登陆注册
19572200000040

第40章

"Mad!" screamed Harriet,--"absolutely stark, staring, raving mad!"Philip judged it better not to contradict her.

What's she here for? Answer me that.

What's she doing in Monteriano in August? Why isn't she in Normandy?

Answer that.She won't.I can: she's come to thwart us; she's betrayed us--got hold of mother's plans.Oh, goodness, my head!"He was unwise enough to reply, "You mustn't accuse her of that.Though she is exasperating, she hasn't come here to betray us.""Then why has she come here? Answer me that."He made no answer.But fortunately his sister was too much agitated to wait for one."Bursting in on me--crying and looking a disgusting sight--and says she has been to see the Italian.

Couldn't even talk properly; pretended she had changed her opinions.

What are her opinions to us? I was very calm.I said: 'Miss Abbott, I think there is a little misapprehension in this matter.

My mother, Mrs.Herriton--' Oh, goodness, my head! Of course you've failed--don't trouble to answer--I know you've failed.Where's the baby, pray? Of course you haven't got it.Dear sweet Caroline won't let you.Oh, yes, and we're to go away at once and trouble the father no more.Those are her commands.Commands!

COMMANDS!" And Harriet also burst into tears.

Philip governed his temper.His sister was annoying, but quite reasonable in her indignation.Moreover, Miss Abbott had behaved even worse than she supposed.

"I've not got the baby, Harriet, but at the same time I haven't exactly failed.I and Signor Carella are to have another interview this afternoon, at the Caffè Garibaldi.He is perfectly reasonable and pleasant.Should you be disposed to come with me, you would find him quite willing to discuss things.He is desperately in want of money, and has no prospect of getting any.I discovered that.At the same time, he has a certain affection for the child."For Philip's insight, or perhaps his opportunities, had not been equal to Miss Abbott's.

Harriet would only sob, and accuse her brother of insulting her; how could a lady speak to such a horrible man? That, and nothing else, was enough to stamp Caroline.Oh, poor Lilia!

Philip drummed on the bedroom window-sill.

He saw no escape from the deadlock.For though he spoke cheerfully about his second interview with Gino, he felt at the bottom of his heart that it would fail.Gino was too courteous: he would not break off negotiations by sharp denial; he loved this civil, half-humorous bargaining.

And he loved fooling his opponent, and did it so nicely that his opponent did not mind being fooled.

"Miss Abbott has behaved extraordinarily," he said at last; "but at the same time--"His sister would not hear him.She burst forth again on the madness, the interference, the intolerable duplicity of Caroline.

"Harriet, you must listen.My dear, you must stop crying.I have something quite important to say.""I shall not stop crying," said she.But in time, finding that he would not speak to her, she did stop.

"Remember that Miss Abbott has done us no harm.

She said nothing to him about the matter.He assumes that she is working with us: I gathered that.""Well, she isn't."

"Yes; but if you're careful she may be.Iinterpret her behaviour thus: She went to see him, honestly intending to get the child away.In the note she left me she says so, and I don't believe she'd lie.""I do."

"When she got there, there was some pretty domestic scene between him and the baby, and she has got swept off in a gush of sentimentalism.Before very long, if I know anything about psychology, there will be a reaction.She'll be swept back.""I don't understand your long words.Say plainly--""When she's swept back, she'll be invaluable.

For she has made quite an impression on him.He thinks her so nice with the baby.You know, she washed it for him.""Disgusting!"

Harriet's ejaculations were more aggravating than the rest of her.But Philip was averse to losing his temper.

The access of joy that had come to him yesterday in the theatre promised to be permanent.He was more anxious than heretofore to be charitable towards the world.

"If you want to carry off the baby, keep your peace with Miss Abbott.For if she chooses, she can help you better than I can.""There can be no peace between me and her," said Harriet gloomily.

"Did you--"

"Oh, not all I wanted.She went away before I had finished speaking--just like those cowardly people! --into the church.""Into Santa Deodata's?"

"Yes; I'm sure she needs it.Anything more unchristian--"In time Philip went to the church also, leaving his sister a little calmer and a little disposed to think over his advice.

What had come over Miss Abbott? He had always thought her both stable and sincere.That conversation he had had with her last Christmas in the train to Charing Cross--that alone furnished him with a parallel.

For the second time, Monteriano must have turned her head.He was not angry with her, for he was quite indifferent to the outcome of their expedition.He was only extremely interested.

It was now nearly midday, and the streets were clearing.

But the intense heat had broken, and there was a pleasant suggestion of rain.The Piazza, with its three great attractions--the Palazzo Pubblico, the Collegiate Church, and the Caffè Garibaldi: the intellect, the soul, and the body--had never looked more charming.For a moment Philip stood in its centre, much inclined to be dreamy, and thinking how wonderful it must feel to belong to a city, however mean.He was here, however, as an emissary of civilization and as a student of character, and, after a sigh, he entered Santa Deodata's to continue his mission.

There had been a festa two days before, and the church still smelt of incense and of garlic.The little son of the sacristan was sweeping the nave, more for amusement than for cleanliness, sending great clouds of dust over the frescoes and the scattered worshippers.

同类推荐
  • 罂粟花

    罂粟花

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 昌平山水记

    昌平山水记

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 佛说譬喻经

    佛说譬喻经

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 顺中论

    顺中论

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • Notes

    Notes

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
热门推荐
  • 执手江山:嗜血女皇戏美男

    执手江山:嗜血女皇戏美男

    二十一世纪金牌杀手——莫离忧,代号——嗜血暴君,经历双重背叛后,落入圈套身亡。穿越异世,成为离王,看她如何步步为营,在吃人不吐骨头的朝堂上,登上那宝座!发誓再也不相信爱情的她,遇上了一个比她更无赖的“邪尊”,两个倔强的人,最终只会伤人伤己?情节虚构,请勿模仿
  • 中国新闻报道

    中国新闻报道

    本书的宗旨在于分析中国新闻对外报道的历史、现状以及报道原则、报道方式等相关问题,研究和探讨中国如何向外部世界传递发生在中国的事实信息,以便更好地“向世界说明中国”,“让世界了解中国” ,从而向世人澄清事实,减少误会,提升中国软实力。
  • 为君解罗裳:妖女倾天下

    为君解罗裳:妖女倾天下

    这东南国,谁人不知,谁人不晓,这要嫁的王爷,是传说中的暴君,杀人不眨眼,嗜血成狂的一个魔君的?圣旨一下,要千家的女儿嫁给东南国国的这个平南王爷,千家一听,仿佛是立马炸开了锅一样的,你不愿意去,我不愿意去,自然,就是由这个痴儿傻儿嫁过去了?
  • 明伦汇编人事典鼻部

    明伦汇编人事典鼻部

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 入魔又如何

    入魔又如何

    没有天生就坏的人,正派里不代表就没有奸恶之辈,邪道不代表没有好人,既然说我和邪道称兄道弟,那么我身怀正直之心,入魔又如何
  • 奔跑吧萝卜

    奔跑吧萝卜

    当一个游戏坑爱情坑生活坑的三坑女屌丝突遇末世,为毛人家都是异能异兽的到我这就变了根萝卜,难道我已经坑到老天都看不下去,屌丝逆袭看我怎么填大坑。
  • 无尽奇幻

    无尽奇幻

    光怪陆离的奇幻世界,奇遇、危机、正义与邪恶,抉择与无奈.....祭恋青春--出品
  • EXO之不能停止的爱

    EXO之不能停止的爱

    EXO,韩国组合,以超高人气出现在舞台,在韩国的著名学校里,又会擦出怎样的火花呢?
  • 旋风少女:5

    旋风少女:5

    该书根据著名作家明晓溪改编,若白、百草的爱情能否长长久久
  • 空网

    空网

    22世纪的资源匮乏的大都市时代解决人类日益膨胀的欲望,依旧任重道远。风靡世界的空间影唤技术正是在这基础是孕育而生!如梦般的空间真实的存在,人体所有的感觉都可以在另外一个虚幻世界中独立存在,该是如何让人震惊!它的发现也意外地打破以往科学实验的某种假象,引申出人类所未探知的神秘领域!正当世界各国都在研究这项技术时,世界空间网络科学院正式宣布,空间转换将不在是梦想!