the prophet of berkeley square-第44节

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！



thankful；　indeed；　to　be　rid　for　a　moment　of　their　prophetic

importunity。



Following　the　gasped　directions　of　Mrs。　Bridgeman；　he　made　towards　the

guitars；　threading　a　number　of　drawing…rooms；　and　passing　by　the　doors

of　various　mysterious　chambers　which　were　carefully　curtained　off　in　a

most　secret　manner。　Here　and　there　he　saw　groups　of　peoplemen　in

extraordinary　coats　and　with　touzled　masses　of　hair；　women　in　gowns

made　of　the　cheapest　materials　and　cut　in　the　most　impossible　fashions。

Some　wore　convolvulus　on　their　heads；　ivy…leaves；　trailing　fuchsia；　or

sprigs　of　plants　known　only　to　suburban　haberdashers；　others　appeared

boldly　in　caps　of　the　pork…pie　order；　adorned　with　cherry…coloured

streamers；　clumps　of　feathers　that　had　never　seen　a　bird；　bunches　of

shining　fruits；　or　coins　that　looked　as　if　they　had　just　emerged　from

the　seclusion　of　the　poor…box。　Thread　gloves　abounded；　and　were　mostly

in　what　saleswomen　call　〃the　loud　shades〃bright　scarlet；　marigold

yellow；　grass　green　or　acute　magenta。　Mittens；　too；　were　visible

covered　with　cabalistic　inscriptions　in　glittering　beadwork。　Not　a　few

gentlewomen；　like　Madame；　trod　in　elastic…sided　boots；　and　one　small

but　intrepid　lady　carried　herself　boldly　in　a　cotton　skirt　topped　with

a　tartan　blouse　〃carried　out〃　in　vermilion　and　sulphur　colour；　over

which　was　carelessly　adjusted　a　macintosh　cape　partially　trimmed　with

distressed…looking　swansdown。　Here　and　there　might　be　seen　some　smart

London　woman；　perfectly　dressed　and　glancing　with　amused　amazement　at

the　new　fashions　about　her；　here　and　there　a　well　set…up　man；　with

normal　hair　and　a　tie　that　would　not　have　terrified　Piccadilly。　But　for

the　most　part　Mrs。　Bridgeman's　guests　were　not　quite　usual　in

appearance；　and；　indeed；　were　such　as　the　Prophet　had　never　gazed　upon

before。



Presently　the　uproar　of　the　guitars　grew　more　stentorian　upon　his　ear；

and；　leaving　on　his　left　an　astonishing　chamber　that　contained　from　a

dozen　to　fifteen　small　round　tables；　with　nothing　whatever　upon　them；

the　Prophet　emerged　into　an　inner　hall　where；　in　quite　a　grove　of

shrubs　hung　with　fairy　lights；　twenty　young　ladies；　dressed　from　top　to

toe　in　scarlet；　and　each　wearing　a　large　golden　medal；　were　being　as

Spanish　as　if　they　had　not　been　paid　for　it；　while　twelve　more　whacked

castanets　and　shook　bells　with　a　frenzy　that　was　worth　an　excellent

salary；　the　silly　gentleman　from　Tooting　the　while　blowing　furiously

upon　his　flute；　and　combining　this　intemperate　indulgence　with　an

occasional　assault　upon　a　cottage　piano　that　stood　immediately　before

him；　or　a　wave　of　the　baton　that　asserted　his　right　to　the　position　of

/chef　d'orchestre/。　Immediately　beyond　this　shrine　of　music　the　Prophet

perceived　a　Moorish　nook　containing　a　British　buffet；　and；　in　quite　the

most　Moorish　corner　of　this　nook；　seated　upon　a　divan　that　would　have

been　at　home　in　Marakesh；　he　caught　sight　of　Miss　Minerva　in　company

with　a　thin；　fatigued　and　wispy　lady　in　a　very　long　vermilion　gown；　and

an　extremely　small　gentlemanapparently　of　the　Hebrew　persuasionwho

was　smartly　dressed；　wore　white　gloves　and　a　buttonhole；　and　indulged

in　a　great　deal　of　florid　gesticulation　while　talking　with　abnormal

vivacity。　Miss　Minerva；　who　was　playing　quietly　with　a　lemon　ice；

looked　even　more　sensible　than　usual；　the　Prophet　thought；　in　her

simple　white　frock。　She　seemed　to　be　quite　at　home　and　perfectly　happy

with　her　silly　friends；　but；　as　soon　as　she　saw　him　hovering　anxiously

to　the　left　of　the　guitars；　she　beckoned　to　him　eagerly；　and　he　hurried

forward。



〃Oh；　Mr。　Vivian；　I'm　so　glad　you've　come！　Let　me　introduce　you　to　my

great　friend　Eureka〃the　lady　in　vermilion　bowed　absent…mindedly；　and

rolled　her　huge　brown　eyes　wearily　at　the　Prophet〃and　to　Mr。　Briskin

Moses。〃



The　little　gentleman　made　a　stage　reverence　and　fluttered　his　small

hands　airily。



〃Pretty　sight；　pretty　sight！〃　he　said　in　a　quick　and　impudent　voice。

〃All　these　little　dears　enjoying　themselves　so　innocently。　Mother

Bridgeman's　chickens；　I　call　them。　But　it's　impossible　to　count　them；

even　after　they're　hatched。　Cheese　it！〃



The　final　imperative　was　flung　demurely　at　a　mighty　footman；　who　just

then　tried　to　impound　Mr。　Moses's　not　quite　finished　brandy…and…soda。



〃Sir？〃　said　the　mighty　footman。



〃Cheese　it！〃　cried　Mr。　Moses；　making　a　gesture　of　tragic　repugnance　in

the　direction　of　the　footman。



The　mighty　footman　cheesed　it　with　dignity；　and　afterwards；　in　the

servants'　hall；　spoke　very　bitterly　of　Israel。



The　Prophet　was　extremely　anxious　to　get　a　word　alone　with　Miss

Minerva。　Indeed；　it　was　really　important　that　he　should　warn　her　of　Sir

Tiglath's　approach；　but　he　could　find　no　opportunity　of　doing　so；　for

Mr。　Moses；　who　was　not　afflicted　with　diffidence；　rapidly　continued；　in

a　slightly　affected　and　tripping　cockney　voice；



〃Mother　Bridgeman's　a　dear　one！　God　bless　her　for　a　pretty　soul！　She'd

be　sublime　in　musical　comedythe　black　satin　society　lady；　you　know；

who　makes　the　aristocratic　relief；



〃　'I'm　a　Dowager　Duchess；　and　everyone　knows

I'm　a　lady　right　down　to　the　tip　of　my　toes。'



〃Very　valuable　among　the　minxes；　worth　her　weight　in　half…crowns！　I'd

give　her　an　engagement　any　day；　pretty　bird！　Ever　seen　her　driving　in　a

cab？　She　takes　off　her　gloves　and　spreads　her　hands　over　the　apron　to

get　the　air。　A　canary！　Anything　for　me　to…night；　Eureka？　A　dove；　a

mongooseanything　lucky？　Give　us　a　chance；　mother！〃



The　lady　in　vermilion；　who　had　a　tuft　of　golden　hair　in　the　midst　of

her　otherwise　raven　locks；　glanced　mysteriously　at　Mr。　Moses。



〃See　anything；　mother？〃　he　asked；　with　theatrical　solemnity。　〃A　tiny

chunk　of　luck　for　tricky　little　Briskin？〃



〃I　do　see　something；〃　said　Eureka；　in　a　dim　and　heavy　voice。　〃It's　just

close　to　you　on　that　table　by　the　brandy。〃



Mr。　Moses　started；　and　cast　a　glance　of　awe　at　the　tumbler。



〃My　word；〃　he　cried〃my　word；　mother！　What's　the　blessed　little　symbol

like？　Not　a　pony　fresh　from　Jerusalem　for　your　believing　boy！〃



〃You　must　wait　a　moment。　It　is　not　clear；〃　replied　Eureka；　slowly　and

dreamily；　fixing　her　heavy　eyes　on　the　brandy…and…soda。　〃It's　all

cloudy。〃



〃Been　imbibing；　mother？　Has　the　blessed　little　symbol　been　at　it　again？

Briskin's　shockshocked！〃



〃It's　getting　clearer。　It　stands　in　a　band　of　fire。〃



〃Shade　of　Shadrach！　Apparition　of　Abednego！　Draw　it　mild　and　bitter；

mother！〃



〃Ah！　now　it　steps　out。　It's　got　a　hump。〃



〃Got　the　hump；　mother？　My　word！　then　it　must　be　either　a　camel　or　an

undischarged　bankrupt！　Which　is　it；　pretty　soul？〃



〃It's　a　rhinoceros。　It's　moving　to　you。〃



〃Yokohama；　mother！　Tell　the　pretty　bird　to　keep　back！　What's　it　mean？〃



〃It's　a　sign　of　plenty。〃



〃Plenty　of　what；　mother？　The　ready　or　the　nose…bag？　Give　us　a　chance！〃



〃Plenty　of　good　fortune；　because　its　head　is　towards　you。　If　it　had

presented　its　tail；　it　would　mean　black　weather。〃



〃Don't　let　it　turn　tail；　for　Saturday's　sake；　mother。　Keep　its　head

straight　while　I　finish　the　brandy！〃



And　so　saying；　little　Mr。　Moses；　with　elaborate　furtiveness；　caught　up

the　tumbler；　poured　its　contents　down　his　throat；　and　threw　himself

back　on　the　divan　with　the　air　of　a　man　who　had　just　escaped　from　peril

by　the　consummate　personal　exercise　of　unparalleled　and　sustained

ingenuity。



During　this　scene　Miss　Minerva　had　preserved　her　air　of　pronounced

Scottish　good　sense；　while　listening　attentively；　and　she　now　said　to

Eureka；



〃D'you　see　anything　for　Mr。　Vivian；　dear　Eureka？　Even　the　littlest

thing　would　be　welcomed。〃



Eureka　stared　upon　the　Prophet；　who　began　to　feel　very　nervous。



〃There's　something　round　his　head；〃　she　remarked；　with　her　usual　almost

sacred　earnestness。



The　Prophet　mechanically　put　up　his　hands；　like　a　man　anxious　to

interfere　with　the　assiduous　attentions　of　a　swarm　of　bees。



〃Something　right　round　his　head。〃



〃Is　it　a　halo？〃　asked　Miss　Minerva。



〃Is　it　a　Lincoln　&　Bennet；　mother？〃　cried　Mr。　Moses。　〃One　of　the　shiny

onestwenty…one　bob；　and　twenty…five…and…six　if　you　want　a　kid

lining？〃



〃No；　it's　like　some　sort　of　bird。〃



〃　'I　heard　the　owl　beneath　my　eaves　complaining；'　〃　chirped　Mr。　Moses；

taking　two　or　three　high　notes　in　a　delicate　tenor　voice。　〃　'I　looked

forthgreat　Scot！　How　it　was　raining！'　Is　it　an　owl；　mother？　Ask　it　to

screech　to　Briskin。〃



〃It　is　no　owl；〃　said　Eureka　to　the　Prophet。　〃It　is　a　sparrowyour

bird。〃



〃Is　it　upon　the　housetop；　mother；　having　a　spree　all　on　its　little

alone？〃



〃No；　it　is　hovering　over　the　gentleman。〃



〃What　does　that　mean？〃　said　the　Prophet；　anxiously。



But　at　this　point　Eureka　suddenly　seemed　to　lose　interest　in　the

matter。　〃Oh；　you're　all　right；〃　she　said　carelessly。　〃I'm　tired。　I

should　like　a　wafer。〃



〃Mother's　peckish。　Mother；　I　see　an　ostrich　by　your　left　elbow。　That's

a　sign