the american claimant-第7章

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Gwendolenbut　she's　gone；　never　mind；　I　wanted　my　Peerage；　I'll　fetch　it
myself；　presently；　and　show　you　a　thing　or　two　that　will　give　you　a
realizing　idea　of　what　our　house　is。　　I've　been　glancing　through　Burke；
and　I　find　that　of　William　the　Conqueror's　sixty…four　natural　ah
my　dear；　would　you　mind　getting　me　that　book？　　It's　on　the　escritoire　in
our　boudoir。　　Yes；　as　I　was　saying；　there's　only　St。　Albans；　Buccleugh
and　Grafton　ahead　of　us　on　the　listall　the　rest　of　the　British　nobility
are　in　procession　behind　us。　　Ah；　thanks；　my　lady。　　Now　then；　we　turn　to
William；　and　we　findletter　for　XYZ？　　Oh；　splendidwhen'd　you　get　it？〃

〃Last　night；　but　I　was　asleep　before　you　came；　you　were　out　so　late；　and
when　I　came　to　breakfast　Miss　Gwendolenwell；　she　knocked　everything　out
of　me；　you　know〃

〃Wonderful　girl；　wonderful；　her　great　origin　is　detectable　in　her　step；
her　carriage；　her　featuresbut　what　does　he　say？　　Come；　this　is
exciting。〃

〃I　haven't　read　iterRossmMr。　Rossmer〃

〃M'lord！　　Just　cut　it　short　like　that。　　It's　the　English　way。　　I'll　open
it。　　Ah；　now　let's　see。〃

A。　　TO　YOU　KNOW　WHO。　　Think　I　know　you。　　Wait　ten　days。　　Coming　to
　　　　　Washington。

The　excitement　died　out　of　both　men's　faces。　　There　was　a　brooding
silence　for　a　while；　then　the　younger　one　said　with　a　sigh：

〃Why；　we　can't　wait　ten　days　for　the　money。〃

〃Nothe　man's　unreasonable；　we　are　down　to　the　bed　rock；　financially
speaking。〃

〃If　we　could　explain　to　him　in　some　way；　that　we　are　so　situated　that
time　is　of　the　utmost　importance　to　us〃

〃Yesyes；　that's　itand　so　if　it　would　be　as　convenient　for　him　to　come
at　once　it　would　be　a　great　accommodation　to　us；　and　one　which　wewhich
wewhich　wewhwell；　which　we　should　sincerely　appreciate〃

〃That's　itand　most　gladly　reciprocate〃

〃Certainlythat'll　fetch　him。　　Worded　right；　if　he's　a　mangot　any　of
the　feelings　of　a　man；　sympathies　and　all　that；　he'll　be　here　inside　of
twenty…four　hours。　　Pen　and　papercome；　we'll　get　right　at　it。〃

Between　them　they　framed　twenty…two　different　advertisements；　but　none
was　satisfactory。　　A　main　fault　in　all　of　them　was　urgency。　　That　feature
was　very　troublesome：　if　made　prominent；　it　was　calculated　to　excite
Pete's　suspicion；　if　modified　below　the　suspicion…point　it　was　flat　and
meaningless。　　Finally　the　Colonel　resigned；　and　said：

〃I　have　noticed；　in　such　literary　experiences　as　I　have　had；　that　one　of
the　most　taking　things　to　do　is　to　conceal　your　meaning　when　you　are
trying　to　conceal　it。　　Whereas；　if　you　go　at　literature　with　a　free
conscience　and　nothing　to　conceal；　you　can　turn　out　a　book；　every　time；
that　the　very　elect　can't　understand。　　They　all　do。〃

Then　Hawkins　resigned　also；　and　the　two　agreed　that　they　must　manage　to
wait　the　ten　days　some　how　or　other。　　Next；　they　caught　a　ray　of　cheer：
since　they　had　something　definite　to　go　upon；　now；　they　could　probably
borrow　money　on　the　rewardenough；　at　any　rate；　to　tide　them　over　till
they　got　it；　and　meantime　the　materializing　recipe　would　be　perfected；
and　then　good　bye　to　trouble　for　good　and　all。

The　next　day；　May　the　tenth；　a　couple　of　things　happenedamong　others。
The　remains　of　the　noble　Arkansas　twins　left　our　shores　for　England；
consigned　to　Lord　Rossmore；　and　Lord　Rossmore's　son；　Kirkcudbright
Llanover　Marjoribanks　Sellers　Viscount　Berkeley；　sailed　from　Liverpool
for　America　to　place　the　reversion　of　the　earldom　in　the　hands　of　the
rightful　peer；　Mulberry　Sellers；　of　Rossmore　Towers　in　the　District　of
Columbia；　U。　S。　A。

These　two　impressive　shipments　would　meet　and　part　in　mid…Atlantic；　five
days　later；　and　give　no　sign。




CHAPTER　VI。

In　the　course　of　time　the　twins　arrived　and　were　delivered　to　their　great
kinsman。　　To　try　to　describe　the　rage　of　that　old　man　would　profit
nothing；　the　attempt　would　fall　so　far　short　of　the　purpose。　　However
when　he　had　worn　himself　out　and　got　quiet　again；　he　looked　the　matter
over　and　decided　that　the　twins　had　some　moral　rights；　although　they　had
no　legal　ones；　they　were　of　his　blood；　and　it　could　not　be　decorous　to
treat　them　as　common　clay。　　So　he　laid　them　with　their　majestic　kin　in
the　Cholmondeley　church；　with　imposing　state　and　ceremony；　and　added　the
supreme　touch　by　officiating　as　chief　mourner　himself。　　But　he　drew　the
line　at　hatchments。

Our　friends　in　Washington　watched　the　weary　days　go　by；　while　they　waited
for　Pete　and　covered　his　name　with　reproaches　because　of　his　calamitous
procrastinations。　　Meantime；　Sally　Sellers；　who　was　as　practical　and
democratic　as　the　Lady　Gwendolen　Sellers　was　romantic　and　aristocratic；
was　leading　a　life　of　intense　interest　and　activity　and　getting　the　most
she　could　out　of　her　double　personality。　　All　day　long　in　the　privacy　of
her　work…room；　Sally　Sellers　earned　bread　for　the　Sellers　family；　and　all
the　evening　Lady　Gwendolen　Sellers　supported　the　Rossmore　dignity。　　All
day　she　was　American；　practically；　and　proud　of　the　work　of　her　head　and
hands　and　its　commercial　result；　all　the　evening　she　took　holiday　and
dwelt　in　a　rich　shadow…land　peopled　with　titled　and　coroneted　fictions。
By　day；　to　her；　the　place　was　a　plain；　unaffected；　ramshackle　old　trap
just　that；　and　nothing　more；　by　night　it　was　Rossmore　Towers。　　At　college
she　had　learned　a　trade　without　knowing　it。　　The　girls　had　found　out　that
she　was　the　designer　of　her　own　gowns。　　She　had　no　idle　moments　after
that；　and　wanted　none；　for　the　exercise　of　an　extraordinary　gift　is　the
supremest　pleasure　in　life；　and　it　was　manifest　that　Sally　Sellers
possessed　a　gift　of　that　sort　in　the　matter　of　costume…designing。　　Within
three　days　after　reaching　home　she　had　hunted　up　some　work；　before　Pete
was　yet　due　in　Washington；　and　before　the　twins　were　fairly　asleep　in
English　soil；　she　was　already　nearly　swamped　with　work；　and　the
sacrificing　of　the　family　chromos　for　debt　had　got　an　effective　check。

〃She's　a　brick；〃　said　Rossmore　to　the　Major；　〃just　her　father　all　over：
prompt　to　labor　with　head　or　hands；　and　not　ashamed　of　it；　capable；
always　capable；　let　the　enterprise　be　what　it　may；　successful　by　nature
don't　know　what　defeat　is；　thus；　intensely　and　practically　American　by
inhaled　nationalism；　and　at　the　same　time　intensely　and　aristocratically
European　by　inherited　nobility　of　blood。　　Just　me；　exactly：　Mulberry
Sellers　in　matter　of　finance　and　invention；　after　office　hours；　what　do
you　find？　　The　same　clothes；　yes；　but　what's　in　them？　　Rossmore　of　the
peerage。〃

The　two　friends　had　haunted　the　general　post…office　daily。　　At　last　they
had　their　reward。　　Toward　evening　the　20th　of　May；　they　got　a　letter　for
XYZ。　　It　bore　the　Washington　postmark；　the　note　itself　was　not　dated。　　It
said：

　　　　　〃Ash　barrel　back　of　lamp　post　Black　horse　Alley。　　If　you　are　playing
　　　　　square　go　and　set　on　it　to…morrow　morning　21st　10。22　not　sooner　not
　　　　　later　wait　till　I　come。〃

The　friends　cogitated　over　the　note　profoundly。　　Presently　the　earl　said：

〃Don't　you　reckon　he's　afraid　we　are　a　sheriff　with　a　requisition？〃

〃Why；　m'lord？〃

〃Because　that's　no　place　for　a　seance。　　Nothing　friendly；　nothing
sociable　about　it。　　And　at　the　same　time；　a　body　that　wanted　to　know　who
was　roosting　on　that　ash…barrel　without　exposing　himself　by　going　near
it；　or　seeming　to　be　interested　in　it；　could　just　stand　on　the　street
corner　and　take　a　glance　down　the　alley　and　satisfy　himself；　don't　you
see？〃

〃Yes；　his　idea　is　plain；　now。　　He　seems　to　be　a　man　that　can't　be　candid
and　straightforward。　　He　acts　as　if　he　thought　weshucks；　I　wish　he　had
come　out　like　a　man　and　told　us　what　hotel　he〃

〃Now　you've　struck　it！　you've　struck　it　sure；　Washington；　he　has　told
us。〃

〃Has　he？〃

〃Yes；　he　has；　but　he　didn't　mean　to。　　That　alley　is　a　lonesome　little
pocket　that　runs　along　one　side　of　the　New　Gadsby。　　That's　his　hotel。〃

〃What　makes'　you　think　that？〃

〃Why；　I　just　know　it。　　He's　got　a　room　that's　just　across　from　that　lamp
post。　　He's　going　to　sit　there　perfectly　comfortable　behind　his　shutters
at　10。22　to…morrow；　and　when　he　sees　us　sitting　on　the　ash…barrel；　he'll
say　to　himself；　'I　saw　one　of　those　fellows　on　the　train'and　then　he'll
pack　his　satchel　in　half　a　minute　and　ship　for　the　ends　of　the　earth。〃

Hawkins　turned　sick　with　disappointment：

〃Oh；　dear；　it's　all　up；　Colonelit's　exactly　what　he'll　do。〃

〃Indeed　he　won't！〃

〃Won't　he？　　Why？〃

〃Because　you　won't　be　holding　the　ash　barrel　down；　it'll　be　me。　　You'll
be　coming　in　with　an　officer　and　a　requisition　in　plain　clothesthe
officer；　I　meanthe　minute　you　see　him　arrive　and　open　up　a　talk　with
me。〃

〃Well；　what　a　head　you　have　got；　Colonel　Sellers！　　I　never　should　have
thought　of　that　in　the　world。〃

〃Neither　would　any　earl　of　Rossmore；　betwixt　William's　contribution　and
Mulberryas　earl；　but　it's　office　hours；　now；　you　see；　and　the　earl　in
me　sleeps。　　ComeI'll　show　you　his　very　room。〃

They　reached　the　neighborhood　of　the　New　Gadsby　about　nine　in　the
evening；　and　passed　down　the　alley　to　the　lamp　post。

〃There　you　are；〃　said　the　colonel；　triumphantly；　with　a　wave　of　his　hand
which　took　in　the　whole　side　of　the　hotel。　　〃There　it　iswhat　did　I　tell
you？〃

〃Well；　butwhy；　Colonel；　it's　six　stories　high。　　I　don't　quite　make　out
which　window　you〃

〃All　the　windows；　all　of　them。　　Let　him　have　his。　　choice…I'm
indifferent；　now　that　I　have　located　him。　　You　go　and　stand　on　the　corner
and　wait；　I'll　prospect　tie　hotel。〃

The　earl　drifted　here　and　there　through　the　swarming　lobby；　and　finally
took　a　waiting　position　in　the　neighborhood　of　the　elevator。　　During　an
hour　crowds　went　up　and　crowds　came　down；　and　all　complete　as　to　limbs；
but　at　last　the　watcher　got　a　glimpse　of　a　figure　that　was　satisfactory…
got　a　glimpse　of　the　back　of　it；　though　he　had　missed　his　chance　at　the
face　through　waning　alertness。　　The　glimpse　revealed　a　cowboy　hat；　and
below　it　a　plaided　sack　of　rather　loud　pattern；　and　an　empty　sleeve
pinned　up　to　the　shoulder。　　Then　the　elevator　snatched　the　vision　aloft
and　the　watcher　fled　away　in　joyful　excitement；　and　rejoined　the　fellow…
conspirator。

〃We've　got　him；　Majorgot　him　sure！　　I've　seen　himseen　him　good；　and　I
don't　care　where　or　when　that　man　approaches　me　backwards；　I'll　recognize
him　every　time。　　We're　all　right。　　Now　for　the　requisition。〃

They　got　it；　after　the　delays　usual　in　such　cases。　　By　half　past　eleven
they　were　at　home　and　happy；　and　went　to　bed　full　of　dreams　of　the
morrow's　great　promise。

Among　the　elevator　load　which　had　the　suspect　for　fellow…passenger　was　a
young　kinsman　of　Mulberry　Sellers；　but　Mulberry　was　not　aware　of　it　and
didn't　see　him。　　It　was　Viscount　Berkeley。




CHAPTER　VII。

Arrived　in　his　room　Lord　Berkeley　made　preparations　for　that　first　and
last　and　all…the…time　duty　of　the　visiting　Englishmanthe　jotting　down
in　his　diary　of　his　〃impressions〃　to　date。　　His　preparations　consisted　in
ransacking　his　〃box〃　for　a　pen。　　There　was　a　plenty　of　steel　pens　on　his
table　with　the　ink　bottle；　but　he　was　English。　　The　English　people
manufacture　steel　pens　for　nineteen…twentieths　of　the　globe；　but　they
never　use　any　themselves。　　They　use　exclusively　the　pre…historic　quill。
My　lord　not　only　found　a　quill　pen；　but　the