Part 23 (2/2)
”And a red-coated orchestra and after-theatre suppers,” said Mrs.
Effie.
”Only,” put in Belknap-Jackson thoughtfully, ”he will of course be compelled to use discretion about his patrons. The rabble, of course----” He broke off with a wave of his hand which, although not pointedly, seemed to indicate Cousin Egbert, who once more wore the hunted look about his eyes and who sat by uneasily. I saw him wince.
”Some people's money is just as good as other people's if you come right down to it,” he muttered, ”and Bill is out for the coin.
Besides, we all got to eat, ain't we?”
Belknap-Jackson smiled deprecatingly and again waved his hand as if there were no need for words.
”That rowdy Bohemian set----” began Mrs. Effie, but I made bold to interrupt. There might, I said, be awkward moments, but I had no doubt that I should be able to meet them with a flawless tact. Meantime, for the ultimate confusion of the Bohemian set of Red Gap, I had to announce that the Honourable George Augustus Vane-Basingwell would presently be with us. With him as a member of the North Side set, I pointed out, it was not possible to believe that any desirable members of the Bohemian set would longer refuse to affiliate with the smartest people.
My announcement made quite all the sensation I had antic.i.p.ated.
Belknap-Jackson, indeed, arose quickly and grasped me by the hand, echoing, ”The Honourable George Augustus Vane-Basingwell, brother of the Earl of Brinstead,” with little s.h.i.+vers of ecstasy in his voice, while the ladies pealed their excitement incoherently, with ”Really!
really!” and ”Actually coming to Red Gap--the brother of a lord!”
Then almost at once I detected curiously cold glances being darted at each other by the ladies.
”Of course we will be only too glad to put him up,” said Mrs.
Belknap-Jackson quickly.
”But, my dear, he will of course come to us first,” put in Mrs. Effie.
”Afterward, to be sure----”
”It's so important that he should receive a favourable impression,”
responded Mrs. Belknap-Jackson.
”That's exactly why----” Mrs. Effie came back with not a little obvious warmth. Belknap-Jackson here caught my eye.
”I dare say Ruggles and I can be depended upon to decide a minor matter like that,” he said.
The ladies both broke in at this, rather sputteringly, but Cousin Egbert silenced them.
”Shake dice for him,” he said--”poker dice, three throws, aces low.”
”How shockingly vulgar!” hissed Mrs. Belknap-Jackson.
”Even if there were no other reason for his coming to us,” remarked her husband coldly, ”there are certain unfortunate a.s.sociations which ought to make his entertainment here quite impossible.”
”If you're calling me 'unfortunate a.s.sociations,'” remarked Cousin Egbert, ”you want to get it out of your head right off. I don't mind telling you, the Judge and I get along fine together. I told him when I was in Paris and Europe to look me up the first thing if ever he come here, and he said he sure would. The Judge is some mixer, believe me!”
”The 'Judge'!” echoed the Belknap-Jacksons in deep disgust.
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