count bunker-第39章
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〃His mind is certainly deranged；〃 thought the Countess。 〃I must not let him out of my sight。 Ah； poor Alicia！〃
But in time； when the dusk was thickening so fast that her son…in…law's broad back had already grown indistinct of outline； and no voice or footstep had come near their prison； her thoughts began to wander from his case to her own。 The outrageous conduct of those Americans in discrediting her word and incarcerating her person； though overshadowed at the time by the yet greater atrocity of the Baron's behavior； now loomed up in formidable proportions。 And the gravity of their offence was emphasized by an unpleasant sensation she now began to experience with considerable acuteness。
〃Do they mean to starve us as well as insult us？〃 she wondered。
The Baron's thoughts also seemed to have drifted into a different channel。 He no longer sang； he fidgeted in his chair； he even softly groaned； and at last he actually changed his attitude so far as to survey the dim form of his mother…in…law over one shoulder。
〃Oh； ze devil！〃 he exclaimed aloud。 〃I am so hongry！〃
〃That is no reason why you should also be profane；〃 said the Countess severely。
〃I did not speak to you；〃 retorted the Baron； and again a constrained silence fell on the room。
The Baron was the first to break it。
〃Ha！〃 he cried。 〃I hear a step。〃
〃Thank God！〃 exclaimed the Countess devoutly。
In the blaze of a stable lantern there entered to them Dugald M'Culloch； jailor。
〃Will you be for any supper？〃 he inquired； with a politeness he felt due to prisoners with purses。
〃I do starve！〃 replied the Baron。
〃And I am nearly fainting！〃 cried the Countess。
Both rose with an alacrity astonishing in people so nearly exhausted； and made as though they would pass out。 With a deprecatory gesture Dugald arrested them。
〃I will bring your supper fery soon；〃 said he。
〃Here？〃 gasped the Countess。
〃It is the master's orders。〃
〃Tell him I vill have him ponished mit ze law； if he does not let me come out！〃 roared the Baron。
Their jailor was courtesy itself； but it was in their prison that they suppeda silent meal； and very plain。 And； bitterest pill of all； they were further informed that in their prison they must pass the night。
〃In ze same room！〃 cried the Baron frantically。 〃Impossible！ Improper！〃
Even his mother…in…law's solicitude shrank from this vigil； but with unruffled consideration for their comfort their guardian and his assistants made up two beds forthwith。 The Baron； subdued to a fierce and snarling moodiness； watched their preparations with a lurid eye。
〃Put not zat bed so near ze door；〃 he snapped。
In his ear his jailor whispered； 〃That one's for you； sir； and dinna put off your clothes！〃
The Baron started； and from that moment his air of resignation began to affront the Countess as deeply as his previous violence。 When they were again alone； stretched in black darkness each upon their couch； she lifted up her voice in a last word of protest
〃Rudolph！ have you no single feeling for me left？ Why didn't you stab that man？〃
But the Baron merely retorted with a lifelike affectation of snoring。
CHAPTER XXXVI
For a long time the Baron lay wide awake； every sense alert； listening for the creak of a footstep on the wooden stair that led up from the harness…room to his prison。 What else could the strange words of Dugald have meant； save that some friend proposed to climb those stairs and gently open that stubborn door？ And in this opinion he had been confirmed when he observed that on Dugald's departure the key turned with a silence suggesting a recently oiled lock。 His bed lay along the wall； with the head so close to the door that any one opening it and stretching forth a hand could tweak him by the nose without an effort （supposing that were the object of their visit）。 Clearly； he thought； it was not thus arranged without some very special purpose。 Yet when hour after hour passed and nothing happened； he began to sleep fitfully； and at last； worn out with fruitless waiting； dropped into a profound slumber。
He was in the midst of a harassing dream or drama； wherein Bunker and Eva played an incoherent part and he himself passed wearily from peril to peril； when the stage suddenly was cleared； his eyes started open； and he became wakefully conscious of a little ray of light that fell upon his face。 Before he could raise his head a soft voice whispered urgently；
〃Don't move！〃
With admirable self…control he obeyed implicitly。
〃Who is zere？〃 he whispered back。
The voice seemed for a moment to hesitate； and then answered
〃Eleanor Maddison！〃
He started so audibly that again she breathed peremptorily
〃Hush！ Lie still till I come back。 Youyou don't deserve it； but I want to save you from the disgrace of arrest。〃
〃Ach； zank youmine better angel！〃 he murmured； with a fervor that seemed not unpleasing to his rescuer。
〃You really are a nobleman in trouble？〃
〃I swear I am！〃
〃And didn't mean anything really wrong？〃
〃Neveroh； never！〃
More kindly than before she murmured
〃Well； I guess I'll take you out； then。 I've bribed Dugald； so that's all right。 When my car's ready I'll send him up for you。 You just lie still till he comes。〃
From which it appears that Count Bunker's appreciation of the sex fell short of their meed。
Hardly daring to breathe for fear of awakening his fellow…prisoner； trembling with agitation； and consumed by a mad impatience for action； the Baron passed five of the longest minutes he had ever endured。 At the end of that time he heard a stealthy step upon the stairs； and with infinite precautions threw off his bedclothes and sat upright； ready for instant departure。 But how slowly and with what a superfluity of precaution his jailor moved！ When the door at length opened he wondered that no ray of light fell this time。
〃Dugald！〃 he whispered eagerly。
〃Hush！〃 replied a softer voice than Dugald's； as soft； indeed； as Eleanor's； yet clearly different。
〃Who is zat？〃 he gasped。
〃Eva Gallosh！〃 said the silken voice。 〃Oh； is that you？〃
〃Yesyesit is me。〃
〃And are you really a Baron and an ambassador？〃
〃Oh yesyescertainly I am。〃
〃Thenthen I've come to help you to escape！ I've bribed Dugaldand I've got a dog…cart here。 Come quicklybut oh； be very quiet！〃
For a moment the Baron actually hesitated to flee from that loathed apartment。 It seemed to him that if Fortune desired to provide him with opportunities of escape she might have had the sense to offer these one at a time。 For how could he tell which of these overtures to close with？ A wrong decision might be fatal； yet time unquestionably pressed。
〃Mein Gott！〃 he muttered irresolutely； 〃vich shall I do？〃
At that moment the other bed creaked； and； to his infinite horror； he heard a suspicious voice demand
〃Is that you talking； Rudolph？〃
Poor Eva； who was quite unaware of the presence of another prisoner； uttered a stifled shriek； with a cry of 〃Fly； quickly！〃 the Baron leaped from his bed； and headlong down the wooden stairs they clattered for freedom。
A dim vision of the thrice…bribed Dugald； screeching； 〃The car's ready for ye； sir！〃 but increased their speed。
Outside； a motor car stood panting by the door； and in the youthful driver； turning a pale face toward them in the lamp's radiance； the Baron had just time to recognize his first fair deliverer。
〃Good…bye！〃 he whispered to his second； and flung himself in。
Some one followed him； the door was slammed； and with a mighty throbbing they began to move。
〃Rudolph！ Rudolph！〃 wailed a voice behind them。
〃Zank ze goodness SHE is not here！〃 exclaimed the Baron。
〃Whisht！ whisht！〃 he could hear Dugald expostulate。
With a violent start he turned to the fellow…passenger who had followed him in。
〃Are you not Dugald？〃 he demanded hoarsely。
〃Noit'sit's me！ I dursn't wait for my dog… cart！〃
〃Eva！〃 he murmured。 〃Oh； Himmel！ Vat shall I do？〃
Only a screen of glass separated his two rescuers； and the one had but to turn her head and look inside； or the other to study with any attention the roll of hair beneath their driver's cap； in order to lead to most embarrass
