count bunker-第12章

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〃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。

〃Baron；　I　understand　your　ideals　and　I　appreciate　your　motives。　　As　you　suggest；　you　had　better　rehearse　your　part　quietly　for　a　few　days。　　Miss　Maddison　will　find　you　the　more　perfect　suitor。〃

The　Baron　looked　as　though　he　knew　not　whether　to　feel　satisfied　or　not。

〃By　the　way；〃　said　the　Count　in　a　moment；　〃have　you　written　to　the　Baroness　yet？　　Pardon　me　for　reminding　you；　but　you　must　remember　that　your　letters　will　have　to　go　out　to　Russia　and　back。〃

The　Baron　started。

〃Teufel！〃　he　exclaimed。　　〃I　most　indeed　write。〃

〃The　post　goes　at　twelve。〃

The　Baron　reflected　gloomily；　and　then　slowly　moved　to　the　writing…table　and　toyed　with　his　pen。　　A　few　minutes　passed；　and　then　in　a　fretful　voice　he　asked

〃Vat　shall　I　say？〃

〃Tell　her　about　your　journey　across　Europehow　the　crops　look　in　Russiawhat　you　think　of　St。　Petersburg　that　sort　of　thing。〃

A　silent　quarter　of　an　hour　went　by；　and　then　the　Baron　burst　out

〃Ach；　I　cannot　write　to…day！　　I　cannot　invent　like　you。　　Ze　cropsI　have　got　zatand　zat　I　arrived　safe　and　zat　Petersburg　is　nice。　　Vat　else？〃

〃Anything　you　can　remember　from　text…books　on　Muscovy　or　illustrated　interviews　with　the　Czar。　　Just　a　word　or　two；　don't　you　know；　to　show　you've　been　there；　with　a　few　comments　of　your　own。〃

〃Vat　like　comments？〃

〃Such　as'Somewhat　annoyed　with　bombs　this　afternoon；'　or　'This　caused　me　to　reflect　upon　the　disadvantages　of　an　alcoholic　marine'any　little　bit　of　philosophy　that　occurs　to　you。〃

The　Baron　pondered。

〃It　is　a　pity　zat　I　have　not　been　in　Rossia；〃　he　observed。

〃On　the　other　hand；　it　is　a　blessing　your　wife　hasn't。　　Look　at　the　bright　side　of　things；　my　dear　fellow。〃

For　a　short　time；　from　the　way　in　which　the　Baron　took　hasty　notes　in　pencil　and　elaborated　them　in　ink　（according　to　the　system　of　Professor　Virchausen）；　it　appeared　that　he　was　following　his　friend's　directions。　　Later；　from　a　sentimental　look　in　his　eye；　the　Count　surmised　that　he　was　composing　an　amorous　addendum；　and　at　last　he　laid　down　his　pen　with　a　sigh　which　the　cynical　（but　only　the　cynical）　might　have　attributed　to　relief。

〃Ha；　my　head　he　is　getting　more　clear！〃　he　announced。　　〃Gom；　let　us　present　ourselves　to　ze　ladies；　mine　Bonker！〃



CHAPTER　XII

〃It　is　necessary；　Bonkeryou　are　sure？〃

〃No　Tulliwuddle　has　ever　omitted　the　ceremony。　　If　you　shirked；　I　am　assured　on　the　very　best　authority　that　it　would　excite　the　gravest　suspicions　of　your　authenticity。〃

Count　Bunker　spoke　with　an　air　of　the　most　resolute　conviction。　　Ever　since　they　arrived　he　had　taken　infinite　pains　to　discover　precisely　what　was　expected　of　the　chieftain；　and　having　by　great　good　luck　made　the　acquaintance　of　an　elderly　individual　who　claimed　to　be　the　piper　of　the　clan；　and　who　proved　a　perfect　granary　of　legends；　he　was　able　to　supply　complete　information　on　every　point　of　importance。　　Once　the　Baron　had　endeavored　to　corroborate　these　particulars　by　interviewing　the　piper　himself；　but　they　had　found　so　much　difficulty　in　understanding　one　another's　dialects　that　he　had　been　content　to　trust　implicitly　to　his　friend's　information。　　The　Count；　indeed；　had　rather　avoided　than　sought　advice　on　the　subject；　and　the　piper；　after　several　confidential　conversations　and　the　passage　of　a　sum　of　silver　into　his　sporran；　displayed　an　equally　Delphic　tendency。

The　Baron；　therefore；　argued　the　present　point　no　longer。

〃It　is　jost　a　mere　ceremony；〃　he　said。　　〃Ach；　vell；　nozing　vill　happen。　　Zis　ghostvat　is　his　name？〃

〃It　is　known　as　the　Wraith　of　the　Tulliwuddles。　　The　heir　must　interview　it　within　a　week　of　coming　to　the　Castle。〃

〃Vere　most　I　see　him？〃

〃In　the　armory；　at　midnight。　　You　bring　one　friend；　one　candle；　and　wear　a　bonnet　with　one　eagle's　feather　in　it。　　You　enter　at　eleven　and　wait　for　an　hourand；　by　the　way；　neither　of　you　must　speak　above　a　whisper。〃

〃Pooh！　　Jost　hombog！〃　said　the　Baron　valiantly。　　〃I　do　not　fear　soch　trash。〃

〃When　the　Wraith　appears〃

〃My　goot　Bonker；　he　vill　not　gom！〃

〃Supposing　he　does　comeand　mind　you；　strange　things　happen　in　these　old　buildings；　particularly　in　the　Highlands；　and　after　dinner；　if　he　comes；　Baron；　you　must　ask　him　three　questions。〃

The　Baron　laughed　scornfully。

〃If　I　see　a　ghost　I　vill　ask　him　many　interesting　questionsif　he　does　feel　cold；　and　sochlike；　eh？　　Ha；　ha！〃

With　an　imperturbable　gravity　that　was　not　without　its　effect　upon　the　other；　however　gaily　he　might　talk；　Bunker　continued

〃The　three　questions　are：　first；　'What　art　thou？'　second；　'Why　comest　thou　here；　O　spirit？'　third；　'What　instructions　desirest　thou　to　give　me？'　　Strictly　speaking；　they　ought　to　be　asked　in　Gaelic；　but　exceptions　have　been　made　on　former　occasions；　and　Mac…　Duiwho　pipes；　by　the　way；　in　the　anteroomassures　me　that　English　will　satisfy　the　Wraith　in　your　case。〃

The　Baron　sniffed　and　laughed；　and　twirled　up　the　ends　of　his　mustaches　till　they　presented　a　particularly　desperate　appearance。　　Yet　there　was　a　faint　intonation　of　anxiety　in　his　voice　as　he　inquired

〃You　vill　gom　as　my　friend；　of　course？〃

〃I？　　Quite　out　of　the　question；　I　am　sorry　to　say。　　To　bring　a　foreigner　（as　I　am　supposed　to　be）　would　rouse　the　clan　to　rebellion。　　No；　Baron；　you　have　a　chance　of　paying　a　graceful　compliment　to　your　host　which　you　must　not　lose。　　Ask　Mr。　Gallosh　to　share　your　vigil。〃

〃Galloshhe　vould　not　be　moch　good　sopposing　Ach；　but　nozing　vill　happen！　　I　vill　ask　him。〃

The　pride　of　Mr。　Gallosh　on　being　selected　as　his　lordship's　friend　on　this　historic　occasion　was　pleasant　to　witness。

〃It's　just　a　bit　of　fiddle…de…dee；〃　he　informed　his　delighted　family。　　〃Duncan　Gallosh　to　be　looking　for　bogles　is　pretty　ridiculousbut　oh；　I　can't　refuse　to　disoblige　his　lordship。〃

〃I　should　think　not；　when　he's　done　you　the　honor　to　invite　you　out　of　all　his　friends！〃　said　Mrs。　Gallosh　warmly。　　〃Eva！　　do　you　hear　the　compliment　that's　been　paid　your　papa？〃

Eva；　their　fair　eldest　daughter；　came　into　the　room　at　a　run。　　She　had　indeed　heard　（since　the　news　was　on　every　tongue）；　and　impetuously　she　flung　her　arms　about　her　father's　neck。

〃Oh；　papa；　do　him　credit！〃　she　cried；　〃it's　like　a　story　come　true！　　What　a　romantic　thing　to　happen！〃

〃What　a　spirit！〃　her　mother　reflected　proudly。　　〃She　is　just　the　girl　for　a　chieftain's　bride！〃

That　very　night　was　chosen　for　the　ceremony；　and　eleven　o'clock　found　them　all　assembled　breathless　in　the　drawing…room：　all；　save　Lord　Tulliwuddle　and　his　host。

〃Will　they　have　to　wait　for　a　whole　hour？〃　asked　Mrs。　Gallosh　in　a　low　voice。

Indeed　they　all　spoke　in　subdued　accents。

〃I　am　told；〃　replied　the　Count；　〃that　the　apparition　never　appears　till　after　midnight　has　struck。　　Any　time　between　twelve　and　one　he　may　be　expected。〃

〃Think　of　the　terrible　suspense　after　twelve　has　passed！〃　whispered　Eva。

The　Count　had　thought　of　this。

〃I　advised　Duncan　to　take　his　flask；〃　said　Mr。　Rentoul；　with　a　solemn　wink。　　〃So　he'll　not　be　so　badly　off。〃

〃Papa　would　never　do　such　a　thing　to…night！〃　cried　Eva。

〃It's　always　a　kind　of　precaution；〃　said　the　sage。

Presently　Count　Bunker；　who　had　been　imparting　the　most　terrific　particulars　of　former　interviews　with　the　Wraith　to　the　younger　Galloshes；　remarked　that　he　must　pass　the　time　by　overtaking　some　pressing　correspondence。

〃You　will　forgive　me；　I　hope；　for　shutting　myself　up　for　an　hour　or　so；〃　he　said　to　his　hostess。　　〃I　shall　come　back　in　time　to　learn　the　results　of　the　meeting。〃

And　with　the　loss　of　his　encouraging　company　a　greater　uneasiness　fell　upon　the　party。

Meanwhile；　in　a　vast　cavern　of　darkness；　lit　only　by　the　solitary　candle；　the　Baron　and　his　host　endeavored　to　maintain　the　sceptical　buoyancy　with　which　they　had　set　forth　upon　their　adventure。　　But　the　chilliness　of　the　room　（they　had　no　fire；　and　it　was　a　misty　night　with　a　moaning　wind）；　the　inordinate　quantity　of　odd…　looking　shadows；　and　the　profound　silence；　were　immediately　destructive　to　buoyancy　and　ultimately　trying　to　scepticism。

〃I　wish　ze　piper　v