count bunker-第33章
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With a sigh he could not quite smother； he began to pour the contents into his glass； and then set it down abruptly； emitting a startled exclamation。
〃What is the matter？〃 cried Julia sympathetically。
Her eyes （he was embarrassed to note） followed his every movement like a dog's； and her apprehension clearly was extreme。
〃This seems to be water；〃 smiled the Count； with an effort to carry off their error as pleasantly for them as possible。
〃Isn't it good water？〃 asked Julia with an air of concern。
It was the Count's turn to open his eyes。
〃You have concluded then that I am a teetotaler？〃
〃Of course； we know you are！〃
〃If we may judge by your prefaces；〃 smiled Miss Minchell。
The Count began to realize the hazards that beset him； but his spirit stoutly rose to meet the shock of the occasion。
〃There is no use in attempting to conceal my idiosyncrasies； I see；〃 he answered。 〃But to…night； will you forgive me if I break through the cardinal rule of my life and ask you for a little stimulant？ My doctor〃
〃I see！〃 cried Miss Wallingford compassionately。 〃Of course； one can't dispute a doctor's orders。 What would you like？〃
〃Oh； anything you have。 He did recommend champagne if it was good； but anything will do。〃
〃A bottle of the VERY best champagne； Mackenzie！〃
The dinner now became an entirely satisfactory meal。 Inspired by his champagne and by the success of his audacity in so easily surmounting all difficulties； the Count delighted his hostesses by the vivacity and originality of his conversation。 On the one hand； he chose topics not too flippant in themselves and treated them with a becomingly serious air； on the other； he carefully steered the talk away from the neighborhood of his uncle。
〃By the time I fetch out my banjo they'll have forgotten all about him；〃 he said to himself complacently。
Knowing well the importance of the individual factor in all the contingencies of life； he set himself； in the meanwhile； to study with some attention the two ladies beside him。 Miss Minchell he had already summarized as an agreeable nonentity； and this impression was only confirmed on better acquaintance。 It was quite evident； he perceived； that she was dragged practically unresisting in Miss Wallingford's wakeeven to the length of abetting the visit of an unknown bachelor in the absence of Miss Wallingford's parent。
As for Julia； he decided that she was even better… looking and more agreeable than he had at first imagined； though； having the gayest of hearts himself； he was a trifle disconcerted to observe the uniform seriousness of her ideas。 How one could reconcile her ecstatic enthusiasm for the ideal with her evident devotion to himself he was at a loss to conceive。
〃However； we will investigate that later；〃 he thought。
But first came a more urgent question： Had his uncle and his 〃prefaces〃 committed him to forswear tobacco？ He resolved to take the bull by the horns。
〃I hope you will not be scandalized to learn that I have acquired the pernicious habit of smoking？〃 he said as they rose from the table。
〃I told you he was smoking a cigar at Hechnahoul！〃 cried Miss Minchell with an air of triumph。
〃I thought you were mistaken；〃 said Julia； and the Count could see that he had slipped a little from his pedestal。
This must not be permitted； yet he must smoke。
〃Of course I don't smoke REAL tobacco！〃 he exclaimed。
〃Oh； in that case；〃 cried Julia； 〃certainly then you may smoke in the drawing…room。 What is it you use？〃
〃A kind of herb that subdues the appetites； Miss Wallingford。〃
He could see at a glance that he was more firmly on his pedestal than ever。
CHAPTER XXX
〃I have been longing for this moment！〃 said Julia softly。
The Count and she were seated over the drawing…room fire； Bunker in an easy…chair； smoking one of the excellent cigars which he had so grievously slandered； Julia upon a stool by his knees； her face suffused with the most intense expression of rapture。 Miss Minchell was in the background； shrouded in shadow； purporting to be enjoying a nap； yet the Count could not but think that in so large a house a separate apartment might well have been provided for her。 Her presence； he felt； circumscribed his actions uncomfortably。
〃So have I！〃 he murmured； deeming this the most appropriate answer。
〃Now we can talk about HIM！〃
He started； but preserved his composure。
〃Couldn't we keep HIM till morning？〃 he suggested。
〃But that is why you are here！〃
She spoke as if this were self…evident； while the Count read himself a thousand lessons upon the errors vanity is apt to lead one into。 Yet his politeness remained unruffled。
〃Of course；〃 he answered。 〃Of course！ But you see my knowledge of him〃
He was about to say that it was very slight； when； fortunately for him； she interrupted with an eager
〃I know！ I know！ You were more than a son to him！〃
〃The deuce and all！〃 thought the Count。 〃That was a narrow squeak！〃
〃Do you know；〃 she continued in the same tone； 〃I have actually had the audacity to translate one of his booksyour preface and all。〃
〃I understand the allusion now；〃 thought Bunker。
Aloud he had the presence of mind to inquire
〃Which was it？〃
〃 'Existence Seriously Reviewed。' 〃
〃You couldn't have made a better choice；〃 he assured her。
〃And now； what can you tell me about him？〃 she cried。
〃Suppose we talk about the book instead；〃 suggested Bunker； choosing what seemed the lesser of two evils。
〃Oh； do！〃
She rose impetuously； brought with a reverent air a beautifully written and neatly tied…up manuscript； and sat again by his knee。 Looking over his shoulder he could see that the chaperon was wide awake and prepared to listen rapturously also。
〃I have so often longed to have some one with me who could explain thingsthe very deep things； you know。 But to think of having youthe Editor and nephew！ It's too good to be true。〃
〃Only eight o'clock；〃 he said to himself； glancing at the clock。 〃I'm in for a night of it。〃
The vision of a game of bridge and a coon song on the banjo from that moment faded quite away； and the Count even tucked his feet as far out of sight as possible； since those entrancing socks served to remind him too poignantly of what might have been。
〃What exactly did he mean by this？〃 began Julia； 〃 'Let Potentates fear！ Let Dives tremble！ The horny hand of the poor Man in the Street is stretched forth to grasp his birthright！' 〃
〃For 'birthright' read 'pocket…book。' There's a mistake in the translation；〃 he answered promptly。 〃It appears to be an indirect argument for an increase in the Metropolitan police。〃
〃Are you sure？ I thoughtsurely it alludes to Socialism！〃
〃Of course； and the best advertisement for Socialism is a collision with the bobbies。 My uncle was a remarkably subtle man； I assure you。〃
〃How very ingenious！〃 exclaimed Miss Minchell from the background。
Julia did her best to feel convinced； but it was in a distinctly less ecstatic voice that she read her next extract。
〃 'Alcohol； riches； and starched linen are the moths and worms of society。' I suppose he means that they eat away its foundations？〃
〃On the contrary； he was an enthusiastic entomologist。 He merely meant to imply that it isn't every one who can appreciate a glass of port and a clean shirt。〃
〃But he didn't appreciate those things himself！〃
〃No； poor fellow。 He often wished he could； though。〃
〃Did he really？〃
〃Oh； you've no idea how tired he grew of flannel and ginger…beer！ Many a time he's said to me； 'My boy； learn to take what's set before you； even at an alderman's table。' Ah； his was a generous creed； Miss Wallingford！〃
〃Yes； I suppose it was；〃 said Julia submissively。
His advantage in being able to claim an intimate personal knowledge of the late philosopher's tastes encouraged the Count greatly。 Realizing that a nephew could not well be contradicted； he was emboldened to ask whether there were any more points on which his authority could be of assistance。
〃Oh yes；〃 said she； 〃onlyonly somehow you seem to throw a different light on everything。〃
〃Naturally； dear；〃 chimed in Miss Minchell； 〃a personal explanation al
