第 24 节
作者:暖暖      更新:2022-11-23 12:12      字数:9322
  〃Tell    him;〃    said   Pendleton;     in  scathing    tones;   to   some    invisible
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  interpreter;〃tell; him; sir; that a more infamous caricature of the blankest
  caricature   that   ever   maligned   a   free   people;   sir;   I   never   before   had   the
  honor of witnessing。 Tell him that I; sirI; Harry Pendleton; of Kentucky;
  a   Southerner;      siran   old  slaveholder;     sir;  declare    it  to  be  a  tissue   of
  falsehoods   unworthy   the   credence   of   a   Christian   civilization   like   this
  unworthy the attention of the distinguished ladies and gentlemen that are
  gathered here to…night。 Tell him; sir; he has been imposed upon。 Tell him I
  am responsiblegive him my card and addresspersonally responsible for
  what I say。 If he wants proofsblank it all! tell him you yourself have
  been a slaveMY slave; sir! Take off your hat; sir! Ask him to look at you…
  …ask   him  if   he   thinks   you   ever  looked   or   could   look   like that   lop…eared;
  psalm…singing;   white…headed   hypocrite   on   the   stage! Ask   him;   sir;   if   he
  thinks that blank ringmaster they call St。 Clair looks like ME!〃
  At this astounding exordium Paul eagerly pressed forward and entered
  the   bureau。   There   certainly   was   Colonel   Pendleton;   in   spotless   evening
  dress; erect; flashing; and indignant; his aquiline nose lifted like a hawk's
  beak   over   his   quarry;   his   iron…   gray   moustache;   now   white   and   waxed;
  parted like   a   swallow's   tail   over his   handsome   mouth;   and   between   him
  and the astounded 〃Direction〃 stood the apparition of the AlleeGeorge!
  There was no mistaking him now。 What Paul had thought was a curled wig
  or powder was the old negro's own white knotted wool; and the astounding
  livery he wore was carried off as no one but George could carry it。
  But he was still   more amazed when   the old servant;   in a German   as
  exaggerated;   as   incoherent;   but   still   as   fluent   and   persuasive   as   his   own
  native speech; began an extravagant but perfectly dignified and diplomatic
  translation of his master's protests。 Where and when; by what instinct; he
  had assimilated and made his own the grotesque inversions and ponderous
  sentimentalities of Teutonic phrasing; Paul could not guess; but it was with
  breathless   wonder   that   he   presently   became   aware   that;   so   perfect   and
  convincing was   the old  man's style   and deportment;  not only  the   simple
  officials    but   even    the   bystanders     were    profoundly      impressed      by   this
  farrago of absurdity。 A happy word here and there; the full title and rank
  given; even with a slight exaggeration; to each individual; brought a deep
  and guttural 〃So!〃 from lips that would have found it difficult to repeat a
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  line of his ceremonious idiocy。
  In   their   preoccupation   neither   the   colonel   nor   George   had   perceived
  Paul's entrance;  but;  as  the old servant  turned   with   magnificent   courtesy
  towards      the  bystanders;     his  eyes   fell  upon    Paul。   A   flash   of  surprise;
  triumph; and satisfaction lit up his rolling eyes。 Paul instantly knew that he
  not only recognized him; but that he had already heard of and thoroughly
  appreciated a certain distinguished position that Paul had lately held; and
  was quick to apply it。 Intensifying for a moment the grandiloquence of his
  manner; he called upon his master's most distinguished and happily arrived
  old   friend;   the   Lord   Lieutenant   Governor   of   the   Golden   Californias;   to
  corroborate   his   statement。   Colonel   Pendleton   started;   and   grasped   Paul's
  hand warmly。 Paul turned to the already half…mollified Director with the
  diplomatic suggestion that the vivid and realistic acting of the admirable
  company which he himself had witnessed had perhaps unduly excited his
  old friend; even as it had undoubtedly thrown into greater relief the usual
  exaggerations of dramatic representation; and the incident terminated with
  a profusion of apologies; and the most cordial expressions of international
  good feeling on both sides。
  Yet; as they turned away from the theatre together; Paul could not help
  noticing   that;   although   the   colonel's   first   greeting   had   been   spontaneous
  and   unaffected;   it   was   succeeded   by   an   uneasy   reserve。   Paul   made   no
  attempt to break it; and confined himself to a few general inquiries; ending
  by inviting the colonel to sup with him at the hotel。 Pendleton hesitated。
  〃At any other time; Mr。 Hathaway; I should have insisted upon you; as the
  stranger;   supping   with   me;   but   since   the   absence   ofofthe   rest   of   my
  partyI have given up my suite of rooms at the Bad Hof; and have taken
  smaller   lodgings   for   myself   and   the   boy   at   the   Schwartze   Adler。   Miss
  Woods and Miss Arguello have accepted an invitation to spend a few days
  at   the   villa   of   the   Baron   and   Baroness   von   Schilprechtan   hour   or   two
  from     here。〃    He    lingered     over   the    title  with   an    odd    mingling     of
  impressiveness and inquiry; and glanced at Paul。 But Hathaway exhibiting
  neither emotion nor surprise at the mention of Yerba's name or the title of
  her host; he continued; 〃Miss Arguello; I suppose you know; is immensely
  admired: she has been; sir; the acknowledged belle of Strudle Bad。〃
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  〃I can readily believe it;〃 said Paul; simply。
  〃And has taken the positionthe position; sir; to which she is entitled。〃
  Without   appearing   to   notice   the   slight   challenge  in   Pendleton's   tone;
  Paul returned; 〃I am glad to hear it。 The more particularly as; I believe; the
  Germans are great sticklers for position and pedigree。〃
  〃You   are   right;   sirquite   right:   they  are;〃   said   the   colonel;  proudly
  〃although〃with        a   certain    premeditated      deliberation〃I      have    been
  credibly     informed     that  the  King    can;   in  certain   cases;  if  he  chooses;
  supplyyes; sirSUPPLY a favored person with ancestorsyes; sir; with
  ANCESTORS!〃
  Paul cast a quick glance at his companion。
  〃Yes; sirthat is; we will say; in the case of a lady of inferior rankor
  even birth; the King of these parts can; on her marriage with a nobleman
  blank it all!ennoble her father and mother; and their fathers and mothers;
  though they've been dead; or as good as dead; for years。〃
  〃I am afraid that's a slight exaggeration of the rare custom of granting
  'noble lands;' or estates that carry hereditary titles with them;〃 said Paul;
  more emphatically; perhaps; than the occasion demanded。
  〃Fact; sirGeorge there knows it all;〃 said Pendleton。 〃He gets it from
  the other servants。 I don't speak the language; sir; but HE does。 Picked it
  up in a year。〃
  〃I must compliment him on his fluency; certainly;〃 said Paul; looking
  at George。
  The old servant smiled; and not without a certain condescension。 〃Yes;
  sah; I don' say to a scholar like yo'self; sah; dat I'se got de grandmatical
  presichion; but as fah; sahas fah as de IDIOTISMS ob de language goes。
  Sahit's   gen'lly   allowed   I'm   dar!   As   to   what   Marse   Harry   says   ob   de
  ignobling ob predecessors; I've had it; sah; from de best autority; sahde
  furst; I may say; sahde real prima facie mende gemplum ob his Serene
  Highness; in de korse eb ordinary conversashun; sah。〃
  〃That'll do; George;〃 said Pendleton; with paternal brusqueness。 〃Run
  on ahead and tell that blank chamberlain that Mr。 Hathaway is one of my
  friendsand   have   supper   accordingly。〃   As   the   negro   hastened   away   he
  turned to Paul: 〃What he says is true: he's the most popular man or boy in
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  all Strudle Bada devilish sight more than his masterand goes anywhere
  where I can't go。 Princes and princesses stop and talk to him in the street;
  the   Grand   Duke   asked   permission   to   have   him  up   in   his   carriage   at   the
  races the other day; and; by the Eternal; sir; he gives the style to all the
  flunkeys in town!〃
  〃And I see; he dresses the character;〃 observed Paul。
  〃His own ideaentirely。 And; by Jove! he proves to be right。 You can't
  do anything here without a uniform。 And they tell me he's got everything
  correct; down to the crest on