count bunker-第5部分

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s　smile。

〃You　are　sure　you　can　leave　your　diplomatic　duties？〃　asked　Essington。

〃Zey　vill　be　my　diplomatic　duties　zat　I　go　to　do！　　Oh；　I　shall　prepare　a　leetle　storydo　not　fear　me。〃

The　Baron　chuckled；　and　then　burst　forth

〃Never　was　zere　a　man　like　you。　　Oh；　cunning　Mistair　Bonker！　　And　you　vill　give　me　zomezing　to　do　in　ze　adventure；　eh？〃

〃I　promise　you　that；　Baron。〃

As　he　gave　this　reassuring　pledge；　a　peculiar　smile　stole　over　Mr。　Bunker's　facea　smile　that　seemed　to　suggest　even　happier　possibilities　than　either　of　his　distinguished　friends　contemplated。



CHAPTER　V

It　is　at　all　times　pleasant　to　contemplate　thorough　workmanship　and　sagacious　foresight；　particularly　when　these　are　allied　with　disinterested　purpose　and　genuine　enthusiasm。　　For　the　next　few　days　Mr。　Bunker；　preparing　to　carry　out　to　the　best　of　his　ability　the　delicate　commission　with　which　he　had　been　entrusted；　presented　this　stimulating　spectacle。

Absolutely　no　pains　were　left　untaken。　　By　the　aid　of　some　volumes　lent　him　by　Tulliwuddle　he　learned；　and　digested　in　a　pocketbook；　as　much　information　as　he　thought　necessary　to　acquire　concerning　the　history　of　the　noble　family　he　was　temporarily　about　to　enter；　together　with　notes　of　their　slogan　or　war…cry　（spelled　phonetically　to　avoid　the　possibility　of　a　mistake）；　of　their　acreage；　gross　and　net　rentals；　the　names　of　their　land…agents；　and　many　other　matters　equally　to　the　point。　　It　was　further　to　be　observed　that　he　spared　no　pains　to　imprint　these　particulars　in　the　Baron's　Teutonic　memorywhether　to　support　his　own　in　case　of　need；　or　for　some　more　secret　purpose；　it　were　impossible　to　fathom。　　Disguised　as　unconspicuous　and　harmless　persons；　they　would　meet　in　many　quiet　haunts　whose　unsuspected　excellences　they　could　guarantee　from　their　old　experience；　and　there　mature　their　philanthropic　plan。

Not　only　had　its　talented　originator　to　impress　the　Tulliwuddle　annals　and　statistics　into　his　ally's　eager　mind；　but　he　had　to　exercise　the　nicest　tact　and　discernment　lest　the　Baron's　excess　of　zeal　should　trip　their　enterprise　at　the　very　outset。

〃To…day　I　have　told　Alicia　zat　my　visit　to　Russia　vill　probably　be　vollowed　by　a　visit　to　ze　Emperor　of　China；〃　the　Baron　would　recount　with　vast　pride　in　his　inventive　powers。　　〃And　I　have　dropped　a　leetle　hint　zat　for　an　envoy　to　be　imprisoned　in　China　is　not　to　be　surprised。　　Zat　vill　prepare　her　in　case　I　am　avay　longer　zan　ve　expect。〃

〃And　how　did　she　take　that　intimation？〃　asked　Essington；　with　a　less　congratulatory　air　than　he　had　expected。

〃I　did　leave　her　in　tears。〃

〃My　dear　Baron；　fly　to　her　to　tell　her　you　are　not　going　to　China！　　She　will　get　so　devilish　alarmed　if　you　are　gone　a　week　that　she'll　go　straight　to　the　embassy　and　make　inquiries。〃

He　shook　his　head；　and　added　in　an　impressive　voice

〃Never　lie　for　lying's　sake；　Blitzenberg。　　Besides；　how　do　you　propose　to　forge　a　Chinese　post…mark？〃

The　Baron　had　laid　the　foundations　of　his　Russian　trip　on　a　sound　basis　by　requesting　a　friend　of　his　in　that　country　to　post　to　the　Baroness　the　bi…weekly　budgets　of　Muscovite　gossip　which　he　intended　to　compose　at　Hechnahoul。　　This；　it　seemed　to　him；　would　be　a　simple　feat；　particularly　with　his　friend　Bunker　to　assist；　but　he　had　to　confess　that　the　provision　of　Chinese　news　would　certainly　be　more　difficult。

〃Ach；　vell；　I　shall　contradict　China；〃　he　agreed。

It　will　be　readily　believed　that　what　with　getting　up　his　brief；　pruning　the　legends　with　which　the　Baron　proposed　to　satisfy　his　wife　and　his　ambassador；　and　purchasing　an　outfit　suitable　to　the　roles　of　peer　and　chieftain；　this　indefatigable　gentleman　passed　three　or　four　extremely　busy　days。

〃Ve　most　start　before　my　dear　mozzer…in…law　does　gom！〃　the　Baron　more　than　once　impressed　upon　him；　so　that　there　was　no　moment　to　be　wasted。

Two　days　before　their　departure　Mr。　Bunker　greeted　his　ally　with　a　peculiarly　humorous　smile。

〃The　pleasures　of　our　visit　to　Hechnahoul　are　to　be　considerably　augmented；〃　said　he。　　〃Tulliwuddle　has　only　just　made　the　discovery　that　his　ancestral　castle　is　let；　but　his　tenant；　in　the　most　handsome　spirit；　invites　us　to　be　his　guests　so　long　as　we　are　in　Scotland。　　A　very　hospitable　letter；　isn't　it？〃

He　handed　him　a　large　envelope　with　a　more　than　proportionately　large　crest　upon　it；　and　drawing　from　this　a　sheet　of　note…paper　headed　by　a　second　crest；　the　Baron　read　this　epistle：


〃MY　LORD；Learning　that　you　propose　visiting　your　Scottish　estates；　and　Mr。　M'Fadyen；　your　factor；　informing　me　no　lodge　is　at　present　available　for　your　reception；　it　will　give　Mrs。　Gallosh　and　myself　great　pleasure；　and　we　will　esteem　it　a　distinguished　honor；　if　you　and　your　friend　will　be　our　guests　at　Hechnahoul　Castle　during　the　duration　of　your　visit。　　Should　you　do　us　the　honor　of　accepting；　I　shall　send　my　steam　launch　to　meet　you　at　Torrydhulish　pier　and　convey　you　across　the　loch；　if　you　will　be　kind　enough　to　advise　me　which　train　you　are　coming　by。

〃In　conclusion；　Mrs。　Gallosh　and　myself　beg　to　assure　you　that　although　you　find　strangers　in　your　ancestral　halls；　you　will　receive　both　from　your　tenantry　and　ourselves　a　very　hearty　welcome　to　your　native　land。　　Believe　me；　your　obedient　servant；　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　〃DUNCAN　JNO。　GALLOSH。〃


〃Zat　is　goot　news！〃　cried　the　Baron。　　〃Ve　shall　have　companyperhaps　ladies！　　Ach；　Bonker；　I　have　ze　soft　spot　in　mine　heart：　I　am　so　constant　as　ze　needle　to　ze　pole；　but　I　do　like　sometimes　to　talk　mit　voman！〃

〃With　Mrs。　Gallosh；　for　instance？〃

〃But；　Bonker；　zere　may　be　a　Miss　Gallosh。〃

〃If　you　consulted　the　Baroness；〃　said　Bunker；　smiling；　〃I　suspect　she　would　prefer　you　to　be　imprisoned　in　China。〃

The　Baron　laughed；　and　curled　his　martial　mustache　with　a　dangerous　air。

〃Who　is　zis　Gallosh？〃　he　inquired。

〃Scottish；　I　judge　from　his　name；　commercial；　from　his　literary　style；　elevated　by　his　own　exertions；　from　the　size　of　his　crest；　and　wealthy；　from　the　fact　that　he　rents　Hechnahoul　Castle。　　His　mention　of　Mrs。　Gallosh　points　to　the　fact　that　he　is　either　married　or　would　have　us　think　so；　and　I　should　be　inclined　to　conclude　that　he　has　probably　begot　a　family。〃

〃Aha！〃　said　the　Baron。　　〃Ve　vill　gom　and　see；　eh？〃



CHAPTER　VI

A　carefully　clothed　young　man；　with　an　eyeglass　and　a　wavering　gait；　walked　slowly　out　of　Euston　Station。　　He　had　just　seen　the　Scottish　express　depart；　and　this　event　seemed　to　have　filled　him　with　dubious　reflections。　　In　fact；　at　the　very　last　moment　Lord　Tulliwuddle's　confidence　in　his　two　friends　had　been　a　trifling　degree　disturbed。　　It　occurred　to　him　as　he　lingered　by　the　door　of　their　reserved　first…class　compartment　that　they　had　a　little　too　much　the　air　of　gentlemen　departing　on　their　own　pleasure　rather　than　on　his　business。　　No　sooner　did　he　drop　a　fretful　hint　of　this　opinion　than　their　affectionate　protestations　had　quickly　revived　his　spirit；　but　now　that　they　were　no　longer　with　him　to　counsel　and　encourage；　it　once　more　drooped。

〃Confound　it！〃　he　thought；　〃I　hadn't　bargained　on　having　to　keep　out　of　people's　way　till　they　came　back。　　If　Essington　had　mentioned　that　sooner；　I　don't　know　that　I'd　have　been　so　keen　about　the　notion。　　Hang　it！　　I'll　have　to　chuck　the　Morrells'　dance。　　And　I　can't　go　with　the　Greys　to　Ranelagh。　　I　can't　even　dine　with　my　own　aunt　on　Sunday。　　Oh；　the　devil！〃

The　perturbed　young　peer　waved　his　umbrella　and　climbed　into　a　hansom。

〃Well；　anyhow；　I　can　still　go　on　seeing　Connie。　　That's　some　consolation；〃　he　told　himself；　and　without　stopping　to　consider　what　would　be　the　thoughts　of　his　two　obliging　friends　had　they　known　he　was　seeking　consolation　in　the　society　of　one　lady　while　they　were　arranging　his　nuptials　with　another；　the　baptismal　Tulliwuddle　drove　back　to　the　civilization　of　St。　James's。

Within　the　reserved　compartment　was　no　foreboding；　no　faint…hearted　paling　of　the　cheek。　　As　the　train　clattered；　hummed；　and　presently　thundered　on　its　way；　the　two　laughed　cheerfully　towards　one　another；　delighted　beyond　measure　with　the　prosperous　beginning　of　their　enterprise。　　The　Baron　could　not　sufficiently　express　his　gratitude　and　admiration　for　the　promptitude　with　which　his　friend　had　purveyed　so　promising　an　adventure。

〃Ve　vill　have　fon；　my　Bonker。　　Ach！　ve　vill；〃　he　exclaimed　for　the　third　or　fourth　time　within　a　dozen　miles　from　Euston。

His　Bunker　assumed　an　air　half　affectionate；　half　apologetic。

〃I　only　regret　that　I　should　have　the　lion's　share　of　the　adventure；　my　dear　Baron。〃

〃Yes；〃　said　the　Baron；　with　a　symptom　of　a　sigh；　〃I　do　envy　you　indeed。　　Yet　I　should　not　say　zat〃　Bunker　swiftly　interrupted　him。

〃You　would　like　to　play　a　worthier　part　than　merely　his　lordship's　friend？〃

〃Ach！　　if　I　could。〃

Bunker　smiled　benignantly。

〃Ah；　Baron；　you　cannot　suppose　that　I　would　really　do　Tulliwuddle　such　injustice　as　to　attempt；　in　my　own　feeble　manner；　to　impersonate　him？〃

The　Baron　stared。

〃Vat　mean　you？〃

〃YOU　shall　be　the　lion；　_I_　the　humble　necessary　jackal。　　As　our　friend　so　aptly　quoted；　noblesse　oblige。　　Of　course；　there　can　be　no　doubt　about　it。　　You；　Baron；　must　play　the　part　of　peer；　I　of　friend。〃

The　Baron　gasped。

〃Imposs