Fran?ois sat back on his heels and eyed Philip's legs adoringly.
"But of an excellence12, m'sieur! So perfect a calf13, m'sieur! So vairy fine a laig," he explained in English.
Philip tried to squint14 down at them, and was rewarded by an impatient exclamation16 from the gentleman who was wrestling with his cravat.
"Tais—toi, imbécile! 'Ow is it zat I shall arrange your cravat if you tweest and turn like zis? Lift your chin, Philippe!"
"Mais, monsieur, je—je—cela me donne—mal au cou."
"I've finished, never fear. Jean, that is wonderful!"
Le Marquis de Chateau-Banvau stepped back to view his handiwork.
"No, no, m'sieur! I am sure it is perfection!"
The Marquis disregarded him. Once more his nimble fingers busied themselves amongst the folds of soft lace. His eyes gleamed suddenly.
The valet held it out. He and Tom watched anxiously as the Marquis' hand hovered22, uncertain. Philip felt that this was a supreme10 moment; he held his breath. Then the pin was fixed23 with one unerring movement, and the two onlookers24 drew deep breaths of relief.
The Marquis nodded.
"Yes, Tom, you are right. It is a triumph. Sit down, Philippe."
Philip sank into a chair by the dressing-table.
"What now? Have you nearly finished?"
Philip tried to rebel.
"I will not be painted and powdered!"
The Marquis fixed him with a cold eye.
"Pla?t—il?"
"M'sieur—I—I will not!"
"Philippe—if it were not for the love I bear your papa, I would leave you zis minute. You will do as I say, hein?"
"But, m'sieur, can I not go without paint?"
"You can not."
Philip smiled ruefully.
"Then do your worst!"
"It is not my worst, ingrat. It is my best!"
"Your best, then. I am really very grateful, sir."
Under his deft27 hands Philip squirmed and screwed up his face. He complained that the haresfoot tickled28 him, and he winced29 when the Marquis pressed two patches on his face. When Fran?ois dusted his cheeks with powder he sneezed, and when a single sapphire ear-ring was placed in his left ear he scowled30 and muttered direfully.
But the supreme torture was to come. He discovered that it required the united energies of the three men to coax2 him into his coat. When at last it was on he assured them it would split across the shoulders if he so much as moved a finger.
The Marquis found him fort amusant, but troublesome.
"Forget it, little fool!"
"Forget it?" cried Philip. "How can I forget it when it prevents my moving?"
"Quelle absurdité! The sword, Tom!"
"How can I dance in a sword?" protested Philip.
"It is de rigueur," said the Marquis.
Philip fingered the jewelled hilt.
"A pretty plaything," he said. "I have never spent so much money on fripperies before."
Fran?ois arranged the full skirts of his coat about the sword, and Tom slipped rings on to Philip's fingers. A point-edged hat was put into his hand, an enamelled snuff-box, and a handkerchief.
Thomas looked at the Marquis, the Marquis nodded complacently31. He led Philip to a long glass.
"Well, my friend?"
But Philip said never a word. He stared and stared again at his reflection. He could not believe that it was himself. He saw a tall, slight figure dressed in a pale blue satin coat, and white small-clothes, flowered waistcoat, and gold-clocked stockings. High red-heeled shoes, diamond-buckled, were on his feet, lace foamed32 over his hands and at his neck, while a white wig33, marvellously curled and powdered, replaced his shorn locks. Unconsciously he drew himself up, tilting34 his chin a little, and shook out his handkerchief.
"Well!" The Marquis grew impatient. "You have nothing to say?"
Philip turned.
"C'est merveilleux!" he breathed.
The Marquis beamed, but he shook his head.
"It is my intention," said the Marquis. "A month or so and I shall be proud of my pupil."
Philip flushed beneath his powder. A ruby38 on his finger caught his eye. He regarded it for a moment, frowning, then he took it off.
"I don't like it."
"You don't like it? Why not?"
"By heaven, the boy's right!" exclaimed Tom. "He should be all blue!"
"In a month—two months—I shall present you at Versailles," decided41 the Marquis. "Fran?ois, remove that abominable42 ruby. And now—en avant!"
And so went Philip to his first ball.
At the end of the month Tom went home to London, having set his nephew's feet on the path he was to tread. He left him in charge of M. de Chateau-Banvau, who had by now developed a lively interest in him.
After that first ball Philip threw off the last shreds43 of rebellion; he played his part well, and he became very busy. Every morning he fenced with an expert until he had acquired some skill with a small-sword; he spoke44 nothing but French from morn to night; he permitted the Marquis to introduce him into society; he strove to loosen his tongue, and he paid flippant court to several damsels who ogled45 him for his fine appearance, until his light conversation grew less forced and uncomfortable. For a while he took no interest in his tailoring, allowing Tom or Fran?ois to garb46 him as they pleased. But one day, when Fran?ois extended a pair of cream stockings to his gaze, he eyed them through his quizzing-glass for a long moment. Then he waved them aside.
Fran?ois was hurt; he liked those stockings. Would not M'sieur consider them? M'sieur most emphatically would not. If Fran?ois admired pink clocks on a cream ground, let him take the stockings. M'sieur would not wear them; they offended him.
Before very long "le jeune Anglais" was looked for and welcomed. Ladies liked him for his firm chin, and his palpable manliness47; men liked him for his modesty48 and his money. He was invited to routs49 and bals masqués, and to card-parties and soirées. Philip began to enjoy himself; he was tasting the delights of popularity. Bit by bit he grew to expect invitations from these new acquaintances. But still M. le Marquis was dissatisfied. It was all very well, but not well enough for him.
However, it was quite well enough for Thomas, and he departed, chuckling50 and elated. He left Philip debating over two wigs51 and the arrangement of his jewels.
Hardly a fortnight later Philip made secure his position in Polite Society by fighting a duel52 with a jealous husband. Lest you should be shocked at this sudden depravity, I will tell you that there was little enough cause for fighting, as Philip considered the lady as he might consider an aunt. Happily she was unaware53 of this. Philip's friends did not hold back; he had no difficulty in finding seconds, and the affaire ended in a neat thrust which pinked the husband, and a fresh wave of popularity for Philip.
The Marquis told his pupil that he was a gay dog, and was met by a chilling stare.
"I—beg—your pardon?" said Philip stiffly.
"But what a modesty!" cried the Marquis, much amused.
"Is it conceivable that you think me attracted by the smiles of Madame de Foli-Martin?"
"But yes! Of course I think it!"
"Permit me to enlighten you," said Philip. "My affections are with a lady—at home."
"I thank God, yes," said Philip. He depressed55 his friend, who had hoped for better things of him. But he thought it wiser to change the subject.
"Philip, I will take you to Court."
Philip crossed one elegantly breeched leg over the other. He was, if anything, a little bored.
"Yes? Next week, perhaps? I am very much engaged until then."
The shrewd eyes twinkled.
"The manner is excellent, my friend. You will like to make your bow to the King."
"Certainly. I trust the King will consider himself sufficiently57 honoured."
"Sans doute," bowed the Marquis. "But I counsel you, slayer58 of hearts, to cast your eyes away from la Pompadour."
"M'sieur, I have already told you—"
"Oh, yes. But you have now the name for—slaying of hearts."
Philip dropped his affectation.
"It is very fashionable," said the Marquis mischievously60. "You become a figure."
"What! Even la Salévier?"
"The woman with the enormous wig—oh—ah! She is well enough, but passée, mon cher Marquis, passée!"
"Sangdieu, you are fastidious of a sudden! Is the little country chit so lovely?"
"Your pardon, Marquis, but I prefer to leave that lady's name out of this or any discussion."
"Or I shall have a small-sword through my heart, hein?"
Philip smiled.
"That is absurd, sir."
That night he gave a card-party. The play was high and the bottles numerous. He lost some money, won a little, and was put to bed by his valet long after dawn. He awoke later with a splitting headache, but he considered himself a man. That was in September.
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1
sleek
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| adj.光滑的，井然有序的；v.使光滑，梳拢 | |
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coax
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| v.哄诱，劝诱，用诱哄得到，诱取 | |
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coaxing
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| v.哄，用好话劝说( coax的现在分词 )；巧言骗取；哄劝，劝诱；“锻炼”效应 | |
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middle-aged
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| adj.中年的 | |
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exquisite
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| adj.精美的；敏锐的；剧烈的，感觉强烈的 | |
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cravat
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| n.领巾，领结；v.使穿有领结的服装，使结领结 | |
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proceeding
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| n.行动，进行，(pl.)会议录，学报 | |
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tinted
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| adj. 带色彩的 动词tint的过去式和过去分词 | |
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supremely
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| adv.无上地，崇高地 | |
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supreme
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| adj.极度的，最重要的；至高的，最高的 | |
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miserable
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| adj.悲惨的，痛苦的；可怜的，糟糕的 | |
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excellence
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| n.优秀，杰出，(pl.)优点，美德 | |
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calf
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| n.小牛，犊，幼仔，小牛皮 | |
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squint
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| v. 使变斜视眼, 斜视, 眯眼看, 偏移, 窥视; n. 斜视, 斜孔小窗; adj. 斜视的, 斜的 | |
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warded
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| 有锁孔的，有钥匙榫槽的 | |
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exclamation
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| n.感叹号，惊呼，惊叹词 | |
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severely
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| adv.严格地；严厉地；非常恶劣地 | |
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irritably
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| ad.易生气地 | |
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chuckled
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| 轻声地笑( chuckle的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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musingly
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| adv.沉思地，冥想地 | |
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sapphire
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| n.青玉，蓝宝石；adj.天蓝色的 | |
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hovered
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| 鸟( hover的过去式和过去分词 )； 靠近（某事物）； （人）徘徊； 犹豫 | |
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fixed
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| adj.固定的，不变的，准备好的；(计算机)固定的 | |
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onlookers
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| n.旁观者，观看者( onlooker的名词复数 ) | |
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rouge
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| n.胭脂，口红唇膏；v.(在…上)擦口红 | |
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twitched
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| vt.& vi.（使）抽动，（使）颤动（twitch的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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deft
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| adj.灵巧的，熟练的（a deft hand 能手） | |
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tickled
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| （使）发痒( tickle的过去式和过去分词 )； （使）愉快，逗乐 | |
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winced
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| 赶紧避开，畏缩( wince的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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scowled
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| 怒视，生气地皱眉( scowl的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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complacently
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| adv. 满足地, 自满地, 沾沾自喜地 | |
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foamed
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| 泡沫的 | |
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wig
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| n.假发 | |
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tilting
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| 倾斜，倾卸 | |
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gauche
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| adj.笨拙的，粗鲁的 | |
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humble
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| adj.谦卑的，恭顺的；地位低下的；v.降低，贬低 | |
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modish
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| adj.流行的，时髦的 | |
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ruby
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| n.红宝石，红宝石色 | |
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queried
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| v.质疑，对…表示疑问( query的过去式和过去分词 )；询问 | |
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sapphires
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| n.蓝宝石，钢玉宝石( sapphire的名词复数 )；蔚蓝色 | |
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41
decided
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| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
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42
abominable
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| adj.可厌的，令人憎恶的 | |
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43
shreds
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| v.撕碎，切碎( shred的第三人称单数 )；用撕毁机撕毁（文件） | |
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44
spoke
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| 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 | |
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45
ogled
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| v.（向…）抛媚眼，送秋波( ogle的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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46
garb
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| n.服装，装束 | |
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manliness
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| 刚毅 | |
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48
modesty
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| n.谦逊，虚心，端庄，稳重，羞怯，朴素 | |
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49
routs
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| n.打垮，赶跑( rout的名词复数 )；（体育）打败对方v.打垮，赶跑( rout的第三人称单数 )；（体育）打败对方 | |
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50
chuckling
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| 轻声地笑( chuckle的现在分词 ) | |
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51
wigs
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| n.假发，法官帽( wig的名词复数 ) | |
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52
duel
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| n./v.决斗；(双方的)斗争 | |
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53
unaware
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| a.不知道的，未意识到的 | |
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54
deplored
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| v.悲叹，痛惜，强烈反对( deplore的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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55
depressed
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| adj.沮丧的，抑郁的，不景气的，萧条的 | |
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56
shrugged
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| vt.耸肩（shrug的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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57
sufficiently
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| adv.足够地，充分地 | |
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58
slayer
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| n. 杀人者，凶手 | |
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59
gad
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| n.闲逛；v.闲逛 | |
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mischievously
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| adv.有害地；淘气地 | |
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languor
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| n.无精力，倦怠 | |
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fatigue
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| n.疲劳，劳累 | |
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