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Eugene Pickering
by Henry James
CHAPTER I。
It was at Homburg； several years ago； before the gaming had been
suppressed。 The evening was very warm； and all the world was
gathered on the terrace of the Kursaal and the esplanade below it to
listen to the excellent orchestra； or half the world； rather； for the
crowd was equally dense in the gaming…rooms around the tables。
Everywhere the crowd was great。 The night was perfect； the season
was at its height； the open windows of the Kursaal sent long shafts
of unnatural light into the dusky woods； and now and then； in the
intervals of the music； one might almost hear the clink of the
napoleons and the metallic call of the croupiers rise above the
watching silence of the saloons。 I had been strolling with a friend；
and we at last prepared to sit down。 Chairs； however； were scarce。
I had captured one； but it seemed no easy matter to find a mate for
it。 I was on the point of giving up in despair； and proposing an
adjournment to the silken ottomans of the Kursaal； when I observed a
young man lounging back on one of the objects of my quest； with his
feet supported on the rounds of another。 This was more than his
share of luxury； and I promptly approached him。 He evidently
belonged to the race which has the credit of knowing best； at home
and abroad； how to make itself comfortable； but something in his
appearance suggested that his present attitude was the result of
inadvertence rather than of egotism。 He was staring at the conductor
of the orchestra and listening intently to the music。 His hands were
locked round his long legs； and his mouth was half open； with rather
a foolish air。 〃There are so few chairs；〃 I said； 〃that I must beg
you to surrender this second one。〃 He started； stared； blushed；
pushed the chair away with awkward alacrity； and murmured something
about not having noticed that he had it。
〃What an odd…looking youth！〃 said my companion； who had watched me；
as I seated myself beside her。
〃Yes； he is odd…looking； but what is odder still is that I have seen
him before； that his face is familiar to me； and yet that I can't
place him。〃 The orchestra was playing the Prayer from Der
Freischutz； but Weber's lovely music only deepened the blank of
memory。 Who the deuce was he？ where； when； how； had I known him？ It
seemed extraordinary that a face should be at once so familiar and so
strange。 We had our backs turned to him； so that I could not look at
him again。 When the music ceased we left our places； and I went to
consign my friend to her mamma on the terrace。 In passing； I saw
that my young man had departed； I concluded that he only strikingly
resembled some one I knew。 But who in the world was it he resembled？
The ladies went off to their lodgings； which were near by； and I
turned into the gaming…rooms and hovered about the circle at
roulette。 Gradually I filtered through to the inner edge； near the
table； and； looking round； saw my puzzling friend stationed opposite
to me。 He was watching the game； with his hands in his pockets； but
singularly enough； now that I observed him at my leisure； the look of
familiarity quite faded from his face。 What had made us call his
appearance odd was his great length and leanness of limb； his long；
white neck； his blue； prominent eyes； and his ingenuous； unconscious
absorption in the scene before him。 He was not handsome； certainly；
but he looked peculiarly amiable and if his overt wonderment savoured
a trifle of rurality； it was an agreeable contrast to the hard；
inexpressive masks about him。 He was the verdant offshoot； I said to
myself； of some ancient； rigid stem； he had been brought up in the
quietest of homes； and he was having his first glimpse of life。 I
was curious to see whether he would put anything on the table； he
evidently felt the temptation； but he seemed paralysed by chronic
embarrassment。 He stood gazing at the chinking complexity of losses
and gains； shaking his loose gold in his pocket； and every now and
then passing his hand nervously over his eyes。
Most of the spectators were too attentive to the play to have many
thoughts for each other； but before long I noticed a lady who
evidently had an eye for her neighbours as well as for the table。
She was seated about half…way between my friend and me； and I
presently observed that she was trying to catch his eye。 Though at
Homburg； as people said； 〃one could never be sure；〃 I yet doubted
whether this lady were one of those whose especial vocation it was to
catch a gentleman's eye。 She was youthful rather than elderly； and
pretty rather than plain； indeed； a few minutes later； when I saw her
smile； I thought her wonderfully pretty。 She had a charming gray eye
and a good deal of yellow hair disposed in picturesque disorder； and
though her features were meagre and her complexion faded； she gave
one a sense of sentimental； artificial gracefulness。 She was dressed
in white muslin very much puffed and filled； but a trifle the worse
for wear； relieved here and there by a pale blue ribbon。 I used to
flatter myself on guessing at people's nationality by their faces；
and； as a rule； I guessed aright。 This faded； crumpled； vaporous
beauty； I conceived； was a Germansuch a German； somehow； as I had
seen imagined in literature。 Was she not a friend of poets； a
correspondent of philosophers； a muse； a priestess of aesthetics
something in the way of a Bettina； a Rahel？ My conjectures； however；
were speedily merged in wonderment as to what my diffident friend was
making of her。 She caught his eye at last； and raising an ungloved
hand； covered altogether with blue…gemmed ringsturquoises；
sapphires； and lapisshe beckoned him to come to her。 The gesture
was executed with a sort of practised coolness； and accompanied with
an appealing smile。 He stared a moment； rather blankly； unable to
suppose that the invitation was addressed to him； then； as it was
immediately repeated with a good deal of intensity； he blushed to the
roots of his hair； wavered awkwardly； and at last made his way to the
lady's chair。 By the time he reached it he was crimson； and wiping
his forehead with his pocket…handkerchief。 She tilted back； looked
up at him with the same smile； laid two fingers on his sleeve； and
said something； interrogatively； to which he replied by a shake of
the head。 She was asking him； evidently； if he had ever played； and
he was saying no。 Old players have a fancy that when luck has turned
her back on them they can put her into good…humour again by having
their stakes placed by a novice。 Our young man's physiognomy had
seemed to his new acquaintance to express the perfection of
inexperience； and； like a practical woman； she had determined to make
him serve her turn。 Unlike most of her neighbours； she had no little
pile of gold before her； but she drew from her pocket a double
napoleon； put it into his hand； and bade him place it on a number of
his own choosing。 He was evidently filled with a sort of delightful
trouble； he enjoyed the adventure； but he shrank from the hazard。 I
would have staked the coin on its being his companion's last； for
although she still smiled intently as she watched his hesitation；
there was anything but indifference in her pale； pretty face。
Suddenly； in desperation； he reached over and laid the piece on the
table。 My attention was diverted at this moment by my having to make
way for a lady with a great many flounces； before me； to give up her
chair to a rustling friend to whom she had promised it； when I again
looked across at the lady in white muslin； she was drawing in a very
goodly pile of gold with her little blue…gemmed claw。 Good luck and
bad； at the Homburg tables； were equally undemonstrative； and this
happy adventuress rewarded her young friend for the sacrifice of his
innocence with a single； rapid； upward smile。 He had innocence
enough left； however； to look round the table with a gleeful；
conscious laugh； in the midst of which his eyes encountered my own。
Then suddenly the familiar look which had vanished from his face
flickered up unmistakably； it was the boyish laugh of a boyhood's
friend。 Stupid fellow that I was； I had been looking at Eugene
Pickering！
Though I lingered on for some time longer he failed to recognise me。
Recognition； I think； had kindled a smile in my own face； but； less
fortunate than he； I suppose my smile had ceased to be boyish。 Now
that luck had faced about again； his companion played for herself
played and won； hand over hand。 At last she seemed disposed to rest
on her gains； and proceeded to bury them in the folds of her muslin。
Pickering had staked nothing for himself； but as he saw her prepare
to withdraw he offered her a double napoleon and begged her to place
it。 She shook her head with great decision； and seemed to bid him
put it up again； but h