登陆注册
18988200000016

第16章

It is needless to say that a more popular visitor never was seen than this discriminating foreigner, and if his ambitions had not risen above a merely personal triumph, he would have been in the highest state of satisfaction. But with a disinterested eye he every now and then sought the farther end of the table, where, between his hostess and her charming eldest daughter, and facing his factor, the Baron had to endure his ordeal unsupported.

"I wonder how the devil he's getting on!" he more than once said to himself.

For better or for worse, as the dinner advanced, he began to hear the Court accent more frequently, till his curiosity became extreme.

"His lordship seems in better spirits," remarked Mr. Gallosh.

"I hope to Heaven he may be!" was the fervent thought of Count Bunker.

At that moment the point was settled. With his old roar of exuberant gusto the Baron announced, in a voice that drowned even the five ministers--"Ach, yes, I vill toss ze caber to-morrow! I vill toss him--so high!" (his napkin flapped upwards).

"How long shall he be? So tall as my castle: Mees Gallosh, you shall help me? Ach, yes! Mit hands so fair ze caber vill spring like zis!"

His pudding-spoon, in vivid illustration, skipped across the table and struck his factor smartly on the shirt-front.

"Sare, I beg your pardon," he beamed with a graciousness that charmed Mrs. Gallosh even more than his spirited conversation--"Ach, do not return it, please! It is from my castle silver--keep it in memory of zis happy night!"

The royal generosity of this act almost reconciled Mrs. Gallosh to the loss of one of her own silver spoons.

"Saved!" sighed Bunker, draining his glass with a relish he had not felt in any item of the feast hitherto.

Now that the Baron's courage had returned, no heraldic lion ever pranced more bravely. His laughter, his jests, his compliments were showered upon the delighted diners. Mr. Gallosh and he drank healths down the whole length of the table "mit no tap-heels!" at least four times. He peeled an orange for Miss Gallosh, and cut the skin into the most diverting figures, pressing her hand tenderly as he presented her with these works of art. He inquired of Mrs. Gallosh the names of the clergymen, and, shouting something distantly resembling these, toasted them each and all with what he conceived to be appropriate comments.

Finally he rose to his feet, and, to the surprise and delight of all, delivered the speech they had been disappointed of earlier in the day.

"Goot Mr. Gallosh, fair Mrs. Gallosh, divine Mees Gallosh, and all ze ladies and gentlemans, how sorry I vas I could not make my speech before, I cannot eggspress. I had a headache, and vas not vell vithin.

Ach, soch zings vill happen in a new climate. Bot now I am inspired to tell you I loff you all! I zank you eggstremely! How can I return zis hospitality? I vill tell you! You must all go to Bavaria and stay mit----"

"Tulliwuddle! Tulliwuddle!" shouted Bunker frantically, to the great amazement of the company. "Allow me to invite the company myself to stay with me in Bavaria!"

The Baron turned crimson, as he realized the abyss of error into which he had so nearly plunged. Adroitly the Count covered his confusion with a fit of laughter so ingeniously hearty that in a moment he had joined in it too.

"Ha, ha, ha!" he shouted. "Zat was a leetle joke at my friend's eggspense. It is here, in my castle, you shall visit me; some day very soon I shall live in him.

Meanvile, dear Mrs. Gallosh, gonsider it your home!

For me you make it heaven, and I cannot ask more zan zat! Now let us gom and have some fon!"

A salvo of applause greeted this conclusion. At the Baron's impetuous request the cigars were brought into the hall, and ladies and gentlemen all trooped out together.

"I cannot vait till I have seen Miss Gallosh dance ze Highland reel," he explained to her gratified mother;

"she has promised me."

"But you must dance too, Lord Tulliwuddle," said ravishing Miss Gallosh. "You know you said you would."

"A promise to a lady is a law," replied the Baron gallantly, adding in a lower tone, "especially to so fair a lady!"

"It's a pity his lordship hadn't on his kilt," put in Mr. Gallosh genially.

"By ze Gad, I vill put him on! Hoch! Ve vill have some fon!"

The Baron rushed from the hall, followed in a moment by his noble friend. Bunker found him already wrapping many yards of tartan about his waist.

"But, my dear fellow, you must take off your trousers," he expostulated.

Despite his glee, the Baron answered with something of the Blitzenberg dignity--"Ze bare leg I cannot show to-night--not to dance mit ze young ladies. Ven I have practised, perhaps; but not now, Bonker."

Accordingly the portraits of four centuries of Tulliwuddles beheld their representative appear in the very castle of Hechnahoul with his trouser-legs capering beneath an ill-hung petticoat of tartan. And, to make matters worse in their canvas eyes, his own shameless laugh rang loudest in the mirth that greeted his entrance.

"Ze garb of Gaul!" he announced, shaking with hilarity. "Gom, Bonker, dance mit me ze Highland fling!"

The first night of Lord Tulliwuddle's visit to his ancestral halls is still remembered among his native hills. The Count also, his mind now rapturously at ease, performed prodigies. They danced together what they were pleased to call the latest thing in London, sang a duet, waltzed with the younger ladies, till hardly a head was left unturned, and, in short, sent away the ministers and their ladies, the five Miss Cameron-Campbells, the reading-party, and particularly the factor, with a new conception of a Highland chief. As for the house-party, they felt that they were fortunate beyond the lot of most ordinary mortals.

同类推荐
热门推荐
  • 从亭长到皇帝:流氓的胜利

    从亭长到皇帝:流氓的胜利

    秦朝末年,天下大乱,群雄逐鹿,烽烟四起。农民、贵族、官僚、强盗、文人、武士,纷纷粉墨登场。攻城略地,纵横捭阖,巧取豪夺,尔虞我诈,最终获得胜利的,却是来自沛县街头的流氓——刘邦。
  • 武装姬神

    武装姬神

    有光的地方就有影子。有的人因兵器闻名,有的兵器以人闻名。所谓神器,是因为用过的人,才赋予了特殊的意义。能够操控神器之人,被称为姬神。
  • 小猪猪的私密日志

    小猪猪的私密日志

    这是伴着小猪猪成长的内心独白,从幼年到初入成人世界的跌跌撞撞。
  • 鬼藏人(天黑莫上山,夜半鬼藏人)

    鬼藏人(天黑莫上山,夜半鬼藏人)

    (新书《憋宝人》已经上传)三十年前,一支神秘的勘探队在大兴安岭深处全军覆灭,只有谷爷爬回来,背上刻满了地图,手掌上刻着“三十年后……”;三十年后,谷爷的外孙小七,在北京过着皮货店掌柜的悠闲生活,突然间得知一位猎人死在大兴安岭林子里,临死前扒开桦树皮,咬断手指在树干上血书小七的名字……为查明真相,东家组队上山,却发现另有两支队伍也在暗暗行动。经历种种后,他们被莫名的力量引到阴山狼城。这座神秘的城池,不仅没有城门,里面还遍布着巨大的人骨坑,狼窟,巨大的狼形石雕,半空中悬挂着手腕粗的铁链子,风干的肉干。一个足以颠覆想象的宿命轮回抹平了时间的痕迹……
  • 大神的呆萌沫沫

    大神的呆萌沫沫

    苏沫沫因为室友的一个赌约,向排行榜第一的大神表白,结果表白错人了,接下来又会发生什么事呢?进来敲敲门砖吧!
  • 隔墙有耳

    隔墙有耳

    本稿件并非要釜底抽薪,去探讨人权和隐私等跟告密相关的问题,只是希望通过讲述告密史上一些人和事来让人们欣赏一下,这些古代肮脏的幽灵到底给他们自己和历史带来了什么,他们那种为告密而不要脸,甚至是不要命的“勇敢行为”是怎么修炼成的。
  • 皇后授受不亲(全本)

    皇后授受不亲(全本)

    一次穿越,将她带回历史上没有出现过的古国,女扮男装,混迹江湖一次偶然,他与她义结金兰,他以为她是男儿之身,却仍然梦牵魂绕她是皇后,倾国倾城,对皇上用情至深,却因为是太后指婚而孤苦伶仃他是皇帝,玉树临风,至高无上,却爱上自己的臣子——义结金兰的兄弟他是神秘的公子,整日遮面,却也是令后宫妃子嫉妒的谣言中的“皇帝的男宠”,为此,他甚至历尽人间冷暖他待人不假颜色,带领内廷侍卫,却在暗中对他青睐有加,甚至愿意自降品级随他一起边关就任新文:http://novel.hongxiu.com/a/119768/(bl小白)
  • 转世重生之紫金玉佩

    转世重生之紫金玉佩

    曾经的丹药大师如今的天纵之资少年。看他如何叱咤风云。
  • 瑶光眉

    瑶光眉

    瑶光一曲,玉簪花可还会有千年前的流苏做坠?檀芜帝君,你的长笛可还会引我菩提向善?山中清苦,小光不在,帝君你的眉梢上还会爬满月光么?九罹,你我能再酿一坛梨花笑,再相与醉卧池畔么?芙蕖,你我姐妹终是缘浅,再也不能与你共舞了......回到起点,玉簪花却再不会小心修道了,女娲妹妹?我瑶光原来也是神君......这一次,我瑶光,收起那颗卑微的心,再无隐忍,再不垂泪......
  • 强势时代

    强势时代

    人类创造出主神主宰,终于沟通起和其他有生命体的星系之间的桥梁。在实施时空跨越间,主神主宰被宇宙风暴给创伤。无数异物陨落地球,而主神主宰也在最后时刻给人类开启了基因强化,从而陷入了休眠。而人类的最强时代也到来!————请看《最强时代》给你带来不一样的体验。