the yellow god-第7章

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Then　a　French　gentleman　on　his　left；　having　discovered　that　he　was　the
engineer　who　had　formulated　the　great　flooding　scheme；　began　to
address　him　as　〃Cher　maitre；〃　speaking　so　rapidly　his　own　language
that　Alan；　whose　French　was　none　of　the　best；　struggled　after　him　in
vain。　Whilst　he　was　trying　to　answer　a　question　which　he　did　not
understand；　the　door　at　the　end　of　the　hall　opened；　and　through　it
appeared　Barbara　Champers。

It　was　a　large　hall　and　she　was　a　long　way　off；　which　caused　her　to
look　small；　who　indeed　was　only　of　middle　height。　Yet　even　at　that
distance　it　was　impossible　to　mistake　the　dignity　of　her　appearance。　A
slim　woman　with　brown　hair；　cheerful　brown　eyes；　a　well…modelled　face；
a　rounded　figure　and　an　excellent　complexion；　such　was　Barbara。　Ten
thousand　young　ladies　could　be　found　as　good；　or　even　better　looking；
yet　something　about　her　differentiated　her　from　the　majority　of　her
sex。　There　was　determination　in　her　step；　and　overflowing　health　and
vigour　in　her　every　movement。　Her　eyes　had　a　trick　of　looking　straight
into　any　other　eyes　they　met；　not　boldly；　but　with　a　kind　of　virginal
fearlessness　and　enterprise　that　people　often　found　embarrassing。
Indeed　she　was　extremely　virginal　and　devoid　of　the　usual　fringe　of
feminine　airs　and　graces；　a　nymph　of　the　woods　and　waters；　who
although　she　was　three　and　twenty；　as　yet　recked　little　of　men　save　as
companions　whom　she　liked　or　disliked　according　to　her　instincts。　For
the　rest　she　was　sweetly　dressed　in　a　white　robe　with　silver　on　it；
and　wore　no　ornaments　save　a　row　of　small　pearls　about　her　throat　and
some　lilies　of　the　valley　at　her　breast。

Barbara　came　straight　onwards；　looking　neither　to　the　right　or　to　the
left；　till　she　reached　her　uncle；　to　whom　she　nodded。　Then　she　walked
to　Alan　and；　offering　him　her　hand；　said：

〃How　do　you　do！　Why　did　you　not　come　over　at　lunch　time？　I　wanted　to
play　a　round　of　golf　with　you　this　afternoon。〃

Alan　answered　something　about　being　busy　at　Yarleys。

〃Yarleys！〃　she　replied。　〃I　thought　that　you　lived　in　the　City　now；
making　money　out　of　speculations；　like　everyone　else　that　I　know。〃

〃Why；　Miss　Champers；〃　broke　in　Sir　Robert　reproachfully；　〃I　asked　you
to　play　a　round　of　golf　before　tea　and　you　would　not。〃

〃No；〃　she　answered；　〃because　I　was　waiting　for　my　cousin。　We　are
better　matched；　Sir　Robert。〃

There　was　something　in　her　voice；　usually　so　soft　and　pleasant；　as　she
spoke　these　words；　something　of　steeliness　and　defiance　that　caused
Alan　to　feel　at　once　happy　and　uncomfortable。　Apparently　also　it
caused　Aylward　to　feel　angry；　for　he　flashed　a　glance　at　Alan　over　her
head　of　which　the　purport　could　not　be　mistaken；　though　his　pale　face
remained　as　immovable　as　ever。　〃We　are　enemies。　I　hate　you；〃　said　that
glance。　Probably　Barbara　saw　it；　at　any　rate　before　either　of　them
could　speak　again；　she　said：

〃Thank　goodness；　there　is　dinner　at　last。　Sir　Robert；　will　you　take　me
in；　and；　Alan；　will　you　sit　on　the　other　side　of　me？　My　uncle　will
show　the　rest　their　places。〃

The　meal　was　long　and　magnificent；　the　price　of　each　dish　of　it　would
have　kept　a　poor　family　for　a　month；　and　on　the　cost　of　the　exquisite
wines　they　might　have　lived　for　a　year　or　two。　Also　the　last　were　well
patronized　by　everyone　except　Barbara；　who　drank　water；　and　Alan；　who
since　his　severe　fever　took　nothing　but　weak　whiskey　and　soda　and　a
little　claret。　Even　Aylward；　a　temperate　person；　absorbed　a　good　deal
of　champagne。　As　a　consequence　the　conversation　grew　animated；　and
under　cover　of　it；　while　Sir　Robert　was　arguing　with　his　neighbour　on
the　left；　Barbara　asked　in　a　low　voice：

〃What　is　the　row；　Alan？　Tell　me；　I　can't　wait　any　longer。〃

〃I　have　quarrelled　with　them；〃　he　answered；　staring　at　his　mutton　as
though　he　were　criticizing　it。　〃I　mean；　I　have　left　the　firm　and　have
nothing　more　to　do　with　the　business。〃

Barbara's　eyes　lit　up　as　she　whispered　back：

〃Glad　of　it。　Best　news　I　have　heard　for　many　a　day。　But　then；　may　I
ask　why　you　are　here？〃

〃I　came　to　see　you；〃　he　replied　humbly〃thought　perhaps　you　wouldn't
mind；〃　and　in　his　confusion　he　let　his　knife　fall　into　the　mutton；
whence　it　rebounded；　staining　his　shirt　front。

Barbara　laughed；　that　happy；　delightful　little　laugh　of　hers；
presumably　at　the　accident　with　the　knife。　Whether　or　no　she　〃minded〃
did　not　appear；　only　she　handed　her　handkerchief；　a　costly；　last…
fringed　trifle；　to　Alan　to　wipe　the　gravy　off　his　shirt；　which　he　took
thinking　it　was　a　napkin；　and　as　she　did　so；　touched　his　hand　with　a
little　caressing　movement　of　her　fingers。　Whether　this　was　done　by
chance　or　on　purpose　did　not　appear　either。　At　least　it　made　Alan　feel
extremely　happy。　Also　when　he　discovered　what　it　was；　he　kept　that
gravy…stained　handkerchief；　nor　did　she　ever　ask　for　it　back　again。
Only　once　in　after　days　when　she　happened　to　come　across　it　stuffed
away　in　the　corner　of　a　despatch…box；　she　blushed　all　over；　and　said
that　she　had　no　idea　that　any　man　could　be　so　foolish　out　of　a　book。

〃Now　that　/you/　are　really　clear　of　it；　I　am　going　for　them；〃　she　said
presently　when　the　wiping　process　was　finished。　〃I　have　only
restrained　myself　for　your　sake；〃　and　leaning　back　in　her　chair　she
stared　at　the　ceiling；　lost　in　meditation。

Presently　there　came　one　of　those　silences　which　will　fall　upon
dinner…parties　at　times；　however　excellent　and　plentiful　the
champagne。

〃Sir　Robert　Aylward；〃　said　Barbara　in　that　clear；　carrying　voice　of
hers；　〃will　you；　as　an　expert；　instruct　a　very　ignorant　person？　I　want
a　little　information。〃

〃Miss　Champers；〃　he　answered；　〃am　I　not　always　at　your　service？〃　and
all　listened　to　hear　upon　what　point　their　hostess　desired　to　be
enlightened。

〃Sir　Robert；〃　she　went　on　calmly；　〃everyone　here　is；　I　believe；　what
is　called　a　financier；　that　is　except　myself　and　Major　Vernon；　who
only　tries　to　be　and　will；　I　am　sure；　fail；　since　Nature　made　him
something　else；　a　soldier　andwhat　else　did　Nature　make　you；　Alan？〃

As　he　vouchsafed　no　answer　to　question；　although　Sir　Robert　muttered
an　uncomplimentary　one　between　his　lips　which　Barbara　heard；　or　read；
she　continued：

〃And　you　are　all　very　rich　and　successful；　are　you　not；　and　are　going
to　be　much　richer　and　much　more　successfulnext　week。　Now　what　I　want
to　ask　you　ishow　is　it　done？〃

〃Accepting　the　premises　for　the　sake　of　argument；　Miss　Champers；〃
replied　Sir　Robert；　who　felt　that　he　could　not　refuse　the　challenge；
〃the　answer　is　that　it　is　done　by　finance。〃

〃I　am　still　in　the　dark；〃　she　said。　〃Finance；　as　I　have　heard　of　it；
means　floating　companies；　and　companies　are　floated　to　earn　money　for
those　who　invest　in　them。　Now　this　afternoon　as　I　was　dull；　I　got　hold
of　a　book　called　the　Directory　of　Directors；　and　looked　up　all　your
names　in　it；　except　those　of　the　gentlemen　from　Paris；　and　the
companies　that　you　directI　found　out　about　those　in　another　book。
Well；　I　could　not　make　out　that　any　of　these　companies　have　ever
earned　any　money；　a　dividend；　don't　you　call　it？　Therefore　how　do　you
all　grow　so　rich；　and　why　do　people　invest　in　them？〃

Now　Sir　Robert　frowned；　Alan　coloured；　two　or　three　of　the　company
laughed　outright；　and　one　of　the　French　gentlemen　who　understood
English　and　had　already　drunk　as　much　as　was　good　for　him；　remarked
loudly　to　his　neighbour；　〃Ah！　she　is　charming。　She　do　touch　the　spot；
like　that　ointment　you　give　me　to…day。　How　do　we　grow　rich　and　why　do
the　people　invest？　/Mon　Dieu！/　why　do　they　invest？　That　is　the　great
mystery。　I　say　that　/cette　belle　demoiselle；　votre　nièce；　est
ravissante。　Elle　a　d'esprit；　mon　ami　Haswell。/〃

Apparently　her　uncle　did　not　share　these　sentiments；　for　he　turned　as
red　as　any　turkey…cock；　and　said　across　the　great　round　table：

〃My　dear　Barbara；　I　wish　that　you　would　leave　matters　which　you　do　not
understand　alone。　We　are　here　to　dine；　not　to　talk　about　finance。〃

〃Certainly；　Uncle；〃　she　answered　sweetly。　〃I　stand；　or　rather　sit；
reproved。　I　suppose　that　I　have　put　my　foot　into　it　as　usual；　and　the
worst　of　it　is；〃　she　added；　turning　to　Sir　Robert；　〃that　I　am　just　as
ignorant　as　I　was　before。〃

〃If　you　want　to　master　these　matters；　Miss　Champers；〃　said　Aylward
with　a　rather　forced　laugh；　〃you　must　go　into　training　and　worship　at
the　shrine　of〃he　meant　to　say　Mammon；　then　thinking　that　the　word
sounded　unpleasant；　substituted〃the　Yellow　God　as　we　do。〃

At　these　words　Alan；　who　had　been　studying　his　plate；　looked　up
quickly；　and　her　uncle's　face　turned　from　red　to　white。　But　the
irrepressible　Barbara　seized　upon　them。

〃The　Yellow　God；〃　she　repeated。　〃Do　you　mean　money　or　that　fetish
thing　of　Major　Vernon's　with　the　terrible　woman's　face　that　I　saw　at
the　office　in　the　City。　Well；　to　change　the　subject；　tell　us；　Alan；
what　is　that　yellow　god　of　yours　and　where　did　it　come　from？〃

〃My　uncle　Austin；　who　was　my　mother's　brother　and　a　missionary；
brought　it　from　West　Africa　a　great　many　years　ago。　He　was　the　first
to　visit　the　tribe　who　worship　it；　in　fact　I　do　not　think　that　anyone
has　ever　visited　them　since。　But　really　I　do　not　know　all　the　story。
Jeekie　can　tell　you　about　it　if　you　want　to　know；　for　he　is　one　of
that　people　and　escaped　with　my　uncle。〃

Now　Jeekie　having　left　the　room；　some　of　the　guests　wished　to　send　for
him；　but　Mr。　Champers…Haswell　objected。　The　end　of　it　was　that　a
compromise　was　effected；　Alan　undertaking　to　produce　his　retainer
afterwards　when　they　went　to　play　billiards　or　cards。



Dinner　was　over　at　length　and　the　diners；　who　had　dined　well；　were
gathered　in　the　billiard　room　to　smoke　and　amuse　themselves　as　they
wished。　It　was　a　very　large　room；　sixty　feet　long　indeed；　with　a　wide
space　in　the　centre　between　the　two　tables；　which　was　furnished　as　a
lounge。　When　the　gentlemen　entered　it　they　found　Barbara　standing　by
the　great　fireplace　in　this　central　space；　a　little　shape　of　white　and
silver　in　its　emptiness。

〃Forgive　me　for　intruding　on　you；〃　she　said；　〃and　please　do　not　stop
smoking；　for　I　like　the　smell。　I　have　sat　up　expressly　to　hear
Jeekie's　story　of　the　Yellow　God。　Alan；　produce　Jeekie；　or　I　shall　go
to　bed　at　once。〃

Her　uncle　made　a　movement　as　though　to　interfere；　but　Sir　Robert　said
something　to　him　which　appeared　to　cause　him　to　change　his　mind；　while
the　rest　in　some　way　or　another　signified　an　enthusiastic　assent。　All
of　them　were　anxious　to　see　this　Jeekie　and　hear　his　tale；　if　he　had
one　to　tell。　So　Jeekie　was　sent　for　and　presently　arrived　clad　in　the
dress　clothes　which　are　common　to　all　classes　in　England　and　America。
There　he　stood　before　them　white…headed；　ebony…faced；　gigantic；
imperturbable。　There　is　no　doubt　that　his　appearance　produced　an
effect；　for　it　was　unusual　and　indeed　striking。

〃You　sent　for　me；　Major？〃　he　said；　addressing　his　master；　to　whom　he
gave　a　military　salute；　for　he　had　been　Alan's　servant　when　he　was　in
the　Army。

〃Yes；　Jeekie。　Miss　Barbara　here　and　these　gentlemen；　wish　you　to　tell
them　all　that　you　know　about　the　Yellow　God。〃

The　negro　started　and　rolled　his　round　eyes　upwards　till　the　whites　of
them　showed；　then　began　in　his　school…book　English：

〃That　is　a　private　subject；　Major；　upon　which　I　should　p