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！
face； and a pair of dancing eyes。 There was an air at once
deprecatory and insinuating about the rascal that I thought I
recognised。 There came to me from my own boyhood memories of
certain passionate admirations long passed away； and the objects of
them long ago discredited or dead。 I remembered how anxious I had
been to serve those fleeting heroes； how readily I told myself I
would have died for THEM； how much greater and handsomer than life
they had appeared。 And looking in the mirror； it seemed to me that
I read the face of Rowley； like an echo or a ghost； by the light of
my own youth。 I have always contended （somewhat against the
opinion of my friends） that I am first of all an economist； and the
last thing that I would care to throw away is that very valuable
piece of property … a boy's hero…worship。
'Why；' said I； 'you shave like an angel； Mr。 Rowley！'
'Thank you； my lord；' says he。 'Mr。 Powl had no fear of me。 You
may be sure； sir； I should never 'ave had this berth if I 'adn't
'ave been up to Dick。 We been expecting of you this month back。
My eye！ I never see such preparations。 Every day the fires has
been kep' up； the bed made； and all！ As soon as it was known you
were coming； sir； I got the appointment； and I've been up and down
since then like a Jack…in…the…box。 A wheel couldn't sound in the
avenue but what I was at the window！ I've had a many
disappointments； but to…night； as soon as you stepped out of the
shay； I knew it was my … it was you。 Oh； you had been expected！
Why； when I go down to supper； I'll be the 'ero of the servants'
'all： the 'ole of the staff is that curious！'
'Well；' said I； 'I hope you may be able to give a fair account of
me … sober； steady； industrious； good…tempered； and with a first…
rate character from my last place？'
He laughed an embarrassed laugh。 'Your hair curls beautiful；' he
said； by way of changing the subject。 'The Viscount's the boy for
curls； though； and the richness of it is； Mr。 Powl tells me his
don't curl no more than that much twine … by nature。 Gettin' old；
the Viscount is。 He 'AVE gone the pace； 'aven't 'e； sir？'
'The fact is；' said I； 'that I know very little about him。 Our
family has been much divided； and I have been a soldier from a
child。'
'A soldier； Mr。 Anne； sir？' cried Rowley； with a sudden feverish
animation。 'Was you ever wounded？'
It is contrary to my principles to discourage admiration for
myself； and； slipping back the shoulder of the dressing…gown； I
silently exhibited the scar which I had received in Edinburgh
Castle。 He looked at it with awe。
'Ah； well！' he continued； 'there's where the difference comes in！
It's in the training。 The other Viscount have been horse…racing；
and dicing； and carrying on all his life。 All right enough； no
doubt； but what I do say is； that it don't lead to nothink。
Whereas … '
'Whereas Mr。 Rowley's？' I put in。
'My Viscount？' said he。 'Well； sir； I DID say it； and now that
I've seen you； I say it again！'
I could not refrain from smiling at this outburst； and the rascal
caught me in the mirror and smiled to me again。
'I'd say it again； Mr。 Hanne；' he said。 'I know which side my
bread's buttered。 I know when a gen'leman's a gen'leman。 Mr。 Powl
can go to Putney with his one！ Beg your pardon； Mr。 Anne； for
being so familiar；' said he； blushing suddenly scarlet。 'I was
especially warned against it by Mr。 Powl。'
'Discipline before all；' said I。 'Follow your front…rank man。
With that； we began to turn our attention to the clothes。 I was
amazed to find them fit so well： not A LA DIABLE； in the haphazard
manner of a soldier's uniform or a ready…made suit； but with
nicety； as a trained artist might rejoice to make them for a
favourite subject。
''Tis extraordinary；' cried I： 'these things fit me perfectly。'
'Indeed； Mr。 Anne； you two be very much of a shape；' said Rowley。
'Who？ What two？' said I。
'The Viscount；' he said。
'Damnation！ Have I the man's clothes on me； too？' cried I。
But Rowley hastened to reassure me。 On the first word of my
coming； the Count had put the matter of my wardrobe in the hands of
his own and my cousin's tailors； and on the rumour of our
resemblance； my clothes had been made to Alain's measure。
'But they were all made for you express； Mr。 Anne。 You may be
certain the Count would never do nothing by 'alf： fires kep'
burning； the finest of clothes ordered； I'm sure； and a body…
servant being trained a…purpose。'
'Well；' said I； 'it's a good fire； and a good set…out of clothes；
and what a valet； Mr。 Rowley！ And there's one thing to be said for
my cousin … I mean for Mr。 Powl's Viscount … he has a very fair
figure。'
'Oh； don't you be took in； Mr。 Anne；' quoth the faithless Rowley：
'he has to be hyked into a pair of stays to get them things on！'
'Come； come； Mr。 Rowley；' said I； 'this is telling tales out of
school！ Do not you be deceived。 The greatest men of antiquity；
including Caesar and Hannibal and Pope Joan； may have been very
glad； at my time of life or Alain's； to follow his example。 'Tis a
misfortune common to all； and really；' said I； bowing to myself
before the mirror like one who should dance the minuet； 'when the
result is so successful as this； who would do anything but
applaud？'
My toilet concluded； I marched on to fresh surprises。 My chamber；
my new valet and my new clothes had been beyond hope： the dinner；
the soup； the whole bill of fare was a revelation of the powers
there are in man。 I had not supposed it lay in the genius of any
cook to create； out of common beef and mutton； things so different
and dainty。 The wine was of a piece； the doctor a most agreeable
companion； nor could I help reflecting on the prospect that all
this wealth； comfort and handsome profusion might still very
possibly become mine。 Here were a change indeed； from the common
soldier and the camp kettle； the prisoner and his prison rations；
the fugitive and the horrors of the covered cart！
CHAPTER XVII … THE DESPATCH…BOX
THE doctor had scarce finished his meal before he hastened with an
apology to attend upon his patient； and almost immediately after I
was myself summoned and ushered up the great staircase and along
interminable corridors to the bedside of my great…uncle the Count。
You are to think that up to the present moment I had not set eyes
on this formidable personage； only on the evidences of his wealth
and kindness。 You are to think besides that I had heard him
miscalled and abused from my earliest childhood up。 The first of
the EMIGRES could never expect a good word in the society in which
my father moved。 Even yet the reports I received were of a
doubtful nature； even Romaine had drawn of him no very amiable
portrait； and as I was ushe