his own people-第6部分

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〃Do　you　write　poetry？〃

〃Oh；　not　professionally；　though　it　is　published。　　I　suppose〃he
sipped　his　champagne　with　his　head　a　little　to　one　side　as　though
judging　its　quality〃I　suppose　I　've　been　more　or　less　a　dilettante。
I've　knocked　about　the　world　a　good　bit。〃

〃Helene　says　you're　one　of　these　leisure　American　billionaires　like
Mr。　Cooley　there；〃　she　said　in　her　tired　voice。

〃Oh；　none　of　us　are　really　quite　billionaires。〃　　He　laughed
deprecatingly。

〃No；　I　suppose　not？not　really。　　Go　on　and　tell　me　some　more　about
life　and　this　distinguished　company。〃

〃Hey；　folks！〃　Mr。　Pedlow's　roar　broke　in　upon　this　dialogue。
〃You　two　are　gittin'　mighty　thick　over　there。　　We're　drinking　a
toast；　and　you'll　have　to　break　away　long　enough　to　join　in。〃

〃Queen！　　That's　what　she　is！〃　shouted　Cooley。

Mellin　lifted　his　glass　with　the　others　and　drank　to　Madame　de
Vaurigard；　but　the　woman　at　his　side　did　not　change　her　attitude
and　continued　to　sit　with　her　elbows　on　the　table；　her　cheek　on
the　back　of　her　hand；　watching　him　thoughtfully。





VI。　　Rake's　Progress

Many　toasts　were　uproariously　honored；　the　health　of　each　member
of　the　party　in　turn；　then　the　country　of　each：　　France　and　England
first；　out　of　courtesy　to　the　ladies；　Italy　next；　since　this
beautiful　and　extraordinary　meeting　of　distinguished　people　（as
Mellin　remarked　in　a　short　speech　he　felt　called　upon　to　make）　took
place　in　that　wonderful　land；　then　the　United　States。　　This　last
toast　the　gentlemen　felt　it　necessary　to　honor　by　standing　in　their
chairs。

＇~Song：　　The　Star…Spangled　Bannerwithout　wordsby　Mr。　Cooley　and
chorus。~＇

When　the　cigars　were　brought；　the　ladies　graciously　remained；　adding
tiny　spirals　of　smoke　from　their　cigarettes　to　the　layers　of　blue
haze　which　soon　overhung　the　table。　　Through　this　haze；　in　the
gentle　light　（which　seemed　to　grow　softer　and　softer）　Mellin　saw　the
face　of　Helene　de　Vaurigard；　luminous　as　an　angel's。　　She　~was~　an
angeland　the　others　were　gods。　　What　could　be　more　appropriate　in
Rome？　　Lady　Mount…Rhyswicke　was　Juno；　but　more　beautiful。　　For
himself；　he　felt　like　a　god　too；　Olympic　in　serenity。

He　longed　for　mysterious　dangers。　　How　debonair　he　would　stroll
among　them！　　He　wished　to　explore　the　unknown；　felt　the　need　of　a
splendid　adventure；　and　had　a　happy　premonition　that　one　was　coming
nearer　and　nearer。　　He　favored　himself　with　a　hopeful　vision　of　the
apartment　on　fire；　Robert　Russ　Mellin　smiling　negligently　among　the
flames　and　Madame　de　Vaurigard　kneeling　before　him　in　adoration。
Immersed　in　delight；　he　puffed　his　cigar　and　let　his　eyes　rest
dreamily　upon　the　face　of　Helene。　He　was　quite　undisturbed　by　an
argument；　more　a　commotion　than　a　debate；　between　Mr。　Pedlow　and
young　Cooley。　　It　ended　by　their　rising；　the　latter　overturning　a
chair　in　his　haste。

〃I　don't　know　the　rudiments；　don't　I！〃　cried　the　boy。　　〃You　wait！
Ole　Sneydie　and　I'II　trim　you　down！　　Corni　says　he'll　play；　too。
Come　on；　Mellin。〃

〃I　won't　go　unless　Helene　goes；〃　said　Mellin。　　〃What　are　you　going
to　do　when　you　get　there？〃

〃Alas；　my　frien'！〃　exclaimed　Madame　de　Vaurigard；　rising；　〃is　it
not　what　I　tol'　you？　　Always　you　are　never　content　wizout　your　play。
You　come　to　dinner　an'　when　it　is　finish'　you　play；　play；　play！〃

〃~Play~？〃　　He　sprang　to　his　feet。　　〃Bravo！　　That's　the　very　thing
I've　been　wanting　to　do。　　I　knew　there　was　something　I　wanted　to　do；
but　I　couldn't　think　what　it　was。〃

Lady　Mount…Rhyswicke　followed　the　others　into　the　salon；　but　Madame
de　Vaurigard　waited　just　inside　the　doorway　for　Mellin。

〃~High~　play！〃　he　cried。　　〃We　must　play　high！　　I　won't　play　any
other　way。I　want　to　play　~high~！〃

〃Ah；　wicked　one！　　What　did　I　tell　you？〃

He　caught　her　hand。　　〃And　you　must　play　too；　Helene。〃

〃No；　no；〃　she　laughed　breathlessly。

〃Then　you'll　watch。　　Promise　you'll　watch　me。　　I　won't　let　you　go
till　you　promise　to　watch　me。〃

〃I　shall　adore　it；　my　frien'！〃

〃Mellin；〃　called　Cooley　from　the　other　room。　　〃You　comin'　or　not？〃

〃Can't　you　see　me？〃　answered　Mellin　hilariously；　entering　with
Madame　de　Vaurigard；　who　was　rosy　with　laughter。　　〃Peculiar　thing
to　look　at　a　man　and　not　see　him。〃

Candles　were　lit　in　many　sconces　on　the　walls；　and　the　card…table
had　been　pushed　to　the　centre　of　the　room；　little　towers　of　blue；
white　and　scarlet　counters　arranged　upon　it　in　orderly　rows　like
miniature　castles。

〃Now；　then；〃　demanded　Cooley；　〃are　the　ladies　goin'　to　play？〃

〃Never！〃　cried　Madame　de　Vaurigard。

〃All　right；〃　said　the　youth　cheerfully；　〃you　can　look　on。　　Come　and
sit　by　me　for　a　mascot。〃

〃You'll　need　a　mascot；　my　boy！〃　shouted　Pedlow。　　〃That's　right；
though；　take　her。〃

He　pushed　a　chair　close　to　that　in　which　Cooley　had　already　seated
himself；　and　Madame　de　Vaurigard　dropped　into　it；　laughing。
〃Mellin；　you　set　there；〃　he　continued；　pushing　the　young　man　into
a　seat　opposite　Cooley。　　〃We'll　give　both　you　young　fellers　a
mascot。〃　　He　turned　to　Lady　Mount…Rhyswicke；　who　had　gone　to　the
settee　by　the　fire。　　〃Madge；　you　come　and　set　by　Mellin；〃　he
commanded　jovially。　　〃Maybe　he'll　forget　you　ain't　a　widow　again。〃

〃I　don't　believe　I　care　much　about　bein'　anybody's　mascot　to…night；〃
she　answered。　　There　was　a　hint　of　anger　in　her　tired　monotone。

〃What？〃　He　turned　from　the　table　and　walked　over　to　the　fireplace。
〃I　reckon　I　didn't　understand　you；〃　he　said　quietly；　almost　gently。
〃You　better　come；　hadn't　you？〃

She　met　his　inscrutable　little　eyes　steadily。　　A　faint　redness
slowly　revealed　itself　on　her　powdered　cheeks；　then　she　followed
him　back　to　the　table　and　took　the　place　he　had　assigned　to　her
at　Mellin's　elbow。

〃I'll　bank；〃　said　Pedlow；　taking　a　chair　between　Cooley　and　the
Italian；　〃unless　somebody　wants　to　take　it　off　my　hands。　　Now；
what　are　we　playing？〃

〃Pokah；〃　responded　Sneyd　with　mild　sarcasm。

〃Bravo！〃　cried　Mellin。　　〃That's　~my~　game。　Ber…~ravo！~〃

This　was　so　far　true：　　it　was　the　only　game　upon　which　he　had　ever
ventured　money；　he　had　played　several　times　when　the　wagers　were
allowed　to　reach　a　limit　of　twenty…five　cents。

〃You　know　what　I　mean；　I　reckon；〃　said　Pedlow。　　〃I　mean　what　we
are　playin'　~fer~？〃

〃Twenty…five　franc　limit；〃　responded　Cooley　authoritatively。
〃Double　for　jacks。　　Play　two　hours　and　settle　when　we　quit。〃

Mellin　leaned　back　in　his　chair。　　〃You　call　that　high？〃　he　asked；
with　a　sniff　of　contempt。　　〃Why　not　double　it？〃

The　fat　man　hammered　the　table　with　his　fist　delightedly。　　〃'He's
game；'　she　says。　　'He's　the　gamest　little　Indian　ever　come　down
the　big　road！'　she　says。　　Was　she　right？　　What？　　Maybe　she　wasn't！
We'll　double　it　before　very　long；　my　boy；　this'll　do　to　start　on。
There。〃　　He　distributed　some　of　the　small　towers　of　ivory　counters
and　made　a　memorandum　in　a　notebook。　　〃There's　four　hundred　apiece。〃

〃That　all？〃　inquired　Mellin；　whereupon　Mr。　Pedlow　uproariously
repeated　Madame　de　Vaurigard's　alleged　tribute。

As　the　game　began；　the　intelligent…looking　maid　appeared　from　the
dining…room；　bearing　bottles　of　whisky　and　soda；　and　these　she
deposited　upon　small　tables　at　the　convenience　of　the　players；
so　that　at　the　conclusion　of　the　first　encounter　in　the　gentle
tournament　there　was　material　for　a　toast　to　the　gallant　who　had
won　it。

〃Here's　to　the　gamest　Indian　of　us　all；〃　proposed　the　fat　man。
〃Did　you　notice　him　call　me　with　a　pair　of　tens？　　And　me　queen…
high！〃

Mellin　drained　a　deep　glass　in　honor　of　himself。　　〃On　my　soul；　Chan'
Pedlow；　I　think　you're　the　bes'　fellow　in　the　whole　world；〃　he　said
gratefully。　　〃Only　trouble　with　youyou　don't　want　to　play　high
enough。〃

He　won　again　and　again；　adding　other　towers　of　counters　to　his
original　allotment；　so　that　he　had　the　semblance　of　a　tiny　castle。
When　the　cards　had　been　dealt　for　the　fifth　time　he　felt　the　light
contact　of　a　slipper　touching　his　foot　under　the　table。

That　slipper；　he　decided　（from　the　nature　of　things）　could　belong　to
none　other　than　his　Helene；　and　even　as　he　came　to　this　conclusion
the　slight　pressure　against　his　foot　was　gently　but　distinctly
increased　thrice。　　He　pressed　the　slipper　in　return　with　his　shoe；
at　the　same　time　giving　Madame　de　Vaurigard　a　look　of　grateful
surprise　and　tenderness；　which　threw　her　into　a　confusion　so
evidently　genuine　that　for　an　unworthy　moment　he　had　a　jealous
suspicion　she　had　meant　the　little　caress　for　some　other。

It　was　a　disagreeable　thought；　and；　in　the　hope　of　banishing　it；
he　refilled　his　glass；　but　his　mood　had　begun　to　change。　　It　seemed
to　him　that　Helene　was　watching　Cooley　a　great　deal　too　devotedly。
Why　had　she　consented　to　sit　by　Cooley；　when　she　had　promised　to
watch　Robert　Russ　Mellin？　　He　observed　the　pair　stealthily。

Cooley　consulted　her　in　laughing　whispers　upon　every　discard；　upon
every　bet。　　Now　and　then；　in　their　whisperings；　Cooley's　hair　touched
hers；　sometimes　she　laid　her　hand　on　his　the　more　conveniently　to
look　at　his　cards。　　Mellin　began　to　be　enraged。　　Did　she　think　that
puling　milksop　had　as　much　as　a　shadow　of　the　daring；　the　devilry；
the　carelessness　of　consequences　which　lay　within　Robert　Russ　Mellin？
〃Consequences？〃　　What　were　they？　　There　were　no　such　things！　　She
would　not　look　at　himwell；　he　would　make　her！　　Thenceforward　he
raised　every　bet　by　another　to　the　extent　of　the　limit　agreed　upon。

Mr。　Cooley　was　thoroughly　happy。　　He　did　not　resemble　Ulysses；　he
would　never　have　had　himself　bound　to　the　mast；　and　there　were
already　sounds　of　unearthly　sweetness　in　his　ears。　　His　conferences
with　his　lovely　hostess　easily　consoled　him　for　his　losses。　　In
addition；　he　was　triumphing　over　the　boaster；　for　Mr。　Pedlow；　with
a　very　ill　grace　and　swearing　（not　under　his　breath）；　was　losing
too。　　The　Countess；　reiterating　for　the　hundredth　time　that　Cooley
was　a　〃wicked　one；〃　sweetly　constituted　herself　his　cup…bearer；
kept　his　glass　full　and　brought　him　fresh　cigars。

Mellin　dealt　her　furious　glances；　and　filled　his　own　glass；　for
Lady　Mount…Rhyswicke　plainly　had　no　conception　of　herself　in　the
role　of　a　Hebe。　　The　hospitable　Pedlow；　observing　this　neglect；
was　moved　to　chide　her。

〃Look　at　them　two　cooing　doves　over　there；〃　he　said　reproachfully；
a　jerk　o