a ward of the golden gate(金门一区)-第19章
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may have； perhaps； given rise to your supposition。 She joins me in best
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wishes for your public career； which even in the distraction of foreign
travel and the obligations of her position she will follow from time to time
with the greatest interest。
Very respectfully yours；
HARRY PENDLETON。
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CHAPTER V。
It was on the 3d of August； 1863； that Paul Hathaway resigned
himself and his luggage to the care of the gold…laced； ostensible porter of
the Strudle Bad Hof； not without some uncertainty； in a land of uniforms；
whether he would be eventually conducted to the barracks； the police
office； or the Conservatoire。 He was relieved when the omnibus drove into
the courtyard of the Bad Hof； and the gold…chained chamberlain； flanked
by two green tubs of oleanders； received him with a gravity calculated to
check any preconceived idea he might have that traveling was a trifling
affair； or that an arrival at the Bad Hof was not of serious moment。 His
letters had not yet arrived； for he had； in a fit of restlessness； shortened his
route； and he strolled listlessly into the reading…room。 Two or three
English guests were evidently occupied in eminently respectable reading
and writing； two were sitting by the window engaged in subdued but
profitable conversation； and two Americans from Boston were contentedly
imitating them on the other side of the room。 A decent restraint； as of
people who were not for a moment to be led into any foreign idea of social
gayety at a watering…place； was visible everywhere。 A spectacled Prussian
officer in full uniform passed along the hall； halted for a moment at the
doorway as if contemplating an armed invasion； thought better of it； and
took his uniform away into the sunlight of the open square； where it was
joined by other uniforms； and became by contrast a miracle of unbraced
levity。 Paul stood the Polar silence for a few moments； until one of the
readers arose and； taking his booka Murrayin his hand； walked slowly
across the room to a companion； mutely pointed to a passage in the book；
remained silent until the other had dumbly perused it； and then walked
back again to his seat； having achieved the incident without a word。 At
which Paul； convinced of his own incongruity； softly withdrew with his
hat in his hand； and his eyes fixed devotionally upon it。
It was good after that to get into the slanting sunlight and checkered
linden shadows of the Allee； to see even a tightly jacketed cavalryman
naturally walking with Clarchen and her two round…faced and drab…haired
young charges； to watch the returning invalid procession； very real and
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very human； each individual intensely involved in the atmosphere of his
own symptoms； and very good after that to turn into the Thiergarten；
where the animals； were； however； chiefly of his own species； and
shamelessly and openly amusing themselves。 It was pleasant to contrast it
with his first visit to the place three months before； and correct his crude
impressions。 And it was still more pleasant suddenly to recognize； under
the round flat cap of a general officer； a former traveler who was fond of
talking with him about America with an intelligence and understanding of
it that Paul had often missed among his own traveled countrymen。 It was
pleasant to hear his unaffected and simple greeting； to renew their old
acquaintance； and to saunter back to the hotel together through the long
twilight。
They were only a few squares from the hotel； when Paul's attention
was attracted by the curiosity and delight of two or three children before
him； who appeared to be following a quaint…looking figure that was
evidently not unfamiliar to them。 It appeared to be a servant in a striking
livery of green with yellow facings and crested silver buttons； but still
more remarkable for the indescribable mingling of jaunty ease and
conscious dignity with which he carried off his finery。 There was
something so singular and yet so vaguely reminiscent in his peculiar walk
and the exaggerated swing of his light bamboo cane that Paul could not
only understand the childish wonder of the passers…by； who turned to look
after him； but was stirred with a deeper curiosity。 He quickened his pace；
but was unable to distinguish anything of the face or features of the
stranger； except that his hair under his cocked hat appeared to be tightly
curled and powdered。 Paul's companion； who was amused at what seemed
to be the American's national curiosity； had seen the figure before。 〃A
servant in the suite of some Eastern Altesse visiting the baths。 You will see
stranger things； my friend； in the Strudle Bad。 Par example； your own
countrymen； too； the one who has enriched himself by that pork of
Chicago； or that soap； or this candle； in a carriage with the crest of the title
he has bought in Italy with his dollars； and his beautiful daughters； who
are seeking more titles with possible matrimonial contingencies。〃
After an early dinner； Paul found his way to the little theatre。 He had
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already been struck by a highly colored poster near the Bahnhof；
purporting that a distinguished German company would give a
representation of 〃Uncle Tom's Cabin；〃 and certain peculiarities in the
pictorial advertisement of the tableaux gave promise of some
entertainment。 He found the theatre fairly full； there was the usual
contingent of abonnirte officers； a fair sprinkling of English and German
travelers； but apparently none of his own countrymen。 He had no time to
examine the house more closely； for the play； commencing with simple
punctuality； not only far exceeded the promise of the posters； but of any
previous performance of the play he had witnessed。 Transported at once to
a gorgeous tropical regionthe slave States of Americaresplendent with
the fruits and palms of Mauritius； and peopled exclusively with Paul and
Virginia's companions in striped cotton； Hathaway managed to keep a
composed face； until the arrival of the good Southern planter St。 Clair as
one of the earlier portraits of Goethe； in top boots； light kerseymere
breeches； redingote and loose Byron collar； compelled him to shrink into
the upper corner of the box with his handkerchief to his face。 Luckily； the
action passed as the natural effect upon a highly sympathetic nature of
religious interviews between a round…faced flaxen…haired 〃Kleine Eva〃
and 〃Onkeel Tome；〃 occasionally assisted by a Dissenting clergyman in
Geneva bands； of excessive brutality with a cattle whip by a Zamiel…like
Legree； of the sufferings of a runaway negro Zimmermadchen with a child
three shades lighter than herself； and of a painted canvas 〃man…hunt；〃
where apparently four well known German composers on horseback； with
flowing hair； top boots； and a Cor de chasse； were pursuing； with the aid
of a pack of fox hounds； 〃the much too deeply abused and yet spiritually
elevated Onkeel Tome。〃 Paul did not wait for the final apotheosis of 〃der
Kleine Eva；〃 but； in the silence of a hushed audience； made his way into
the corridor and down the staircase。 He was passing an open door marked
〃Direction；〃 when his attention was sharply attracted by a small gathering
around it and the sounds of indignant declamation。 It was the voice of a
countrymanmore than that； it was a familiar voice； that he had not heard
for three yearsthe voice of Colonel Harry Pendleton！
〃Tell him；〃 said Pendleton； in scathing tones； to some invisible
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interpreter；〃tell； him； sir； that a more infamous caricature of the blankest
caricature that ever maligned a free people； sir； I never before had the
honor of witnessing。 Tell him that I； sirI； Harry Pendleton； of Kentucky；
a Southerner； siran old slaveholder； sir； declare it to be a tissue of
falsehoods unworthy the credence of a Christian civilization like this
unworthy the attention of the distinguished ladies and gentlemen that are
gathered here to…night。 Tell him； sir； he has been imposed upon。 Tell him I
am responsiblegive him my card and addresspersonally responsible for
what I say。 If he wants proofsblank it all！ tell him you yourself have
been a slaveMY slave； sir！ Take off your hat； sir！ Ask him to look at you…
…ask him if he thinks you ever looked or could look like that lop…eared；
psalm…singing； white…headed hypocrite on the stage！ Ask him； sir； if he
thinks that blank ringmaster they call St。 Clair looks like ME！〃
At this astounding exordium Paul eagerly pressed forward and entered
the bureau。 There certainly was Colonel Pendleton； in spotless evening
dress； erect； flashing； and indignant； his aquiline nose lifted like a hawk's
beak over his quarry； his iron… gray moustache； now white and waxed；
parted like a swallow's tail over his handsome mouth； and between him
and the astounded 〃Direction〃 stood the apparition of the AlleeGeorge！
There was no mistaking him now。 What Paul had thought was a curled wig
or powder was the old negro's own white knotted wool； and the astounding
livery he wore was carried off as no one but George could carry it。
But he was still more amazed when the old servant； in a German
