按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
in Paris； in the heart of civilised existence。 This is an
opportunity； Mr。 Naseby。 Let us dine。 Let me show you where
to dine。'
Dick consented。 On the way to dinner the Admiral showed him
where to buy gloves； and made him buy them； where to buy
cigars； and made him buy a vast store； some of which he
obligingly accepted。 At the restaurant he showed him what to
order； with surprising consequences in the bill。 What he
made that night by his percentages it would be hard to
estimate。 And all the while Dick smilingly consented；
understanding well that he was being done； but taking his
losses in the pursuit of character as a hunter sacrifices his
dogs。 As for the Strange Things； the reader will be relieved
to hear that they were no stranger than might have been
expected； and he may find things quite as strange without the
expense of a Van Tromp for guide。 Yet he was a guide of no
mean order； who made up for the poverty of what he had to
show by a copious； imaginative commentary。
'And such；' said he； with a hiccup； 'such is Paris。'
'Pooh！' said Dick； who was tired of the performance。
The Admiral hung an ear； and looked up sidelong with a
glimmer of suspicion。
'Good night；' said Dick； 'I'm tired。'
'So English！' cried Van Tromp； clutching him by the hand。
'So English！ So BLASE！ Such a charming companion！ Let me
see you home。'
'Look here；' returned Dick； 'I have said good night； and now
I'm going。 You're an amusing old boy： I like you； in a
sense； but here's an end of it for to…night。 Not another
cigar； not another grog； not another percentage out of me。'
'I beg your pardon！' cried the Admiral with dignity。
'Tut； man！' said Dick； 'you're not offended； you're a man of
the world； I thought。 I've been studying you； and it's over。
Have I not paid for the lesson？ AU REVOIR。'
Van Tromp laughed gaily； shook hands up to the elbows； hoped
cordially they would meet again and that often； but looked
after Dick as he departed with a tremor of indignation。
After that they two not unfrequently fell in each other's
way； and Dick would often treat the old boy to breakfast on a
moderate scale and in a restaurant of his own selection。
Often； too； he would lend Van Tromp the matter of a pound； in
view of that gentleman's contemplated departure for
Australia； there would be a scene of farewell almost touching
in character； and a week or a month later they would meet on
the same boulevard without surprise or embarrassment。 And in
the meantime Dick learned more about his acquaintance on all
sides： heard of his yacht； his chaise and four； his brief
season of celebrity amid a more confiding population； his
daughter； of whom he loved to whimper in his cups； his
sponging； parasitical； nameless way of life； and with each
new detail something that was not merely interest nor yet
altogether affection grew up in his mind towards this
disreputable stepson of the arts。 Ere he left Paris Van
Tromp was one of those whom he entertained to a farewell
supper； and the old gentleman made the speech of the evening；
and then fell below the table； weeping； smiling； paralysed。
CHAPTER II … A LETTER TO THE PAPERS
OLD Mr。 Naseby had the sturdy； untutored nature of the upper
middle class。 The universe seemed plain to him。 'The
thing's right；' he would say； or 'the thing's wrong'； and
there was an end of it。 There was a contained； prophetic
energy in his utterances； even on the slightest affairs； he
SAW the damned thing； if you did not； it must be from
perversity of will； and this sent the blood to his head。
Apart from this； which made him an exacting companion； he was
one of the most upright； hot…tempered； hot…headed old
gentlemen in England。 Florid； with white hair； the face of
an old Jupiter； and the figure of an old fox…hunter； he
enlivened the vale of Thyme from end to end on his big；
cantering chestnut。
He had a hearty respect for Dick as a lad of parts。 Dick had
a respect for his father as the best of men； tempered by the
politic revolt of a youth who has to see to his own
independence。 Whenever the pair argued； they came to an open
rupture； and arguments were frequent； for they were both
positive； and both loved the work of the intelligence。 It
was a treat to hear Mr。 Naseby defending the Church of
England in a volley of oaths； or supporting ascetic morals
with an enthusiasm not entirely innocent of port wine。 Dick
used to wax indignant； and none the less so because； as his
father was a skilful disputant； he found himself not seldom
in the wrong。 On these occasions； he would redouble in
energy； and declare that black was white； and blue yellow；
with much conviction and heat of manner； but in the morning
such a licence of debate weighed upon him like a crime； and
he would seek out his father； where he walked before
breakfast on a terrace overlooking all the vale of Thyme。
'I have to apologise； sir； for last night … ' he would begin。
'Of course you have；' the old gentleman would cut in
cheerfully。 'You spoke like a fool。 Say no more about it。'
'You do not understand me； sir。 I refer to a particular
point。 I confess there is much force in your argument from
the doctrine of possibilities。'
'Of course there is；' returned his father。 'Come down and
look at the stables。 Only；' he would add； 'bear this in
mind； and do remember that a man of my age and experience
knows more about what he is saying than a raw boy。'
He would utter the word 'boy' even more offensively than the
average of fathers； and the light way in which he accepted
these apologies cut Richard to the heart。 The latter drew
slighting comparisons； and remembered that he was the only
one who ever apologised。 This gave him a high station in his
own esteem； and thus contributed indirectly to his better
behaviour； for he was scrupulous as well as high…spirited；
and prided himself on nothing more than on a just submission。
So things went on until the famous occasion when Mr。 Naseby；
becoming engrossed in securing the election of a sound party
candidate to Parliament； wrote a flaming letter to the
papers。 The letter had about every demerit of party letters
in general； it was expressed with the energy of a believer；
it was personal； it was a little more than half unfair； and
about a quarter untrue。 The old man did not mean to say what
was untrue； you may be sure； but he had rashly picked up
gossip； as his prejudice suggested； and now rashly launched
it on the public with the sanction of his name。
'The Liberal candidate；' he concluded； 'is thus a public
turncoat。 Is that the sort of man we want？ He has been
given the lie； and has swallowed the insult。 Is that the
sort of man we want？ I answer No！ With all the force of my
conviction； I answer； NO！'
And then he signed and dated the letter with an amateur's
pride； and looked to be famous by the morrow。
Dick； who had heard nothing of the matter； was up first on
that inauspicious day； and took the journal to an arbour in
the garden。 He found his father's manifesto in one column；
and in another a leading article。 'No one that we are aware
of；' ran the article； 'had consulted Mr。 Naseby on the
subject； but if he had been appealed to by the whole body of
electors； his letter would be none the less ungenerous and
unjust to Mr。 Dalton。 We do not choose to give the lie to
Mr。 Naseby； for we are too well aware of the consequences；
but we shall venture instead to print the facts of both cases
referred to by this red…hot partisan in another portion of
our issue。 Mr。 Naseby is of course a large proprietor in our
neighbourhood； but fidelity to facts； decent feeling； and
English grammar； are all of them qualities more important
than the possession of land。 Mr。 … is doubtless a great man；
in his large gardens and that half…mile of greenhouses； where