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！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
with me； but since the absence ofofthe rest of my partyI have
given up my suite of rooms at the Bad Hof； and have taken smaller
lodgings for myself and the boy at the Schwartze Adler。 Miss Woods
and Miss Arguello have accepted an invitation to spend a few days
at the villa of the Baron and Baroness von Schilprechtan hour or
two from here。〃 He lingered over the title with an odd mingling of
impressiveness and inquiry； and glanced at Paul。 But Hathaway
exhibiting neither emotion nor surprise at the mention of Yerba's
name or the title of her host； he continued； 〃Miss Arguello； I
suppose you know； is immensely admired： she has been； sir； the
acknowledged belle of Strudle Bad。〃
〃I can readily believe it；〃 said Paul； simply。
〃And has taken the positionthe position； sir； to which she is
entitled。〃
Without appearing to notice the slight challenge in Pendleton's
tone； Paul returned； 〃I am glad to hear it。 The more particularly
as； I believe； the Germans are great sticklers for position and
pedigree。〃
〃You are right； sirquite right： they are；〃 said the colonel；
proudly〃although〃with a certain premeditated deliberation〃I
have been credibly informed that the King can； in certain cases； if
he chooses； supplyyes； sirSUPPLY a favored person with
ancestorsyes； sir； with ANCESTORS！〃
Paul cast a quick glance at his companion。
〃Yes； sirthat is； we will say； in the case of a lady of inferior
rankor even birth； the King of these parts can； on her marriage
with a noblemanblank it all！ennoble her father and mother； and
their fathers and mothers； though they've been dead； or as good as
dead； for years。〃
〃I am afraid that's a slight exaggeration of the rare custom of
granting 'noble lands；' or estates that carry hereditary titles
with them；〃 said Paul； more emphatically； perhaps； than the
occasion demanded。
〃Fact； sirGeorge there knows it all；〃 said Pendleton。 〃He gets
it from the other servants。 I don't speak the language； sir； but
HE does。 Picked it up in a year。〃
〃I must compliment him on his fluency； certainly；〃 said Paul；
looking at George。
The old servant smiled； and not without a certain condescension。
〃Yes； sah； I don' say to a scholar like yo'self； sah； dat I'se got
de grandmatical presichion； but as fah； sahas fah as de IDIOTISMS
ob de language goes。 Sahit's gen'lly allowed I'm dar！ As to
what Marse Harry says ob de ignobling ob predecessors； I've had it；
sah； from de best autority； sahde furst； I may say； sahde real
prima facie mende gemplum ob his Serene Highness； in de korse eb
ordinary conversashun； sah。〃
〃That'll do； George；〃 said Pendleton； with paternal brusqueness。
〃Run on ahead and tell that blank chamberlain that Mr。 Hathaway is
one of my friendsand have supper accordingly。〃 As the negro
hastened away he turned to Paul： 〃What he says is true： he's the
most popular man or boy in all Strudle Bada devilish sight more
than his masterand goes anywhere where I can't go。 Princes and
princesses stop and talk to him in the street； the Grand Duke asked
permission to have him up in his carriage at the races the other
day； and； by the Eternal； sir； he gives the style to all the
flunkeys in town！〃
〃And I see； he dresses the character；〃 observed Paul。
〃His own ideaentirely。 And； by Jove！ he proves to be right。 You
can't do anything here without a uniform。 And they tell me he's
got everything correct； down to the crest on the buttons。〃
They walked on in silence for a few moments； Pendleton retaining a
certain rigidity of step and bearing which Paul had come to
recognize as indicating some uneasiness or mental disturbance on
his part。 Hathaway had no intention of precipitating the
confidence of his companion。 Perhaps experience had told him it
would come soon enough。 So he spoke carelessly of himself。 How
the need of a year's relaxation and change had brought him abroad；
his journeyings； and； finally； how he had been advised by his
German physician to spend a few weeks at Strudle Bad preparatory to
the voyage home。 Yet he was perfectly aware that the colonel from
time to time cast a furtive glance at his face。 〃And YOU；〃 he said
in conclusion〃when do you intend to return to California？〃
The colonel hesitated slightly。 〃I shall remain in Europe until
Miss Arguello is settledI mean；〃 he added hurriedly； 〃until she
hasahem！completed her education in foreign ways and customs。
You see； Hathaway； I have constituted myself； after a certain
fashion； I may saystill； her guardian。 I am an old man； with
neither kith nor kin myself； sirI'm a little too old…fashioned
for the boys over there〃with a vague gesture towards the west；
which； however； told Paul how near it still was to him。 〃But then；
among the old fogys hereblank it all！it isn't noticed。 So I
look after her； you see； or rather make myself responsible for her
generallyalthough； of course； she has other friends and
associates； you understand； more of her own age and tastes。〃
〃And I've no doubt she's perfectly satisfied；〃 said Paul in a tone
of conviction。
〃Well； yes； sir； I presume so；〃 said the colonel slowly； 〃but I've
sometimes thought； Mr。 Hathaway； that it would have been better if
she'd have had a woman's carethe protection you understand； of an
elderly woman of society。 That seems to be the style here； you
knowa chaperon； they call it。 Now； Milly Woods； you see； is
about the same age； and the Dona Anna； of course； is older； but
blank it！she's as big a flirt as the restI mean；〃 he added；
correcting himself sharply； 〃she lacks balance； sir； andwhat
shall I call it？self…abnegation。〃
〃Then Dona Anna is still of your party？〃 asked Paul。
〃She is； sir； and her brother； Don Caesar。 I have thought it
advisable； on Yerba's account； to keep up as much as possible the
suggestion of her Spanish relationshipalthough by reason of their
absurd ignorance of geography and political divisions out here；
there is a prevailing impression that she is a South American。 A
fact； sir。 I have myself been mistaken for the Dictator of one of
these infernal Republics； and I have been pointed out as ruling
over a million or two of niggers like George！〃
There was no trace of any conception of humor in the colonel's
face； although he uttered a short laugh； as if in polite acceptance
of the possibility that Paul might have one。 Far from that； his
companion； looking at the striking profile and erect figure at his
sideat the long white moustache which drooped from his dark
cheeks； and remembering his own sensations at first seeing George
thought the popular belief not so wonderful。 He was even forced to
admit that the perfect unconsciousness on the part of master and
man of any incongruity or peculiarity in themselves assisted the
public misconception。 And it was； I fear； with a feeling of wicked
delight that； on entering the hotel； he hailed the evident
consternation of those correct fellow…countrymen from whom he had
lately fled； at what they apparently regarded as a national
scandal。 He overheard their hurried assurance to their English
friends that his companions were NOT from Boston； and enjoyed their
mortification that this explanation did