a simpleton-第61章

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give　it　to　some　duffer　to　put　in　a　pin。〃

〃She　won't　do　nothing　of　the　kind；〃　said　Emily；　flushing　all　over。
〃She　is　not　such　a　fool。〃　　She　then　volunteered　to　tell　him　she　had
no　sweetheart；　and　did　not　trouble　her　head　about　young　men　at　all。
He　interpreted　this　to　mean　she　was　looking　out　for　one。　　So　do　I。

〃No　sweetheart！〃　said　he；　〃and　the　prettiest　girl　I　have　seen　since
I　landed：　then　I　put　in　for　the　situation。〃

Here；　seeing　the　footman　coming；　he　bestowed　a　most　paternal　kiss
on　little　Christie；　and　saying；　〃Not　a　word　to　John；　or　no　more
diamonds　from　me；〃　he　moved　carefully　away；　leaving　the　girl　all　in
a　flutter　with　extravagant　hopes。

The　next　moment　this　wolf　in　the　sheep…fold　entered　the　drawing…
room。　　Mrs。　Staines　was　not　there。　　He　waited；　and　waited；　and
began　to　get　rather　uneasy；　as　men　will　who　walk　among　pitfalls。

Presently　the　footman　came　to　say　that　Mrs。　Staines　was　with　her
father；　in　his　study；　but　she　would　come　to　him　in　five　minutes。

This　increased　his　anxiety。　　What！　　She　was　taking　advice　of　an
older　head。　　He　began　to　be　very　seriously　alarmed；　and；　indeed；
had　pretty　well　made　up　his　mind　to　go　down　and　gallop　off；　when
the　door　opened；　and　Rosa　came　hastily　in。　　Her　eyes　were　very　red
with　weeping。　　She　came　to　him　with　both　hands　extended　to　him；　he
gave　her　his；　timidly。　　She　pressed　them　with　such　earnestness　and
power　as　he　could　not　have　suspected；　and　thanked　him；　and　blessed
him；　with　such　a　torrent　of　eloquence；　that　he　hung　his　head　with
shame；　and；　being　unable　to　face　it　out；　villain　as　he　was；　yet
still　artful　to　the　core；　he　pretended　to　burst　out　crying；　and　ran
out　of　the　room；　and　rode　away。

He　waited　two　days；　and　then　called　again。　　Rosa　reproached　him
sweetly　for　going　before　she　had　half　thanked　him。

〃All　the　better；〃　said　he。　　〃I　have　been　thanked　a　great　deal　too
much　already。　　Who　would　not　do　his　best　for　a　dying　countryman；
and　fight　night　and　day　to　save　him　for　his　wife　and　child　at　home？
If　I　had　succeeded；　then　I　would　be　greedy　of　praise：　but　now　it
makes　me　blush；　it　makes　me　very　sad。〃

〃You　did　your　best；〃　said　Rosa　tearfully。

〃Ah！　that　I　did。　　Indeed；　I　was　ill　for　weeks　after；　myself；
through　the　strain　upon　my　mind；　and　the　disappointment；　and　going
so　many　nights　without　sleep。　　But　don't　let　us　talk　of　that。〃

〃Do　you　know　what　my　darling　says　to　me　in　my　letter？〃

〃No。〃

〃Would　you　like　to　see　it？〃

〃Indeed　I　should；　but　I　have　no　right。〃

〃Every　right。　　It　is　the　only　mark　of　esteem；　worth　anything；　I　can
show　you。〃

She　handed　him　the　letter；　and　buried　her　own　face　in　her　hands。

He　read　it；　and　acted　the　deepest　emotion。

He　handed　it　back；　without　a　word。


CHAPTER　XXVIII。


From　this　time　Falcon　was　always　welcome　at　Kent　Villa。　　He
fascinated　everybody　in　the　house。　　He　renewed　his　acquaintance
with　Mr。　Lusignan；　and　got　asked　to　stay　a　week　in　the　house。　　He
showed　Rosa　and　her　father　the　diamonds；　and；　the　truth　must　be
owned；　they　made　Rosa's　eyes　sparkle　for　the　first　time　this
eighteen　months。　　He　insinuated　rather　than　declared　his　enormous
wealth。

In　reply　to　the　old　man's　eager　questions；　as　the　large　diamonds
lay　glittering　on　the　table；　and　pointed　every　word；　he　said　that　a
few　of　his　Hottentots　had　found　these　for　him；　he　had　made　them　dig
on　a　diamondiferous　part　of　his　estate；　just　by　way　of　testing　the
matter；　and　this　was　the　result；　this；　and　a　much　larger　stone；　for
which　he　had　received　eight　thousand　pounds　from　Posno。

〃If　I　was　a　young　man；〃　said　Lusignan；　〃I　would　go　out　directly；
and　dig　on　your　estate。〃

〃I　would　not　let　you　do　anything　so　paltry；〃　said　〃le　Menteur。〃
〃Why；　my　dear　sir；　there　are　no　fortunes　to　be　made　by　grubbing　for
diamonds；　the　fortunes　are　made　out　of　the　diamonds；　but　not　in
that　way。　　Now；　I　have　thirty　thousand　acres；　and　am　just
concluding　a　bargain　for　thirty　thousand　more；　on　which　I　happen　to
know　there　are　diamonds　in　a　sly　corner。　　Well；　of　my　thirty
thousand　tried　acres；　a　hundred　only　are　diamondiferous。　　But　I
have　four　thousand　thirty…foot　claims　leased　at　ten　shillings　per
month。　　Count　that　up。〃

〃Why；　it　is　twenty…four　thousand　pounds　a　year。〃

〃Excuse　me：　you　must　deduct　a　thousand　a　year　for　the　expenses　of
collection。　　But　this　is　only　one　phase　of　the　business。　　I　have　a
large　inn　upon　each　of　the　three　great　routes　from　the　diamonds　to
the　coast；　and　these　inns　are　supplied　with　the　produce　of　my　own
farms。　　Mark　the　effect　of　the　diamonds　on　property。　　My　sixty
thousand　acres；　which　are　not　diamondiferous；　will　very　soon　be
worth　as　much　as　sixty　thousand　English　acres；　say　two　pounds　the
acre　per　annum。　　That　is　under　the　mark；　because　in　Africa　the　land
is　not　burdened　with　poor…rates；　tithes；　and　all　the　other
iniquities　that　crush　the　English　land…owner；　as　I　know　to　my　cost。
But　that　is　not　all；　sir。　　Would　you　believe　it？　even　after　the
diamonds　were　declared；　the　people　out　there　had　so　little
foresight　that　they　allowed　me　to　buy　land　all　round　Port
Elizabeth；　Natal；　and　Cape　Town；　the　three　ports　through　which　the
world　get　at　the　diamonds；　and　the　diamonds　get　at　the　world。　　I
have　got　a　girdle　of　land　round　those　three　outlets；　bought　by　the
acre；　in　two　years　I　shall　sell　it　by　the　yard。　　Believe　me；　sir；
English　fortunes；　even　the　largest；　are　mere　child's　play；　compared
with　the　colossal　wealth　a　man　can　accumulate；　if　he　looks　beyond
these　great　discoveries　to　their　consequences；　and　lets　others　grub
for　him。　　But　what　is　the　use　of　it　all　to　me？〃　said　this　Bohemian；
with　a　sigh。　　〃I　have　no　taste　for　luxuries；　no　love　of　display。　　I
have　not　even　charity　to　dispense　on　a　large　scale；　for　there　are
no　deserving　poor　out　there；　and　the　poverty　that　springs　from
vice；　that　I　never　will　encourage。〃

John　heard　nearly　all　this；　and　took　it　into　the　kitchen；　and
henceforth　Adoration　was　the　only　word　for　this　prince　of　men；　this
rare　combination　of　the　Adonis　and　the　millionnaire。

He　seldom　held　such　discourses　before　Rosa；　but　talked　her　father
into　an　impression　of　his　boundless　wealth；　and　half　reconciled　him
to　Rosa's　refusal　of　Lord　Tadcaster；　since　here　was　an　old　suitor；
who；　doubtless；　with　a　little　encouragement；　would　soon　come　on
again。

Under　this　impression；　Mr。　Lusignan　gave　Falcon　more　than　a　little
encouragement；　and；　as　Rosa　did　not　resist；　he　became　a　constant
visitor　at　the　villa；　and　was　always　there　from　Saturday　to　Monday。

He　exerted　all　his　art　of　pleasing；　and　he　succeeded。　　He　was
welcome　to　Rosa；　and　she　made　no　secret　of　it。

Emily　threw　herself　in　his　way；　and　had　many　a　sly　talk　with　him；
while　he　was　pretending　to　be　engaged　with　young　Christie。　　He
flattered　her；　and　made　her　sweet　on　him；　but　was　too　much　in　love
with　Rosa；　after　his　fashion；　to　flirt　seriously　with　her。　　He
thought　he　might　want　her　services：　so　he　worked　upon　her　after
this　fashion；　asked　her　if　she　would　like　to　keep　an　inn。

〃Wouldn't　I　just？〃　said　she　frankly。

Then　he　told　her　that；　if　all　went　to　his　wish　in　England；　she
should　be　landlady　of　one　of　his　inns　in　the　Cape　Colony。　　〃And　you
will　get　a　good　husband　out　there　directly；〃　said　he。　　〃Beauty　is　a
very　uncommon　thing　in　those　parts。　　But　I　shall　ask　you　to　marry
somebody　who　can　help　you　in　the　businessor　not　to　marry　at　all。〃

〃I　wish　I　had　the　inn；〃　said　Emily。　　〃Husbands　are　soon　got　when　a
girl　hasn't　her　face　only　to　look　to。〃

〃Well；　I　promise　you　the　inn；〃　said　he；　〃and　a　good　outfit　of
clothes；　and　money　in　both　pockets；　if　you　will　do　me　a　good　turn
here　in　England。〃

〃That　I　would；　sir。　　But；　laws；　what　can　a　poor　girl　like　me　do　for
a　rich　gentleman　like　you？〃

〃Can　you　keep　a　secret；　Emily？〃

〃Nobody　better。　　You　try　me；　sir。〃

He　looked　at　her　well；　saw　she　was　one　of　those　who　could　keep　a
secret；　if　she　chose；　and　he　resolved　to　risk　it。

〃Emily；　my　girl；〃　said　he　sadly；　〃I　am　an　unhappy　man。〃

〃You；　sir！　　Why；　you　didn't　ought　to　be。〃

〃I　am　then。　　I　am　in　love；　and　cannot　win　her。〃

Then　he　told　the　girl　a　pretty　tender　tale；　that　he　had　loved　Mrs。
Staines　when　she　was　Miss　Lusignan；　had　thought　himself　beloved　in
turn；　but　was　rejected；　and　now；　though　she　was　a　widow；　he　had　not
the　courage　to　court　her；　her　heart　was　in　the　grave。　　He　spoke　in
such　a　broken　voice　that　the　girl's　good…nature　fought　against　her
little　pique　at　finding　how　little　he　was　smitten　with　HER；　and
Falcon　soon　found　means　to　array　her　cupidity　on　the　side　of　her
good…nature。　　He　gave　her　a　five…pound　note　to　buy　gloves；　and
promised　her　a　fortune；　and　she　undertook　to　be　secret　as　the
grave；　and　say　certain　things　adroitly　to　Mrs。　Staines。

Accordingly；　this　young　woman　omitted　no　opportunity　of　dropping　a
word　in　favor　of　Falcon。　　For　one　thing；　she　said　to　Mrs。　Staines；
〃Mr。　Falcon　must　be　very　fond　of　children；　ma'am。　　Why；　he　worships
Master　Christie。〃

〃Indeed！　　I　have　not　observed　that。〃

〃Why；　no；　ma'am。　　He　is　rather　shy　over　it；　but　when　he　sees　us
alone；　he　is　sure　to　come　to　us；　and　say；　'Let　me　look　at　my　child；
nurse；'　and　he　do　seem　fit　to　eat　him。　　Onst　he　says　to　me；　'This
boy　is　my　heir；　nurse。'　　What　did　he　mean　by　that；　ma'am？〃

〃I　don't　know。〃

〃Is　he　any　kin　to　you；　ma'am？〃

〃None　whatever。　　You　must　have　misunderstood　him。　　You　should　not
repeat　all　that　people　say。〃

〃No；　ma'am；　only　I　did　think　it　so　odd。　　Poor　gentleman；　I　don't
think　he　is　happy；　for　all　his　money。〃

〃He　is　too　good　to　be　unhappy　all　his　life。〃

〃So　I　think；　ma'am。〃

These　conversations　were　always　short；　for　Rosa；　though　she　was　too
kind　and　gentle　to　snub　the　girl；　was　also　too　delicate　to　give　the
least　encouragement　to　her　gossip。

But　Rosa's　was　a　mind　that　could　be　worked　upon；　and　these　short
but　repeated　eulogies　were　not　altogether　without　effect。

At　last　the　insidious　Falcon；　by　not　making　his　approaches　in　a　way
to　alarm　her；　acquired　her　friendship　as　well　as　her　gratitude；
and；　in　short；　she　got　used　to　him　and　liked　him。　　Not　being　bound
by　any　limit　of　fact　whatever；　he　entertained　her；　and　took　her　out
of　herself　a　little　by　extemporaneous　pictures；　he　told　her　all　his
thrilling　adventures　by　flood　and　field；　not　one　of　which　had　ever
occurred；　yet　he　made　them　all　sound　like　truth；　he　invented
strange　characters；　and　set　them　talking；　he　went　after　great
whales；　and　harpooned　one；　which　slapped　his　boat　into　fragments
with　one　stroke　of　its　tail；　then　died；　and　he　hung　on　by　the
harpoon　protruding　from　the　carcass　till　a　ship　came　and　picked　him
up。　　He　shot　a　lion　that　was　carrying　off　his　favorite　Hottentot。
He　encountered　another；　wounded　him　with　both　barrels；　was　seized；
and　dragged　along　the　ground；　and　gave　himself　up　for　lost；　but
kept　firing　his　revolver　down　the　monster's　throat　till　at　last　he
sickened　him；　and　so　escaped　out　of　death's　maw；　he　did　NOT　say　how
he　had　fired　in　the　air；　and　ridden　fourteen　miles　on　end；　at　the
bare　sight　of　a　lion's　cub；　but；　to　compensate　that　one　reserve；
plunged　into　a　raging　torrent　and　saved　a　drowning　woman　by　her
long　hair；　which　he　caught　in　his　teeth；　he　rode　a　race　on　an
ostrich　against　a　friend　on　a　zebra；　which　went　fas