the fortunes of oliver horn-第80章
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Or still more convincing would it have been had he watched him moving about the room； shaking every man's hand in turn； Oliver mentioning their real names and their several qualifications； and after ward the characters they assumed； and Richard commenting on each profession in a way quite his own。
〃A musician； sir；〃 he would have heard him exclaim as he grasped Simmons's hand； over which hung a fall of antique lace； 〃I have loved music all my days。 It is an additional bond between us； sir。 And the costume is quite in keeping with your art。 How delightful it would be； my dear sir； if we could discard forever the sombre clothes of our day and go back to the velvets and silks Of the past。〃
〃Mr。 Stedman； did you say； my son？〃 and he turned to Oliver。 〃You have certainly mentioned this gentleman's name to me before。 If I do not mistake； he is one of your very old friends。 There is no need of your telling me that you are Lorenzo。 I can quite understand now why Jessica lost her heart。〃
Or to see him turn to Jack Bedford with： 〃You don't tell me so！ Mr。 John Bedford； did you say； Oliver？ Ah； but we should not be strangers； sir。 If I am right； you are a fellow…townsman of ours； and have already distinguished yourself in your profession。 Your costume is especially becoming to you； sir。 What discernment you have shown。 Permit me to say； that with you the old adage must be reversed this time the man makes the clothes。〃
The same adage could really have been applied to this old gentleman's own dress； had he but only known it。 He had not altered it in twenty years； even after it had become a matter of comment among his neighbors in Kennedy Square。
〃I always associate one's clothes with one's manners；〃 he would say； with a smile。 〃If they are good； and suited to the occasion； best not change them。〃 Nathan was of the same mind。 The wide hat； long； evenly parted hair； and pen…wiper cloak could be traced to these same old…fashioned ideas。 These idiosyncrasies excited no comment so far as Nathan was concerned。 He was always looked upon as belonging to some antediluvian period； but with a progressive man like Richard the case； his neighbors thought； might have been different。
As Richard moved about the room； saluting each one in turn； the men in and out of costumethe guests were in evening dresslooked at each other and smiled at the old gentleman's quaint ways； but the old gentleman； with the same ease of manner and speech； continued on quite around the table； followed closely by Nathan； who limited his salutations to a timid shake of the fingers and the leaving of some word of praise or quaint greeting； which many of them remember even to this day。
These introductions overOliver had arrived on the minutethe ceremony of seating the guests was at once begun。 This ceremony was one of great dignity； the two men…at…arms escorting the Master of the Feast； the Most High Pan…Jam； Frederico Stono； N。A。； to his Royal Chair； guarded by the immovable blackamoors； the members and guests standing until His Royal Highness had taken his seat； and then dropping into their own。 When everyone was in his place Richard found himself； to his delight； on the right of Fred and next to Nathan and Oliveran honor accorded to him because of his age and relationship to one of the most popular members of the club； and not because of his genius and attainments these latter attributes being as yet unknown quantities in that atmosphere。 The two thus seated together under the especial care of Olivera fact which relieved the master of ceremonies of any further anxiety on their accountwere to a certain extent left to themselves； the table being too large for general conversation except with one's neighbors。
The seat in which he had been placed exactly suited Richard's frame of mind。 With an occasional word to Fred； he sat quite still； talking now and then in low tones to Nathan； his eyes taking in every detail of the strange scene。
While Nathan saw only the color and beauty of it all； Richard's keener mind was analyzing the causes that had led up to such a gathering； and the skill and taste with which the banquet had been carried out。 He felt assured that the men who could idle so luxuriously； and whose technical knowledge had perfected the artistic effects about him； could also work at their several professions with equal results。 He was glad that Oliver had been found worthy enough to be admitted to such a circle。 He loved； too； to hear his son's voice and watch the impression his words made on the room。 As the evening wore on； and he listened to his banter； or caught the point of the jests that Oliver parried and heard his merry laugh； he would slip his hand under the table and pat his boy's knee with loving taps of admiration； prouder of him than ever。 His own pleasures so absorbed him that he continued to sit almost silent； except for a word now and then to Nathan or a monosyllable to Fred。
The guests who were near enough to observe the visitors closely soon began to look upon Richard and Nathan as a couple of quaint； harmless； exceedingly well…bred old gentlemen； rather provincial in appearance and a little stilted in their manners； who； before the evening was over； would； perhaps； become tired of the gayety； ask to be excused； and betake themselves to bed。 All of which would be an eminently proper proceeding in view of their extreme age and general infirmities； old gentlemen of three score years and over appearing more or less decrepit to athletes of twenty and five。
Waller was the only man who really seemed to take either of them seriously。 After a critical examination of Richard's head in clear relief under the soft light of the candles； he leaned over to Stedman and said； in a half whisper； nodding toward Richard：
〃Stedman； old man； take that in for a minute。 Strong； isn't it？ Wouldn't you like to paint him as a blessed old Cardinal in a red gown？ See how fine the nose is； and the forehead。 Best head I've seen anywhere。 Something in that old fellow。〃
The dinner went on。 The Malays in scarlet and yellow served the dishes and poured the wine with noiseless regularity。 The men at arms at each side of the door rested their legs。 The two blackamoors； guarding the High Pan…Jam's chair； and who had been promised double pay if they kept still during the entire evening； had not so far winked an eyelid。 Now and then a burst of laughter would start from one end of the table； leap from chair to chair； and end in a deafening roar in which the whole room joined。 Each man was at his best。 Fred； with entire gravity； and with his sternest and most High Pan…Jam expression； told； just after the fish was served； a story of a negro cook at a camp so true to life and in so perfect a dialect that the right…hand blackamoor doubled himself up like a jack…knife； much to the astonishment of those on the far side of the big round table； who up to that moment had firmly believed them to be studio properties with ebony heads screwed on bodies of iron wire； the whole stuffed with curled hair。 Bianchi； Who had come in late； clothed in a Burgomaster's costume and the identical ruff that Oliver had expected to paint him in the night when the Countess took his place； was called to account for piecing out his dress with a pair of breeches a century behind his coat and hat； and had his voice drowned in a roar of protests before he could explain。
Batterson； the big baritone of the club； Batterson with the resonant voice； surpassed all his former efforts by singing； when the cheese and salads were served； a Bedouin love…song； with such power and pathos and to the accompaniment of a native instrument so skilfully handled that the room rose to its feet； waving napkins； and the great Carvalho； the famous tenora guest of Crug's； each member could invite one guestwho was singing that week at the Academy of Music； left his seat and； circling the table； threw his arms about the singer in undisguised admiration。
When the cigars and liqueurs had been passed aroundthese last were poured from bubble…blown decanters and drunk from the little cups flecked with gold that Munson had found in an old shop in Ravenna the chairs were wheeled about or pushed back； and t
