第79章

They dined together, and quite late in the evening they strolled out into St James's Park.There was nobody in London, and there was nothing for either of them to do, and therefore they agreed to walk round the park, dark and gloomy as they knew the park would be.Lopez had seen and had quite understood the bitterness of spirit by which Everett had been oppressed, and with that peculiarly imperturbable good humour which made part of his character bore it all, even with tenderness.He was a man, as are many of his race, who could bear contradictions, unjust suspicions, and social ill-treatment without a shadow of resentment, but who, if he had a purpose, could carry it without a shadow of a scruple.Everett Wharton had on this occasion made himself very unpleasant, and Lopez had borne with him as an angel would hardly have done; but should Wharton ever stand in his friend's way, his friend would sacrifice him without compunction.

As it was Lopez bore with him, simply noting in his own mind that Everett Wharton was a greater ass than he had taken him to be.

It was Wharton's idea that they should walk around the park, and Lopez for a time had discouraged the suggestion.'It is a wretchedly dark place at night, and you don't know whom you may meet there.'

'You don't mean to say that you are afraid to walk round St James's Park with me because it's dark!' said Wharton.

'I certainly should be afraid by myself, but I don't know that Iam afraid with you.But what's the good?'

'It's better than sitting here doing nothing, without a soul to speak to.I've already smoked half-a-dozen cigars, till I'm so muddled I don't' know what I'm about.It's so hot one can't walk in the day, and this is just the time for the exercise.' Lopez yielded, being willing to yield in almost anything at present to the brother of Emily Wharton; and though the thing seemed to him to be very foolish, they entered the park by St James's Palace, and started to walk round it, turning to the right and going in front of Buckingham Palace.As they went on Wharton still continued his accusation against his father, and said also some sharp things against Lopez himself, till his companion began to think that the wine he had drunk had been as bad as the cigars.

'I can't understand your wanting to go into Parliament,' he said.

'What do you know about it?'

'If I get there, I can learn like anybody else, I suppose.'

'Half of those who go there don't learn.They are, as it were, born to it, and they do very well to support this party or that.'

'And why shouldn't I support this party,--or that?'

'I don't suppose you know which party you would support,--except that you'd vote for the Duke, if, as I suppose, you are to get in under the Duke's influence.If I went into the House I should go with a fixed and settled purpose of my own.'

'I'm not there yet,' said Lopez, willing to drop the subject.

'It will be a great expense to you, and will stand altogether in the way of your profession.As far as Emily is concerned, Ishould think my father would be dead against it.'

'Then he would be unreasonable.'

'Not at all, if he thought you would injure your professional prospects.It is a d-d piece of folly; that's the long and the short of it.

This certainly was very uncivil, and it almost made Lopez angry.

But he had made up his mind that his friend was a little the worse for the wine he had drunk, and therefore he did not resent even this.'Never mind politics and Parliament now,' he said, 'but let us get home.I am beginning to be sick of this.It's so awfully dark, and whenever I do hear a step, I think somebody is coming to rob us.Let us get on a bit.'

'What the deuce are you afraid of?' said Everett.They had then come up the greater part of the length of the Birdcage Walk, and the lights on Storey's Gate were just visible, but the road on which they were then walking was very dark.The trees were black over their heads, and not a step was heard near them.At this time it was just midnight.Now, certainly, among the faults which might be justly attributed to Lopez, personal cowardice could not be reckoned.On this evening he had twice spoken of being afraid, but the fear had simply been that which ordinary caution indicates; and his object had been that of hindering Wharton in the first place from coming into the park, and then of getting him out of it as quickly as possible.

'Come along,' said Lopez.

'By George, you are in a blue funk,' said the other.'I can hear your teeth chattering.' Lopez, who was beginning to be angry, walked on and said nothing.It was too absurd, he thought, for real anger, but he kept a little in front of Wharton, intending to show that he was displeased.'You had better run away at once,' said Wharton.

'Upon my word.I shall begin to think you're tipsy,' said Lopez.

'Tipsy!' said the other.'How dare you say such a thing to me?

You never in your life say me in the least altered by anything Ihad drunk.'

Lopez knew that at any rate this was untrue.'I've seen you as drunk as Cloe before now,' said he.

'That's a lie,' said Wharton.

'Come, Wharton,' said the other, 'do not disgrace yourself by conduct such as that.Something has put you out, and you do not know what you are saying.I can hardly imagine that you should wish to insult me.'

'It was you insulted me.You said I was drunk.When you said it you knew it was untrue.'

Lopez walked on a little way in silence, thinking over this most absurd quarrel.Then he turned round and spoke.'This is all the greatest nonsense I have ever heard in the world.I'll go on and go to bed, and to-morrow morning you'll think better of it.

But pray remember that under no circumstances should you call a man a liar, unless on cool consideration you are determined to quarrel with him for lying, and determined also to see the quarrel out.'

'I am quite ready to see this quarrel out.'