novel notes-第43章

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ge　things　that　never　would；　or　could；　be　soldthings　he　had　made　for　the　pure　love　of　making　them。　　He　had　contrived　a　mechanical　donkey　that　would　trot　for　two　hours　by　means　of　stored　electricity；　and　trot；　too；　much　faster　than　the　live　article；　and　with　less　need　for　exertion　on　the　part　of　the　driver；　a　bird　that　would　shoot　up　into　the　air；　fly　round　and　round　in　a　circle；　and　drop　to　earth　at　the　exact　spot　from　where　it　started；　a　skeleton　that；　supported　by　an　upright　iron　bar；　would　dance　a　hornpipe；　a　life…size　lady　doll　that　could　play　the　fiddle；　and　a　gentleman　with　a　hollow　inside　who　could　smoke　a　pipe　and　drink　more　lager　beer　than　any　three　average　German　students　put　together；　which　is　saying　much。

〃Indeed；　it　was　the　belief　of　the　town　that　old　Geibel　could　make　a　man　capable　of　doing　everything　that　a　respectable　man　need　want　to　do。　　One　day　he　made　a　man　who　did　too　much；　and　it　came　about　in　this　way。

〃Young　Doctor　Follen　had　a　baby；　and　the　baby　had　a　birthday。　　Its　first　birthday　put　Doctor　Follen's　household　into　somewhat　of　a　flurry；　but　on　the　occasion　of　its　second　birthday；　Mrs。　Doctor　Follen　gave　a　ball　in　honour　of　the　event。　　Old　Geibel　and　his　daughter　Olga　were　among　the　guests。

〃During　the　afternoon　of　the　next　day；　some　three　or　four　of　Olga's　bosom　friends；　who　had　also　been　present　at　the　ball；　dropped　in　to　have　a　chat　about　it。　　They　naturally　fell　to　discussing　the　men；　and　to　criticising　their　dancing。　　Old　Geibel　was　in　the　room；　but　he　appeared　to　be　absorbed　in　his　newspaper；　and　the　girls　took　no　notice　of　him。

〃'There　seem　to　be　fewer　men　who　can　dance；　at　every　ball　you　go　to；'　said　one　of　the　girls。

〃'Yes；　and　don't　the　ones　who　can；　give　themselves　airs；'　said　another；　'they　make　quite　a　favour　of　asking　you。'

〃'And　how　stupidly　they　talk；'　added　a　third。　　'They　always　say　exactly　the　same　things：　　〃How　charming　you　are　looking　to…night。〃　〃Do　you　often　go　to　Vienna？　　Oh；　you　should；　it's　delightful。〃　〃What　a　charming　dress　you　have　on。〃　　〃What　a　warm　day　it　has　been。〃　〃Do　you　like　Wagner？〃　　I　do　wish　they'd　think　of　something　new。'

〃'Oh；　I　never　mind　how　they　talk；'　said　a　fourth。　　'If　a　man　dances　well　he　may　be　a　fool　for　all　I　care。'

〃'He　generally　is；'　slipped　in　a　thin　girl；　rather　spitefully。

〃'I　go　to　a　ball　to　dance；'　continued　the　previous　speaker；　not　noticing　the　interruption。　　'All　I　ask　of　a　partner　is　that　he　shall　hold　me　firmly；　take　me　round　steadily；　and　not　get　tired　before　I　do。'

〃'A　clockwork　figure　would　be　the　thing　for　you；'　said　the　girl　who　had　interrupted。

〃'Bravo！'　cried　one　of　the　others；　clapping　her　hands；　'what　a　capital　idea！'

〃'What's　a　capital　idea？'　they　asked。

〃'Why；　a　clockwork　dancer；　or；　better　still；　one　that　would　go　by　electricity　and　never　run　down。'

〃The　girls　took　up　the　idea　with　enthusiasm。

〃'Oh；　what　a　lovely　partner　he　would　make；'　said　one；　'he　would　never　kick　you；　or　tread　on　your　toes。'

〃'Or　tear　your　dress；'　said　another。

〃'Or　get　out　of　step。'

〃'Or　get　giddy　and　lean　on　you。'

〃'And　he　would　never　want　to　mop　his　face　with　his　handkerchief。　　I　do　hate　to　see　a　man　do　that　after　every　dance。'

〃'And　wouldn't　want　to　spend　the　whole　evening　in　the　supper…room。'

〃'Why；　with　a　phonograph　inside　him　to　grind　out　all　the　stock　remarks；　you　would　not　be　able　to　tell　him　from　a　real　man；'　said　the　girl　who　had　first　suggested　the　idea。

〃'Oh　yes；　you　would；'　said　the　thin　girl；　'he　would　be　so　much　nicer。'

〃Old　Geibel　had　laid　down　his　paper；　and　was　listening　with　both　his　ears。　　On　one　of　the　girls　glancing　in　his　direction；　however；　he　hurriedly　hid　himself　again　behind　it。

〃After　the　girls　were　gone；　he　went　into　his　workshop；　where　Olga　heard　him　walking　up　and　down；　and　every　now　and　then　chuckling　to　himself；　and　that　night　he　talked　to　her　a　good　deal　about　dancing　and　dancing　menasked　what　they　usually　said　and　didwhat　dances　were　most　popularwhat　steps　were　gone　through；　with　many　other　questions　bearing　on　the　subject。

〃Then　for　a　couple　of　weeks　he　kept　much　to　his　factory；　and　was　very　thoughtful　and　busy；　though　prone　at　unexpected　moments　to　break　into　a　quiet　low　laugh；　as　if　enjoying　a　joke　that　nobody　else　knew　of。

〃A　month　later　another　ball　took　place　in　Furtwangen。　　On　this　occasion　it　was　given　by　old　Wenzel；　the　wealthy　timber　merchant；　to　celebrate　his　niece's　betrothal；　and　Geibel　and　his　daughter　were　again　among　the　invited。

〃When　the　hour　arrived　to　set　out；　Olga　sought　her　father。　　Not　finding　him　in　the　house；　she　tapped　at　the　door　of　his　workshop。　He　appeared　in　his　shirt…sleeves；　looking　hot；　but　radiant。

〃'Don't　wait　for　me；'　he　said；　'you　go　on；　I'll　follow　you。　　I've　got　something　to　finish。'

〃As　she　turned　to　obey　he　called　after　her；　'Tell　them　I'm　going　to　bring　a　young　man　with　mesuch　a　nice　young　man；　and　an　excellent　dancer。　　All　the　girls　will　like　him。'　　Then　he　laughed　and　closed　the　door。

〃Her　father　generally　kept　his　doings　secret　from　everybody；　but　she　had　a　pretty　shrewd　suspicion　of　what　he　had　been　planning；　and　so；　to　a　certain　extent；　was　able　to　prepare　the　guests　for　what　was　coming。　　Anticipation　ran　high；　and　the　arrival　of　the　famous　mechanist　was　eagerly　awaited。

〃At　length　the　sound　of　wheels　was　heard　outside；　followed　by　a　great　commotion　in　the　passage；　and　old　Wenzel　himself；　his　jolly　face　red　with　excitement　and　suppressed　laughter；　burst　into　the　room　and　announced　in　stentorian　tones：

〃'Herr　Geibeland　a　friend。'

〃Herr　Geibel　and　his　'friend'　entered；　greeted　with　shouts　of　laughter　and　applause；　and　advanced　to　the　centre　of　the　room。

〃'Allow　me；　ladies　and　gentlemen；'　said　Herr　Geibel；　'to　introduce　you　to　my　friend；　Lieutenant　Fritz。　　Fritz；　my　dear　fellow；　bow　to　the　ladies　and　gentlemen。'

〃Geibel　placed　his　hand　encouragingly　on　Fritz's　shoulder；　and　the　lieutenant　bowed　low；　accompanying　the　action　with　a　harsh　clicking　noise　in　his　throat；　unpleasantly　suggestive　of　a　death　rattle。　　But　that　was　only　a　detail。

〃'He　walks　a　little　stiffly'　（old　Geibel　took　his　arm　and　walked　him　forward　a　few　steps。　　He　certainly　did　walk　stiffly）；　'but　then；　walking　is　not　his　forte。　　He　is　essentially　a　dancing　man。　　I　have　only　been　able　to　teach　him　the　waltz　as　yet；　but　at　that　he　is　faultless。　　Come；　which　of　you　ladies　may　I　introduce　him　to；　as　a　partner？　　He　keeps　perfect　time；　he　never　gets　tired；　he　won't　kick　you　or　tread　on　your　dress；　he　will　hold　you　as　firmly　as　you　like；　and　go　as　quickly　or　as　slowly　as　you　please；　he　never　gets　giddy；　and　he　is　full　of　conversation。　　Come；　speak　up　for　yourself；　my　boy。'

〃The　old　gentleman　twisted　one　of　the　buttons　of　his　coat；　and　immediately　Fritz　opened　his　mouth；　and　in　thin　tones　that　appeared　to　proceed　from　the　back　of　his　head；　remarked　suddenly；　'May　I　have　the　pleasure？'　and　then　shut　his　mouth　again　with　a　snap。

〃That　Lieutenant　Fritz　had　made　a　strong　impression　on　the　company　was　undoubted；　yet　none　of　the　girls　seemed　inclined　to　dance　with　him。　　They　looked　askance　at　his　waxen　face；　with　its　staring　eyes　and　fixed　smile；　and　shuddered。　　At　last　old　Geibel　came　to　the　girl　who　had　conceived　the　idea。

〃'It　is　your　own　suggestion；　carried　out　to　the　letter；'　said　Geibel；　'an　electric　dancer。　　You　owe　it　to　the　gentleman　to　give　him　a　trial。'

〃She　was　a　bright　saucy　little　girl；　fond　of　a　frolic。　　Her　host　added　his　entreaties；　and　she　consented。

〃Herr　Geibel　fixed　the　figure　to　her。　　Its　right　arm　was　screwed　round　her　waist；　and　held　her　firmly；　its　delicately　jointed　left　hand　was　made　to　fasten　itself　upon　her　right。　　The　old　toymaker　showed　her　how　to　regulate　its　speed；　and　how　to　stop　it；　and　release　herself。

〃'It　will　take　you　round　in　a　complete　circle；'　he　explained；　'be　careful　that　no　one　knocks　against　you；　and　alters　its　course。'

〃The　music　struck　up。　　Old　Geibel　put　the　current　in　motion；　and　Annette　and　her　strange　partner　began　to　dance。

〃For　a　while　every　one　stood　watching　them。　　The　figure　performed　its　purpose　admirably。　　Keeping　perfect　time　and　step；　and　holding　its　little　partner　tightly　clasped　in　an　unyielding　embrace；　it　revolved　steadily；　pouring　forth　at　the　sa