a ward of the golden gate-第16章

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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　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　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
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　thisunworthy　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　youask　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　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　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。〃

〃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