count bunker-第30部分

快捷操作: 按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页 按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页 按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部! 如果本书没有阅读完，想下次继续接着阅读，可使用上方 "收藏到我的浏览器" 功能 和 "加入书签" 功能！


〃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　always　makes　things　seem　different。〃

Julia　sighed；　but　summed　up　her　courage　to　read　out

〃　'When　woman　is　prized　according　to　her　intellect　and　man　according　to　his　virtue；　oh；　then　mankind　will　return　to　Eden！'　〃

〃That；〃　said　he；　〃is　one　of　the　rare　instances　of　my　uncle's　pessimism。〃

〃Of　his　pessimism！　　How　can　you　say　that？〃

〃He　meant　to　imply　that　mankind　would　have　to　wait　for　some　considerable　time。　　But　do　not　feel　dismayed。　　My　own　opinion　is　that　so　long　as　woman　is　fair　and　man　has　the　wit　to　appreciate　her；　we　ARE　in　Eden。〃

The　gracious　tone　in　which　he　delivered　this　dictum；　and　the　moving　smile　that　accompanied　it；　appeared　to　atone　completely　for　his　relative's　cynical　philosophy。　　With　a　smile　and　a　sigh　Julia　murmured

〃Do　you　really　think　so？〃

〃I　do；〃　said　the　Count　fervently；　〃and　now　suppose　we　were　to　have　a　little　music？〃

〃Oh　yes！〃　cried　Miss　Minchell；　〃do　you　perform；　Count　Bunker？〃

〃I　sometimes　sing　a　little　to　the　guitar。〃

〃To　the　guitar！〃　said　Julia。　　〃How　delicious！　　Have　you　brought　it？〃

〃I　have　been　so　bold；〃　he　smiled；　and　promptly　went　to　fetch　this　instrument。

In　a　few　minutes　he　returned　with　an　apologetic　air。

〃I　find　that　by　some　error　they　have　sent　me　away　with　a　banjo　instead；〃　he　exclaimed。　　〃But　I　dare　say　I　could　manage　an　accompaniment　on　that　if　you　would　condescend　to　listen　to　me。〃

He　felt　so　exceedingly　disinclined　for　expounding　a　philosophy　any　longer　that　he　gave　them　no　time　to　dissent；　even　had　they　wished　to；　but　on　the　instant　struck　up　that　pathetic　ditty

　　　　　　　　　　〃Down　by　whar　de　beans　grow　blue。〃


And　no　sooner　had　he　finished　it　than　（barely　waiting　for　his　meed　of　applause）　he　further　regaled　them　with

　　　　　　　　　　〃Twould　make　a　fellow　　　　　　　　　　　　　Turn　green　and　yellow！


Finally；　as　a　tit…bit；　he　contributed

　　　　　　　　　　〃When　hubby　s　gone　to　Brighton；　　　　　　　　　　　　　And　I　ve　sent　the　cook　to　bed；　　　　　　　　　　　　　Oh　who's　that　a…knocking　on　the　window！〃


At　the　conclusion　of　this　concert　he　knew　not　whether　to　feel　more　relieved　or　chagrined　to　observe　that　his　fair　hostess　had　her　eyes　fixed　upon　the　clock。　　Thanking　him　with　a　slightly　embarrassed　air；　she　threw　a　pointed　glance　at　Miss　Minchell；　and　the　two　ladies　rose。

〃I　am　afraid　you　will　think　we　keep　very　early　hours；〃　she　began。

〃It　is　one　of　the　best　rules　in　my　uncle's　philosophy；〃　he　interposed。

Yet　though　glad　enough　to　have　come　so　triumphantly　to　the　end　of　his　ordeal；　he　could　not　bring　himself　to　let　his　charming　disciple　leave　him　in　a　wounded　or　even　disappointed　mood。　　As　soon　as　Miss　Minchell　had　passed　through　the　door　he　quietly　laid　his　hand　upon　Julia's　arm；　and　with　a　gesture　beckoned　her　back　into　the　room。

〃Pardon　my　seeming　levity；　Miss　Wallingford；〃　he　said　in　a　grave　and　gentle　voice；　〃but　you　know　not　what　emotions　I　had　to　contend　with！　　I　thank　you　for　your　charming　sympathy；　and　I　beg　you　to　accept　in　my　uncle's　name　that　salute　by　which　his　followers　distinguish　the　faithful。〃

And　he　thereupon　kissed　the　blushing　girl　with　a　heartiness　that　restored　her　confidence　in　him　completely。

〃Well；〃　he　said　to　himself　as　he　retired　with　his　candle；　〃I've　managed　to　get　a　fair　penn'orth　out　of　it　after　all。〃



CHAPTER　XXXI

In　spite　of　the　Spartan　transformation　which　Sir　Justin's　bedroom　had　undergone；　our　adventurer　enjoyed　an　excellent　night's　rest。　　So　fast　asleep　was　he　at　the　hour　of　eight　next　morning　that　it　took　him　a　few　seconds　to　awake　to　the　full　possession　of　his　faculties；　even　when　disturbed　by　a　loud　exclamation　at　his　bedside。　　He　then　became　aware　of　the　presence　of　an　entire　stranger　in　his　rooma　tall　and　elderly　man；　with　a　long　nose　and　a　grizzled　beard。　　This　intruder　had　apparently　just　drawn　up　the　blind；　and　was　now　looking　about　him　with　an　expression　of　the　greatest　concern。

〃Mackenzie！〃　he　cried；　in　the　voice　of　one　accustomed　to　be　heard　with　submission；　〃What　have　you　been　doing　to　my　room？〃

The　butler；　too　confused　for　coherent　speech；　was　in　the　act　of　bringing　in　a　small　portmanteau。

〃II　mentioned；　Sir　Justin；　your　room　was　hardly　ready　for　ye；　sir。　　Perhaps；　sir；　if　ye'd　come　into　the　pink　room〃

〃What　the　deuce；　there's　hardly　a　stick　of　furniture　left！　　And　whose　clothes　are　these？〃

〃Mine；〃　answered　the　Count　suavely。

The　stranger　started　violently；　and　turned　upon　the　bed　an　eye　at　first　alarmed；　then　rapidly　becoming　lit　with　indignation。

〃Whowho　is　this？〃　he　shouted。

〃That；　sirthat〃　stammered　Mackenzie。

〃Is　Count　Bunker；〃　said　the　Count；　who　remained　entirely　courteous　in　spite　of　the　inconvenience　of　this　intrusion。　　〃Have　I　the　pleasure　of　addressing　Sir　Justin　Wallingford？〃

〃You　have；　sir。〃

〃In　that　case；　Mackenzie　will　be　able　to　give　you　a　satisfactory　account　of　my　presence；　and　in　half　an　hour　or　so　I　shall　have　the　pleasure　of　joining　you　downstairs。〃

The　Count；　with　a　polite　smile；　turned　over　in　bed；　as　though　to　indicate　that　the　interview　was　now　at　an　end。　　But　his　visitor　apparently　had　other　views。

〃I　should　be　obliged　by　some　explanation　from　yourself　of　your　entry　into　my　house；〃　said　he；　steadily　keeping　his　eye　upon　the　Count。

〃Now　how　the　deuce　shall　I　get　out　of　this　hole　without　letting　Julia　into　another？〃　wondered　Bunker；　but　before　he　could　speak；　Mackenzie　had　blurted　out

〃Miss　Wallingford；　sirthe　gentleman　is　a　friend　of　hers；　sir。〃

〃What！〃　thundered　Sir　Justin。

〃I　assure　you　that　Miss　Wallingford　was　actuated　by　the　highest　motives　in　honoring　me　with　an　invitation　to　The　Lash；〃　said　Bunker　earnestly。

He　had　already　dismissed　an　ingenious　account　of　himself　as　a　belated　wanderer；　detained　by　stress　of　weather；　as　certain　to　be　contradicted　by　Julia　herself；　and　decided　Instead　on　risking　all　upon　his　supposed　uncle's　saintly　reputation。

〃How　came　she　to　invite　you；　sir？〃　demanded　Sir　Justin。

〃As　my　uncle's　nephew；　merely。〃

Sir　Justin　stared　at　him　in　silence；　while　he　brought　the　full　force　of　his　capacious　mind　to　bear　upon　the　situation。

〃Your　name；　you　say；　is　Bunker？〃　he　observed　at　length。

〃Count　Bunker；〃　corrected　that　nobleman。