Part 21 (2/2)
With the Schmicks, there was no hope. But why not allow myself the pleasure of enjoying the romantic feast that had been set before me by the G.o.ds of chance? Chance ordered the tangle; let chance unravel it.
Somewhat gleefully I decided that it would be good fun to keep myself in the dark as long as possible!
”Mr. p.o.o.pend.y.k.e,” said I, after that nervous factotum had let me into my side of the castle with gratifying stealthiness, ”you will oblige me by not mentioning that fair lady's name in my presence.”
”You did not stay very long, sir,” said he in a sad whisper, and for the life of me I couldn't determine what construction to put upon the singularly unresponsive remark.
When I reached the room where my guests were a.s.sembled, I found Mr.
Pless and the Baron Umovitch engaged in an acrimonious dispute over a question of bridge etiquette. The former had resented a sharp criticism coming from the latter, and they were waging a verbal battle in what I took to be five or six different tongues, none of which appeared to bear the slightest relations.h.i.+p to the English language.
Suddenly Mr. Pless threw his cards down and left the table, without a word of apology to the two ladies, who looked more hurt than appalled.
He said he was going to bed, but I noticed that he took himself off in the direction of the moonlit loggia. We were still discussing his defection in subdued tones--with the exception of the irate baron--when he re-entered the room. The expression on his face was mocking, even accusing. Directing his words to me, he uttered a lazy indictment.
”Are there real spirits in your castle, Mr. Smart, or have you flesh and blood mediums here who roam about in white night dresses to study the moods of the moon from the dizziest ramparts?”
I started. What indiscretion had the Countess been up to?
”I don't quite understand you, Mr. Pless,” I said, with a politely blank stare.
Confound his insolence! He winked at me!
CHAPTER VIII
I RESORT TO DIPLOMACY
”My dear Countess,” said I, the next morning, ”while I am willing to admit that all you say is true, there still remains the unhappy fact that you were very near to upsetting everything last night. Mr. Pless saw you quite plainly. The moon was very full, you'll remember.
Fortunately he was too far away from your window to recognise you. Think how easy it might--”
”But I've told you twice that I held my hand over Pinko's nose and he just couldn't bark, Mr. Smart. You are really most unreasonable about it. The dog had to have a breath of fresh air.”
”Why not send him up to the top of the tower and let him run around on the--”
”Oh, there's no use talking about it any longer,” she said wearily.
”It is all over and no real harm was done. I am awfully sorry if they made it uncomfortable for you. It is just like him to suggest something--well, scandalous. And the rest of them are dreadful teases, especially Mrs. Smith. They love anything risque. But you haven't told me what they said that kept you awake all night.”
My dignity was worth beholding.
”It was not what they said to me, Countess, but what they left unsaid.
I sha'n't tell you what they said.”
”I think I can make a pretty good guess--”
”Well, you needn't!” I cried hastily, but too late. She would out with it.
”They accuse you of being a sad, sad dog, a foxy; bachelor, and a devil of a fellow. They all profess to be very much shocked, but they a.s.sure you that it's all right,--not to mind them. They didn't think you had it in you, and they're glad to see you behaving like a scamp. Oh, I know them!”
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