count bunker-第27部分

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As　he　set　about　his　packing　in　the　half…hour　that　yet　remained　before　luncheon；　he　was　surprised　to　note　that　his　friend　had　evidently　left　no　orders　yet　concerning　any　preparations　for　his　departure。

〃Confound　him！　　I　thought　he　had　made　up　his　mind　last　night！　　Ah；　there　he　comesand　singing；　too；　by　Jingo！　　If　he　wants　another　day's　dalliance〃

At　this　point　his　reflections　were　interrupted　by　the　entrance　of　the　jovial　Baron　himself。　　He　stopped　and　stared　at　his　friend。

〃Vat　for　do　you　pack　up？〃

〃Because　we　leave　this　afternoon。〃

〃Ach；　Bonker；　absurd！　　To…morrowyes；　to…morrow　ve　vill　leave。〃

Bunker　folded　his　arms　and　looked　at　him　seriously。

〃I　have　had　two　interviews　this　morningone　with　Mr。　Maddison；　the　other　with　Mr。　Gallosh。　　They　were　neither　of　them　pleased　with　you；　Baron。〃

〃Not　pleased？　　Vat　did　zey　say？〃

Depicting　the　ire　of　these　gentlemen　in　the　most　vivid　terms；　the　Count　gave　him　a　summary　of　his　morning's　labors。

〃Pooh；　pooh！　　Tuts；　tuts！〃　exclaimed　the　Baron。　　〃I　vill　make　zat　all　right；　never　do　you　fear。　　Eva；　she　does　smile　on　me　already。　　Eleanor；　she　vill　also　ven　I　see　her。　　Leave　it　to　me。〃

〃You　won't　go　to…day？〃

〃To…morrow；　Bonker；　I　swear　I　vill　for　certain！〃

Bonker　pondered。

〃Hang　it！〃　he　exclaimed。　　〃The　worst　of　it　is；　I've　pledged　myself　to　go　upon　a　visit。〃

The　Baron　listened　to　the　tale　of　his　incipient　romance　with　the　greatest　relish。

〃Bot　go；　my　friend！　　Bot　go！〃　he　cried；　〃and　zen　come　back　here　to…morrow　and　ve　vill　leave　togezzer。〃

〃Leave　you　alone；　with　the　barometer　falling　and　the　storm…cone　hoisted？　　I　don't　like　to；　Baron。〃

〃Bot　to　leave　zat　leetle　girleh；　Bonker？　　How　is　zat？〃

〃Was　ever　a　man　so　torn　between　two　duties！〃　exclaimed　the　conscientious　Count。

〃Ladies　come　first！〃　quoth　the　Baron。

Bunker　was　obviously　strongly　tending　to　this　opinion　also。

〃Can　I　trust　you　to　guide　your　own　destinies　without　me？〃

The　Baron　drew　himself　up　with　a　touch　of　indignation。

〃Am　I　a　child　or　a　fool？　　I　have　guided　mine　destiny　vary　vell　so　far；　and　I　zink　I　can　still　so　do。　　Ven　vill　you　go　to　see　Miss　Wallingford？〃

〃I'll　hire　a　trap　from　the　village　after　lunch　and　be　off　about　four；〃　said　the　Count。　　〃Long　live　the　ladies！　　Learn　wisdom　by　my　example！　　Will　this　tie　conquer　her；　do　you　think？〃

In　this　befitting　spirit　he　drove　off　that　afternoon；　and　the　Baron；　after　waving　his　adieus　from　the　door；　strode　brimful　of　confidence　towards　the　drawing…room。　　His　thoughts　must　have　gone　astray；　for　he　turned　by　accident　into　the　wrong　rooma　small　apartment　hardly　used　at　all；　and　before　he　had　time　to　turn　back　he　stopped　petrified　at　the　sight　of　a　picture　on　the　wall。　　There　could　be　no　mistakeit　was　the　original　of　that　ill…omened　print　he　had　seen　in　the　Edinburgh　hotel；　〃The　Execution　of　Lord　Tulliwuddle。〃　The　actual　title　was　there　plain　to　see。

〃Zen　it　vas　not　a　hoax！〃　he　gasped。

His　first　impulse　was　to　look　for　a　bicycle　and　tear　after　the　dog…cart。

〃But　can　I　ride　him　in　a　kilt？〃　he　reflected。

By　the　time　he　had　fully　debated　this　knotty　point　his　friend　was　miles　upon　his　way；　and　the　Baron　was　left　ruefully　to　lament　his　rashness　in　parting　with　such　an　ally。



CHAPTER　XXVII

During　the　horrid　period　of　suspense　that　followed　her　visit　to　Sir　Justin；　the　Baroness　von　Blitzenberg　naturally　enough　felt　disinclined　to　go　much　into　society；　and　in　fact　rarely　went　out　at　all　during　the　Baron's　absence；　except　to　the　houses　of　one　or　two　of　her　mother's　particular　friends。　　Even　then　she　felt　much　more　inclined　to　stay　at　home。

〃Need　we　go　to　Mrs。　Jerwin…Speedy's　to…night？〃　she　said　one　afternoon。

〃Certainly；〃　replied　the　Countess　decisively。

Alicia　sighed　submissively；　but　this　attitude　was　abruptly　changed　into　one　of　readiness；　nay；　even　of　alacrity；　when　her　mother　remarked

〃By　the　way；　she　is　an　aunt　of　the　present　Tulliwuddle。　　I　believe　it　was　you　who　were　asking　about　him　the　other　day。〃

〃Was　I？〃　said　the　Baroness　carelessly；　but　she　offered　no　further　objections　to　attending　Mrs。　Jerwin…　Speedy's　reception。

She　found　there　a　large　number　of　people　compressed　into　a　couple　of　small　rooms；　and　she　soon　felt　so　lost　in　the　crush　of　strangers；　and　the　chances　of　obtaining　any　information　about　Lord　Tulliwuddle　or　his　Eva　seemed　so　remote；　that　she　soon　began　to　wish　herself　comfortably　at　home　again；　even　though　it　were　only　to　fret。　　But　fortune；　which　had　so　long　been　unkind　to　her　and　indulgent　to　her　erring　spouse；　chose　that　night　as　the　turning…point　in　her　tide　of　favors。　　Little　dreaming　how　much　hung　on　a　mere　introduction；　Mrs。　Jerwin…Speedy　led　up　to　the　Baroness　an　apparently　nervous　and　diffident　young　man。

〃Let　me　introduce　my　nephew；　Lord　Tulliwuddle　the　Baroness　von　Blitzenberg；〃　said　she；　and　having　innocently　hurled　this　bomb；　retired　from　further　participation　in　the　drama。

With　young　and　diffident　men　Alicia　had　a　pleasant　instinct　for　conducting　herself　as　smilingly　as　though　they　were　the　greatest　wits　about　the　town。　　The　envious　of　her　sex　declared　that　it　was　because　she　scarcely　recognized　the　difference；　but　be　that　as　it　may；　it　served　her　on　this　occasion　in　the　most　admirable　stead。　　She　detached　the　agitated　peer　from　the　thickest　of　the　throng；　propped　him　beside　her　against　the　wall；　and　by　her　kindness　at　length　unloosed　his　tongue。　　Then　it　was　she　began　to　suspect　that　his　nervous　manner　must　surely　be　due　to　some　peculiar　circumstance　rather　than　mere　constitutional　shyness。　　Made　observant　by　her　keen　curiosity；　she　noticed　at　first　a　worried；　almost　hunted；　look　in　his　eyes　and　an　extreme　impatience　of　scrutiny　by　his　fellow…guests；　but　as　he　gained　confidence　in　her　kindness　and　discretion　these　passed　away；　and　he　appeared　simply　a　garrulous　young　man；　with　a　tolerably　good　opinion　of　himself。

〃Poor　fellow！　　He　is　in　trouble　of　some　kind。　　Something　to　do　with　Eva；　of　course！〃　she　said　to　her　sympathetically。

The　genuine　Tulliwuddle　had　indeed　some　cause　for　perturbation。　　After　keeping　himself　out　of　the　way　of　all　his　friends　and　most　of　his　acquaintances　ever　since　the　departure　of　his　substitute；　hearing　nothing　of　what　was　happening　at　Hechnahoul；　and　living　in　daily　dread　of　the　ignominious　exposure　of　their　plot；　he　had　stumbled　by　accident　against　his　aunt；　explained　his　prolonged　absence　from　her　house　with　the　utmost　difficulty；　and　found　himself　forced　to　appease　her　wounded　feelings　by　appearing　where　he　least　wished　to　be　seenin　a　crowded　London　reception…room。　　No　wonder　the　unfortunate　young　man　seemed　nervous　and　ill　at　ease。

As　for　Alicia；　she　was　consumed　with　anxiety　to　know　why　he　was　here　and　not　in　Scotland；　as　Sir　Justin　had　supposed；　and；　indeed；　to　learn　a　number　of　things。　　And　now　they　were　rapidly　getting　on　sufficiently　familiar　terms　for　her　to　put　a　tactful　question　or　two。　　Encouraged　by　her　sympathy；　he　began　to　touch　upon　his　own　anxieties。

〃A　young　man　ought　to　get　married；　I　suppose；〃　he　remarked　confidentially。

The　Baroness　smiled。

〃That　depends　on　whether　he　likes　any　one　well　enough　to　marry　her；　doesn't　it？〃

He　sighed。

〃Do　you　thinkhonestly　now；〃　he　said　solemnly；　〃that　one　should　marry　for　love　or　marry　for　money？〃

〃For　love；　certainly！〃

〃You　really　think　so？　　You'd　adviseeradvise　a　fellow　to　blow　the　prejudices　of　his　friends；　and　that　sort　of　thing？〃

〃I　should　have　to　know　a　little　more　about　the　case。〃

He　was　evidently　longing　for　a　confidant。

〃Suppose　erone　girl　was　ripping；　butwell　on　the　stage；　for　instance。〃

〃On　the　stage！〃　exclaimed　the　Baroness。　　〃Yes；　please　go　on。　　What　about　the　other　girl？〃

〃Suppose　she　had　simply　pots　of　money；　but　the　fellow　didn't　know　much　more　about　her？〃

〃I　certainly　shouldn't　marry　a　girl　I　didn't　know　a　good　deal　about；〃　said　the　Baroness　with　conviction。

Lord　Tulliwuddle　seemed　impressed　with　this　opinion。

〃That's　just　what　I　have　begun　to　think；〃　said　he；　and　gazed　down　at　his　pumps　with　a　meditative　air。

The　Baroness　thought　the　moment　had　come　when　she　could　effect　a　pretty　little　surprise。

〃Which　of　them　is　called　Eva？〃　she　asked　archly。

To　her　intense　disappointment　he　merely　stared。

〃Don't　you　really　know　any　girl　called　Eva？〃

He　shook　his　head。

〃Can't　think　of　any　one。〃

Suspicion；　fear；　bewilderment；　made　her　reckless。

〃Have　you　been　in　Scotlandat　your　castle；　as　I　heard　you　were　going？〃

A　mighty　change　came　over　the　young　man。　　He　backed　away　from　her；　stammering　hurriedly

〃NoyesIerwhy　do　you　ask　me　that？〃

〃Is　there　any　other　Lord　Tulliwuddle？〃　she　demanded　breathlessly。

He　gave　her　one　wild　look；　and　then　without　so　much　as　a　farewell　had　turned　and　elbowed　his　way　out　of　the　room。

〃It's　all　up！〃　he　said　to　himself。　　〃There's　no　use　trying　to　play　that　game　any　longerEssington　has　muddled　it　somehow。　　Well；　I'm　free　to　do　what　I　like　now！〃

In　this　state　of　mind　he　found　himself　in　the　street；　hailed　the　first　hansom；　and　drove　headlong　from　the　dangerous　regions　of　Belgravia。

　。　　　。　　　　。　　　　。　　　　。　　　　。

Till　the　middle　of　the　next　day　the　Baroness　still　managed　to　keep　her　own　counsel；　though　she　was　now　so　alarmed　that　she　was　twenty　times　on　the　p