Dick Merriwell Abroad Part 16

It's really scandalous! What would Mrs. Gunn say if she ever heard of this?"

"Oh, goodness! She'd have a fit!" confessed Zenas. "Bring that candle instantly! How in the world did this candle happen to go out?"

"Oh, I think you know how it happened," laughed Merriwell.

"On my word I don't!" declared Gunn. "I believe that reprobate Buckhart did it!"

"But he didn't compel you to attempt to kiss the girl in the dark."

"Oh, murder! I never touched her! She was frightened. She clung to me for protection."

"Oh, all right," said d.i.c.k; but his tone and manner seemed to indicate that he knew better and could not be fooled by such an explanation.

Zenas shook his fist at d.i.c.k in great excitement.

"If you dare hint that I was trying to kiss her, I'll-I'll-I'll--"

He seemed unable to find words with which to complete the threat, and so he turned to the maid, anxiously urging her to attest that he had done nothing of the sort.

Behind the professor's back d.i.c.k winked and nodded at her, making signs she understood.

"Why, sir," she said, falling in with the joke, "Hi don't hexactly suppose you hactually meant to kiss me, sir; but--"

"There it is professor-there it is!" cried d.i.c.k, while Buckhart laughed aloud. "She confesses that you really did do it, although she tries to shield you by saying it was an accident."

"She didn't confess anything of the sort!" palpitated Zenas, actually dancing in his excitement. "You're twisting her language, you rascal!

You're perverting her meaning! You're trying to ruin my reputation!"

"If she hadn't said so with her own lips-the lips you tried to--"

"Stop it! stop it!" implored Zenas. "If you respect me in the least, I implore you to stop it! If you ever hint that such a thing happened, if you ever breathe a suggestion of it in the presence of my wife, I'll--"

"Now, don't threaten me," said d.i.c.k reproachfully. "You know I'm your friend, and even though I have been saddened to know of your disreputable behavior, I'll remain silent as the grave concerning it.

Even though I may deplore your inclination to get gay with the girls, I'll bury the black secret in my heart and never breathe a word of it to your lovely, delicate and trusting wife."

"Lovely! Delicate!" gasped the old pedagogue.

"Don't say a word against her, sir!" exclaimed d.i.c.k, with a pretense of righteous indignation. "She remains at home and permits you to travel abroad for your health, little dreaming that, while she thus sacrifices herself for your sake, you are carrying on scandalously with every pretty girl you meet."

Zenas threw up his hands in despair, the expression on his face being so laughable that Buckhart with difficulty kept himself from roaring.

"I didn't dream you could say such things of me, Richard!" groaned the old man.

"And I didn't dream you would cut up so among the girls. Of course, I'll keep still about it, and Brad will never say a word, but still it may leak out. It may get into the newspapers. You know there are representatives of the yellow journals of America in London. They may hear of it. It will make a breezy bit of scandal-a juicy morsel-for them. How would this sound in one of their papers: 'Professor Gunn Gets Gay With the Girls. Giddy Old Chap, Traveling in England, Tickles the Chambermaids--'"

With a genuine shriek of horror, Professor Gunn dropped on a chair.

"Stop! stop!" he yelled. "You'll drive me to suicide!"

"But you know it may get into the papers," d.i.c.k went on. "As I said, neither Brad nor myself will say anything about it."

"Then how can it get out?"

"Why, the girl you tried to kiss may--"

"Never tried it-never!"

"Well, the girl who says you tried to kiss her--"

"Who says you did kiss her-by accident," put in the boy from Texas.

"I stand corrected, and I accept the correction." said d.i.c.k. "The girl who says you did kiss her by accident may happen to speak of it to other tourists. She may mention your name. It's not unlikely some of those tourists may be newspaper men. If they are not, they may be friends of newspaper men. They may see an opportunity of making a good, spicy item out of it. Oh, there are ways enough for it to get into the American papers."

"How can I prevent it?" groaned the tortured old fellow.

"Why, you might fix it with the girl," answered d.i.c.k, again giving the maid a significant wink. "She's a poor girl, but she's honest and kind-hearted. She wouldn't like to ruin you, and she'll keep still-for an inducement."

"Ow, Hi couldn't think hof it--" began the girl.

Thinking she meant that she could not think of keeping still, Zenas sprang to his feet, cold perspiration starting out on his pale face.

"I implore you! I beseech you!" he cried. "I'm an honorable man, and I hold a position of trust and responsibility in America. If this thing gets into the American papers I'm ruined. Here, my dear girl, take this-take it and remain silent-for my sake."

Eagerly he thrust a pound note into her hand.

"Ow, you hare so kind, sir-so very kind, sir!" she t.i.ttered, bobbing him a bow. "Hi'm ownly a poor girl, and Hi thank you for being so hawfully kind to me, sir. If there's hanything Hi can do for you, sir, while you are 'ere--"

"You can," said Zenas solemnly.

"You may depend hon me, sir. What is it?"

"Keep away from this room. Don't come near it while I remain in the house. If you do these boys will see something further that is improper.

Go at once. Every moment you remain adds to my peril. Go!"

"Very well, sir. Hi 'opes you 'ave a pleasant time while 'ere, sir. Hi 'opes you henjoy your supper and your night's rest, sir. Good night, sir."

Bobbing a bow to each of them in turn, she smilingly left the room.

CHAPTER XI.

THE SPANIARD AGAIN.

"I don't think you're really to blame, professor," said d.i.c.k. "Indeed, I have often wondered in the past how you succeeded in warding off the attacks of the fair s.e.x, who are continually besieging you. No one is to blame if he happens to be attractive and fascinating to women."

The old fellow brightened up a little.