rs.undertheandes-第5章

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　〃Ugh！〃　said　Le　Mire　with　a　shudder。　〃Never　shall　I　forget　that　ride。　Besides；〃　she　added；　turning　to　Harry；　〃this　morning　I　would　be　in　the　way。　Don't　you　know　that　your　brother　has　a　thousand　things　to　say　to　you？　He　wants　to　scold　you；　you　must　remember　that　you　are　a　very　bad　boy。〃
　And　she　sent　me　a　glance　half　defiant；　half　indifferent；　which　plainly　said：　〃If　I　fight　you；　I　shall　win；　but　I　really　care　very　little　about　it　one　way　or　the　other。〃
　After　breakfast　she　went　to　her　room…to　have　her　hair　dressed；　she　said…and　I　led　Harry　to　a　secluded　corner　of　the　magnificent　grounds　surrounding　the　hotel。　During　the　walk　we　were　both　silent：　Harry；　I　suppose；　was　wondering　what　I　was　going　to　say；　while　I　was　trying　to　make　up　my　own　mind。
　〃I　suppose；〃　he　began　abruptly；　〃you　are　going　to　tell　me　I　have　acted　like　a　fool。　Go　ahead；　the　sooner　it's　over　the　better。〃
　〃Nothing　of　the　sort；〃　said　I；　glad　that　he　had　opened　it。
　He　stopped　short；　demanding　to　know　what　I　meant。
　〃Of　course；〃　I　continued；　〃Le　Mire　is　a　most　amazing　prize。
　Not　exactly　my　style　perhaps；　but　there　are　few　men　in　the　world　who　wouldn't　envy　you。　I　congratulate　you。
　〃But　there　were　two　things　I　feared　for　several　reasons…Le　Mire's　fascination；　your　own　youth　and　impulsive　recklessness；　and　the　rather　curious　mode　of　your　departure。　I　feared　first　and　most　that　you　would　marry　her；　second；　that　you　would　achieve　odium　and　publicity　for　our　name。〃
　Harry　was　regarding　me　with　a　smile　which　had　in　it　very　little　of　amusement；　it　held　a　tinge　of　bitterness。
　〃And　so；〃　he　burst　out　suddenly；　〃you　were　afraid　I　would　marry　her！　Well；　I　would。　The　last　time　I　asked　her〃…again　the　smile…〃was　this　morning。〃
　〃And…〃
　〃She　won't　have　me。〃
　〃Bah！〃　I　concealed　my　surprise；　for　I　had　really　not　thought　it　possible　that　the　lad　could　be　such　a　fool。　〃What's　her　game；　Harry？〃
　〃Game　the　deuce！　I　tell　you　she　won't　have　me。〃
　〃You　have　asked　her？〃
　〃A　thousand　times。　I've　begged　her　on　my　knees。　Offered　her…anything。〃
　〃And　she　refuses？〃
　〃Positively。〃
　〃Refuses？〃
　〃With　thanks。〃
　I　stared　at　him　for　a　moment　in　silence。　Then　I　said：　〃Go　and　get　her　and　bring　her　here。　I'll　find　out　what　she　wants；〃　and　sat　down　on　a　bench　to　wait。　Harry　departed　for　the　hotel　without　a　word。
　In　a　few　minutes　he　returned　with　Le　Mire。　I　rose　and　proffered　her　a　seat　on　the　bench；　which　she　accepted　with　a　smile；　and　Harry　sat　down　at　her　side。　I　stood　in　front　of　them。
　〃Le　Mire；〃　said　I；　and　I　believe　I　frowned；　〃my　brother　tells　me　that　you　have　been　offered　the　name　of　Lamar　in　marriage。〃
　〃I　have　thanked　him　for　it；〃　said　she　with　a　smile。
　〃And　declined　it。〃
　〃And…declined　it；〃　she　agreed。
　〃Well；〃　said　I；　〃I　am　not　a　man　of　half　measures；　as　you　will　soon　see；　Le　Mire。　Besides；　I　appreciate　your　power。　On　the　day；〃　I　continued　with　slow　precision…〃on　the　day　that　you　give　me　a　contract　to　adhere　to　that　refusal　you　may　have　my　check　for　one　million　dollars。〃
　She　surprised　me；　I　admit　it。　I　had　expected　a　burst　of　anger；　with　a　touch　of　assumed　hauteur；　the　surrender　to　follow；　for　I　had　made　the　stake　high。　But　as　I　stood　looking　down　at　her；　waiting　for　the　flash　of　her　eye；　I　was　greeted　by　a　burst　of　laughter…the　frank　laughter　of　genuine　mirth。　Then　she　spoke：
　〃Oh；　you　Americans！　You　are　so　funny！　A　million　dollars！
　It　is　impossible　that　I　should　be　angry　after　such　a　pliment。
　Besides；　you　are　so　funny！　Do　you　not　know　Le　Mire？　Am　I　not　a　princess　if　I　desire　it…tomorrow…today？　Bah！　There　is　the　world…is　it　not　mine？　Mrs。　Lamar？　Ugh！　Pardon　me；　my　friend；　but　it　is　an　ugly　name。
　〃You　know　my　ancestors？　De　L'Enclos；　Montalais；　Maintenon；　La　Marana！　They　were　happy…in　their　way…and　they　were　great。　I　must　do　nothing　unworthy　of　them。　Set　your　mind　at　rest；　Mr。
　Lamar；　but；　really；　you　should　have　known　better…you　who　have　seen　the　world　and　Le　Mire　in　Paris！　And　now　our　amusement　is　perhaps　ended？　Now　we　must　return　to　that　awful　New　York？　Voila！〃
　Indeed　I　had　not　understood　her。　And　how　could　I？　There　is　only　one　such　woman　in　a　generation；　sometimes　none；　for　nature　is　sparing　of　her　favorites。　By　pure　luck　she　sat　before　me；　this　twentieth…century　Marana；　and　I　acknowledged　her　presence　with　a　deep　bow　of　apology　and　admiration。
　〃If　you　will　forgive　me；　madame；〃　I　said；　〃I　will…not　attempt　to　make　reparation；　for　my　words　were　not　meant　for　you。
　Consider　them　unspoken。　As　for　our　amusement；　why　need　it　end？
　Surely；　we　can　forget？　I　see　plainly　I　am　not　a　St。　Evremond；　but　neither　am　I　a　fool。　My　brother　pleases　you…well；　there　he　is。
　As　for　myself；　I　shall　either　stay　to　take　care　of　you　two　children；　or　I　shall　return　to　New　York；　as　you　desire。〃
　Le　Mire　looked　at　me　uncertainly　for　a　moment；　then　turned　to　Harry　and　with　a　fluttering　gesture　took　his　hand　in　her　own　and　patted　it　gaily。　Then　she　laughed　the　happy　laugh　of　a　child　as　she　said：
　〃Then　it　is　well！　And；　monsieur；　you　are　less　an　American　than　I　thought。　By　all　means；　stay…we　shall　be　so　jolly！
　Will　we　not；　my　little　friend？〃
　Harry　nodded；　smiling　at　her。　But　there　was　a　troubled　look　in　his　face。
　
　Chapter　IV。
　ALLONS！
　
　The　events　of　the　month　that　followed；　though　exciting　enough；　were　of　a　similarity　that　would　make　their　narration　tedious；　and　I　shall　pass　over　them　as　speedily　as　possible。
　We　remained　at　Colorado　Springs　only　two　days　after　that　morning　in　the　garden。　Le　Mire；　always　in　search　of　novelty；　urged　us　away；　and；　since　we　really　had　nothing　in　view　save　the　satisfaction　of　her　whims；　we　consented。　Salt　Lake　City　was　our　next　resting…place；　but　Le　Mire　tired　of　it　in　a　day。
　〃I　shall　see　the　Pacific；〃　she　said　to　Harry　and　me；　and　we　immediately　set　out　for　San　Francisco。
　Is　it　necessary　for　me　to　explain　my　attitude？　But　surely　it　explains　itself。　For　one　thing；　I　was　disinclined　to　leave　Harry　in　a　position　where　he　was　so　abundantly　unable　to　take　care　of　himself。　For　another；　I　take　amusement　wherever　it　offers　itself；　and　I　was　most　certainly　not　bored。
　The　vagaries　and　caprices　of　a　beautiful　woman　are　always　interesting；　and　when　you　are　allowed　to　study　them　at　close　range　without　being　under　the　necessity　of　acting　the　part　of　a　faithful　lover　they　bee　doubly　so。
　Le　Mire　managed　Harry　with　wonderful　tact　and　finesse；　I　sat　back　and　laughed　at　the　performance；　now　and　then　applying　a　check　when　her　riotous　imagination　seemed　likely　to　run　away　with　us。
　At　San　Francisco　she　achieved　a　triumph；　notorious　to　the　point　of　embarrassment。　Paul　Lamar；　of　New　York；　had　introduced　himself　into　the　highest　circle　of　society；　and　in　turn　had　introduced　his　friends；　Senor　and　Senora　Ramal。　The　senora　captured　the　town　in　a　single　night　at　a　reception　and　ball　on　Telegraph　Hill。
　The　day　following　there　were　several　dozens　of　cards　left　for　her　at　our　hotel；　invitations　arrived　by　the　score。　She　accepted　two　or　three　and　made　the　fortune　of　two　drawing…rooms；　then　suddenly　tired　of　the　sport　and　insulted　a　most　estimable　lady；　our　hostess；　by　certain　remarks　which　inadvertently　reached　the　ears　of　the　lady's　husband。
　〃You　have　done　for　yourself；　Le　Mire；〃　I　told　her。
　She　answered　me　with　a　smile…straightway　proceeded　to　issue　invitations　for　an　〃entertainment〃　at　our　hotel。　I　had　no　idea　what　she　meant　to　do；　but　gave　the　thing　no　thought；　feeling　certain　that　few；　or　none；　of　the　invitations　would　be　accepted　…wherein　I　was　badly　mistaken；　for　not　one　was　refused。
　Well；　Le　Mire　danced　for　them。
　For　myself　it　was　barely　interesting；　I　have　passed　the　inner　portals　of　the　sacred　temples　of　India；　and　the　human　body　holds　no　surprises　for　me。　But　the　good　people　of　San　Francisco　were　shocked；　astonished；　and　entranced。　Not　a　man　in　the　room　but　was　Le　Mire's　slave；　even　the　women　were　forced　to　applaud。　She　became　at　once　a　goddess　and　an　outcast。
　The　newspapers　of　the　following　morning　were　full　of　it；　running　the　scale　of　eulogy；　admiration；　and　wonder。　And　one　of　the　articles；　evidently　written　by　a　man　who　had　been　considerably　farther　east　than　San　Francisco；　ended　with　the　following　paragraph：
　In　short；　it　was　sublime；　and　with　every　movement　and　every　gesture　there　was　a　something　hidden；　a　suggestion　of　a　personality　and　mysterious　charm　that　we　have　always　heretofore　considered　the　exclusive　property　of　just　one　woman　in　the　world。　But　Desiree　Le　Mire　is　not　in　San　Francisco；　though　we　declare　that　the　performance　of　last　evening　was　more　than　enough　to　rouse　certain　suspicions；　especially　in　view　of　Le　Mire's　mysterious　disappearance　from　New　York。
　
　I　took　the　paper　to　Desiree　in　her　room；　and　while　she　read　the　article　stood　gazing　idly　from　a　window。　It　was　about　eleven　in　the　morning；　Harry　had　gone　for　a　walk；　saying　that　he　would　return　in　half　an　hour　to　join　us　at　breakfast。
　〃Well？〃　said　Desiree　when　she　had　finished。
　〃But　it　is　not　well；〃　I　retorted；　turning　to　face　her。　〃I　do　not　reproach　you；　you　are　being　amused；　and　so；　I　confess；　am　I。
　But　your　name…that　is；　Le　Mire…has　been　mentioned；　and　discovery　is　sure　to　follow。　We　must　leave　San　Francisco　at　once。〃
　〃But　I　find　it　entertaining。〃
　〃Nevertheless；　we　must　leave。〃
　〃But　if　I　choose　to　stay？〃
　〃No；　for　Harry　would　stay　with　you。〃
　〃Well；　then…I　won't　go。〃
　〃Le　Mire；　you　will　go？〃
　She　sent　me　a　flashing　glance；　and　for　a　moment　I　half　expected　an　explosion。　Then；　seeming　to　think　better　of　it；　she　smiled：
　〃But　where？　We　can't　go　west　without　falling　into　the　ocean；　and　I　refuse　to　return。　Where？〃
　〃Then　we'll　take　the　ocean。〃
　She　looked　up　questioningly；　and　I　continued：
　〃What　would　you　say　to　a　yacht…a　hundred　and　twenty　foot　steamer；　with　a　daredevil　captain　and　the　coziest　little　cabins　in　the　world？〃
　〃Bah！〃　Le　Mire　snapped　her　fingers　to　emphasize　her　incredulity。　〃It　does　not　exist。〃
　〃But　it　does。　Afloat　and　in　mission；　to　be　had　for　the　asking　and　the　necessary　check。　Dazzling　white；　in　perfect　order；　a　second　Antoine　for　a　chef；　rooms　furnished　as　you　would　your　own　villa。　What　do　you　say？〃
　〃Really？〃　asked　Le　Mire　with　sparkling　eyes。
　〃Really。〃
　〃Here…in　San　Francisco？〃
　〃In　the　harbor。　I　saw　her　myself　this　morning。〃
　〃Then　I　say…allons！　Ah；　my　friend；　you　are　perfection！
　I　want　to　see　it。　Now！　May　I？　e！〃
　I　laughed　at　her　eager　enthusiasm　as　she　sprang　up　from　her　chair。
　〃Le　Mire；　you　are　positively　a　baby。　Something　new　to　play　with！　Well；　you　shall　have　it。　But　you　haven't　had　breakfast。
　We'll　go　out　to　see　her　this　afternoon；　in　fact；　I　have　already　made　an　appointment　with　the　owner。〃
　〃Ah！　Indeed；　you　are　perfection。　And…how　well　you　know　me。〃　She　paused　and　seemed　to　be　searching　for　words；　then　she　said　abruptly：　〃M。　Lamar；　I　wish　you　to　do　me　a　favor。〃
　〃Anything；　Le　Mire；　in　or　out　of　reason。〃
　Again　she　hesitated；　then：
　〃Do　not　call　me　Le　Mire。〃
　I　laughed。
　〃But　certainly；　Senora　Ramal。　And　what　is　the　favor？〃
　〃That。〃
　〃That…〃
　〃Do　not　call　me　Le　Mire…nor　Senora　Ramal。〃
　〃Well；　but　I　must　address　you　occasionally。〃
　〃Call　me　Desiree。〃
　I　looked　at　her　with　a　smile。
　〃But　I　thought　that　that　was　reserved　for　your　particular　friends。〃
　〃So　it　is。〃
　〃Then；　my　dear　senora；　it　woul