the pension beaurepas-第14章

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in　by　this　time。〃　　When　I　had　drawn　my　money　I　asked　him　to　come　and
breakfast　with　me　at　the　little　brasserie；　much　favoured　by　students；
to　which　I　used　to　resort　in　the　old　town。　　〃I　couldn't　eat；　sir；〃　he
said；　〃Icouldn't　eat。　　Bad　news　takes　away　the　appetite。　　But　I
guess　I'll　go　with　you；　so　that　I　needn't　go　to　table　down　there　at
the　pension。　　The　old　woman　down　there　is　always　accusing　me　of
turning　up　my　nose　at　her　food。　　Well；　I　guess　I　shan't　turn　up　my
nose　at　anything　now。〃

We　went　to　the　little　brasserie；　where　poor　Mr。　Ruck　made　the
lightest　possible　breakfast。　　But　if　he　ate　very　little；　he　talked　a
great　deal；　he　talked　about　business；　going　into　a　hundred　details　in
which　I　was　quite　unable　to　follow　him。　　His　talk　was　not　angry　nor
bitter；　it　was　a　long；　meditative；　melancholy　monologue；　if　it　had
been　a　trifle　less　incoherent　I　should　almost　have　called　it
philosophic。　　I　was　very　sorry　for　him；　I　wanted　to　do　something　for
him；　but　the　only　thing　I　could　do　was；　when　we　had　breakfasted；　to
see　him　safely　back　to　the　Pension　Beaurepas。　　We　went　across　the
Treille　and　down　the　Corraterie；　out　of　which　we　turned　into　the　Rue
du　Rhone。　　In　this　latter　street；　as　all　the　world　knows；　are　many　of
those　brilliant　jewellers'　shops　for　which　Geneva　is　famous。　　I
always　admired　their　glittering　windows；　and　never　passed　them
without　a　lingering　glance。　　Even　on　this　occasion；　pre…occupied　as　I
was　with　my　impending　departure；　and　with　my　companion's　troubles；　I
suffered　my　eyes　to　wander　along　the　precious　tiers　that　flashed　and
twinkled　behind　the　huge　clear　plates　of　glass。　　Thanks　to　this
inveterate　habit；　I　made　a　discovery。　　In　the　largest　and　most
brilliant　of　these　establishments　I　perceived　two　ladies；　seated
before　the　counter　with　an　air　of　absorption；　which　sufficiently
proclaimed　their　identity。　　I　hoped　my　companion　would　not　see　them；
but　as　we　came　abreast　of　the　door；　a　little　beyond；　we　found　it　open
to　the　warm　summer　air。　　Mr。　Ruck　happened　to　glance　in；　and　he
immediately　recognised　his　wife　and　daughter。　　He　slowly　stopped；
looking　at　them；　I　wondered　what　he　would　do。　　The　salesman　was
holding　up　a　bracelet　before　them；　on　its　velvet　cushion；　and
flashing　it　about　in　an　irresistible　manner。

Mr。　Ruck　said　nothing；　but　he　presently　went　in；　and　I　did　the　same。

〃It　will　be　an　opportunity；〃　I　remarked；　as　cheerfully　as　possible；
〃for　me　to　bid　good…bye　to　the　ladies。〃

They　turned　round　when　Mr。　Ruck　came　in；　and　looked　at　him　without
confusion。　　〃Well；　you　had　better　go　home　to　breakfast；〃　remarked　his
wife。　　Miss　Sophy　made　no　remark；　but　she　took　the　bracelet　from　the
attendant　and　gazed　at　it　very　fixedly。　　Mr。　Ruck　seated　himself　on
an　empty　stool　and　looked　round　the　shop。

〃Well；　you　have　been　here　before；〃　said　his　wife；　〃you　were　here　the
first　day　we　came。〃

Miss　Ruck　extended　the　precious　object　in　her　hands　towards　me。
〃Don't　you　think　that　sweet？〃　she　inquired。

I　looked　at　it　a　moment。　　〃No；　I　think　it's　ugly。〃

She　glanced　at　me　a　moment；　incredulous。　　〃Well；　I　don't　believe　you
have　any　taste。〃

〃Why；　sir；　it's　just　lovely；〃　said　Mrs。　Ruck。

〃You'll　see　it　some　day　on　me；　any　way；〃　her　daughter　declared。

〃No；　he　won't；〃　said　Mr。　Ruck；　quietly。

〃It　will　be　his　own　fault；　then；〃　Miss　Sophy　observed。

〃Well；　if　we　are　going　to　Chamouni　we　want　to　get　something　here；〃
said　Mrs。　Ruck。　　〃We　may　not　have　another　chance。〃

Mr。　Ruck　was　still　looking　round　the　shop；　whistling　in　a　very　low
tone。　　〃We　ain't　going　to　Chamouni。　　We　are　going　to　New　York　city；
straight。〃

〃Well；　I'm　glad　to　hear　that；〃　said　Mrs。　Ruck。　　〃Don't　you　suppose　we
want　to　take　something　home？〃

〃If　we　are　going　straight　back　I　must　have　that　bracelet；〃　her
daughter　declared；　〃Only　I　don't　want　a　velvet　case；　I　want　a　satin
case。〃

〃I　must　bid　you　good…bye；〃　I　said　to　the　ladies。　　〃I　am　leaving
Geneva　in　an　hour　or　two。〃

〃Take　a　good　look　at　that　bracelet；　so　you'll　know　it　when　you　see
it；〃　said　Miss　Sophy。

〃She's　bound　to　have　something；〃　remarked　her　mother；　almost　proudly。

Mr。　Ruck　was　still　vaguely　inspecting　the　shop；　he　was　still
whistling　a　little。　　〃I　am　afraid　he　is　not　at　all　well；〃　I　said；
softly；　to　his　wife。

She　twisted　her　head　a　little；　and　glanced　at　him。

〃Well；　I　wish　he'd　improve！〃　she　exclaimed。

〃A　satin　case；　and　a　nice　one！〃　said　Miss　Ruck　to　the　shopman。

I　bade　Mr。　Ruck　good…bye。　　〃Don't　wait　for　me；〃　he　said；　sitting
there　on　his　stool；　and　not　meeting　my　eye。　　〃I've　got　to　see　this
thing　through。〃

I　went　back　to　the　Pension　Beaurepas；　and　when；　an　hour　later；　I　left
it　with　my　luggage；　the　family　had　not　returned。







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