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'If you liked America you would speak in its praise。'
'By the same rule； if I disliked America I should speak against
it。'
'I can't speak with you；' said Belle； 'but I see you dislike the
country。'
'The country！'
'Well； the people … don't you？'
'I do。'
'Why do you dislike them？'
'Why； I have heard my father say that the American marksmen； led on
by a chap of the name of Washington； sent the English to the right…
about in double…quick time。'
'And that is your reason for disliking the Americans？'
'Yes；' said I； 'that is my reason for disliking them。'
'Will you take another cup of tea？' said Belle。
I took another cup； we were again silent。 'It is rather
uncomfortable；' said I； at last； 'for people to sit together
without having anything to say。'
'Were you thinking of your company？' said Belle。
'What company？' said I。
'The present company。'
'The present company！ oh； ah … I remember that I said one only
feels uncomfortable in being silent with a companion； when one
happens to be thinking of the companion。 Well； I had been thinking
of you the last two or three minutes； and had just come to the
conclusion that； to prevent us both feeling occasionally
uncomfortably towards each other； having nothing to say； it would
be as well to have a standing subject on which to employ our
tongues。 Belle； I have determined to give you lessons in
Armenian。'
'What is Armenian？'
'Did you ever hear of Ararat？'
'Yes； that was the place where the ark rested； I have heard the
chaplain in the great house talk of it； besides； I have read of it
in the Bible。'
'Well； Armenian is the speech of people of that place； and I should
like to teach it you。'
'To prevent … '
'Ay； ay； to prevent our occasionally feeling uncomfortable
together。 Your acquiring it besides might prove of ulterior
advantage to us both； for example； suppose you and I were in
promiscuous company； at Court； for example； and you had something
to communicate to me which you did not wish any one else to be
acquainted with； how safely you might communicate it to me in
Armenian。'
'Would not the language of the roads do as well？' said Belle。
'In some places it would；' said I； 'but not at Court； owing to its
resemblance to thieves' slang。 There is Hebrew； again； which I was
thinking of teaching you； till the idea of being presented at Court
made me abandon it； from the probability of our being understood；
in the event of our speaking it； by at least half a dozen people in
our vicinity。 There is Latin； it is true； or Greek； which we might
speak aloud at Court with perfect confidence of safety； but upon
the whole I should prefer teaching you Armenian； not because it
would be a safer language to hold communication with at Court； but
because； not being very well grounded in it myself； I am
apprehensive that its words and forms may escape from my
recollection； unless I have sometimes occasion to call them forth。'
'I am afraid we shall have to part company before I have learnt
it；' said Belle； 'in the meantime； if I wish to say anything to you
in private； somebody being by； shall I speak in the language of the
roads？'
'If no roadster is nigh you may；' said I； 'and I will do my best to
understand you。 Belle； I will now give you a lesson in Armenian。'
'I suppose you mean no harm；' said Belle。
'Not in the least； I merely propose the thing to prevent our
occasionally feeling uncomfortable together。 Let us begin。'
'Stop till I have removed the tea things；' said Belle； and； getting
up； she removed them to her own encampment。
'I am ready；' said Belle； returning； and taking her former seat；
'to join with you in anything which will serve to pass away the
time agreeably； provided there is no harm in it。'
'Belle；' said I； 'I have determined to commence the course of
Armenian lessons by teaching you the numerals； but； before I do
that； it will be as well to tell you that the Armenian language is
called Haik。'
'I am sure that word will hang upon my memory；' said Belle。
'Why hang upon it？' said I。
'Because the old women in the great house used to call so the
chimney…hook； on which they hung the kettle； in like manner； on the
hake of my memory I will hang your hake。'
'Good！' said I； 'you will make an apt scholar； but mind that I did
not say hake； but haik； the words are； however； very much alike；
and； as you observe； upon your hake you may hang my haik。 We will
now proceed to the numerals。'
'What are numerals？' said Belle。
'Numbers。 I will say the Haikan numbers up to ten。 There … have
you heard them？'
'Yes。'
'Well； try and repeat them。'
'I only remember number one；' said Belle； 'and that because it is
me。'
' I will repeat them again；' said I； 'and pay greater attention。
Now； try again。'
'Me； jergo； earache。'
'I neither said jergo nor earache。 I said yergou and yerek。
Belle； I am afraid I shall have some difficulty with you as a
scholar。'
Belle made no answer。 Her eyes were turned in the direction of the
winding path which led from the bottom of the hollow； where we were
seated； to the plain above。 'Gorgio shunella；' she said at length；
in a low voice。
'Pure Rommany；' said I； 'where？' I added； in a whisper。
'Dovey odoi；' said Belle； nodding with her head towards the path。
'I will soon see who it is；' said I； and starting up； I rushed
towards the pathway； intending to lay violent hands on any one I
might find lurking in its windings。 Before； however； I had reached
its commencement； a man； somewhat above the middle height； advanced
from it into the dingle； in whom I recognised the man in black whom
I had seen in the public…house。
CHAPTER XC
Buona sera … Rather apprehensive … The steep bank … Lovely virgin …
Hospitality … Tory minister … Custom of the country … Sneering
smile … Wandering Zigan … Gypsies' cloaks … Certain faculty … Acute
answer … Various ways … Addio … Best Hollands。
THE man in black and myself stood opposite to each other for a
minute or two in silence； I will not say that we confronted each
other that time； for the man in black； after a furtive glance； did
not look me in the face； but kept his eyes fixed apparently on the
leaves of a bunch of ground…nuts which were growing at my feet。 At
length； looking around the dingle； he exclaimed； 'Buona sera； I
hope I don't intrude。'
'You have as much right here；' said I； 'as I or my companion； but
you had no right to stand listening to our conversation。'
'I was not listening；' said the man； 'I was hesitating whether to
advance or retire； and if I heard some of your conversation； the
fault was not mine。'
'I do not see why you should have hesitated if your intentions were
good；'