登陆注册
20052000000030

第30章 CHAPTER XI(3)

Mrs. Hopkinson looked as dignifiedly at Gashwiler as was consistent with five feet three (the extra three inches being a pyramidal structure of straw-colored hair), a frond of faint curls, a pair of laughing blue eyes, and a small belted waist. Then she said, with a casting down of her lids:

"You forget that my husband loves me." And for once the minx appeared to look penitent. It was becoming; but as it had been originally practiced in a simple white dress, relieved only with pale-blue ribbons, it was not entirely in keeping with be-flounced lavender and rose-colored trimmings. Yet the woman who hesitates between her moral expression and the harmony of her dress is lost.

And Mrs. Hopkinson was victrix by her very audacity.

Mr. Gashwiler was flattered. The most dissolute man likes the appearance of virtue. "But graces and accomplishments like yours, dear Mrs. Hopkinson," he said oleaginously, "belong to the whole country." Which, with something between a courtesy and a strut, he endeavored to represent. "And I shall want to avail myself of all," he added, "in the matter of the Castro claim. A little supper at Welcker's, a glass or two of champagne, and a single flash of those bright eyes, and the thing is done."

"But," said Mrs. Hopkinson, "I've promised Josiah that I would give up all those frivolities, and although my conscience is clear, you know how people talk! Josiah hears it. Why, only last night, at a reception at the Patagonian Minister's, every woman in the room gossiped about me because I led the german with him. As if a married woman, whose husband was interested in the Government, could not be civil to the representative of a friendly power?"

Mr. Gashwiler did not see how Mr. Hopkinson's late contract for supplying salt pork and canned provisions to the army of the United States should make his wife susceptible to the advances of foreign princes; but he prudently kept that to himself. Still, not being himself a diplomat, he could not help saying:

"But I understood that Mr. Hopkinson did not object to your interesting yourself in this claim, and you know some of the stock--"

The lady started, and said:

"Stock! Dear Mr. Gashwiler, for Heaven's sake don't mention that hideous name to me. Stock, I am sick of it! Have you gentlemen no other topic for a lady?"

She punctuated her sentence with a mischievous look at her interlocutor. For a second time I regret to say that Mr. Gashwiler succumbed. The Roman constituency at Remus, it is to be hoped, were happily ignorant of this last defection of their great legislator. Mr. Gashwiler instantly forgot his theme,--began to ply the lady with a certain bovine-like gallantry, which it is to be said to her credit she parried with a playful, terrier-like dexterity, when the servant suddenly announced, "Mr. Wiles."

Gashwiler started. Not so Mrs. Hopkinson, who, however, prudently and quietly removed her own chair several inches from Gashwiler's.

"Do you know Mr. Wiles?" she asked pleasantly.

"No! That is, I--ah--yes, I may say I have had some business relations with him," responded Gashwiler rising.

"Won't you stay?" she added pleadingly. "Do!"

Mr. Gashwiler's prudence always got the better of his gallantry.

"Not now," he responded in some nervousness. "Perhaps I had better go now, in view of what you have just said about gossip. You need not mention my name to this-er--this--Mr. Wiles." And with one eye on the door, and an awkward dash of his lips at the lady's fingers, he withdrew.

There was no introductory formula to Mr. Wiles's interview. He dashed at once in medias res. "Gashwiler knows a woman that, he says, can help us against that Spanish girl who is coming here with proofs, prettiness, fascination, and what not! You must find her out."

"Why?" asked the lady laughingly.

"Because I don't trust that Gashwiler. A woman with a pretty face and an ounce of brains could sell him out; aye, and US with him."

"Oh, say TWO ounces of brains. Mr. Wiles, Mr. Gashwiler is no fool."

"Possibly, except when your sex is concerned, and it is very likely that the woman is his superior."

"I should think so," said Mrs. Hopkinson with a mischievous look.

"Ah, you know her, then?"

"Not so well as I know him," said Mrs. H. quite seriously. "I wish I did."

"Well, you'll find out if she's to be trusted! You are laughing,--it is a serious matter! This woman--"

Mrs. Hopkinson dropped him a charming courtesy and said, "C'est moi!"

同类推荐
  • 太上说南斗六司延寿度人妙经

    太上说南斗六司延寿度人妙经

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • The Autobiography

    The Autobiography

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 子渊诗集

    子渊诗集

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 金锁玉关

    金锁玉关

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 佛说大集会正法经

    佛说大集会正法经

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
热门推荐
  • 毛对山医话

    毛对山医话

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 网游之瓦罗兰编年史

    网游之瓦罗兰编年史

    德玛西亚的光辉照耀在大陆之上;诺克萨斯的崛起也出现在了当下。第一次符文战争的硝烟没有散去,第二次符文战争的阴影却又再度来袭。现在的和平来之不易,唯有牢记历史,才能阔步前进!
  • 海盗联盟

    海盗联盟

    带着圣旨口的少年,十五岁时被人诬陷为盗贼而遭到除族;在越南战场上,他为西山政权出生入死抗击法国人训练下的南越军队;在东南沿海建立起世界上最大的海盗联盟,然而,他不想做盟主,他要当皇帝。
  • 路过谁家倾城

    路过谁家倾城

    青春是一本书,我们一路奔跑,一边哭一边闹。或许成长会有痛,但是在这场名为青春的路上,有你,我很幸福。
  • 炼尸为仙

    炼尸为仙

    作为备用肉身的李凌,机缘之下,竟然变成了僵尸!身为异类,就会受到追杀,以替天行道的名义,夺其元气,占其肉身,即便是强如铁云,依然难逃厄运。为求自保,李凌冒充人类拜入人类宗派。强大的对手,身份的危机,背后的冷箭,注定他走上了一条艰难的道路,只是他已不能回头。唯有自强,与天争,与地争,与人争,争出一条通天大道!
  • 化蝶之死在美人怀

    化蝶之死在美人怀

    能遇见就是缘,哪怕就匆匆一眼,我们注定要相爱;不会变。。只是无命在爱。《化蝶之死在美人怀》____作者:孤影单单淡淡希望你们会喜欢。
  • 黑道总裁心尖的小甜心

    黑道总裁心尖的小甜心

    我叫顾婉儿之前叫田晓棠,听母亲大人说我是天上赐下来的宝,可在我三岁时,我看见爸爸拿着水果刀刺向妈妈的心脏,我的眼睛框红了,我的眼珠从黄的变成红色的宝石,头发变了,变成白的,我在心里想一定给妈妈复仇,我去了死亡黑色林带了八年,变得没人性开始冰冷起来,也成了世界有名的女强人,我以为我会一直冰冷没人性,可却出现了一个黑道总裁,发什么敬请期待。
  • 空间重生:最强女学霸

    空间重生:最强女学霸

    重生到异世,林雪变成了一个191.2斤的肥妹子!这简直不能忍!天啊,她竟然得到了一个脂腔空间!一个以吸收脂肪来升级的空间!!于是她身上的110斤脂肪瞬间就被吸收得干干净净!天啊,真是一秒变美女!对了!她有了脂肪空间,可以开一家专门减肥的美容院!--“这个同学好漂亮,咦,竟是我们班的?不会吧,以前怎么没见过?”“天啊,这个竟然是林雪,搞没搞错!是那个肥妞?!!”“快捏捏我的脸,我是做梦吧!眼前这漂亮水嫩的嫩妹子怎么会跟那土肥圆林雪重名?!”——肥妹子逆袭归来,闪瞎众人的眼睛!“全校第一,天啊,林雪你好厉害啊!”“什么,含笑半步颠是你的笔名?天啊,你就是XX网大神么!”
  • 鱼纹身的女孩

    鱼纹身的女孩

    本书由15 篇惊悚悬疑短篇小说组成,运用了电影的手法,更生动的用文字呈现画面,营造紧张气氛。描写了现代都市喧嚣角落最离奇诡异的故事,黑色树林、鱼纹身的少女、能不能不要再撒谎的女孩、史上最恐怖的坟墓等众多利器故事。《鱼纹身的女孩》是作者庄秦魔幻现实主义经典代表作,带来最具东方色彩的悬疑惊悚震撼!
  • 萌尊囧探

    萌尊囧探

    他是宋朝开国年间最年轻的异性亲王,因太后凤体违和,他便被皇帝派遣前往江湖寻找活命神药還魂丹,那个刁蛮却美艳的魔女丫头。他们初次见面就如同冰山烈火他们除贪官,揍人贩,拯救卖身孩童,赈济河南灾民。回京城的路途中,他们在偶然间听闻市井有人谈论那传说中的时空穿梭轮盘,并在找到后穿梭轮先后穿越到了现代的上海,他从而也闹出了非常多的啼笑皆非囧事。此间,他们又结实了清朝不死侍郎,一起灭僵尸,盗古墓,挖帝王陵,解千年迷底,破国际重案,决战世界黑帮,收复东欧各国的情报神将用以匡扶正义,保卫世界和平。现在就让我们一起聆听他和她们之间的爱恨情仇,从而让我们知道什么是疯狂魔女,什么是美女教官,什么冷艳