FullReads

“The Gasthof zum Wilden Manne.”

“And what does Wildun Manny mean?”

“The Sign of the Savage, we should make it, I suppose,–the Wild Man.”

“Well, I don’t know whether it was named after me or not; but if I’d found that sign anywhere for the last four or five hours, I should have known it for home. There hasn’t been any wilder man in Vienna since the town was laid out, I reckon; and I don’t believe there ever was a wilder woman anywhere than Mrs. Kenton is at this instant.”

Arrived at the Sign of the Savage, Colonel Kenton left his friend below with the portier, and mounting the stairs three steps at a time flew to his room. Flinging open the door, he beheld his wife dressed in one of her best silks, before the mirror, bestowing some last prinks, touching her back hair with her hand and twitching the bow at her throat into perfect place. She smiled at him in the glass, and said, “Where’s Captain Davis?”

“Captain Davis?” gasped the colonel, dry-tongued with anxiety and fatigue. “Oh! He’s down there. He’ll be up directly.”

She turned and came forward to him: “How do you like it?” Then she advanced near enough to encounter the moustache: “Why, how heated and tired you look!”

“Yes, yes,–we’ve been walking. I–I’m rather late, ain’t I, Bessie?”

“About an hour. I ordered dinner at six, and it’s nearly seven now.” The colonel started; he had not dared to look at his watch, and he had supposed it must be about ten o’clock; it seemed years since his search for the hotel had begun. But he said nothing; he felt that in some mysterious and unmerited manner Heaven was having mercy upon him, and he accepted the grace in the sneaking way we all accept mercy. “I knew you’d stay longer than you expected, when you found it was Davis.”

“How did you know it was Davis?” asked the colonel, blindly feeling his way.

Mrs. Kenton picked up her Almanach de Gotha. “It has all the consular and diplomatic corps in it.”

“I won’t laugh at it any more,” said the colonel, humbly. “Weren’t you–uneasy, Bessie?”

“No. I mended away, here, and fussed round the whole afternoon, putting the trunks to rights; and I got out this dress and ran a bit of lace into the collar; and then I ordered dinner, for I knew you’d bring the captain; and I took a nap, and by that it was nearly dinner-time.”

“Oh!” said the colonel.

“Yes; and the head-waiter was as polite as peas; they’ve all been very attentive. I shall certainly recommend everybody to the Kaiserin Elisabeth.”

“Yes,” assented the wretched man. “I reckon it’s about the best hotel in Vienna.”

“Well, now, go and get Captain Davis. You can bring him right in here; we’re only travellers. Why, what makes you act so queerly? Has anything happened?” Mrs. Kenton was surprised to find herself gathered into her husband’s arms and embraced with a rapture for which she could see no particular reason.

“Bessie,” said her husband, “I told you this morning that you were amiable as well as bright and beautiful; I now wish to add that you are sensible. I’m awfully ashamed of being gone so long. But the fact is we had a little accident. Our sleigh broke down out in the country, and we had to walk back.”

“Oh, you poor old fellow! No wonder you look tired.”

He accepted the balm of her compassion like a candid and innocent man: “Yes, it was pretty rough. But I didn’t mind it, except on your account. I thought the delay would make you uneasy.” With that he went out to the head of the stairs and called, “Davis!”

“Yes!” responded the consul; and he ascended the stairs in such trepidation that he tripped and fell part of the way up.

“Have you been saying anything to that man about my going away?”

“No, I’ve simply been blowing him up on the fiacre driver’s account. He swears they are innocent of collusion. But of course they’re not.”