English
June15th.—Theconfusionoftheirarrivalhashadtimetosubside.
Twodayshaveelapsedsincethereturnofthetravellers,andthatintervalhassufficedtoputthenewmachineryofourlivesatBlackwaterParkinfairworkingorder.
Imaynowreturntomyjournal,withsomelittlechanceofbeingabletocontinuetheentriesinitascollectedlyasusual.
IthinkImustbeginbyputtingdownanoddremarkwhichhassuggesteditselftomesinceLauracameback.
Whentwomembersofafamilyortwointimatefriendsareseparated,andonegoesabroadandoneremainsathome,thereturnoftherelativeorfriendwhohasbeentravellingalwaysseemstoplacetherelativeorfriendwhohasbeenstayingathomeatapainfuldisadvantagewhenthetwofirstmeet.
Thesuddenencounterofthenewthoughtsandnewhabitseagerlygainedintheonecase,withtheoldthoughtsandoldhabitspassivelypreservedintheother,seemsatfirsttopartthesympathiesofthemostlovingrelativesandthefondestfriends,andtosetasuddenstrangeness,unexpectedbybothanduncontrollablebyboth,betweenthemoneitherside.
AfterthefirsthappinessofmymeetingwithLaurawasover,afterwehadsatdowntogetherhandinhandtorecoverbreathenoughandcalmnessenoughtotalk,Ifeltthisstrangenessinstantly,andIcouldseethatshefeltittoo.
Ithaspartiallywornaway,nowthatwehavefallenbackintomostofouroldhabits,anditwillprobablydisappearbeforelong.
ButithascertainlyhadaninfluenceoverthefirstimpressionsthatIhaveformedofher,nowthatwearelivingtogetheragain—forwhichreasononlyIhavethoughtfittomentionithere.
Shehasfoundmeunaltered,butIhavefoundherchanged.
Changedinperson,andinonerespectchangedincharacter.Icannotabsolutelysaythatsheislessbeautifulthansheusedtobe—Icanonlysaythatsheislessbeautifultome.
Others,whodonotlookatherwithmyeyesandmyrecollections,wouldprobablythinkherimproved.
Thereismorecolourandmoredecisionandroundnessofoutlineinherfacethanthereusedtobe,andherfigureseemsmorefirmlysetandmoresureandeasyinallitsmovementsthanitwasinhermaidendays.
ButImisssomethingwhenIlookather—somethingthatoncebelongedtothehappy,innocentlifeofLauraFairlie,andthatIcannotfindinLadyGlyde.
Therewasintheoldtimesafreshness,asoftness,anever-varyingandyetever-remainingtendernessofbeautyinherface,thecharmofwhichitisnotpossibletoexpressinwords,or,aspoorHartrightusedoftentosay,inpaintingeither.Thisisgone.
IthoughtIsawthefaintreflectionofitforamomentwhensheturnedpaleundertheagitationofoursuddenmeetingontheeveningofherreturn,butithasneverreappearedsince.
Noneofherlettershadpreparedmeforapersonalchangeinher.
Onthecontrary,theyhadledmetoexpectthathermarriagehadlefther,inappearanceatleast,quiteunaltered.
PerhapsIreadherletterswronglyinthepast,andamnowreadingherfacewronglyinthepresent?Nomatter!
Whetherherbeautyhasgainedorwhetherithaslostinthelastsixmonths,theseparationeitherwayhasmadeherowndearselfmoreprecioustomethanever,andthatisonegoodresultofhermarriage,atanyrate!
Thesecondchange,thechangethatIhaveobservedinhercharacter,hasnotsurprisedme,becauseIwaspreparedforitinthiscasebythetoneofherletters.
Nowthatsheisathomeagain,IfindherjustasunwillingtoenterintoanydetailsonthesubjectofhermarriedlifeasIhadpreviouslyfoundherallthroughthetimeofourseparation,whenwecouldonlycommunicatewitheachotherbywriting.
AtthefirstapproachImadetotheforbiddentopicsheputherhandonmylipswithalookandgesturewhichtouchingly,almostpainfully,recalledtomymemorythedaysofhergirlhoodandthehappybygonetimewhentherewerenosecretsbetweenus.
“WheneveryouandIaretogether,Marian,”shesaid,“weshallbothbehappierandeasierwithoneanother,ifweacceptmymarriedlifeforwhatitis,andsayandthinkaslittleaboutitaspossible.
Iwouldtellyoueverything,darling,aboutmyself,”shewenton,nervouslybucklingandunbucklingtheribbonroundmywaist,“ifmyconfidencescouldonlyendthere.
Buttheycouldnot—theywouldleadmeintoconfidencesaboutmyhusbandtoo;andnowIammarried,IthinkIhadbetteravoidthem,forhissake,andforyoursake,andformine.
Idon’tsaythattheywoulddistressyou,ordistressme—Iwouldn’thaveyouthinkthatfortheworld.
But—Iwanttobesohappy,nowIhavegotyoubackagain,andIwantyoutobesohappytoo——”Shebrokeoffabruptly,andlookedroundtheroom,myownsitting-room,inwhichweweretalking.“Ah!”
shecried,clappingherhandswithabrightsmileofrecognition,“anotheroldfriendfoundalready!
Yourbookcase,Marian—yourdear-little-shabby-old-satin-woodbookcase—howgladIamyoubroughtitwithyoufromLimmeridge!
Andthehorridheavyman’sumbrella,thatyoualwayswouldwalkoutwithwhenitrained!
Andfirstandforemostofall,yourowndear,dark,clever,gipsy-face,lookingatmejustasusual!Itissolikehomeagaintobehere.
Howcanwemakeitmorelikehomestill?
Iwillputmyfather’sportraitinyourroominsteadofinmine—andIwillkeepallmylittletreasuresfromLimmeridgehere—andwewillpasshoursandhourseverydaywiththesefourfriendlywallsroundus.Oh,Marian!”
shesaid,suddenlyseatingherselfonafootstoolatmyknees,andlookingupearnestlyinmyface,“promiseyouwillnevermarry,andleaveme.
Itisselfishtosayso,butyouaresomuchbetteroffasasinglewoman—unless—unlessyouareveryfondofyourhusband—butyouwon’tbeveryfondofanybodybutme,willyou?”
Shestoppedagain,crossedmyhandsonmylap,andlaidherfaceonthem.
“Haveyoubeenwritingmanyletters,andreceivingmanyletterslately?”
sheasked,inlow,suddenly-alteredtones.
Iunderstoodwhatthequestionmeant,butIthoughtitmydutynottoencourageherbymeetingherhalfway.“Haveyouheardfromhim?”
shewenton,coaxingmetoforgivethemoredirectappealonwhichshenowventured,bykissingmyhands,uponwhichherfacestillrested.
“Ishewellandhappy,andgettingoninhisprofession?
Hasherecoveredhimself—andforgottenme?”
Sheshouldnothaveaskedthosequestions.
Sheshouldhaverememberedherownresolution,onthemorningwhenSirPercivalheldhertohermarriageengagement,andwhensheresignedthebookofHartright’sdrawingsintomyhandsforever.But,ahme!
whereisthefaultlesshumancreaturewhocanpersevereinagoodresolution,withoutsometimesfailingandfallingback?
Whereisthewomanwhohaseverreallytornfromherhearttheimagethathasbeenoncefixedinitbyatruelove?
Bookstellusthatsuchunearthlycreatureshaveexisted—butwhatdoesourownexperiencesayinanswertobooks?
Imadenoattempttoremonstratewithher:perhaps,becauseIsincerelyappreciatedthefearlesscandourwhichletmesee,whatotherwomeninherpositionmighthavehadreasonsforconcealingevenfromtheirdearestfriends—perhaps,becauseIfelt,inmyownheartandconscience,thatinherplaceIshouldhaveaskedthesamequestionsandhadthesamethoughts.
AllIcouldhonestlydowastoreplythatIhadnotwrittentohimorheardfromhimlately,andthentoturntheconversationtolessdangeroustopics.
Therehasbeenmuchtosaddenmeinourinterview—myfirstconfidentialinterviewwithhersinceherreturn.
Thechangewhichhermarriagehasproducedinourrelationstowardseachother,byplacingaforbiddensubjectbetweenus,forthefirsttimeinourlives;themelancholyconvictionofthedearthofallwarmthoffeeling,ofallclosesympathy,betweenherhusbandandherself,whichherownunwillingwordsnowforceonmymind;thedistressingdiscoverythattheinfluenceofthatill-fatedattachmentstillremains(nomatterhowinnocently,howharmlessly)rootedasdeeplyaseverinherheart—allthesearedisclosurestosaddenanywomanwholovesherasdearly,andfeelsforherasacutely,asIdo.
Thereisonlyoneconsolationtosetagainstthem—aconsolationthatoughttocomfortme,andthatdoescomfortme.
Allthegracesandgentlenessofhercharacter—allthefrankaffectionofhernature—allthesweet,simple,womanlycharmswhichusedtomakeherthedarlinganddelightofeveryonewhoapproachedher,havecomebacktomewithherself.
OfmyotherimpressionsIamsometimesalittleinclinedtodoubt.
Ofthislast,best,happiestofallimpressions,Igrowmoreandmorecertaineveryhourintheday.
Letmeturn,now,fromhertohertravellingcompanions.Herhusbandmustengagemyattentionfirst.WhathaveIobservedinSirPercival,sincehisreturn,toimprovemyopinionofhim?
Icanhardlysay.Smallvexationsandannoyancesseemtohavebesethimsincehecameback,andnoman,underthosecircumstances,iseverpresentedathisbest.
Helooks,asIthink,thinnerthanhewaswhenheleftEngland.
Hiswearisomecoughandhiscomfortlessrestlessnesshavecertainlyincreased.
Hismanner—atleasthismannertowardsme—ismuchmoreabruptthanitusedtobe.
Hegreetedme,ontheeveningofhisreturn,withlittleornothingoftheceremonyandcivilityofformertimes—nopolitespeechesofwelcome—noappearanceofextraordinarygratificationatseeingme—nothingbutashortshakeofthehand,andasharp“How-d’ye-do,MissHalcombe—gladtoseeyouagain.”
HeseemedtoacceptmeasoneofthenecessaryfixturesofBlackwaterPark,tobesatisfiedatfindingmeestablishedinmyproperplace,andthentopassmeoveraltogether.
Mostmenshowsomethingoftheirdispositionintheirownhouses,whichtheyhaveconcealedelsewhere,andSirPercivalhasalreadydisplayedamaniafororderandregularity,whichisquiteanewrevelationofhim,sofarasmypreviousknowledgeofhischaracterisconcerned.
IfItakeabookfromthelibraryandleaveitonthetable,hefollowsmeandputsitbackagain.
IfIrisefromachair,andletitremainwhereIhavebeensitting,hecarefullyrestoresittoitsproperplaceagainstthewall.
Hepicksupstrayflower-blossomsfromthecarpet,andmutterstohimselfasdiscontentedlyasiftheywerehotcindersburningholesinit,andhestormsattheservantsifthereisacreaseinthetablecloth,oraknifemissingfromitsplaceatthedinner-table,asfiercelyasiftheyhadpersonallyinsultedhim.
Ihavealreadyreferredtothesmallannoyanceswhichappeartohavetroubledhimsincehisreturn.
MuchofthealterationfortheworsewhichIhavenoticedinhimmaybeduetothese.
Itrytopersuademyselfthatitisso,becauseIamanxiousnottobedisheartenedalreadyaboutthefuture.
Itiscertainlytryingtoanyman’stempertobemetbyavexationthemomenthesetsfootinhisownhouseagain,afteralongabsence,andthisannoyingcircumstancedidreallyhappentoSirPercivalinmypresence.
Ontheeveningoftheirarrivalthehousekeeperfollowedmeintothehalltoreceivehermasterandmistressandtheirguests.
Theinstanthesawher,SirPercivalaskedifanyonehadcalledlately.
Thehousekeepermentionedtohim,inreply,whatshehadpreviouslymentionedtome,thevisitofthestrangegentlemantomakeinquiriesaboutthetimeofhermaster’sreturn.
Heaskedimmediatelyforthegentleman’sname.Nonamehadbeenleft.Thegentleman’sbusiness?Nobusinesshadbeenmentioned.Whatwasthegentlemanlike?
Thehousekeepertriedtodescribehim,butfailedtodistinguishthenamelessvisitorbyanypersonalpeculiaritywhichhermastercouldrecognise.
SirPercivalfrowned,stampedangrilyonthefloor,andwalkedonintothehouse,takingnonoticeofanybody.
WhyheshouldhavebeensodiscomposedbyatrifleIcannotsay—buthewasseriouslydiscomposed,beyondalldoubt.
Uponthewhole,itwillbebest,perhaps,ifIabstainfromformingadecisiveopinionofhismanners,language,andconductinhisownhouse,untiltimehasenabledhimtoshakeofftheanxieties,whatevertheymaybe,whichnowevidentlytroubledhismindinsecret.
Iwillturnovertoanewpage,andmypenshallletLaura’shusbandaloneforthepresent.
Thetwoguests—theCountandCountessFosco—comenextinmycatalogue.IwilldisposeoftheCountessfirst,soastohavedonewiththewomanassoonaspossible.
Laurawascertainlynotchargeablewithanyexaggeration,inwritingmewordthatIshouldhardlyrecogniseherauntagainwhenwemet.
NeverbeforehaveIbeheldsuchachangeproducedinawomanbyhermarriageashasbeenproducedinMadameFosco.
AsEleanorFairlie(agedseven-and-thirty),shewasalwaystalkingpretentiousnonsense,andalwaysworryingtheunfortunatemenwitheverysmallexactionwhichavainandfoolishwomancanimposeonlong-sufferingmalehumanity.
AsMadameFosco(agedthree-and-forty),shesitsforhourstogetherwithoutsayingaword,frozenupinthestrangestmannerinherself.
Thehideouslyridiculouslove-lockswhichusedtohangoneithersideofherfacearenowreplacedbystifflittlerowsofveryshortcurls,ofthesortoneseesinold-fashionedwigs.
Aplain,matronlycapcoversherhead,andmakesherlook,forthefirsttimeinherlifesinceIrememberher,likeadecentwoman.
Nobody(puttingherhusbandoutofthequestion,ofcourse)nowseesinher,whateverybodyoncesaw—Imeanthestructureofthefemaleskeleton,intheupperregionsofthecollar-bonesandtheshoulder-blades.
Cladinquietblackorgreygowns,madehighroundthethroat—dressesthatshewouldhavelaughedat,orscreamedat,asthewhimofthemomentinclinedher,inhermaidendays—shesitsspeechlessincorners;herdrywhitehands(sodrythattheporesofherskinlookchalky)incessantlyengaged,eitherinmonotonousembroideryworkorinrollingupendlesscigarettesfortheCount’sownparticularsmoking.
Onthefewoccasionswhenhercoldblueeyesareoffherwork,theyaregenerallyturnedonherhusband,withthelookofmutesubmissiveinquirywhichweareallfamiliarwithintheeyesofafaithfuldog.
TheonlyapproachtoaninwardthawwhichIhaveyetdetectedunderheroutercoveringoficyconstraint,hasbetrayeditself,onceortwice,intheformofasuppressedtigerishjealousyofanywomaninthehouse(themaidsincluded)towhomtheCountspeaks,oronwhomhelookswithanythingapproachingtospecialinterestorattention.
Exceptinthisoneparticular,sheisalways,morning,noon,andnight,indoorsandout,fairweatherorfoul,ascoldasastatue,andasimpenetrableasthestoneoutofwhichitiscut.
Forthecommonpurposesofsocietytheextraordinarychangethusproducedinheris,beyondalldoubt,achangeforthebetter,seeingthatithastransformedherintoacivil,silent,unobtrusivewoman,whoisneverintheway.
Howfarsheisreallyreformedordeterioratedinhersecretself,isanotherquestion.
Ihaveonceortwiceseensuddenchangesofexpressiononherpinchedlips,andheardsuddeninflexionsoftoneinhercalmvoice,whichhaveledmetosuspectthatherpresentstateofsuppressionmayhavesealedupsomethingdangerousinhernature,whichusedtoevaporateharmlesslyinthefreedomofherformerlife.
ItisquitepossiblethatImaybealtogetherwronginthisidea.
Myownimpression,however,is,thatIamright.Timewillshow.
Andthemagicianwhohaswroughtthiswonderfultransformation—theforeignhusbandwhohastamedthisoncewaywardEnglishwomantillherownrelationshardlyknowheragain—theCounthimself?WhatoftheCount?
Thisintwowords:Helookslikeamanwhocouldtameanything.
Ifhehadmarriedatigress,insteadofawoman,hewouldhavetamedthetigress.
Ifhehadmarriedme,Ishouldhavemadehiscigarettes,ashiswifedoes—Ishouldhaveheldmytonguewhenhelookedatme,assheholdshers.
Iamalmostafraidtoconfessit,eventothesesecretpages.
Themanhasinterestedme,hasattractedme,hasforcedmetolikehim.
Intwoshortdayshehasmadehiswaystraightintomyfavourableestimation,andhowhehasworkedthemiracleismorethanIcantell.
Itabsolutelystartlesme,nowheisinmymind,tofindhowplainlyIseehim!
—howmuchmoreplainlythanIseeSirPercival,orMr.Fairlie,orWalterHartright,oranyotherabsentpersonofwhomIthink,withtheoneexceptionofLauraherself!
Icanhearhisvoice,asifhewasspeakingatthismoment.
Iknowwhathisconversationwasyesterday,aswellasifIwashearingitnow.HowamItodescribehim?
Therearepeculiaritiesinhispersonalappearance,hishabits,andhisamusements,whichIshouldblameintheboldestterms,orridiculeinthemostmercilessmanner,ifIhadseentheminanotherman.
Whatisitthatmakesmeunabletoblamethem,ortoridiculetheminHIM?
Forexample,heisimmenselyfat.BeforethistimeIhavealwaysespeciallydislikedcorpulenthumanity.
Ihavealwaysmaintainedthatthepopularnotionofconnectingexcessivegrossnessofsizeandexcessivegood-humourasinseparableallieswasequivalenttodeclaring,eitherthatnopeoplebutamiablepeopleevergetfat,orthattheaccidentaladditionofsomanypoundsoffleshhasadirectlyfavourableinfluenceoverthedispositionofthepersononwhosebodytheyaccumulate.
Ihaveinvariablycombatedboththeseabsurdassertionsbyquotingexamplesoffatpeoplewhowereasmean,vicious,andcruelastheleanestandtheworstoftheirneighbours.
IhaveaskedwhetherHenrytheEighthwasanamiablecharacter?
WhetherPopeAlexandertheSixthwasagoodman?
WhetherMr.MurdererandMrs.MurderessManningwerenotbothunusuallystoutpeople?
Whetherhirednurses,proverbiallyascruelasetofwomenasaretobefoundinallEngland,werenot,forthemostpart,alsoasfatasetofwomenasaretobefoundinallEngland?
—andsoon,throughdozensofotherexamples,modernandancient,nativeandforeign,highandlow.
HoldingthesestrongopinionsonthesubjectwithmightandmainasIdoatthismoment,here,nevertheless,isCountFosco,asfatasHenrytheEighthhimself,establishedinmyfavour,atoneday’snotice,withoutletorhindrancefromhisownodiouscorpulence.Marvellousindeed!
Isithisfacethathasrecommendedhim?
Itmaybehisface.Heisamostremarkablelikeness,onalargescale,ofthegreatNapoleon.
HisfeatureshaveNapoleon’smagnificentregularity—hisexpressionrecallsthegrandlycalm,immovablepoweroftheGreatSoldier’sface.
Thisstrikingresemblancecertainlyimpressedme,tobeginwith;butthereissomethinginhimbesidestheresemblance,whichhasimpressedmemore.
IthinktheinfluenceIamnowtryingtofindisinhiseyes.
TheyarethemostunfathomablegreyeyesIeversaw,andtheyhaveattimesacold,clear,beautiful,irresistibleglitterinthemwhichforcesmetolookathim,andyetcausesmesensations,whenIdolook,whichIwouldrathernotfeel.
Otherpartsofhisfaceandheadhavetheirstrangepeculiarities.
Hiscomplexion,forinstance,hasasingularsallow-fairness,somuchatvariancewiththedark-browncolourofhishair,thatIsuspectthehairofbeingawig,andhisface,closelyshavenallover,issmootherandfreerfromallmarksandwrinklesthanmine,though(accordingtoSirPercival’saccountofhim)heiscloseonsixtyyearsofage.
Butthesearenottheprominentpersonalcharacteristicswhichdistinguishhim,tomymind,fromalltheothermenIhaveeverseen.
Themarkedpeculiaritywhichsingleshimoutfromtherankandfileofhumanityliesentirely,sofarasIcantellatpresent,intheextraordinaryexpressionandextraordinarypowerofhiseyes.
Hismannerandhiscommandofourlanguagemayalsohaveassistedhim,insomedegree,toestablishhimselfinmygoodopinion.
Hehasthatquietdeference,thatlookofpleased,attentiveinterestinlisteningtoawoman,andthatsecretgentlenessinhisvoiceinspeakingtoawoman,which,saywhatwemay,wecannoneofusresist.
Here,too,hisunusualcommandoftheEnglishlanguagenecessarilyhelpshim.
IhadoftenheardoftheextraordinaryaptitudewhichmanyItaliansshowinmasteringourstrong,hard,Northernspeech;but,untilIsawCountFosco,IhadneversupposeditpossiblethatanyforeignercouldhavespokenEnglishashespeaksit.
Therearetimeswhenitisalmostimpossibletodetect,byhisaccentthatheisnotacountrymanofourown,andasforfluency,thereareveryfewbornEnglishmenwhocantalkwithasfewstoppagesandrepetitionsastheCount.
Hemayconstructhissentencesmoreorlessintheforeignway,butIhaveneveryetheardhimuseawrongexpression,orhesitateforamomentinhischoiceofaword.
Allthesmallestcharacteristicsofthisstrangemanhavesomethingstrikinglyoriginalandperplexinglycontradictoryinthem.
Fatasheisandoldasheis,hismovementsareastonishinglylightandeasy.
Heisasnoiselessinaroomasanyofuswomen,andmorethanthat,withallhislookofunmistakablementalfirmnessandpower,heisasnervouslysensitiveastheweakestofus.
HestartsatchancenoisesasinveteratelyasLauraherself.
Hewincedandshudderedyesterday,whenSirPercivalbeatoneofthespaniels,sothatIfeltashamedofmyownwantoftendernessandsensibilitybycomparisonwiththeCount.
Therelationofthislastincidentremindsmeofoneofhismostcuriouspeculiarities,whichIhavenotyetmentioned—hisextraordinaryfondnessforpetanimals.
SomeofthesehehasleftontheContinent,buthehasbroughtwithhimtothishouseacockatoo,twocanary-birds,andawholefamilyofwhitemice.
Heattendstoallthenecessitiesofthesestrangefavouriteshimself,andhehastaughtthecreaturestobesurprisinglyfondofhimandfamiliarwithhim.
Thecockatoo,amostviciousandtreacherousbirdtowardseveryoneelse,absolutelyseemstolovehim.
Whenheletsitoutofitscage,ithopsontohisknee,andclawsitswayuphisgreatbigbody,andrubsitstop-knotagainsthissallowdoublechininthemostcaressingmannerimaginable.
Hehasonlytosetthedoorsofthecanaries’cagesopen,andtocallthem,andtheprettylittlecleverlytrainedcreaturesperchfearlesslyonhishand,mounthisfatoutstretchedfingersonebyone,whenhetellsthemto“goupstairs,”andsingtogetherasiftheywouldbursttheirthroatswithdelightwhentheygettothetopfinger.
Hiswhitemiceliveinalittlepagodaofgaily-paintedwirework,designedandmadebyhimself.
Theyarealmostastameasthecanaries,andtheyareperpetuallyletoutlikethecanaries.
Theycrawlalloverhim,poppinginandoutofhiswaistcoat,andsittingincouples,whiteassnow,onhiscapaciousshoulders.
Heseemstobeevenfonderofhismicethanofhisotherpets,smilesatthem,andkissesthem,andcallsthembyallsortsofendearingnames.
IfitbepossibletosupposeanEnglishmanwithanytasteforsuchchildishinterestsandamusementsasthese,thatEnglishmanwouldcertainlyfeelratherashamedofthem,andwouldbeanxioustoapologiseforthem,inthecompanyofgrown-uppeople.
ButtheCount,apparently,seesnothingridiculousintheamazingcontrastbetweenhiscolossalselfandhisfraillittlepets.
Hewouldblandlykisshiswhitemiceandtwittertohiscanary-birdsamidanassemblyofEnglishfox-hunters,andwouldonlypitythemasbarbarianswhentheywerealllaughingtheirloudestathim.
ItseemshardlycrediblewhileIamwritingitdown,butitiscertainlytrue,thatthissameman,whohasallthefondnessofanoldmaidforhiscockatoo,andallthesmalldexteritiesofanorgan-boyinmanaginghiswhitemice,cantalk,whenanythinghappenstorousehim,withadaringindependenceofthought,aknowledgeofbooksineverylanguage,andanexperienceofsocietyinhalfthecapitalsofEurope,whichwouldmakehimtheprominentpersonageofanyassemblyinthecivilisedworld.
Thistrainerofcanary-birds,thisarchitectofapagodaforwhitemice,is(asSirPercivalhimselfhastoldme)oneofthefirstexperimentalchemistsliving,andhasdiscovered,amongotherwonderfulinventions,ameansofpetrifyingthebodyafterdeath,soastopreserveit,ashardasmarble,totheendoftime.
Thisfat,indolent,elderlyman,whosenervesaresofinelystrungthathestartsatchancenoises,andwinceswhenheseesahouse-spanielgetawhipping,wentintothestable-yardonthemorningafterhisarrival,andputhishandontheheadofachainedbloodhound—abeastsosavagethattheverygroomwhofeedshimkeepsoutofhisreach.
HiswifeandIwerepresent,andIshallnotforgetthescenethatfollowed,shortasitwas.
“Mindthatdog,sir,”saidthegroom;“hefliesateverybody!”
“Hedoesthat,myfriend,”repliedtheCountquietly,“becauseeverybodyisafraidofhim.Letusseeifhefliesatme.”
Andhelaidhisplump,yellow-whitefingers,onwhichthecanary-birdshadbeenperchingtenminutesbefore,upontheformidablebrute’shead,andlookedhimstraightintheeyes.
“Youbigdogsareallcowards,”hesaid,addressingtheanimalcontemptuously,withhisfaceandthedog’swithinaninchofeachother.
“Youwouldkillapoorcat,youinfernalcoward.
Youwouldflyatastarvingbeggar,youinfernalcoward.
Anythingthatyoucansurpriseunawares—anythingthatisafraidofyourbigbody,andyourwickedwhiteteeth,andyourslobbering,bloodthirstymouth,isthethingyouliketoflyat.
Youcouldthrottlemeatthismoment,youmean,miserablebully,andyoudaren’tsomuchaslookmeintheface,becauseI’mnotafraidofyou.
Willyouthinkbetterofit,andtryyourteethinmyfatneck?Bah!notyou!”
Heturnedaway,laughingattheastonishmentofthemenintheyard,andthedogcreptbackmeeklytohiskennel.“Ah!mynicewaistcoat!”hesaidpathetically.“IamsorryIcamehere.
Someofthatbrute’sslobberhasgotonmyprettycleanwaistcoat.”
Thosewordsexpressanotherofhisincomprehensibleoddities.
Heisasfondoffineclothesastheveriestfoolinexistence,andhasappearedinfourmagnificentwaistcoatsalready—alloflightgarishcolours,andallimmenselylargeevenforhim—inthetwodaysofhisresidenceatBlackwaterPark.
Histactandclevernessinsmallthingsarequiteasnoticeableasthesingularinconsistenciesinhischaracter,andthechildishtrivialityofhisordinarytastesandpursuits.
Icanseealreadythathemeanstoliveonexcellenttermswithallofusduringtheperiodofhissojourninthisplace.
HehasevidentlydiscoveredthatLaurasecretlydislikeshim(sheconfessedasmuchtomewhenIpressedheronthesubject)—buthehasalsofoundoutthatsheisextravagantlyfondofflowers.
Whenevershewantsanosegayhehasgotonetogiveher,gatheredandarrangedbyhimself,andgreatlytomyamusement,heisalwayscunninglyprovidedwithaduplicate,composedofexactlythesameflowers,groupedinexactlythesameway,toappeasehisicilyjealouswifebeforeshecansomuchasthinkherselfaggrieved.
HismanagementoftheCountess(inpublic)isasighttosee.
Hebowstoher,hehabituallyaddressesheras“myangel,”hecarrieshiscanariestopayherlittlevisitsonhisfingersandtosingtoher,hekissesherhandwhenshegiveshimhiscigarettes;hepresentsherwithsugar-plumsinreturn,whichheputsintohermouthplayfully,fromaboxinhispocket.
Therodofironwithwhichherulesherneverappearsincompany—itisaprivaterod,andisalwayskeptupstairs.
Hismethodofrecommendinghimselftomeisentirelydifferent.
HeflattersmyvanitybytalkingtomeasseriouslyandsensiblyasifIwasaman.Yes!
IcanfindhimoutwhenIamawayfromhim—Iknowheflattersmyvanity,whenIthinkofhimuphereinmyownroom—andyet,whenIgodownstairs,andgetintohiscompanyagain,hewillblindmeagain,andIshallbeflatteredagain,justasifIhadneverfoundhimoutatall!
HecanmanagemeashemanageshiswifeandLaura,ashemanagedthebloodhoundinthestable-yard,ashemanagesSirPercivalhimself,everyhourintheday.“MygoodPercival!howIlikeyourroughEnglishhumour!”—“MygoodPercival!howIenjoyyoursolidEnglishsense!”
HeputstherudestremarksSirPercivalcanmakeonhiseffeminatetastesandamusementsquietlyawayfromhiminthatmanner—alwayscallingthebaronetbyhisChristianname,smilingathimwiththecalmestsuperiority,pattinghimontheshoulder,andbearingwithhimbenignantly,asagood-humouredfatherbearswithawaywardson.
TheinterestwhichIreallycannothelpfeelinginthisstrangelyoriginalmanhasledmetoquestionSirPercivalabouthispastlife.
SirPercivaleitherknowslittle,orwilltellmelittle,aboutit.
HeandtheCountfirstmetmanyyearsago,atRome,underthedangerouscircumstancestowhichIhavealludedelsewhere.
SincethattimetheyhavebeenperpetuallytogetherinLondon,inParis,andinVienna—butneverinItalyagain;theCounthaving,oddlyenough,notcrossedthefrontiersofhisnativecountryforyearspast.
Perhapshehasbeenmadethevictimofsomepoliticalpersecution?
Atallevents,heseemstobepatrioticallyanxiousnottolosesightofanyofhisowncountrymenwhomayhappentobeinEngland.
Ontheeveningofhisarrivalheaskedhowfarwewerefromthenearesttown,andwhetherweknewofanyItaliangentlemenwhomighthappentobesettledthere.
HeiscertainlyincorrespondencewithpeopleontheContinent,forhislettershaveallsortsofoddstampsonthem,andIsawoneforhimthismorning,waitinginhisplaceatthebreakfast-table,withahuge,official-lookingsealonit.
Perhapsheisincorrespondencewithhisgovernment?
Andyet,thatishardlytobereconciledeitherwithmyotherideathathemaybeapoliticalexile.
HowmuchIseemtohavewrittenaboutCountFosco!Andwhatdoesitallamountto?
—aspoor,dearMr.Gilmorewouldask,inhisimpenetrablebusiness-likewayIcanonlyrepeatthatIdoassuredlyfeel,evenonthisshortacquaintance,astrange,half-willing,half-unwillinglikingfortheCount.
HeseemstohaveestablishedovermethesamesortofascendencywhichhehasevidentlygainedoverSirPercival.
Free,andevenrude,ashemayoccasionallybeinhismannertowardshisfatfriend,SirPercivalisneverthelessafraid,asIcanplainlysee,ofgivinganyseriousoffencetotheCount.IwonderwhetherIamafraidtoo?
Icertainlyneversawaman,inallmyexperience,whomIshouldbesosorrytohaveforanenemy.
IsthisbecauseIlikehim,orbecauseIamafraidofhim?Chisa?
—asCountFoscomightsayinhisownlanguage.Whoknows?
June16th.—Somethingtochronicleto-daybesidesmyownideasandimpressions.Avisitorhasarrived—quiteunknowntoLauraandtome,andapparentlyquiteunexpectedbySirPercival.
Wewereallatlunch,intheroomwiththenewFrenchwindowsthatopenintotheverandah,andtheCount(whodevourspastryasIhaveneveryetseenitdevouredbyanyhumanbeingsbutgirlsatboarding-schools)hadjustamusedusbyaskinggravelyforhisfourthtart—whentheservantenteredtoannouncethevisitor.
“Mr.Merrimanhasjustcome,SirPercival,andwishestoseeyouimmediately.”
SirPercivalstarted,andlookedatthemanwithanexpressionofangryalarm.
“Mr.Merriman!”herepeated,asifhethoughthisownearsmusthavedeceivedhim.
“Yes,SirPercival—Mr.Merriman,fromLondon.”
“Whereishe?”
“Inthelibrary,SirPercival.”
Heleftthetabletheinstantthelastanswerwasgiven,andhurriedoutoftheroomwithoutsayingawordtoanyofus.
“WhoisMr.Merriman?”askedLaura,appealingtome.
“Ihavenottheleastidea,”wasallIcouldsayinreply.
TheCounthadfinishedhisfourthtart,andhadgonetoaside-tabletolookafterhisviciouscockatoo.Heturnedroundtouswiththebirdperchedonhisshoulder.
“Mr.MerrimanisSirPercival’ssolicitor,”hesaidquietly.
SirPercival’ssolicitor.ItwasaperfectlystraightforwardanswertoLaura’squestion,andyet,underthecircumstances,itwasnotsatisfactory.
IfMr.Merrimanhadbeenspeciallysentforbyhisclient,therewouldhavebeennothingverywonderfulinhisleavingtowntoobeythesummons.
ButwhenalawyertravelsfromLondontoHampshirewithoutbeingsentfor,andwhenhisarrivalatagentleman’shouseseriouslystartlesthegentlemanhimself,itmaybesafelytakenforgrantedthatthelegalvisitoristhebearerofsomeveryimportantandveryunexpectednews—newswhichmaybeeitherverygoodorverybad,butwhichcannot,ineithercase,beofthecommoneverydaykind.
LauraandIsatsilentatthetableforaquarterofanhourormore,wonderinguneasilywhathadhappened,andwaitingforthechanceofSirPercival’sspeedyreturn.
Therewerenosignsofhisreturn,andwerosetoleavetheroom.
TheCount,attentiveasusual,advancedfromthecornerinwhichhehadbeenfeedinghiscockatoo,withthebirdstillperchedonhisshoulder,andopenedthedoorforus.LauraandMadameFoscowentoutfirst.
JustasIwasonthepointoffollowingthemhemadeasignwithhishand,andspoketome,beforeIpassedhim,intheoddestmanner.
“Yes,”hesaid,quietlyansweringtheunexpressedideaatthatmomentinmymind,asifIhadplainlyconfidedittohiminsomanywords—”yes,MissHalcombe,somethingHAShappened.”
Iwasonthepointofanswering,“Ineversaidso,”buttheviciouscockatooruffledhisclippedwingsandgaveascreechthatsetallmynervesonedgeinaninstant,andmademeonlytoogladtogetoutoftheroom.
IjoinedLauraatthefootofthestairs.
Thethoughtinhermindwasthesameasthethoughtinmine,whichCountFoscohadsurprised,andwhenshespokeherwordswerealmosttheechoofhis.
She,too,saidtomesecretlythatshewasafraidsomethinghadhappened.
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