the　Baron　moodily。　　〃He　most　be　ze　same。〃

Bunker　looked　at　it　and　shook　his　head。

〃A　different　man；　I　assure　you。〃

〃Oh；　ze　devil！〃　replied　the　Baron。

〃What's　the　matter？〃

〃I　haff　a　head　zat　tvists　and　turns　like　my　head　never　did　since　many　years。〃

The　Count　had　already　surmised　as　much。

〃Hang　it　out　of　the　window；〃　he　suggested。

The　Baron　made　no　reply　for　some　minutes。　　Then　with　an　earnest　air　he　began

〃Bonker；　I　have　somezing　to　say　to　you。〃

〃You　have　the　most　sympathetic　audience　outside　the　clan。〃

The　Count's　cheerful　tone　did　not　seem　to　please　his　friend。

〃Your　heart；　he　is　too　light；　Bonker；　ja；　too　light。　　Last　night　you　did　engourage　me　not　to　be　seemly。〃

〃I！〃

〃I　did　get　almost　dronk。　　If　my　head　vas　not　so　hard　I　should　be　dronk。　　Das　ist　not　right。　　If　I　am　to　be　ze　Tollyvoddle；　it　most　be　as　I　vould　be　Von　Blitzenberg。　　I　most　not　forget　zat　I　am　not　as　ozzer　men。　　I　am　noble；　and　most　be　so　accordingly。〃

〃What　steps　do　you　propose　to　take？〃　inquired　Bunker　with　perfect　gravity。

The　Baron　stared　at　the　picture。

〃Last　night　I　had　a　dream。　　It　vas　zat　manat　least；　probably　it　vas；　for　I　cannot　remember　eggsactly。　　He　did　pursue　me　mit　a　kilt。〃

〃With　what　did　you　defend　yourself？〃

〃I　know　not：　I　jost　remember　zat　it　should　be　a　warning。　　Ve　Blitzenbergs　have　ze　gift　to　dream。〃

The　Baron　rose　from　the　table　and　lit　a　cigar。　　After　three　puffs　he　threw　it　from　him。

〃I　cannot　smoke；〃　he　said　dismally。　　〃It　has　a　onpleasant　taste。〃

The　Count　assumed　a　seriously　thoughtful　air。

〃No　doubt　you　will　wish　to　see　Miss　Maddison　as　soon　as　possible　and　get　it　over；〃　he　began。　　〃I　have　just　learned　that　their　place　is　about　seven　miles　away。　　We　could　borrow　a　trap　this　afternoon〃

〃Nein；　nein！〃　interrupted　the　Baron。　　　〃Donnerwetter！　　Ach；　no；　it　most　not　be　so　soon。　　I　most　practise　a　leetle　first。　　Not　so　immediately；　Bonker。〃

Bunker　looked　at　him　with　a　glance　of　unfathomable　calm。

〃I　find　that　it　will　be　necessary　for　you　to　observe　one　or　two　ancient　ceremonies；　associated　from　time　immemorial　with　the　accession　of　a　Tulliwuddle。　　You　are　prepared　for　the　ordeal？〃

〃I　most　do　my　duty；　Bonker。〃

〃This　suggests　some　more　inspiring　vision　than　the　gentleman　in　the　gold　frame；〃　thought　the　Count　acutely。

Aloud　he　remarked

〃You　have　high　ideals；　Baron。〃

〃I　hope　so。〃

Again　the　Baron　was　the　unconscious　object　of　a　humorous；　perspicacious　scrutiny。

〃Last　night　I　did　hear　zat　moch　was　to　be　expected　from　me；〃　he　observed　at　length。

〃From　Mrs。　Gallosh？〃

〃I　do　not　zink　it　vas　from　Mrs。　Gallosh。〃

Count　Bunker　smiled。

〃You　inflamed　all　hearts　last　night；〃　said　he。

The　Baron　looked　grave。

〃I　did　drink　too　moch　last　night。　　But　I　did　not　say　vat　I　should　not；　eh？　　I　vas　not　rude　or　gross　to　Mistair　Gallosh？〃

〃Not　to　Mr。　Gallosh。〃

The　Baron　looked　a　trifle　perturbed　at　the　gravity　of　his　tone。

〃I　vas　not　too　free；　too　undignified　in　presence　of　zat　innocent　and　charming　ladyMiss　Gallosh？〃

The　air　of　scrutiny　passed　from　Count　Bunker's　face；　and　a　droll　smile　came　instead。