登陆注册
5394400000065

第65章

"It 's a good deal to pretend, certainly," he went on, smiling always, with his red face and his blue eyes. "But this is no great credit to me, because Bernard's superb condition would strike any one.

You look as if you were going to marry the Lord Mayor's daughter!"

If Bernard was blooming, his bloom at this juncture must have deepened, and in so doing indeed have contributed an even brighter tint to his expression of salubrious happiness. It was one of the rare occasions of his life when he was at a loss for a verbal expedient.

"It 's a great match," he nevertheless murmured, jestingly.

"You must excuse my inflated appearance."

"It has absorbed you so much that you have had no time to write to me," said Gordon. "I expected to hear from you after you arrived."

"I wrote to you a fortnight ago--just before receiving your own letter.

You left New York before my letter reached it."

"Ah, it will have crossed us," said Gordon. "But now that we have your society I don't care. Your letters, of course, are delightful, but that is still better."

In spite of this sympathetic statement Bernard cannot be said to have enjoyed his lunch; he was thinking of something else that lay before him and that was not agreeable. He was like a man who has an acrobatic feat to perform--a wide ditch to leap, a high pole to climb--and who has a presentiment of fractures and bruises. Fortunately he was not obliged to talk much, as Mrs. Gordon displayed even more than her usual vivacity, rendering her companions the graceful service of lifting the burden of conversation from their shoulders.

"I suppose you were surprised to see us rushing out here so suddenly," she observed in the course of the repast.

"We had said nothing about it when you last saw us, and I believe we are supposed to tell you everything, ain't we? I certainly have told you a great many things, and there are some of them I hope you have n't repeated.

I have no doubt you have told them all over Paris, but I don't care what you tell in Paris--Paris is n't so easily shocked.

Captain Lovelock does n't repeat what I tell him; I set him up as a model of discretion. I have told him some pretty bad things, and he has liked them so much he has kept them all to himself.

I say my bad things to Captain Lovelock, and my good things to other people; he does n't know the difference and he is perfectly content."

"Other people as well often don't know the difference," said Gordon, gravely. "You ought always to tell us which are which."

Blanche gave her husband a little impertinent stare.

"When I am not appreciated," she said, with an attempt at superior dryness, "I am too proud to point it out.

I don't know whether you know that I 'm proud," she went on, turning to Gordon and glancing at Captain Lovelock; "it 's a good thing to know. I suppose Gordon will say that I ought to be too proud to point that out; but what are you to do when no one has any imagination? You have a grain or two, Mr. Longueville; but Captain Lovelock has n't a speck.

As for Gordon, je n'en parle pas! But even you, Mr. Longueville, would never imagine that I am an interesting invalid--that we are travelling for my delicate health. The doctors have n't given me up, but I have given them up. I know I don't look as if I were out of health; but that 's because I always try to look my best. My appearance proves nothing--absolutely nothing. Do you think my appearance proves anything, Captain Lovelock?"

Captain Lovelock scrutinized Blanche's appearance with a fixed and solemn eye; and then he replied--"It proves you are very lovely."

Blanche kissed her finger-tips to him in return for this compliment.

"You only need to give Captain Lovelock a chance," she rattled on, "and he is as clever as any one. That 's what I like to do to my friends--I like to make chances for them.

Captain Lovelock is like my dear little blue terrier that I left at home. If I hold out a stick he will jump over it.

He won't jump without the stick; but as soon as I produce it he knows what he has to do. He looks at it a moment and then he gives his little hop. He knows he will have a lump of sugar, and Captain Lovelock expects one as well. Dear Captain Lovelock, shall I ring for a lump? Would n't it be touching?

Gar;alcon, un morceau de sucre pour Monsieur le Capitaine!

But what I give Monsieur le Capitaine is moral sugar! I usually administer it in private, and he shall have a good big morsel when you go away."

Gordon got up, turning to Bernard and looking at his watch.

"Let us go away, in that case," he said, smiling, "and leave Captain Lovelock to receive his reward. We will go and take a walk; we will go up the Champs Elysees. Good morning, Monsieur le Capitaine."

Neither Blanche nor the Captain offered any opposition to this proposal, and Bernard took leave of his hostess and joined Gordon, who had already passed into the antechamber.

同类推荐
热门推荐
  • 古币姻缘

    古币姻缘

    《古币姻缘》故事聚焦民间、曲折新奇。有因为一枚古钱币而走到一起的奇妙姻缘(《古币姻缘》),有因为心地善良而娶到美妻的农村青年(《拾“妻”不昧》),还有一人饰演两个角色最终赢得爱情的聪明姑娘(《爱情AB角》)。此外,还有发生在原始森林中的另类人群生存状态(《追踪野人》),身怀绝技却不肯为金钱出卖人格的奇人故事(《人鸟情缘》),生动有趣,引人入胜。
  • 公关活动技巧举要

    公关活动技巧举要

    《公关活动技巧举要》一书从灵活运用攻关法则、善于使用媒介、好的公关策划、掌控必备的公关技巧、成功的新闻发布会、合理选择公关活动的模式、营造良好的公关文化等方面对公关活动的技巧进行了探索。
  • 启发青少年生物探秘的故事(启发青少年的科学故事集)

    启发青少年生物探秘的故事(启发青少年的科学故事集)

    本书是献给尊重科学、学习科学,创造科学的青少年的一份礼物。过去培根说:“知识就是力量。”今天我们说:“科学就是力量。”科学是智慧的历程和结晶。从人类期盼的最高精神境界讲,朝朝暮暮沿着知识的历程,逐步通向科学的光辉圣殿,是许多有志于自我发展的青少年晶莹透明的梦想!
  • 神剑耀天

    神剑耀天

    传奇剑神在战斗之中被敌人暗算,侥幸重活一次,展开一场直达巅峰的狂霸升级之路,所有的天才都将在他的脚下,任何敌人都将无法阻拦他重踏巅峰的脚步!
  • 从阿努拉德开始的旅程

    从阿努拉德开始的旅程

    一滴冷汗从林奇的额前划过,他望着那眼前晃动的小白腿,艰难的咽了咽口水。只怕世上没有一个萝莉控不会憧憬着这里的...?憧憬个屁啊!?警察先生,把你手上的枪收起来好吗!!!
  • 在艰难的世界里,勇敢前行

    在艰难的世界里,勇敢前行

    这世界虽然没那么好,但也没那么坏。我们要试着去努力,遭遇风霜雨雪后,依然有勇气往前,往未知的未来去探险。直击脆弱心灵,正视失败成因。
  • 迷你恋人

    迷你恋人

    谁是天使镇史上最倒霉的人?樱雪高中的女生静纸音全票当选。月星汐校园摇滚剧,顶级乐手沦为贴身“男保姆”,草根女生化身“掌上明珠”。最尴尬人经历,最幸福的结局!
  • 黎少又见面了

    黎少又见面了

    亲密?亲密你奶奶的嘴!怀念?怀念你个老鬼!云清涵简直想要破口大骂!……
  • 总有刁民想抢我老公

    总有刁民想抢我老公

    她爱哭,眼泪说来就来,他只能带着疼惜以吻封印,让她忘了哭!她胆小,受惊吓后抱着他才能睡着,她睡得好,他却备受煎熬,忍无可忍。他心狠手辣,六亲不认,为求目的不择手段,对送上门投怀送抱的妖艳美女不屑一顾,却偏偏对她硬不起心肠,狠不下心,只想宠着她、护着她!
  • 美人无双

    美人无双

    她是充入官妓的青倌,一朝穿上凤袍站于君王之侧,红颜不逊须眉,她和他并肩天下,生死相约。他是蛰伏在龙位的君王,一场宫廷之变,夙怨纠葛,寸寸斩断她和他薄弱的情分。他是景天的将军,一把贴身的匕首,是她不曾知道的渊源,身份之别,他和她皆是不能心存眷恋之人,无缘执手。。他是敌国最年轻的异性藩王,三年前的一张画,引出旧时孽缘,战戟南指,明目张胆的要她。。。红颜殇,江山固,万骨枯,狼烟尽,一场爱恨嗔痴,冷暖自知。。。。…【沂羽谷原创出品】