the fortunes of oliver horn-第81章
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d the members and guests rose from the table and drifted to the divans lining the walls； or threw themselves into the easy…chairs that were being brought from the corners by the waiters。 The piano； with the assistance of the two now crest… fallen and disappointed blackamoors； who； Eurydice like； had listened and lost； was pushed from its place against the wall； Crug's 'cello was stripped of its green baize bag and Simmons's violin…case opened and his Stradivarius placed beside it。 The big table； bearing the wreck of the feast； more captivating even in its delightful disorder than it had been in its orderly confusion； was then； with the combined help of all the Malays； moved gently back against the wall； so as to widen the space around the piano； its debris left undisturbed by special orders from the Royal Chair； the rattling of dishes while their fun was in progress being one of the things which the club would not tolerate。
While all this rearranging of the banquet…hall was going on； Simmons was busying himself putting a new bridge under the strings of his violin； tightening its bow； and testing the condition of his instrument by that see…saw； harum…scarum flourish so common to all virtuosos；no function of the club was ever complete without musicthe men meanwhile settled themselves comfortably in their seats； some occupying their old chairs； others taking possession of the divans； the gay costumes of the members； and the black coats and white shirt…fronts of the guests in high relief against the wrecked dinner…table presenting a picture as rich in color as it was strong in contrast。
What is so significant； by the way； or so picturesque； as a dinner…table wrecked by good cheer and hospitality？ The stranded； crumpled napkins； the bunching together of half and wholly emptied glasses； each one marking a period of contentthe low candles； with half dried tears still streaming down their cheeks （tears of laughter； of course）； the charming disorder of cups on plates and the piling up of dishes one on the otherall such a protest against the formality of the beginning！ and all so suggestive of the lavish kindness of the host。 A wonderful object…lesson is a wrecked dinner…table； if one cares to study it。
Silence now fell upon the room； the slightest noise when Simmons played being an unpardonable sin。 The waiters were ordered either to become part of the wall decoration or to betake themselves to the outside hall； or the infernal regions； a suggestion of Waller's when one of them rattled some glasses he was carrying on a tray。
Simmons tucked a handkerchief in the band of his collar； balanced his bow for an instant； looked around the room； and asked； in a modest； obliging way：
〃What shall it be； fellows？〃
〃Better give us Bach。 The aria on the G strings；〃 answered Waller。
〃No； Chopin；〃 cried Fred。
〃No； you wooden…head； Bach's aria；〃 whispered Waller。 〃Don't you know that is the best thing he does？〃
〃Bach it is then；〃 answered Simmons； tucking his instrument under his chin。
As the music filled the room； Richard settled himself on one of the large divans between Nathan and Oliver； his head lying back on the cushions； his eyes half closed。 If the table with its circle of thoughtful and merry faces； had set his brain to work； the tones of Simmons's violin had now stirred his very soul。 Music was the one thing in the world he could not resist。
He had never heard the aria better played。 He had no idea that anyone since Ole Bull's time could play it so well。 Really； the surprises of this wonderful city were becoming greater to him every hour。 Nathan； too； had caught the infection as he sat with his body bent forward； his head on one side listening intently。
When the last note of Simmons's violin had ceased vibrating； Richard sprang to his feet with all the buoyancy of a boy and grasped the musician by the hand。
〃My dear sir； you really astound me！ Your tone is most exquisite； and I must also thank you for the rendering。 It is one quite new to me。 Ole Bull played it； you rememberexcuse me；〃 and he picked up Simmons's violin where he had laid it on the piano； tucked it under his chin； and there vibrated through the room； half a dozen quivering notes； so clear and sweet that all eyes were instantly directed toward the quaint old gentleman； who still stood with uplifted bow； the violin in his hand。
〃Where the devil did he learn to play like that？〃 said one member to another。 〃Why I thought he was an inventor。〃
〃Keep your toes in your pumps； gentlemen；〃 said Waller under his breath to some men beside him； as he sat hunched up in the depths of an old Spanish armchair。 He had not taken his eyes from Richard while the music went on。 〃We're not half through with this old fellow。 One thing I've found out； any howthat's where this beggar Horn got his voice。〃
Simmons was not so astounded； if he were he did not show it。 He had recognized the touch of a musician in the very first note that came from the strings； just as the painters of the club had recognized the artist in the first line of the Countess's brush。
〃Yes； you're right； Mr。 Horn；〃 said Simmons； as Richard returned him the instrument。 〃Now I come to think of it； I do remember having heard Ole Bull phrase it in that way you have。 Stop a moment； take my violin again and play the air。 There's another instrument here which I can use。 I brought it for one of my orchestra； but he has not turned up yet；〃 and he opened a cabinet behind him and took out a violin and bow。
Richard laughed as he again picked up Simmons's instrument from the piano where he had laid it。
〃What an。 extraordinary place this is；〃 he said as he adjusted the maestro's violin to his chin。 〃It fills me with wonder。 Everything you want seems to be within reach of your hand。 You take a bare room and transform it into a dream of beauty； you touch a spring in a sixteenth century cabinet； and out comes a violin。 Marvellous！ Marvellous！〃 and he sounded the strings with his bow。 〃And a wonderful instrument too；〃 he continued； as he tightened one of its strings； his acute ear having detected a slight inaccuracy of pitch。
〃I'm all ready； Mr。 Simmons； now； if you please。〃
If the club and its guests had forgotten the old gentleman an hour before； the old gentleman had now quite forgotten them。
He played simply and easily； Simmons joining in； picking out the accompaniment； entirely unaware that anybody was listening； as unaware as he would have been had only the white…haired mistress been present； and perhaps Malachi stepping noiselessly in and out。 When he ceased； and the audience had broken out into exclamations of delight； he looked about him as if surprised； and then； suddenly remembering the cause of it all； said； in a low； gentle voice； and with a pleasant smile： 〃I don't wonder you're delighted； gentlemen。 It is to me the most divine of all his creations。 There is only one Bach。〃 That his hand had held the bow and that the merit of its expression lay with him； never seemed to have entered his head。
When the applause had died out； and Oliver with the others had crowded around his father to congratulate him； the young fellow's eyes fell upon Nathan； who was still sitting on the long divan； his head resting against the wall； his trembling legs crossed one over the other； the thin hands in his lapRichard's skill was a never…ending delight to Nathan； and he had not lost a note that his bow had called out。 The flute…player had kept so quiet since the music had begun； and had become so much a part of the decorations like one of the old chairs with its arms held out； or a white…faced bust staring from out a dark corner； or some portrait that looked down from the tapestries and held its peacethat almost everyone had forgotten his presence。
The attitude of the old manalways a pathetic one； brought back to Oliver's mind some memory from out his boyhood days。 Suddenly a forgotten strain from Nathan's flute floated through his brain； some strain that had vibrated through the old rooms in Kennedy Square。 Springing to his feet and tip… toeing to the door； he passed between the two men in armorrather tired knights by this time； but still on dutyran down the carpeted hall betwe
