Part 58 (2/2)

”Then why should you want to slink away from me?”

”Because--because you don't understand my position.”

”Oh, I think you once explained it to me,” said Newman. ”But it seems improved.”

”Improved!” exclaimed M. Nioche, under his breath. ”Do you call this improvement?” And he glanced at the treasures in his arms.

”Why, you are on your travels,” Newman rejoined. ”A visit to London in the season is certainly a sign of prosperity.”

M. Nioche, in answer to this cruel piece of irony, lifted the puppy up to his face again, peering at Newman with his small blank eye-holes.

There was something almost imbecile in the movement, and Newman hardly knew whether he was taking refuge in a convenient affectation of unreason, or whether he had in fact paid for his dishonor by the loss of his wits. In the latter case, just now, he felt little more tenderly to the foolish old man than in the former. Responsible or not, he was equally an accomplice of his detestably mischievous daughter. Newman was going to leave him abruptly, when a ray of entreaty appeared to disengage itself from the old man's misty gaze. ”Are you going away?” he asked.

”Do you want me to stay?” said Newman.

”I should have left you--from consideration. But my dignity suffers at your leaving me--that way.”

”Have you got anything particular to say to me?”

M. Nioche looked around him to see that no one was listening, and then he said, very softly but distinctly, ”I have NOT forgiven her!”

Newman gave a short laugh, but the old man seemed for the moment not to perceive it; he was gazing away, absently, at some metaphysical image of his implacability. ”It doesn't much matter whether you forgive her or not,” said Newman. ”There are other people who won't, I a.s.sure you.”

”What has she done?” M. Nioche softly questioned, turning round again.

”I don't know what she does, you know.”

”She has done a devilish mischief; it doesn't matter what,” said Newman.

”She's a nuisance; she ought to be stopped.”

M. Nioche stealthily put out his hand and laid it very gently upon Newman's arm. ”Stopped, yes,” he whispered. ”That's it. Stopped short.

She is running away--she must be stopped.” Then he paused a moment and looked round him. ”I mean to stop her,” he went on. ”I am only waiting for my chance.”

”I see,” said Newman, laughing briefly again. ”She is running away and you are running after her. You have run a long distance!”

But M. Nioche stared insistently: ”I shall stop her!” he softly repeated.

He had hardly spoken when the crowd in front of them separated, as if by the impulse to make way for an important personage. Presently, through the opening, advanced Mademoiselle Nioche, attended by the gentleman whom Newman had lately observed. His face being now presented to our hero, the latter recognized the irregular features, the hardly more regular complexion, and the amiable expression of Lord Deepmere. Noemie, on finding herself suddenly confronted with Newman, who, like M. Nioche, had risen from his seat, faltered for a barely perceptible instant. She gave him a little nod, as if she had seen him yesterday, and then, with a good-natured smile, ”Tiens, how we keep meeting!” she said. She looked consummately pretty, and the front of her dress was a wonderful work of art. She went up to her father, stretching out her hands for the little dog, which he submissively placed in them, and she began to kiss it and murmur over it: ”To think of leaving him all alone,--what a wicked, abominable creature he must believe me! He has been very unwell,” she added, turning and affecting to explain to Newman, with a spark of infernal impudence, fine as a needlepoint, in her eye. ”I don't think the English climate agrees with him.”

”It seems to agree wonderfully well with his mistress,” said Newman.

”Do you mean me? I have never been better, thank you,” Miss Noemie declared. ”But with MILORD”--and she gave a brilliant glance at her late companion--”how can one help being well?” She seated herself in the chair from which her father had risen, and began to arrange the little dog's rosette.

Lord Deepmere carried off such embarra.s.sment as might be incidental to this unexpected encounter with the inferior grace of a male and a Briton. He blushed a good deal, and greeted the object of his late momentary aspiration to rivalry in the favor of a person other than the mistress of the invalid pug with an awkward nod and a rapid e.j.a.c.u.l.a.t.i.o.n--an e.j.a.c.u.l.a.t.i.o.n to which Newman, who often found it hard to understand the speech of English people, was able to attach no meaning.

Then the young man stood there, with his hand on his hip, and with a conscious grin, staring askance at Miss Noemie. Suddenly an idea seemed to strike him, and he said, turning to Newman, ”Oh, you know her?”

”Yes,” said Newman, ”I know her. I don't believe you do.”

”Oh dear, yes, I do!” said Lord Deepmere, with another grin. ”I knew her in Paris--by my poor cousin Bellegarde you know. He knew her, poor fellow, didn't he? It was she you know, who was at the bottom of his affair. Awfully sad, wasn't it?” continued the young man, talking off his embarra.s.sment as his simple nature permitted. ”They got up some story about its being for the Pope; about the other man having said something against the Pope's morals. They always do that, you know. They put it on the Pope because Bellegarde was once in the Zouaves. But it was about HER morals--SHE was the Pope!” Lord Deepmere pursued, directing an eye illumined by this pleasantry toward Mademoiselle Nioche, who was bending gracefully over her lap-dog, apparently absorbed in conversation with it. ”I dare say you think it rather odd that I should--a--keep up the acquaintance,” the young man resumed. ”But she couldn't help it, you know, and Bellegarde was only my twentieth cousin.

I dare say you think it's rather cheeky, my showing with her in Hyde Park. But you see she isn't known yet, and she's in such very good form”--And Lord Deepmere's conclusion was lost in the attesting glance which he again directed toward the young lady.

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