the wheels of chance-第22章

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　know　at　the　time　that　his　stray　shot　had　hit。　He　had　thrown　it　as　a　boy　throws　a　stone　at　a　bird。　And　it　not　only　demolished　a　foolish；　happy　conceit；　but　it　wounded。　It　touched　Jessie　grossly。

She　did　not　hear　it；　he　concluded　from　her　subsequent　bearing；　but　during　the　supper　they　had　in　the　little　private　dining…room；　though　she　talked　cheerfully；　he　was　preoccupied。　Whiffs　of　indistinct　conversation；　and　now　and　then　laughter；　came　in　from　the　inn　parloiir　through　the　pelargoniums　in　the　open　window。　Hoopdriver　felt　it　must　all　be　in　the　same　strain；at　her　expense　and　his。　He　answered　her　abstractedly。　She　was　tired；　she　said；　and　presently　went　to　her　room。　Mr。　Hoopdriver；　in　his　courtly　way；　opened　the　door　for　her　and　bowed　her　out。　He　stood　listening　and　fearing　some　new　offence　as　she　went　upstairs；　and　round　the　bend　where　the　barometer　hung　beneath　the　stuffed　birds。　Then　he　went　back　to　the　room；　and　stood　on　the　hearthrug　before　the。　paper　fireplace　ornament。　〃Cads！〃　he　said　in　a　scathing　undertone；　as　a　fresh　burst　of　laughter　came　floating　in。　All　through　supper　he　had　been　composing　stinging　repartee；　a　blistering　speech　of　denunciation　to　be　presently　delivered。　He　would　rate　them　as　a　nobleman　should：　〃Call　themselves　Englishmen；　indeed；　and　insult　a　woman！〃　he　would　say；　take　the　names　and　addresses　perhaps；　threaten　to　speak　to　the　Lord　of　the　Manor；　promise　to　let　them　hear　from　him　again；　and　so　out　with　consternation　in　his　wake。　It　really　ought　to　be　done。

〃Teach　'em　better；〃　he　said　fiercely；　and　tweaked　his　moustache　painfully。　What　was　it？　He　revived　the　objectionable　remark　for　his　own　exasperation；　and　then　went　over　the　heads　of　his　speech　again。

He　coughed；　made　three　steps　towards　the　door；　then　stopped　and　went　back　to　the　hearthrug。　He　wouldn'tafter　all。　Yet　was　he　not　a　Knight　Errant？　Should　such　men　go　unreproved；　unchecked；　by　wandering　baronets　incognito？　Magnanimity？　Look　at　it　in　that　way？　Churls　beneath　one's　notice？　No；　merely　a　cowardly　subterfuge。　He　WOULD　after　all。

Something　within　him　protested　that　he　was　a　hot…headed　ass　even　as　he　went　towards　the　door　again。　But　he　only　went　on　the　more　resolutely。　He　crossed　the　hall；　by　the　bar；　and　entered　the　room　from　which　the　remark　had　proceeded。　He　opened　the　door　abruptly　and　stood　scowling　on　them　in　the　doorway。　〃You'll　only　make　a　mess　of　it；〃　remarked　the　internal　sceptic。　There　were　five　men　in　the　room　altogether：　a　fat　person；　with　a　long　pipe　and　a　great　number　of　chins；　in　an　armchair　by　the　fireplace；　who　wished　Mr。　Hoopdriver　a　good　evening　very　affably；　a　young　fellow　smoking　a　cutty　and　displaying　crossed　legs　with　gaiters　；　a　little；　bearded　man　with　a　toothless　laugh；　a　middle…aged；　comfortable　man　with　bright　eyes；　who　wore　a　velveteen　jacket；　and　a　fair　young　man；　very　genteel　in　a　yellowish…brown　ready…made　suit　and　a　white　tie。

〃H'm；〃　said　Mr。　Hoopdriver；　looking　very　stern　and　harsh。　And　then　in　a　forbidding　tone；　as　one　who　consented　to　no　liberties；　〃Good　evening。〃

〃Very　pleasant　day　we've　been　'aving；〃　said　the　fair　young　man　with　the　white　tie。

〃Very；〃　said　Mr。　Hoopdriver；　slowly；　and　taking　a　brown　armchair；　he　planted　it　with　great　deliberation　where　he　faced　the　fireplace；　and　sat　down。　Let's　seehow　did　that　speech　begin？

〃Very　pleasant　roads　about　here；〃　said　the　fair　young　man　with　the　white　tie。

〃Very；〃　said　Mr。　Hoopdriver；　eyeing　him　darkly。　Have　to　begin　somehow。　〃The　roads　about　here　are　all　right；　and　the　weather　about　here　is　all　right；　but　what　I've　come　in　here　to　say　isthere's　some　damned　unpleasant　peopledamned　unpleasant　people！〃

〃Oh！〃　said　the　young　man　with　the　gaiters；　apparently　making　a　mental　inventory　of　his　pearl　buttons　as　he　spoke。　〃How's　that？〃　

Mr。　Hoopdriver　put　his　hands　on　his　knees　and　stuck　out　his　elbows　with　extreme　angularity。　In　his　heart　he　was　raving　at　his　idiotic　folly　at　thus　bearding　these　lions；indisputably　they　WERE　lions；but　he　had　to　go　through　with　it　now。　Heaven　send；　his　breath；　which　was　already　getting　a　trifle　spasmodic；　did　not　suddenly　give　out。　He　fixed　his　eye　on　the　face　of　the　fat　man　with　the　chins；　and　spoke　in　a　low；　impressive　voice。　〃I　came　here；　sir；〃　said　Mr。　Hoopdriver；　and　paused　to　inflate　his　cheeks；　〃with　a　lady。〃

〃Very　nice　lady；〃　said　the　man　with　the　gaiters；　putting　his　head　on　one　side　to　admire　a　pearl　button　that　had　been　hiding　behind　the　curvature　of　his　calf。　〃Very　nice　lady　indeed。〃

〃I　came　here；〃　said　Mr。　Hoopdriver；　〃with　a　lady。〃

〃We　saw　you　did；　bless　you；〃　said　the　fat　man　with　the　chins；　in　a　curious　wheezy　voice。　〃I　don't　see　there's　anything　so　very　extraordinary　in　that。　One　'ud　think　we　hadn't　eyes。〃

Mr。　Hoopdriver　coughed。　〃I　came；　here；　sir〃

〃We've　'eard　that；〃　said　the　little　man　with　the　beard；　sharply　and　went　off　into　an　amiable　chuckle。　〃We　know　it　by　'art；〃　said　the　little　man；　elaborating　the　point。

Mr。　Hoopdriver　temporarily　lost　his　thread。　He　glared　malignantly　at　the　little　man　with　the　beard；　and　tried　to　recover　his　discourse。　A　pause。

〃You　were　saying；〃　said　the　fair　young　man　with　the　white　tie；　speaking　very　politely；　〃that　you　came　here　with　a　lady。〃

〃A　lady；〃　meditated　the　gaiter　gazer。

The　man　in　velveteen；　who　was　looking　from　one　speaker　to　another　with　keen；　bright　eyes；　now　laughed　as　though　a　point　had　been　scored；　and　stimulated　Mr。　Hoopdriver　to　speak；　by　fixing　him　with　an　expectant　regard。

〃Some　dirty　cad；〃　said　Mr。　Hoopdriver；　proceeding　with　his　discourse；　and　suddenly　growing　extremely　fierce；　〃made　a　remark　as　we　went　by　this　door。〃

〃Steady　on！〃　said　the　old　gentleman　with　many　chins。　；Steady　on！　Don't　you　go　a…calling　us　names；　please。〃

〃One　minute！〃　said　Mr。　Hoopdriver。　〃It　wasn't　I　began　calling　names。〃　（〃Who　did？　said　the　man　with　the　chins。）　〃I'm　not　calling　any　of　you　dirty　cads。　Don't　run　away　with　that　impression。　Only　some　person　in　this　room　made　a　remark　that　showed　he　wasn't　fit　to　wipe　boots　on；　and；　with　all　due　deference　to　such　gentlemen　as　ARE　gentlemen〃　（Mr。　Hoopdriver　looked　round　for　moral　support）；　〃I　want　to　know　which　it　was。〃

〃Meanin'？〃　said　the　fair　young　man　in　the　white　tie。

〃That　I'm　going　to　wipe　my　boots　on　'im　straight　away；〃　said　Mr。　Hoopdriver；　reverting　to　anger；　if　with　a　slight　catch　in　his　throatthan　which　threat　of　personal　violence　nothing　had　been　further　from　his　thoughts　on　entering　the　room。　He　said　this　because　he　could　think　of　nothing　else　to　say；　and　stuck　out　his　elbows　truculently　to　hide　the　sinking　of　his　heart。　It　is　curious　how　situations　run　away　with　us。

〃'Ullo；　Charlie！〃　said　the　little　man；　and　〃My　eye！〃　said　the　owner　of　the　chins。　'You're　going　to　wipe　your　boots　on　'im？〃　said　the　fair　young　man；　in　a　tone　of　mild　surprise。　

〃I　am；〃　said　Mr。　Hoopdriver；　with　emphatic　resolution；　and　glared　in　the　young　man's　face。

〃That's　fair　and　reasonable；〃　said　the　man　in　the　velveteen　jacket；　〃if　you　can。〃

The　interest　of　the　meeting　seemed　transferred　to　the　young　man　in　the　white　tic。　〃Of　course；　if　you　can't　find　out　which　it　is；　I　suppose　you're　prepared　to　wipe　your　boots　in　a　liberal　way　on　everybody　in　the　room；〃　said　this　young　man；　in　the　same　tone　of　impersonal　question。　〃This　gentleman；　the　champion　lightweight〃

〃Own　up；　Charlie；〃　said　the　young　man　with　the　gaiters；　looking　up　for　a　moment。　〃And　don't　go　a…dragging　in　your　betters。　It's　fair　and　square。　You　can't　get　out　of　it。〃

〃Was　it　thisgent？〃　began　Mr。　Hoopdriver。

〃Of　course；〃　said　the　young　man　in　the　white　tie；　〃when　it　comes　to　talking　of　wiping　boots〃

〃I'm　not　talking；　I'm　going　to　do　it；〃　said　Mr。　Hoopdriver。

He　looked　round　at　the　meeting。　They　were　no　longer　antagonists；　they　were　spectators。　He　would　have　to　go　through　with　it　now。　But　this　tone　of　personal　aggression　on　the　maker　of　the　remark　had　somehow　got　rid　of　the　oppressive　feeling　of　Hoopdriver　contra　mundum。　Apparently；　he　would　have　to　fight　someone。　Would　he　get　a　black　eye？　Would　he　get　very　much　hurt？　Pray　goodness　it　wasn't　that　sturdy　chap　in　the　gaiters！　Should　he　rise　and　begin？　What　would　she　think　if　he　brought　a　black　eye　to　breakfast　to…morrow？〃Is　this　the　man？〃　said　Mr。　Hoopdriver；　with　a　business…like　calm；　and　arms　more　angular　than　ever。

〃Eat　'im！〃　said　the　little　man　with　the　beard；　〃eat　'im　straight　orf。〃

〃Steady　on！〃　said　the　young　man　in　the　white　tie。　〃Steady　on　a　minute。　If　I　did　happen　to　say〃

〃You　did；　did　you？〃　said　Mr。　Hoopdriver。

Backing　out　of　it；　Charlie？〃　said　the　young　man　with　the　gaiters。

〃Not　a　bit；〃　said　Charlie。　〃Surely　we　can　pass　a　bit　of　a　joke〃

〃I'm　going　to　teach　you　to　keep　your　jokes　to　yourself；〃　said　Mr。　Hoopdriver。

〃Bray…vo！〃　said　the　shepherd　of　the　flock　of　chins。

〃Charlie　IS　a　bit　too　free　with　his　jokes；〃　said　the　little　man　with　the　beard。

〃It's　downright　disgusting；〃　said　Hoopdriver；　falling　back　upon　his　speech。　〃A　lady　can't　ride　a　bicycle　in　a　country　road；　or　wear　a　dress　a　little　out　of　the　ordinary；　but　every　dirty　little　greaser　must　needs　go　shouting　insults〃　

〃_I_　didn't　know　the　young　lady　would　hear　what　I　said；〃　said　Charlie。　〃　Surely　one　can　speak　friendly　to　one's　friends。　How　was　I　to　know　the　door　was　open〃

Hoopdriver　began　to　suspect　that　his　antagonist　was；　if　possible；　more　seriously　alarmed　at　the　prospect　of　violence　than　himself；　and　his　spirits　rose　again。　These　chaps　ought　to　have　a　thorough　lesson。　〃Of　COURSE　you　knew　the　door　was　open；〃　he　retorted　indignantly。　〃Of　COURSE　you　thought　we　should　hear　what　you　said。　Don't　go　telling　lies　about　it。　It's　no　good　your　saying　things　like　that。　You've　had　your　fun；　and　you　meant　to　have　your　fun。　And　I　mean　to　make　an　example　of　you；　Sir。〃

〃Ginger　beer；〃　said　the　little　man　with　the　beard；　in　a　confidential　tone　to　the　velveteen　jacket；　〃is　regular　up　this　'ot　weather。　Bustin'　its　bottles　it　is　everywhere。〃

〃What's　the　good　of　scrapping　about　in　a　publichouse？〃　said　Charlie；　appealing　to　the　company。　〃A　fair　fight　without　interruptions；　now；　I　WOULDN'T　mind；　if　the　gentleman's　so　disposed。〃

Evidently　the　man　was　horribly　afraid。　Mr。　Hoopdriver　grew　truculent。

〃Where　you　like；〃　said　Mr。　Hoopdriver。　〃jest　wherever　you　like。〃

〃You　insulted　the　gent；〃　said　the　man　in　velveteen。

〃Don't　be　a　bloomin'　funk；　Charlie；〃　said　the　man　in　gaiters。　〃Why；　you　got　a　stone　of　him；　if　you　got　an　ounce。〃

〃What　I　say；　is　this；〃　said　the　gentleman　with　the　excessive　chins；　trying　to　get　a　hearing　by　banging　his　chair　arms。　〃If　Charlie　goes　saying　things；　he　ought　to　back　'em　up。　That's　what　I　say。　I　don't　mind　his　sayin'　such　things　't　all；　but　he　ought　to　be　prepared　to　back　'em　up。〃

〃I'll　BACK　'em　up　all　right；〃　said　Charlie；　with　extremely　bitter　emphasis　on　'back。'　〃If　the　gentleman　likes　to　come　Toosday　week〃

〃Rot！〃　chopped　in　Hoopdriver。　〃Now。〃

〃'Ear；　'ear；〃　said　the　owner　of　the　chins。

〃Never　put　off　till　to…morrow；　Charlie；　what　you　can　do　to…day；〃　said　the　man　in　the　velveteen　coat。

〃You　got　to　do　it；　Charlie；〃　said　the　man　in　gaiters。　〃It's　no　good。〃

〃It's　like　this；〃　said　Charlie；　appealing　to　everyone　except　Hoopdriver。　〃Here's　me；　got　to　take　in　her　ladyship's　dinner　to…morrow　night。　How　should　I　look　with　a　black　eye？　And　going　round　with　the