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！
。〃
Mr。 Maddison's expression showed his appreciation of this candor and delicacy。
〃Well；〃 said he； 〃to be quite frank； Count； I should have thought all the better of his lordship if he had been a little more prompt about the business。〃
〃It is not through want of admiration for Miss Maddison； I assure you〃
〃No；〃 interrupted Mr。 Maddison； 〃it is because he does not realize the value of timewhich is considerably more valuable than admiration； I can assure you。 Since I discussed the matter with Lord Tulliwuddle's aunt we have had several more buyersI should say； suitorsin the marketerin the field； Count Bunker。 But so far； fortunately for his lordship； my Eleanor has not approved of the samples sent； and if he still cares to come forward we shall be pleased to consider his proposition。〃
The millionaire looked at him out of an impenetrable eye； and the Count in an equally guarded tone replied
〃I greatly approve of putting things on so sound a footing； and with equal frankness I may tell you in confidence； of coursethat Lord Tulliwuddle also is not without alternatives。 He would； however； prefer to offer his title and estates to Miss Maddison； provided that there is no personal objection to be found on either side。〃
Mr。 Maddison's eye brightened and his tone warmed。
〃Sir；〃 said he； 〃I guess there won't be much objection to Eleanor Maddison when your friend has seen her。 Without exaggeration； I may say that she is the most beautiful girl in America； and that is to say； the most beautiful girl anywhere。 The precise amount of her fortune we can discuss； supposing the necessity arrives： but I can assure you it will be sufficient to set three of your mortgaged British aristocrats upon their legs again。 No； sir； the objection will not come from THAT side！〃
With a gentle smile and a deprecatory gesture the Count answered； 〃I am convinced that Miss Maddison is allindeed； more than allyour eloquence has painted。 On the other hand； I trust that you will not be disappointed in my friend Tulliwuddle。〃
Mr。 Maddison crossed his legs and interlocked his fingers like a man about to air his views。 This； in fact； was what he proceeded to do。
〃My opinion of aristocracies and the pampered individuals who compose them is the opinion of an intelligent and enlightened democrat。 I see them from the vantage…ground of a man who has made his own way in the world unhampered by ancestry； who has dwelt in a country fortunately unencumbered by such hindrances to progress； and who has no personal knowledge of their defects。 You will admit that I speak with unusual opportunities of forming a judgment？〃
〃You should have the impartiality of a missionary；〃 said Bunker gravely。
〃That is so； sir。 Now； in proposing to marry my daughter to a member of this class； I am actuated solely by a desire to take advantage of the opportunities such an alliance would confer。 I am still perfectly clear？〃
〃Perfectly；〃 replied Bunker； with the same profound gravity。
〃In consequence；〃 resumed the millionaire； with the impressiveness of a logician drawing a conclusion from two irrefutable premises〃in consequence； Count Bunker； I demandand my daughter demandsand my son demands； sir； that the nobleman should possess an unusual number of high…class； fire…proof； expert… guaranteed qualities。 That is only fair； you must admit？〃
〃I agree with you entirely。〃
Mr。 Maddison glanced at the clock and sprang to his feet。
〃I have not the pleasure of knowing my neighbor； Mr。 Gallosh；〃 he said； resuming his brisk business tone； 〃but I beg you to convey to him and to his wife and daughter my complimentsand my daughter's complimentsand tell them that we hope they will excuse ceremony and bring Lord Tulliwuddle to luncheon to…morrow。〃
Count Bunker expressed his readiness to carry this message； and the millionaire even more briskly resumed
〃I shall now give myself the pleasure of presenting you to my son and daughter。〃
With his swiftest strides he escorted his distinguished guest to another room； flung the door open； announced； 〃My dears； Count Bunker！〃 and pressed the Count's hand even as he was effecting this introduction。
〃Very pleased to have met you； Count。 Good day；〃 he ejaculated； and vanished on the instant。
CHAPTER XVII
Raising his eyes after the profound bow which the Count considered appropriate to his character of plenipotentiary； he beheld at last the object of his mission； and whether or not she was the absolutely peerless beauty her father had vaunted； he at once decided that she was lovely enough to grace Hechnahoul； or any other； Castle。 Black eyes and a mass of coal…black hair； an ivory pale skin； small well…chiselled features； and that distinctively American plumpness of contourthese marked her face； while as for her figure； it was the envy of her women friends and the distraction of all mankind who saw her。
〃Fortunate Baron！〃 thought Bunker。
Beside her； though sufficiently in the rear to mark the relative position of the sexes in the society they adorned； stood Darius P。 Maddison； junioror 〃Ri；〃 in the phrase of his relatives and friendsa broad… shouldered； well…featured young man； with keen eyes； a mouth compressed with the stern resolve to die richer than Mr。 Rockefeller； and a pair of perfectly ironed trousers。
〃I am very delighted to meet you；〃 declared the heiress。
〃Very honored to have this pleasure；〃 said the brother。
〃While I enjoy both sensations；〃 replied the Count； with his most agreeable smile。
A little preliminary conversation ensued； in the course of which the two parties felt an increasing satisfaction in one another's society； while Bunker had the further pleasure of enjoying a survey of the room in which they sat。 Evidently it was Miss Maddison's peculiar sanctum； and it revealed at once her taste and her power of gratifying it。 The tapestry that covered two sides of the room could be seen at a glance to be no mere modern imitation； but a priceless relic of the earlier middle ages。 The other walls were so thickly hung with pictures that one could scarcely see the pale… green satin beneath； and among these paintings the Count's educated eye recognized the work of Raphael； Botticelli； Turner； and Gainsborough among other masters； while beneath the cornice hung a well…chosen selection from the gems of the modern Anglo…American school。 The chairs and sofa were upholstered in a figured satin of a slightly richer hue of green； and on several priceless oriental tables lay displayed in ivory； silver； crystal； and alabaster more articles of vertu than were to be found in the entire house of an average collector。
〃Fortunate Tulliwuddle！〃 thought Bunker。
They had been conversing on general topics for a few minutes； when Miss Maddison turned to her brother and said； with a frankness that both pleased and entertained the Count
〃Ri； dear； don't you think we had better come right straight to the point？ I feel sure Count Bunker is only waiting till he knows us a little better； and I guess it will save him considerable embarrassment if we begin。〃
〃You are the best judge； Eleanor。 I guess your notions are never far of being all right。〃
With a gratified smile Eleano