“He has kept me waiting,” that gentleman returned —“but what’s the matter with him anyway?”
“The matter with him”— Lord John treated such ignorance as irritating —“must of course be this beastly thing in the ‘Journal.’”
Mr. Bender proclaimed, on the other hand, his incapacity to seize such connections. “What’s the matter with the beastly thing?”
“Why, aren’t you aware that the stiffest bit of it is a regular dig at you?”
“If you call that a regular dig you can’t have had much experience of the Papers. I’ve known them to dig much deeper.”
“I’ve had no experience of such horrid1 attacks, thank goodness; but do you mean to say,” asked Lord John with the surprise of his own delicacy2, “that you don’t unpleasantly feel it?”
“Feel it where, my dear sir?”
“Why, God bless me, such impertinence, everywhere!”
“All over me at once?”— Mr. Bender took refuge in easy humour. “Well, I’m a large man — so when I want to feel so much I look out for something good. But what, if he suffers from the blot3 on his ermine — ain’t that what you wear? — does our friend propose to do about it?”
Lord John had a demur4, which was immediately followed by the apprehension5 of support in his uncertainty6. Lady Sandgate was before them, having reached them through the other room, and to her he at once referred the question. “What will Theign propose, do you think, Lady Sandgate, to do about it?”
She breathed both her hospitality and her vagueness. “To ‘do’——?”
“Don’t you know about the thing in the ‘Journal’— awfully7 offensive all round?”
“There’d be even a little pinch for you in it,” Mr. Bender said to her —“if you were bent8 on fitting the shoe!”
Well, she met it all as gaily9 as was compatible with a firm look at her elder guest while she took her place with them. “Oh, the shoes of such monsters as that are much too big for poor me!” But she was more specific for Lord John. “I know only what Grace has just told me; but since it’s a question of footgear dear Theign will certainly — what you may call — take his stand!”
Lord John welcomed this assurance. “If I know him he’ll take it splendidly!”
Mr. Bender’s attention was genial10, though rather more detached. “And what — while he’s about it — will he take it particularly on?”
“Oh, we’ve plenty of things, thank heaven,” said Lady Sandgate, “for a man in Theign’s position to hold fast by!”
Lord John freely confirmed it. “Scores and scores — rather! And I will say for us that, with the rotten way things seem going, the fact may soon become a real convenience.”
Mr. Bender seemed struck — and not unsympathetic. “I see that your system would be rather a fraud if you hadn’t pretty well fixed11 that!”
Lady Sandgate spoke12 as one at present none the less substantially warned and convinced. “It doesn’t, however, alter the fact that we’ve thus in our ears the first growl13 of an outcry.”
“Ah,” Lord John concurred14, “we’ve unmistakably the first growl of an outcry!”
Mr. Bender’s judgment15 on the matter paused at sight of Lord Theign, introduced and announced, as Lord John spoke, by Gotch; but with the result of his addressing directly the person so presenting himself. “Why, they tell me that what this means, Lord Theign, is the first growl of an outcry!”
The appearance of the most eminent16 figure in the group might have been held in itself to testify to some such truth; in the sense at least that a certain conscious radiance, a gathered light of battle in his lordship’s aspect would have been explained by his having taken the full measure — an inner success with which he glowed — of some high provocation17. He was flushed, but he bore it as the ensign of his house; he was so admirably, vividly18 dressed, for the morning hour and for his journey, that he shone as with the armour19 of a knight20; and the whole effect of him, from head to foot, with every jerk of his unconcern and every flash of his ease, was to call attention to his being utterly21 unshaken and knowing perfectly22 what he was about. It was at this happy pitch that he replied to the prime upsetter of his peace.
“I’m afraid I don’t know what anything means to you, Mr. Bender — but it’s exactly to find out that I’ve asked you, with our friend John, kindly23 to meet me here. For a very brief conference, dear lady, by your good leave,” he went on to Lady Sandgate; “at which I’m only too pleased that you yourself should assist. The ‘first growl’ of any outcry, I may mention to you all, affects me no more than the last will ——!”
“So I’m delighted to gather”— Lady Sandgate took him straight up —“that you don’t let go your inestimable Cure.”
He at first quite stared superior —”‘Let go’?”— but then treated it with a lighter24 touch. “Upon my honour I might, you know — that dose of the daily press has made me feel so fit! I arrive at any rate,” he pursued to the others and in particular to Mr. Bender, “I arrive with my decision taken — which I’ve thought may perhaps interest you. If that tuppeny rot is an attempt at an outcry I simply nip it in the bud.”
Lord John rejoicingly approved. “Absolutely the only way — with the least self-respect — to treat it!”
Lady Sandgate, on the other hand, sounded a sceptical note. “But are you sure it’s so easy, Theign, to hush25 up a real noise?”
“It ain’t what I’d call a real one, Lady Sandgate,” Mr. Bender said; “you can generally distinguish a real one from the squeak26 of two or three mice! But granted mice do affect you, Lord Theign, it will interest me to hear what sort of a trap — by what you say — you propose to set for them.”
“You must allow me to measure, myself, Mr. Bender,” his lordship replied, “the importance of a gross freedom publicly used with my absolutely personal proceedings27 and affairs; to the cause and origin of any definite report of which — in such circles! — I’m afraid I rather wonder if you yourself can’t give me a clue.”
It took Mr. Bender a minute to do justice to these stately remarks. “You rather wonder if I’ve talked of how I feel about your detaining in your hands my Beautiful Duchess ——?”
“Oh, if you’ve already published her as ‘yours’— with your power of publication!” Lord Theign coldly laughed — “of course I trace the connection!”
Mr. Benders acceptance of responsibility clearly cost him no shade of a pang28. “Why, I haven’t for quite a while talked of a blessed other thing — and I’m capable of growing more profane29 over my not getting her than I guess any one would dare to be if I did.”
“Well, you’ll certainly not ‘get’ her, Mr. Bender,” Lady Sandgate, as for reasons of her own, bravely trumpeted30; “and even if there were a chance of it don’t you see that your way wouldn’t be publicly to abuse our noble friend?”
Mr. Bender but beamed, in reply, upon that personage. “Oh, I guess our noble friend knows I have to talk big about big things. You understand, sir, the scream of the eagle!”
“I’ll forgive you,” Lord Theign civilly returned, “all the big talk you like if you’ll now understand me. My retort to that hireling pack shall be at once to dispose of a picture.”
Mr. Bender rather failed to follow. “But that’s what you wanted to do before.”
“Pardon me,” said his lordship —“I make a difference. It’s what you wanted me to do.”
The mystification, however, continued. “And you were not — as you seemed then — willing?”
Lord Theign waived31 cross-questions. “Well, I’m willing now — that’s all that need concern us. Only, once more and for the last time,” he added with all authority, “you can’t have our Duchess!”
“You can’t have our Duchess!”— and Lord John, as before the altar of patriotism32, wrapped it in sacrificial sighs.
“You can’t have our Duchess!” Lady Sandgate repeated, but with a grace that took the sting from her triumph. And she seemed still all sweet sociability33 as she added: “I wish he’d tell you too, you dreadful rich thing, that you can’t have anything at all!”
Lord Theign, however, in the interest of harmony, deprecated that rigour. “Ah, what then would become of my happy retort?”
“And what — as it is,” Mr. Bender asked —“becomes of my unhappy grievance34?”
“Wouldn’t a really great capture make up to you for that?”
“Well, I take more interest in what I want than in what I have — and it depends, don’t you see, on how you measure the size.”
Lord John had at once in this connection a bright idea. “Shouldn’t you like to go back there and take the measure yourself?”
Mr. Bender considered him as through narrowed eyelids35. “Look again at that tottering36 Moretto?”
“Well, its size — as you say — isn’t in any light a negligible quantity.”
“You mean that — big as it is — it hasn’t yet stopped growing?”
The question, however, as he immediately showed, resided in what Lord Theign himself meant “It’s more to the purpose,” he said to Mr. Bender, “that I should mention to you the leading feature, or in other words the very essence, of my plan of campaign — which is to put the picture at once on view.” He marked his idea with a broad but elegant gesture. “On view as a thing definitely disposed of.”
“I say, I say, I say!” cried Lord John, moved by this bold stroke to high admiration37.
Lady Sandgate’s approval was more qualified38. “But on view, dear Theign, how?”
“With one of those pushing people in Bond Street.” And then as for the crushing climax39 of his policy: “As a Mantovano pure and simple.”
“But my dear man,” she quavered, “if it isn’t one?”
Mr. Bender at once anticipated; the wind had suddenly risen for him and he let out sail. “Lady Sand-gate, it’s going, by all that’s — well, interesting, to be one!”
Lord Theign took him up with pleasure. “You seize me? We treat it as one!”
Lord John eagerly borrowed the emphasis. “We treat it as one!”
Mr. Bender meanwhile fed with an opened appetite on the thought — he even gave it back larger. “As the long-lost Number Eight!”
Lord Theign happily seized him. “That will be it — to a charm!”
“It will make them,” Mr. Bender asked, “madder than anything?”
His patron — if not his client — put it more nobly. “It will markedly affirm my attitude.”
“Which will in turn the more markedly create discussion.”
“It may create all it will!”
“Well, if you don’t mind it, I don’t!” Mr. Bender concluded. But though bathed in this high serenity40 he was all for the rapid application of it elsewhere. “You’ll put the thing on view right off?”
“As soon as the proper arrangement ——”
“You put off your journey to make it?” Lady Sand-gate at once broke in.
Lord Theign bethought himself — with the effect of a gracious confidence in the others. “Not if these friends will act.”
“Oh, I guess we’ll act!” Mr. Bender declared.
“Ah, won’t we though!” Lord John re-echoed.
“You understand then I have an interest?” Mr. Bender went on to Lord Theign.
His lordship’s irony41 met it. “I accept that complication — which so much simplifies!”
“And yet also have a liberty?”
“Where else would be those you’ve taken? The point is,” said Lord Theign, “that I have a show.”
It settled Mr. Bender. “Then I’ll fix your show.” He snatched up his hat. “Lord John, come right round!”
Lord John had of himself reached the door, which he opened to let the whirlwind tremendously figured by his friend pass out first. Taking leave of the others he gave it even his applause. “The fellow can do anything anywhere!” And he hastily followed.
点击
收听单词发音
收听单词发音 |
1
horrid
|
|
| adj.可怕的；令人惊恐的；恐怖的；极讨厌的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
2
delicacy
|
|
| n.精致，细微，微妙，精良；美味，佳肴 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
3
blot
|
|
| vt.弄脏（用吸墨纸）吸干；n.污点，污渍 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
4
demur
|
|
| v．表示异议，反对 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
5
apprehension
|
|
| n.理解，领悟；逮捕，拘捕；忧虑 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
6
uncertainty
|
|
| n.易变，靠不住，不确知，不确定的事物 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
7
awfully
|
|
| adv.可怕地，非常地，极端地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
8
bent
|
|
| n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
9
gaily
|
|
| adv.欢乐地，高兴地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
10
genial
|
|
| adj.亲切的，和蔼的，愉快的，脾气好的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
11
fixed
|
|
| adj.固定的，不变的，准备好的；(计算机)固定的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
12
spoke
|
|
| n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
13
growl
|
|
| v.（狗等）嗥叫，（炮等）轰鸣；n.嗥叫，轰鸣 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
14
concurred
|
|
| 同意（concur的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
15
judgment
|
|
| n.审判；判断力，识别力，看法，意见 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
16
eminent
|
|
| adj.显赫的，杰出的，有名的，优良的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
17
provocation
|
|
| n.激怒，刺激，挑拨，挑衅的事物，激怒的原因 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
18
vividly
|
|
| adv.清楚地，鲜明地，生动地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
19
armour
|
|
| （=armor）n.盔甲；装甲部队 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
20
knight
|
|
| n.骑士，武士；爵士 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
21
utterly
|
|
| adv.完全地，绝对地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
22
perfectly
|
|
| adv.完美地，无可非议地，彻底地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
23
kindly
|
|
| adj.和蔼的，温和的，爽快的；adv.温和地，亲切地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
24
lighter
|
|
| n.打火机，点火器；驳船；v.用驳船运送；light的比较级 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
25
hush
|
|
| int.嘘，别出声；n.沉默，静寂；v.使安静 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
26
squeak
|
|
| n.吱吱声，逃脱；v.（发出）吱吱叫，侥幸通过；（俚）告密 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
27
proceedings
|
|
| n.进程，过程，议程；诉讼(程序)；公报 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
28
pang
|
|
| n.剧痛，悲痛，苦闷 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
29
profane
|
|
| adj.亵神的，亵渎的；vt.亵渎，玷污 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
30
trumpeted
|
|
| 大声说出或宣告（trumpet的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
31
waived
|
|
| v.宣布放弃( waive的过去式和过去分词 )；搁置；推迟；放弃（权利、要求等） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
32
patriotism
|
|
| n.爱国精神，爱国心，爱国主义 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
33
sociability
|
|
| n.好交际，社交性，善于交际 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
34
grievance
|
|
| n.怨愤，气恼，委屈 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
35
eyelids
|
|
| n.眼睑( eyelid的名词复数 )；眼睛也不眨一下；不露声色；面不改色 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
36
tottering
|
|
| adj.蹒跚的，动摇的v.走得或动得不稳( totter的现在分词 )；踉跄；蹒跚；摇摇欲坠 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
37
admiration
|
|
| n.钦佩，赞美，羡慕 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
38
qualified
|
|
| adj.合格的，有资格的，胜任的，有限制的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
39
climax
|
|
| n.顶点；高潮；v.(使)达到顶点 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
40
serenity
|
|
| n.宁静，沉着，晴朗 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
41
irony
|
|
| n.反语，冷嘲；具有讽刺意味的事，嘲弄 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
| 欢迎访问英文小说网 |