the american claimant-第8章

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never　use　any　themselves。　　They　use　exclusively　the　pre…historic　quill。
My　lord　not　only　found　a　quill　pen；　but　the　best　one　he　had　seen　in
several　yearsand　after　writing　diligently　for　some　time；　closed　with
the　following　entry：

　　　　　　　　　　BUT　IN　ONE　THING　I　HAVE　MADE　AN　IMMENSE　MISTAKE；　I　OUGHT　TO
　　　　　　　　　　HAVE　SHUCKED　MY　TITLE　AND　CHANGED　MY　NAME　BEFORE　I　STARTED。

He　sat　admiring　that　pen　a　while；　and　then　went　on：

〃All　attempts　to　mingle　with　the　common　people　and　became　permanently　one
of　them　are　going　to　fail；　unless　I　can　get　rid　of　it；　disappear　from　it；
and　re…appear　with　the　solid　protection　of　a　new　name。　　I　am　astonished
and　pained　to　see　how　eager　the　most　of　these　Americans　are　to　get
acquainted　with　a　lord；　and　how　diligent　they　are　in　pushing　attentions
upon　him。　　They　lack　English　servility；　it　is　truebut　they　could
acquire　it；　with　practice。　　My　quality　travels　ahead　of　me　in　the　most
mysterious　way。　　I　write　my　family　name　without　additions；　on　the
register　of　this　hotel；　and　imagine　that　I　am　going　to　pass　for　an
obscure　and　unknown　wanderer；　but　the　clerk　promptly　calls　out；　'Front！
show　his　lordship　to　four…eighty…two！'　and　before　I　can　get　to　the　lift
there　is　a　reporter　trying　to　interview　me　as　they　call　it。　　This　sort　of
thing　shall　cease　at　once。　　I　will　hunt　up　the　American　Claimant　the
first　thing　in　the　morning；　accomplish　my　mission；　then　change　my　lodging
and　vanish　from　scrutiny　under　a　fictitious　name。〃


He　left　his　diary　on　the　table；　where　it　would　be　handy　in　case　any　new
〃impressions〃　should　wake　him　up　in　the　night；　then　he　went　to　bed　and
presently　fell　asleep。　　An　hour　or　two　passed；　and　then　he　came　slowly　to
consciousness　with　a　confusion　of　mysterious　and　augmenting　sounds
hammering　at　the　gates　of　his　brain　for　admission；　the　next　moment　he　was
sharply　awake；　and　those　sounds　burst　with　the　rush　and　roar　and　boom　of
an　undammed　freshet　into　his　ears。　　Banging　and　slamming　of　shutters；
smashing　of　windows　and　the　ringing　clash　of　falling　glass；　clatter　of
flying　feet　along　the　halls；　shrieks；　supplications；　dumb　moanings　of
despair；　within；　hoarse　shouts　of　command　outside；　cracklings　and
mappings；　and　the　windy　roar　of　victorious　flames！

Bang；　bang；　bang！　　on　the　door；　and　a　cry：

〃Turn　out…the　house　is　on　fire！〃

The　cry　passed　on；　and　the　banging。　　Lord　Berkeley　sprang　out　of　bed　and
moved　with　all　possible　speed　toward　the　clothes…press　in　the　darkness
and　the　gathering　smoke；　but　fell　over　a　chair　and　lost　his　bearings。
He　groped　desperately　about　on　his　hands；　and　presently　struck　his　head
against　the　table　and　was　deeply　grateful；　for　it　gave　him　his　bearings
again；　since　it　stood　close　by　the　door。　　He　seized　his　most　precious
possession；　his　journaled　Impressions　of　America；　and　darted　from　the
room。

He　ran　down　the　deserted　hall　toward　the　red　lamp　which　he　knew　indicated
the　place　of　a　fire…escape。　　The　door　of　the　room　beside　it　was　open。
In　the　room　the　gas　was　burning　full　head；　on　a　chair　was　a　pile　of
clothing。　　He　ran　to　the　window；　could　not　get　it　up；　but　smashed　it　with
a　chair；　and　stepped　out　on　the　landing　of　the　fire…escape；　below　him　was
a　crowd　of　men；　with　a　sprinkling　of　women　and　youth；　massed　in　a　ruddy
light。　　Must　he　go　down　in　his　spectral　night　dress？　　Nothis　side　of
the　house　was　not　yet　on　fire　except　at　the　further　end；　he　would　snatch
on　those　clothes。　　Which　he　did。　　They　fitted　well　enough；　though　a
trifle　loosely；　and　they　were　just　a　shade　loud　as　to　pattern。　　Also　as
to　hatwhich　was　of　a　new　breed　to　him；　Buffalo　Bill　not　having　been　to
England　yet。　　One　side　of　the　coat　went　on；　but　the　other　side　refused；
one　of　its　sleeves　was　turned　up　and　stitched　to　the　shoulder。　　He
started　down　without　waiting　to　get　it　loose；　made　the　trip　successfully；
and　was　promptly　hustled　outside　the　limit…rope　by　the　police。

The　cowboy　hat　and　the　coat　but　half　on　made　him　too　much　of　a　centre　of
attraction　for　comfort；　although　nothing　could　be　more　profoundly
respectful；　not　to　say　deferential；　than　was　the　manner　of　the　crowd
toward　him。　　In　his　mind　he　framed　a　discouraged　remark　for　early　entry
in　his　diary：　〃It　is　of　no　use；　they　know　a　lord　through　any　disguise；
and　show　awe　of　himeven　something　very　like　fear；　indeed。〃

Presently　one　of　the　gaping　and　adoring　half…circle　of　boys　ventured　a
timid　question。　　My　lord　answered　it。　　The　boys　glanced　wonderingly　at
each　other　and　from　somewhere　fell　the　comment：

〃English　cowboy！　　Well；　if　that　ain't　curious。〃

Another　mental　note　to　be　preserved　for　the　diary：　〃Cowboy。　　Now　what
might　a　cowboy　be？　　Perhaps〃　But　the　viscount　perceived　that　some　more
questions　were　about　to　be　asked；　so　he　worked　his　way　out　of　the　crowd；
released　the　sleeve；　put　on　the　coat　and　wandered　away　to　seek　a　humble
and　obscure　lodging。　　He　found　it　and　went　to　bed　and　was　soon　asleep。

In　the　morning；　he　examined　his　clothes。　　They　were　rather　assertive；　it
seemed　to　him；　but　they　were　new　and　clean；　at　any　rate。　　There　was
considerable　property　in　the　pockets。　　Item；　five　one…hundred　dollar
bills。　　Item；　near　fifty　dollars　in　small　bills　and　silver。　　Plug　of
tobacco。　　Hymn…book；　which　refuses　to　open；　found　to　contain　whiskey。
Memorandum　book　bearing　no　name。　　Scattering　entries　in　it；　recording　in
a　sprawling；　ignorant　hand；　appointments；　bets；　horse…trades；　and　so　on；
with　people　of　strange；　hyphenated　nameSix…Fingered　Jake；　Young…Man…
afraid…of　his…Shadow；　and　the　like。　　No　letters；　no　documents。

The　young　man　muses…maps　out　his　course。　　His　letter　of　credit　is　burned；
he　will　borrow　the　small　bills　and　the　silver　in　these　pockets；　apply
part　of　it　to　advertising　for　the　owner；　and　use　the　rest　for　sustenance
while　he　seeks　work。　　He　sends　out　for　the　morning　paper；　next；　and
proceeds　to　read　about　the　fire。　　The　biggest　line　in　the　display…head
announces　his　own　death！　　The　body　of　the　account　furnishes　all　the
particulars；　and　tells　how；　with　the　inherited　heroism　of　his　caste；　he
went　on　saving　women　and　children　until　escape　for　himself　was
impossible；　then　with　the　eyes　of　weeping　multitudes　upon　him；　he　stood
with　folded　arms　and　sternly　awaited　the　approach　of　the　devouring　fiend；
〃and　so　standing；　amid　a　tossing　sea　of　flame　and　on…rushing　billows　of
smoke；　the　noble　young　heir　of　the　great　house　of　Rossmore　was　caught　up
in　a　whirlwind　of　fiery　glory；　and　disappeared　forever　from　the　vision　of
men。〃

The　thing　was　so　fine　and　generous　and　knightly　that　it　brought　the
moisture　to　his　eyes。　　Presently　he　said　to　himself：　〃What　to　do　is　as
plain　as　day；　now。　　My　Lord　Berkeley　is　deadlet　him　stay　so。　　Died
creditably；　too；　that　will　make　the　calamity　the　easier　for　my　father。
And　I　don't　have　to　report　to　the　American　Claimant；　now。　　Yes；　nothing
could　be　better　than　the　way　matters　have　turned　out。　　I　have　only　to
furnish　myself　with　a　new　name；　and　take　my　new　start　in　life　totally
untrammeled。　　Now　I　breathe　my　first　breath　of　real　freedom；　and　how
fresh　and　breezy　and　inspiring　it　is！　　At　last　I　am　a　man！　a　man　on　equal
terms　with　my　neighbor；　and　by　my　manhood；　and　by　it　alone；　I　shall　rise
and　be　seen　of　the　world；　or　I　shall　sink　from　sight　and　deserve　it。
This　is　the　gladdest　day；　and　the　proudest；　that　ever　poured　it's　sun
upon　my　head！〃




CHAPTER　VIII。

〃GOD　bless　my　soul；　Hawkins！〃

The　morning　paper　dropped　from　the　Colonel's　nerveless…grasp。

〃What　is　it？〃

〃He's　gone！the　bright；　the　young；　the　gifted；　the　noblest　of　his
illustrious　racegone！　gone　up　in　flames　and　unimaginable　glory！〃

〃Who？〃

〃My　precious；　precious　young　kinsmanKirkcudbright　Llanover　Marjoribanks
Sellers　Viscount　Berkeley；　son　and　heir　of　usurping　Rossmore。〃

〃No！〃

〃It's　truetoo　true。〃

〃When？〃

〃Last　night。〃

〃Where？〃

〃Right　here　in　Washington；　where　he　arrived　from　England　last　night；　the
papers　say。〃

〃You　don't　say！〃

〃Hotel　burned　down。〃

〃What　hotel？〃

〃The　New　Gadsby！〃

〃Oh；　my　goodness！　　And　have　we　lost　both　of　them？〃

〃Both　who？〃

〃One…Arm　Pete。〃

〃Oh；　great　guns；　I　forgot　all　about　him。　　Oh；　I　hope　not。〃

〃Hope！　　Well；　I　should　say！　　Oh；　we　can't　spare　him！　　We　can　better
afford　to　lose　a　million　viscounts　than　our　only　support　and　stay。〃

They　searched　the　paper　diligently；　and　were　appalled　to　find　that　a　one…
armed　man　had　been　seen　flying　along　one　of　the　halls　of　the　hotel　in　his
underclothing　and　apparently　out　of　his　head　with　fright；　and　as　he　would
listen　to　no　one　and　persisted　in　making　for　a　stairway　which　would　carry
him　to　certain　death；　his　case　was　given　over　as　a　hopeless　one。

〃Poor　fellow；〃　sighed　Hawkins；　〃and　he　had　friends　so　near。　　I　wish　we
hadn't　come　away　from　there…maybe　we　could　have　saved　him。〃

The　earl　looked　up　and　said　calmly：

〃His　being　dead　doesn't　matter。　　He　was　uncertain　before。　　We've　got　him
sure；　this　time。〃

〃Got　him？　　How？〃

〃I　will　materialize　him。〃

〃Rossmore；　don'tdon't　trifle　with　me。　　Do　you　mean　that？　　Can　you　do
it？〃

〃I　can　do　it；　just　as　sure　as　you　are　sitting　there。　　And　I　will。〃

〃Give　me　your　hand；　and　let　me　have　the　comfort　of　shaking　it。　　I　was
perishing；　and　you　have　put　new　life　into　me。　　Get　at　it；　oh；　get　at　it
right　away。〃

〃It　will　take　a　little　time；　Hawkins；　but　there's　no　hurry；　none　in　the
worldin　the　circumstances。　　And　of　course　certain　duties　have　devolved
upon　me　now；　which　necessarily　claim　my　first　attention。　　This　poor　young
nobleman〃

〃Why；　yes；　I　am　sorry　for　my　heartlessness；　and　you　smitten　with　this　new
family　affliction。　　Of　course　you　must　materialize　him　firstI　quite
understand　that。〃

〃IIwell；　I　wasn't　meaning　just　that；　but；why；　what　am　I　thinking
of！　　Of　course　I　must　materialize　him。　　Oh；　Hawkins；　selfishness　is　the
bottom　trait　in　human　nature；　I　was　only　thinking　that　now；　with　the
usurper's　heir　out　of　the　way　But　you'll　forgive　that　momentary　weakness；
and　forget　it。　　Don't　ever　remember　it　against　me　that　Mulberry　Sellers
was　once　mean　enough　to　think　the　thought　that　I　was　thinking。　　I'll
materialise　himI　will；　on　my　honorand　I'd　do　it　were　he　a　thousand
heirs　jammed　into　one　and　stretching　in　a　solid　rank　from　here　to　the
stolen　estates　of　Rossmore；　and　barring　the　road　forever　to　the　rightful
earl！

〃There　spoke　the　real　Sellersthe　other　had　a　false　ring；　old　friend。〃

〃Hawkins；　my　boy；　it　just　occurs　to　mea　thing　I　keep　forgetting　to
mention…a　matter　that　we've　got　to　be　mighty　careful　about。〃

〃What　is　that？〃

〃We　must　keep　absolutely　still　about　these　materializations。　　Mind；　not　a
hint　of　them　must　escapenot　a　hint。　　To　say　nothing　of　how　my　wife　and
daughterhigh…strung；　sensitive　organizationsmight　feel　about　them；
the　negroes　wouldn't　stay　on　the　place　a　minute。〃

〃That's　true；　they　wouldn't。　　It's　well　you　spoke；　for　I'm　not　naturally
discreet　with　my　tongue　when　I'm　not　warned。〃

Sellers　reached　out　and　touched　a　bell…button　in　the　wall；　set　his　eye
upon　the　rear　door　and　waited；　touched　it　again　and　waited；　and　just　as
Hawkins　was　remarking　admiringly　that　the　Colonel　was　the　most
progressive　and　most　alert　man　he　had　ever　seen；　in　the　matter　of
impressing　into　his　service　every　modern　convenien