a ward of the golden gate(金门一区)-第20章
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But he was still more amazed when the old servant； in a German as
exaggerated； as incoherent； but still as fluent and persuasive as his own
native speech； began an extravagant but perfectly dignified and diplomatic
translation of his master's protests。 Where and when； by what instinct； he
had assimilated and made his own the grotesque inversions and ponderous
sentimentalities of Teutonic phrasing； Paul could not guess； but it was with
breathless wonder that he presently became aware that； so perfect and
convincing was the old man's style and deportment； not only the simple
officials but even the bystanders were profoundly impressed by this
farrago of absurdity。 A happy word here and there； the full title and rank
given； even with a slight exaggeration； to each individual； brought a deep
and guttural 〃So！〃 from lips that would have found it difficult to repeat a
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line of his ceremonious idiocy。
In their preoccupation neither the colonel nor George had perceived
Paul's entrance； but； as the old servant turned with magnificent courtesy
towards the bystanders； his eyes fell upon Paul。 A flash of surprise；
triumph； and satisfaction lit up his rolling eyes。 Paul instantly knew that he
not only recognized him； but that he had already heard of and thoroughly
appreciated a certain distinguished position that Paul had lately held； and
was quick to apply it。 Intensifying for a moment the grandiloquence of his
manner； he called upon his master's most distinguished and happily arrived
old friend； the Lord Lieutenant Governor of the Golden Californias； to
corroborate his statement。 Colonel Pendleton started； and grasped Paul's
hand warmly。 Paul turned to the already half…mollified Director with the
diplomatic suggestion that the vivid and realistic acting of the admirable
company which he himself had witnessed had perhaps unduly excited his
old friend； even as it had undoubtedly thrown into greater relief the usual
exaggerations of dramatic representation； and the incident terminated with
a profusion of apologies； and the most cordial expressions of international
good feeling on both sides。
Yet； as they turned away from the theatre together； Paul could not help
noticing that； although the colonel's first greeting had been spontaneous
and unaffected； it was succeeded by an uneasy reserve。 Paul made no
attempt to break it； and confined himself to a few general inquiries； ending
by inviting the colonel to sup with him at the hotel。 Pendleton hesitated。
〃At any other time； Mr。 Hathaway； I should have insisted upon you； as the
stranger； supping with me； but since the absence ofofthe rest of my
partyI have given up my suite of rooms at the Bad Hof； and have taken
smaller lodgings for myself and the boy at the Schwartze Adler。 Miss
Woods and Miss Arguello have accepted an invitation to spend a few days
at the villa of the Baron and Baroness von Schilprechtan hour or two
from here。〃 He lingered over the title with an odd mingling of
impressiveness and inquiry； and glanced at Paul。 But Hathaway exhibiting
neither emotion nor surprise at the mention of Yerba's name or the title of
her host； he continued； 〃Miss Arguello； I suppose you know； is immensely
admired： she has been； sir； the acknowledged belle of Strudle Bad。〃
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〃I can readily believe it；〃 said Paul； simply。
〃And has taken the positionthe position； sir； to which she is entitled。〃
Without appearing to notice the slight challenge in Pendleton's tone；
Paul returned； 〃I am glad to hear it。 The more particularly as； I believe； the
Germans are great sticklers for position and pedigree。〃
〃You are right； sirquite right： they are；〃 said the colonel； proudly
〃although〃with a certain premeditated deliberation〃I have been
credibly informed that the King can； in certain cases； if he chooses；
supplyyes； sirSUPPLY a favored person with ancestorsyes； sir； with
ANCESTORS！〃
Paul cast a quick glance at his companion。
〃Yes； sirthat is； we will say； in the case of a lady of inferior rankor
even birth； the King of these parts can； on her marriage with a nobleman
blank it all！ennoble her father and mother； and their fathers and mothers；
though they've been dead； or as good as dead； for years。〃
〃I am afraid that's a slight exaggeration of the rare custom of granting
'noble lands；' or estates that carry hereditary titles with them；〃 said Paul；
more emphatically； perhaps； than the occasion demanded。
〃Fact； sirGeorge there knows it all；〃 said Pendleton。 〃He gets it from
the other servants。 I don't speak the language； sir； but HE does。 Picked it
up in a year。〃
〃I must compliment him on his fluency； certainly；〃 said Paul； looking
at George。
The old servant smiled； and not without a certain condescension。 〃Yes；
sah； I don' say to a scholar like yo'self； sah； dat I'se got de grandmatical
presichion； but as fah； sahas fah as de IDIOTISMS ob de language goes。
Sahit's gen'lly allowed I'm dar！ As to what Marse Harry says ob de
ignobling ob predecessors； I've had it； sah； from de best autority； sahde
furst； I may say； sahde real prima facie mende gemplum ob his Serene
Highness； in de korse eb ordinary conversashun； sah。〃
〃That'll do； George；〃 said Pendleton； with paternal brusqueness。 〃Run
on ahead and tell that blank chamberlain that Mr。 Hathaway is one of my
friendsand have supper accordingly。〃 As the negro hastened away he
turned to Paul： 〃What he says is true： he's the most popular man or boy in
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all Strudle Bada devilish sight more than his masterand goes anywhere
where I can't go。 Princes and princesses stop and talk to him in the street；
the Grand Duke asked permission to have him up in his carriage at the
races the other day； and； by the Eternal； sir； he gives the style to all the
flunkeys in town！〃
〃And I see； he dresses the character；〃 observed Paul。
〃His own ideaentirely。 And； by Jove！ he proves to be right。 You can't
do anything here without a uniform。 And they tell me he's got everything
correct； down to the crest on the buttons。〃
They walked on in silence for a few moments； Pendleton retaining a
certain rigidity of step and bearing which Paul had come to recognize as
indicating some uneasiness or mental disturbance on his part。 Hathaway
had no intention of precipitating the confidence of his companion。 Perhaps
experience had told him it would come soon enough。 So he spoke
carelessly of himself。 How the need of a year's relaxation and change had
brought him abroad； his journeyings； and； finally； how he had been
advised by his German physician to spend a few weeks at Strudle Bad
preparatory to the voyage home。 Yet he was perfectly aware that the
colonel from time to time cast a furtive glance at his face。 〃And YOU；〃 he
said in conclusion〃when do you intend to return to California？〃
The colonel hesitated slightly。 〃I shall remain in Europe until Miss
Arguello is settledI mean；〃 he added hurriedly； 〃until she hasahem！
completed her education in foreign ways and customs。 You see； Hathaway；
I have constituted myself； after a certain fashion； I may saystill； her
guardian。 I am an old man； with neither kith nor kin myself； sirI'm a little
too old…fashioned for the boys over there〃with a vague gesture towards
the west； which； however； told Paul how near it still was to him。 〃But then；
among the old fogys hereblank it all！it isn't noticed。 So I look after her；
you see； or rather make myself responsible for her generallyalthough； of
course； she has other friends and associates； you understand； more of her
own age and tastes。〃
〃And I've no doubt she's perfectly satisfied；〃 said Paul in a tone of
conviction。
〃Well； yes； sir； I presume so；〃 said the colonel slowly； 〃but I've
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sometimes thought； Mr。 Hathaway； that it would have been better if she'd
have had a woman's carethe protection you understand； of an elderly
woman of society。 That seems to be the style here； you knowa chaperon；
they call it。 Now； Milly Woods； you see； is about the same age； and the
Dona Anna； of course； is older； but blank it！she's as big a flirt as the
restI mean；〃 he added； correcting himself sharply； 〃she lacks balance； sir；
andwhat shall I call it？self…abnegation。〃
〃Then Dona Anna is still of your party？〃 asked Paul。
〃She is； sir； and her brother； Don Caesar。 I have thought it advisable；
on Yerba's account； to keep up as much as possible the suggestion of her
Spanish relationshipalthough by reason of their absurd ignorance of
geography and political divisions out here； there is a prevailing impression
that she is a South American。 A fact； sir。 I have myself been mistaken for
the Dictator of one of these infernal Republics； and I have been pointed
out as ruling over a million or two of niggers like George！〃
There was no trace of any conception of humor in the colonel's face；
although he uttered a short laugh； as if in polite acceptance of the
possibility that Paul might have one。 Far from that； his companion；
looking at the striking profile and erect figure at his sideat the long white
moustache which drooped from his dark cheeks； and remembering his
own sensations at first seeing George thought the popular belief not so
wonderful。 He was even forced to admit that the perfect unconsciousness
on the part of master and man of any incongruity or peculiarity in
themselves assisted the public misconception。 And it was； I fear； with a
feeling of wicked delight that
