his own people-第3部分

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to　the　diminishing　pad　of　express　checks　he　carried　in　the　inside
pocket　of　his　waistcoat。

〃Better　live　a　fortnight　like　a　gentleman；〃　he　said；　as　he　tossed
his　shoes　into　a　buhl　cabinet；　〃than　vegetate　like　a　tourist　for
a　year。〃

He　had　made　his　entrance　into　the　〃great　world〃　and　he　meant　to
hold　his　place　in　it　as　one　〃to　the　manor　born。〃　　Its　people　should
not　find　him　lacking：　　he　would　wear　their　manner　and　speak　their
languageno　gaucherie　should　betray　him；　no　homely　phrase　escape
his　lips。

This　was　the　chance　he　had　always　hoped　for；　and　when　he　fell　asleep
in　his　gorgeous；　canopied　bed；　his　soul　was　uplifted　with　happy
expectations。





II。　　Music　on　the　Pincio

The　following　afternoon　found　him　still　in　that　enviable　condition
as　he　stood　listening　to　the　music　on　the　Pincian　Hill。　　He　had　it
of　rumor　that　the　Fashion　of　Rome　usually　took　a　turn　there　before
it　went　to　tea；　and　he　had　it　from　the　lady　herself　that　Madame
de　Vaurigard　would　be　there。　　Presently　she　came；　reclining　in　a
victoria；　the　harness　of　her　horses　flashing　with　gold　in　the
sunshine。　　She　wore　a　long　ermine　stole；　her　hat　was　ermine；　she
carried　a　muff　of　the　same　fur；　and　Mellin　thought　it　a　perfect
finish　to　the　picture　that　a　dark　gentleman　of　an　appearance　most
distinguished　should　be　sitting　beside　her。　　An　Italian　noble；
surely！

He　saw　the　American　at　once；　nodded　to　him　and　waved　her　hand。
The　victoria　went　on　a　little　way　beyond　the　turn　of　the　drive；
drew　out　of　the　line　of　carriages；　and　stopped。

〃Ah；　Monsieur　Mellin；〃　she　cried；　as　he　came　up；　〃I　am　glad！　　I
was　so　foolish　yesterday　I　didn'　give　you　the　address　of　my　little
apartment　an'　I　forgot　to　ask　you　what　is　your　hotel。　　I　tol'　you
I　would　come　here　for　my　drive；　but　still　I　might　have　lost　you
for　ever。　　See　what　many　people！　　It　is　jus'　that　Fate　again。〃

She　laughed；　and　looked　to　the　Italian　for　sympathy　in　her　kindly
merriment。　　He　smiled　cordially　upon　her；　then　lifted　his　hat　and
smiled　as　cordially　upon　Mellin。

〃I　am　so　happy　to　fin'　myself　in　Rome　that　I　forget〃Madame　de
Vaurigard　went　on〃~ever'sing！~　　But　now　I　mus'　make　sure　not　to
lose　you。　　What　is　your　hotel？〃

〃Oh；　the　Magnifique；〃　Mellin　answered　carelessly。　　〃I　suppose
everybody　that　one　knows　stops　there。　　One　does　stop　there；　when
one　is　in　Rome；　doesn't　one？〃

〃Everybody　go'　there　for　tea；　and　to　eat；　sometime；　but　to　~stay~
ah；　that　is　for　the　American！〃　she　laughed。　　〃That　is　for　you
who　are　all　so　abomin…~ab~…ly　rich！〃　　She　smiled　to　the　Italian
again；　and　both　of　them　smiled　beamingly　on　Mellin。

〃But　that　isn't　always　our　fault；　is　it？〃　said　Mellin　easily。

〃Aha！　　You　mean　you　are　of　the　new　generation；　of　the　yo'ng
American'　who　come　over　an'　try　to　spen'　these　immense　fortune'
those　~'pile'~your　father　or　your　gran…father　make！　　I　know
quite　well。　　Ah？〃

〃Well；〃　he　hesitated；　smiling。　　〃I　suppose　it　does　look　a　little
by　way　of　being　like　that。〃

〃Wicked　fellow！〃　　She　leaned　forward　and　tapped　his　shoulder
chidingly　with　two　fingers。　　〃I　know　what　you　wish　the　mos'　in　the
worl'you　wish　to　get　into　mischief。　　That　is　it！　　No；　sir；　I
will　jus'　take　you　in　han'！〃

〃When　will　you　take　me？〃　he　asked　boldly。

At　this；　the　pleasant　murmur　of　laughterhalf　actual　and　half
suggestedwith　which　she　underlined　the　conversation；　became　loud
and　clear；　as　she　allowed　her　vivacious　glance　to　strike　straight
into　his　upturned　eyes；　and　answered：

〃As　long　as　a　little　turn　roun'　the　hill；　~now~。　Cavaliere　Corni〃

To　Mellin's　surprise　and　delight　the　Italian　immediately　descended
from　the　victoria　without　the　slightest　appearance　of　irritation；
on　the　contrary；　he　was　urbane　to　a　fine　degree；　and；　upon　Madame
de　Vaurigard's　formally　introducing　him　to　Mellin；　saluted　the
latter　with　grave　politeness；　expressing　in　good　English　a　hope
that　they　might　meet　often。　　When　the　American　was　installed　at
the　Countess'　side　she　spoke　to　the　driver　in　Italian；　and　they
began　to　move　slowly　along　the　ilex　avenue；　the　coachman　reining
his　horses　to　a　walk。

〃You　speak　Italian？〃　she　inquired。

〃Oh；　not　a　great　deal　more　than　a　smattering；〃　he　replied　airily
a　truthful　answer；　inasmuch　as　a　vocabulary　consisting　simply
of　~〃quanty　costy〃~　and　~〃troppo〃~　cannot　be　seriously　considered
much　more　than　a　smattering。　　Fortunately　she　made　no　test　of　his
linguistic　attainment；　but　returned　to　her　former　subject。

〃Ah；　yes；　all　the　worl'　to…day　know'　the　new　class　of　American；〃
she　said〃~your~　class。　　Many　year'　ago　we　have　another　class　which
Europe　didn'　like。　　That　was　when　the　American　was　ter…ri…ble！
He　was　thewhat　is　that　you　call？oh；　yes；　he　'make　himself；'
you　say：　that　is　it。　　My　frien'；　he　was　abominable！　　He　brag'；　he
talk'　through　the　nose；　yes；　and　he　was　niggardly；　rich　as　he　was！
But　you；　you　yo'ng　men　of　the　new　generation；　you　are　gentlemen　of
the　idleness；　you　are　aristocrats；　with　polish　an'　with　culture。
An'　yet　you　throw　your　money　awayyes；　you　throw　it　to　poor　Europe
as　if　to　a　beggar！〃

〃No；　no；〃　he　protested　with　an　indulgent　laugh　which　confessed　that
the　truth　was　really　〃Yes；　yes。〃

〃Your　smile　betray'　you！〃　she　cried　triumphantly。　　〃More　than　jus'
bein'　guilty　of　that　fault；　I　am　goin'　to　tell　you　of　others。　　You
are　not　the　ole…timewhat　is　it　you　say？Ah；　yes；　the　'goody…
goody。'　　I　have　heard　my　great　American　frien'；　Honor…able　Chanlair
Pedlow；　call　it　the　Sonday…school。　　Is　it　not？　　Yes；　you　are　not
the　Sonday…school　yo'ng　men；　you　an'　your　class！〃

〃No；〃　he　said；　bestowing　a　long　glance　upon　a　stout　nurse　who　was
sitting　on　a　bench　near　the　drive　and　attending　to　twins　in　a
perambulator。　　〃No；　we're　not　exactly　dissenting　parsons。〃

〃Ah；　no！〃　　She　shook　her　head　at　him　prettily。　　〃You　are　wicked！
You　are　up　into　all　the　mischief！　　Have　I　not　hear　what　wild　sums
you　risk　at　your　game；　that　poker？　　You　are　famous　for　it。〃

〃Oh；　we　play；〃　he　admitted　with　a　reckless　laugh；　〃and　I　suppose　we
do　play　rather　high。〃

〃High！〃　she　echoed。　　〃~Souzands！~　　But　that　is　not　all。　　Ha；　ha；　ha；
naughty　one！　　Have　I　not　observe'　you　lookin'　at　these　pretty
creature'；　the　little　contadina…girl；　an'　the　poor　ladies　who　have
hire'　their　carriages　for　two　lire　to　drive　up　and　down　the　Pincio
in　their　bes'　dress　an'　be　admire'　by　the　yo'ng　American　while　the
music　play'？　　Which　one　I　wonder；　is　it　on　whose　wrist　you　would
mos'　like　to　fasten　a　bracelet　of　diamon's？　　Wicked；　I　have　watch'
you　look　at　them…？

〃No；　no；〃　he　interrupted　earnestly。　　〃I　have　not　once　looked　away
from　you；　I　~could　n't~。〃　　Their　eyes　met；　but　instantly　hers　were
lowered；　the　bright　smile　with　which　she　had　been　rallying　him
faded　and　there　was　a　pause　during　which　he　felt　that　she　had　become
very　grave。　　When　she　spoke；　it　was　with　a　little　quaver；　and　the
controlled　pathos　of　her　voice　was　so　intense　that　it　evoked　a
sympathetic　catch　in　his　own　throat。

〃But；　my　frien'；　if　it　should　be　that　I　cannot　wish　you　to　look　so
at　me；　or　to　speak　so　to　me？〃

〃I　beg　your　pardon！〃　he　exclaimed；　almost　incoherently。　　〃I　didn't
mean　to　hurt　your　feelings。　　I　wouldn't　do　anything　you'd　think
ungentlemanly　for