Of course I amwhy shouldnt I be? But, he said with impatience, I want help.
Very well then, thats what Lady Imbers giving you. And as it appeared to take him time to read into these words their full sense, she produced others, and so far did help himthough the effort was in a degree that of her exhibiting with some complacency her own unassisted control of stray signs and shy lights. By telling her, by bringing it home to her, that if shell make up her mind to accept you the Duchess will do the handsome thing. Handsome, I mean, by Kitty.
Lord John, appropriating for his convenience the truth in this, yet regarded it as open to a becoming, an improving touch from himself. Well, and by me. To which he added with more of a challenge in it: But you really know what my mother will do?
By my system, Lady Sandgate smiled, you see Ive guessed. What your mother will do is what brought you over!
Well, its that, he allowedand something else.
Something else? she derisively echoed. I should think that, for an ardent lover, would have been enough.
Ah, but its all one Job! I mean its one idea, he hastened to explainif you think Lady Imbers really acting on her.
Mightnt you go and see?
I would in a moment if I hadnt to look out for another matter too. And he renewed his attention to his watch. I mean getting straight at my American, the party I just mentioned
But she had already taken him up. You too have an American and a party, and yours also motors down?
Mr. Breckenridge Bender. Lord John named him with a shade of elation.
She gaped at the fuller light You know my Breckenridge?who I hoped was coming for me!
Lord John as freely, but more gaily, wondered. Had he told you so?
She held out, opened, the telegram she had kept folded in her hand since her entrance. He has sent me thatwhich, delivered to me ten minutes ago out there, has brought me in to receive him.
The young man read out this missive. Failing to find you in Bruton Street, start in pursuit and hope to overtake you about four. It did involve an ambiguity. Why, he has been engaged these three days to coincide with myself, and not to fail of him has been part of my business.
Lady Sandgate, in her demonstrative way, appealed to the general rich scene. Then why does he say its me hes pursuing?
He seemed to recognise promptly enough in her the sense of a menaced monopoly. My dear lady, hes pursuing expensive works of art.
By which you imply that Im one? She might have been wound up by her disappointment to almost any irony.
I implyor rather I affirmthat every handsome woman is! But what he arranged with me about, Lord John explained, was that he should see the Dedborough pictures in general and the great Sir Joshua in particularof which he had heard so much and to which Ive been thus glad to assist him.
This news, however, with its lively interest, but deepened the listeners mystification. Then whythis whole week that Ive been in the househasnt our good friend here mentioned to me his coming?
Because our good friend here has had no reasonLord John could treat it now as simple enough. Good as he is in all ways, hes so best of all about showing the house and its contents that I havent even thought necessary to write him that Im introducing Breckenridge.
I should have been happy to introduce him, Lady Sandgate just quaveredif I had at all known he wanted it.
Her companion weighed the difference between them and appeared to pronounce it a trifle he didnt care a fig for. I surrender you that privilege thenof presenting him to his hostif Ive seemed to you to snatch it from you. To which Lord John added, as with liberality unrestricted, But Ive been taking him about to see whats worth whileas only last week to Lady Lappingtons Longhi.
This revelation, though so casual in its form, fairly drew from Lady Sandgate, as she took it in, an interrogative wail. Her Longhi?
Why, dont you know her great Venetian family group, the What-do-you-call-ems?seven full-length figures, each one a gem, for which he paid her her price before he left the house.
She could but make it more richly resoundalmost stricken, lost in her wistful thought: Seven full-length figures? Her price?
Eight thousandslap down. Bender knows, said Lord John, what he wants.
And does he want onlyher wonder grew and grew
What-do-you-call-ems?
He most usually wants what he cant have. Lord John made scarce more of it than that. But, awfully hard up as I fancy her, Lady Lappington went at him.
It determined in his friend a boldly critical attitude. How horribleat the rate things are leaving us! But this was far from the end of her interest. And is that the way he pays?
Before he leaves the house? Lord John lived it amusedly over. Well, she took care of that.
How incredibly vulgar! It all had, however, for Lady Sandgate, still other connectionswhich might have attenuated Lady Lappingtons case, though she didnt glance at this. He makes the most scandalous eyesthe ruffian!at my great-grandmother. And then as richly to enlighten any blankness: My tremendous Lawrence, dont you know?in her wedding-dress, down to her knees; with such extraordinarily speaking eyes, such lovely arms and hands, such wonderful flesh-tints: universally considered the masterpiece of the artist.
Lord John seemed to look a moment not so much at the image evoked, in which he wasnt interested, as at certain possibilities lurking behind it. And are you going to sell the masterpiece of the artist?
She held her head high. Ive indignantly refusedfor all his pressing me so hard.
Yet thats what he nevertheless pursues you to-day to keep up?
The question had a little the ring of those of which the occupant of a witness-box is mostly the subject, but Lady Sandgate was so far as this went an imperturbable witness. I need hardly fear it perhaps ifin the light of what you tell me of your arrangement with himhis pursuit becomes, where I am concerned, a figure of speech.
Oh, Lord John returned, he kills two birds with one stonehe sees both Sir Joshua and you.
This version of the case had its effect, for the moment, on his fair associate. Does he want to buy their pride and glory?
The young man, however, struck on his own side, became at first but the bright reflector of her thought. Is that wonder for sale?
She closed her eyes as with the shudder of hearing such words. Not, surely, by any monstrous chance! Fancy dear, proud Theign!
I cant fancy himno! And Lord John appeared to renounce the effort. But a cat may look at a king and a sharp funny Yankee at anything.
These things might be, Lady Sandgates face and gesture apparently signified; but another question diverted her. Youre clearly a wonderful showman, but do you mind my asking you whether youre on such an occasion awell, a closely interested one?
Interested? he echoed; though it wasnt to gain time, he showed, for he would in that case have taken more. To the extent, you mean, of my little percentage? And then as in silence she but kept a slightly grim smile on him: Why do you ask ifwith your high delicacy about your great-grandmotheryouve nothing to place?