man and superman-第31章

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confronts　the　visitor。

STRAKER。　I'll　tell　you　what　business　it　is　of　mine。　Miss
Robinson

MALONE。　＇interrupting＇　Oh；　her　name　is　Robinson；　is　it？　Thank
you。

STRAKER。　Why；　you　don't　know　even　her　name？

MALONE。　Yes　I　do；　now　that　you've　told　me。

STRAKER。　＇after　a　moment　of　stupefaction　at　the　old　man's
readiness　in　repartee＇　Look　here：　what　do　you　mean　by　gittin　into
my　car　and　lettin　me　bring　you　here　if　you're　not　the　person　I
took　that　note　to？

MALONE。　Who　else　did　you　take　it　to；　pray？

STRAKER。　I　took　it　to　Mr　Ector　Malone；　at　Miss　Robinson's
request；　see？　Miss　Robinson　is　not　my　principal：　I　took　it　to
oblige　her。　I　know　Mr　Malone；　and　he　ain't　you；　not　by　a　long
chalk。　At　the　hotel　they　told　me　that　your　name　is　Ector　Malone。

MALONE。　Hector　Malone。

STRAKER。　＇with　calm　superiority＇　Hector　in　your　own　country：
that's　what　comes　o　livin　in　provincial　places　like　Ireland　and
America。　Over　here　you're　Ector：　if　you　avn't　noticed　it　before
you　soon　will。

The　growing　strain　of　the　conversation　is　here　relieved　by
Violet；　who　has　sallied　from　the　villa　and　through　the　garden　to
the　steps；　which　she　now　descends；　coming　very　opportunely
between　Malone　and　Straker。

VIOLET。　＇to　Straker＇　Did　you　take　my　message？

STRAKER。　Yes；　miss。　I　took　it　to　the　hotel　and　sent　it　up；
expecting　to　see　young　Mr　Malone。　Then　out　walks　this　gent；　and
says　it's　all　right　and　he'll　come　with　me。　So　as　the　hotel
people　said　he　was　Mr　Ector　Malone；　I　fetched　him。　And　now　he
goes　back　on　what　he　said。　But　if　he　isn't　the　gentleman　you
meant；　say　the　word：　it's　easy　enough　to　fetch　him　back　again。

MALONE。　I　should　esteem　it　a　great　favor　if　I　might　have　a　short
conversation　with　you；　madam。　I　am　Hector's　father；　as　this
bright　Britisher　would　have　guessed　in　the　course　of　another　hour
or　so。

STRAKER。　＇coolly　defiant＇　No；　not　in　another　year　or　so。　When
we've　ad　you　as　long　to　polish　up　as　we've　ad　im；　perhaps　you'll
begin　to　look　a　little　bit　up　to　is　mark。　At　present　you　fall　a
long　way　short。　You've　got　too　many　aitches；　for　one　thing。　＇To
Violet；　amiably＇　All　right；　Miss：　you　want　to　talk　to　him：　I
shan't　intrude。　＇He　nods　affably　to　Malone　and　goes　out　through
the　little　gate　in　the　paling＇。

VIOLET。　＇very　civilly＇　I　am　so　sorry；　Mr　Malone；　if　that　man　has
been　rude　to　you。　But　what　can　we　do？　He　is　our　chauffeur。

MALONE。　Your　what？

VIOLET。　The　driver　of　our　automobile。　He　can　drive　a　motor　car　at
seventy　miles　an　hour；　and　mend　it　when　it　breaks　down。　We　are
dependent　on　our　motor　cars；　and　our　motor　cars　are　dependent　on
him；　so　of　course　we　are　dependent　on　him。

MALONE。　I've　noticed；　madam；　that　every　thousand　dollars　an
Englishman　gets　seems　to　add　one　to　the　number　of　people　he's
dependent　on。　However；　you　needn't　apologize　for　your　man：　I　made
him　talk　on　purpose。　By　doing　so　I　learnt　that　you're　staying
here　in　Grannida　with　a　party　of　English；　including　my　son
Hector。

VIOLET。　＇conversationally＇　Yes。　We　intended　to　go　to　Nice；　but　we
had　to　follow　a　rather　eccentric　member　of　our　party　who　started
first　and　came　here。　Won't　you　sit　down？　＇She　clears　the　nearest
chair　of　the　two　books　on　it＇。

MALONE。　＇impressed　by　this　attention＇　Thank　you。　＇He　sits　down；
examining　her　curiously　as　she　goes　to　the　iron　table　to　put　down
the　books。　When　she　turns　to　him　again；　he　says＇　Miss　Robinson；　I
believe？

VIOLET。　＇sitting　down＇　Yes。

MALONE。　＇Taking　a　letter　from　his　pocket＇　Your　note　to　Hector　runs
as　follows　＇Violet　is　unable　to　repress　a　start。　He　pauses
quietly　to　take　out　and　put　on　his　spectacles；　which　have　gold
rims＇：　〃Dearest：　they　have　all　gone　to　the　Alhambra　for　the
afternoon。　I　have　shammed　headache　and　have　the　garden　all　to
myself。　Jump　into　Jack's　motor：　Straker　will　rattle　you　here　in　a
jiffy。　Quick；　quick；　quick。　Your　loving　Violet。〃　＇He　looks　at
her；　but　by　this　time　she　has　recovered　herself；　and　meets　his
spectacles　with　perfect　composure。　He　continues　slowly＇　Now　I
don't　know　on　what　terms　young　people　associate　in　English
society；　but　in　　America　that　note　would　be　considered　to　imply　a
very　　considerable　degree　of　affectionate　intimacy　between　the
parties。

VIOLET。　Yes：　I　know　your　son　very　well；　Mr　Malone。　Have　you　any
objection？

MALONE。　＇somewhat　taken　aback＇　No；　no　objection　exactly。　Provided
it　is　understood　that　my　son　is　altogether　dependent　on　me；　and
that　I　have　to　be　consulted　in　any　important　step　he　may　propose
to　take。

VIOLET。　I　am　sure　you　would　not　be　unreasonable　with　him；　Mr
Malone。

MALONE。　I　hope　not；　Miss　Robinson；　but　at　your　age　you　might
think　many　things　unreasonable　that　don't　seem　so　to　me。

VIOLET。　＇with　a　little　shrug＇　Oh　well；　I　suppose　there's　no　use
our　playing　at　cross　purposes；　Mr　Malone。　Hector　wants　to　marry
me。

MALONE。　I　inferred　from　your　note　that　he　might。　Well；　Miss
Robinson；　he　is　his　own　master；　but　if　he　marries　you　he　shall
not　have　a　rap　from　me。　＇He　takes　off　his　spectacles　and　pockets
them　with　the　note＇。

VIOLET。　＇with　some　severity＇　That　is　not　very　complimentary　to
me；　Mr　Malone。

MALONE。　I　say　nothing　against　you；　Miss　Robinson：　I　daresay　you
are　an　amiable　and　excellent　young　lady。　But　I　have　other　views
for　Hector。

VIOLET。　Hector　may　not　have　other　views　for　himself；　Mr　Malone。

MALONE。　Possibly　not。　Then　he　does　without　me：　that's　all。　I
daresay　you　are　prepared　for　that。　When　a　young　lady　writes　to　a
young　man　to　come　to　her　quick；　quick；　quick；　money　seems　nothing
and　love　seems　everything。

VIOLET。　＇sharply＇　I　beg　your　pardon；　Mr　Malone：　I　do　not　think
anything　so　foolish。　Hector　must　have　money。

MALONE。　＇staggered＇　Oh；　very　well；　very　well。　No　doubt　he　can
work　for　it。

VIOLET。　What　is　the　use　of　having　money　if　you　have　to　work　for
it？　＇She　rises　impatiently＇。　It's　all　nonsense；　Mr　Malone：　you
must　enable　your　son　to　keep　up　his　position。　It　is　his　right。

MALONE。　＇grimly＇　I　should　not　advise　you　to　marry　him　on　the
strength　of　that　right；　Miss　Robinson。

Violet；　who　has　almost　lost　her　temper；　controls　herself　with　an
effort；　unclenches　her　fingers；　and　resumes　her　seat　with　studied
tranquillity　and　reasonableness。

VIOLET。　What　objection　have　you　to　me；　pray？　My　social　position
is　as　good　as　Hector's；　to　say　the　least。　He　admits　it。

MALONE。　＇shrewdly＇　You　tell　him　so　from　time　to　time；　eh？
Hector's　social　position　in　England；　Miss　Robinson；　is　just　what
I　choose　to　buy　for　him。　I　have　made　him　a　fair　offer。　Let　him
pick　out　the　most　historic　house；　castle　or　abbey　that　England
contains。　The　day　that　he　tells　me　he　wants　it　for　a　wife　worthy
of　its　traditions；　I　buy　it　for　him；　and　give　him　the　means　of
keeping　it　up。

VIOLET。　What　do　you　mean　by　a　wife　worthy　of　its　traditions？
Cannot　any　well　bred　woman　keep　such　a　house　for　him？

MALONE。　No：　she　must　be　born　to　it。

VIOLET。　Hector　was　not　born　to　it；　was　he？

MALONE。　His　granmother　was　a　barefooted　Irish　girl　that　nursed
me　by　a　turf　fire。　Let　him　marry　another　such；　and　I　will　not
stint　her　marriage　portion。　Let　him　raise　himself　socially　with
my　money　or　raise　somebody　else　so　long　as　there　is　a　social
profit　somewhere；　I'll　regard　my　expenditure　as　justified。　But
there　must　be　a　profit　for　someone。　A　marriage　with　you　would
leave　things　just　where　they　are。

VIOLET。　Many　of　my　relations　would　object　very　much　to　my
marrying　the　grandson　of　a　common　woman；　Mr　Malone。　That　may　be
prejudice；　but　so　is　your　desire　to　have　him　marry　a　title
prejudice。

MALONE。　＇rising；　and　approaching　her　with　a　scrutiny　in　which
there　is　a　good　deal　of　reluctant　respect＇　You　seem　a　pretty
straightforward　downright　sort　of　a　young　woman。

VIOLET。　I　do　not　see　why　I　should　be　made　miserably　poor　because
I　cannot　make　profits　for　you。　Why　do　you　want　to　make　Hector
unhappy？

MALONE。　He　will　get　over　it　all　right　enough。　Men　thrive　better
on　disappointments　in　love　than　on　disappointments　in　money。　I
daresay　you　think　that　sordid；　but　I　know　what　I'm　talking　about。
My　father　died　of　starvation　in　Ireland　in　the　black　47；　Maybe
you've　heard　of　it。

VIOLET。　The　Famine？

MALONE。　＇with　smouldering　passion＇　No；　the　starvation。　When　a
country　is　full　of　food；　and　exporting　it；　there　can　be　no
famine。　My　father　was　starved　dead；　and　I　was　starved　out　to
America　in　my　mother's　arms。　English　rule　drove　me　and　mine　out
of　Ireland。　Well；　you　can　keep　Ireland。　I　and　my　like　are　coming
back　to　buy　England；　and　we'll　buy　the　best　of　it。　I　want　no
middle　class　properties　and　no　middle　class　women　for　Hector。
That's　straightforward　isn't　it；　like　yourself？

VIOLET。　＇icily　pitying　his　sentimentality＇　Really；　Mr　Malone；　I
am　astonished　to　hear　a　man　of　your　age　and　good　sense　talking　in
that　romantic　way。　Do　you　suppose　English　noblemen　will　sell
their　places　to　you　for　the　asking？

MALONE。　I　have　the　refusal　of　two　of　the　oldest　family　mansions
in　England。　One　historic　owner　can't　afford　to　keep　all　the　rooms
dusted：　the　other　can't　afford　the　death　duties。　What　do　you　say
now？

VIOLET。　Of　course　it　is　very　scandalous；　but　surely　you　know　that
the　Government　will　sooner　or　later　put　a　stop　to　all　these
Socialistic　attacks　on　property。

MALONE。　＇grinning＇　D'y'　think　they'll　be　able　to　get　that　done
before　I　buy　the　houseor　rather　the　abbey？　They're　both　abbeys。

VIOLET。　＇putting　that　aside　rather　impatiently＇　Oh；　well；　let　us
talk　sense；　Mr　Malone。　You　must　feel　that　we　haven't　been　talking
sense　so　far。

MALONE。　I　can't　say　I　do。　I　mean　all　I　say。

VIOLET。　Then　you　don't　know　Hector　as　I　do。　He　is　romantic　and
faddyhe　gets　it　from　you；　I　fancyand　he　wants　a　certain　sort
of　wife　to　take　care　of　him。　Not　a　faddy　sort　of　person；　you
know。

MALONE。　Somebody　like　you；　perhaps？

VIOLET。　＇quietly＇　Well；　yes。　But　you　cannot　very　well　ask　me　to
undertake　this　with　absolutely　no　means　of　keeping　up　his
position。

MALONE。　＇alarmed＇　Stop　a　bit；　stop　a　bit。　Where　are　we　getting
to？　I'm　not　aware　that　I'm　asking　you　to　undertake　anything。

VIOLET。　Of　course；　Mr　Malone；　you　can　make　it　very　difficult　for
me　to　speak　to　you　if　you　choose　to　misunderstand　me。

MALONE。　＇half　bewildered＇　I　don't　wish　to　take　any　unfair
advantage；　but　we　seem　to　have　got　off　the　straight　track
somehow。

Straker；　with　the　air　of　a　man　who　has　been　making　haste；　opens
the　little　gate；　and　admits　Hector；　who；　snorting　with
indignation；　comes　upon　the　lawn；　and　is　making　for　his　father
when　Violet；　greatly　dismayed；　springs　up　and　intercepts　him。
Straker　doer　not　wait；　at　least　he　does　not　remain　visibly　within
earshot。

VIOLET。　Oh；　how　unlucky！　Now　please；　Hector；　say　nothing。　Go　away
until　I　have　finished　speaking　to　your　father。

HECTOR。　＇inexorably＇　No；　Violet：　I　mean　to　have　this　thing　out；
right　away。　＇He　puts　her　aside；　passes　her　by；　and　faces　his
father；　whose　cheeks　darken　as　his　Irish　blood　begins　to　simmer＇。
Dad：　you've　not　played　this　hand　straight。

MALONE。　Hwat　d'y'mean？

HECTOR。　You've　opened　a　letter　addressed　to　me。　You've
impersonated　me　and　stolen　a　march　on　this　lady。　That's
dishonorable。

MALONE。　＇threateningly＇　Now　you　take　care　what　you're　saying；
Hector。　Take　care；　I　tell　you。

HECTOR。　I　have　taken　ca