an old town by the sea(滨海古城)-第11章
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agitation split a bottle of port over his new cinnamon…colored small…
clothes。 Then a whispera whisper suppressed these twenty minutesran
through the apartments；〃The bridegroom has not come！〃。 He never came。
The mystery of that night remains a mystery after the lapse of a century
and a quarter。
What had become of James McDonough？ The assassination of so
notable a person in a community where every strange face was challenged；
where every man's antecedents were known； could not have been
accomplished without leaving some slight traces。 Not a shadow of foul
play was discovered。 That McDonough had been murdered or had
committed suicide were theories accepted at first by a few； and then by no
one。 On the other hand； he was in love with his fiancee； he had wealth；
power； positionwhy had he fled？ He was seen a moment on the public
street； and then never seen again。 It was as if he turned into air。 Meanwhile
the bewilderment of the bride was dramatically painful。 If McDonough
had been waylaid and killed； she could mourn for him。 If he had deserted
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her； she could wrap herself in her pride。 But neither course lay open to her；
then or afterward。 In one of the Twice Told Tales Hawthorne deals with a
man named Wakefield； who disappears with like suddenness； and lives
unrecognized for twenty years in a street not far from his abandoned
hearthside。 Such expunging of one's self was not possible in Portsmouth；
but I never think of McDonough without recalling Wakefield。 I have an
inexplicable conviction that for many a year James McDonough； in some
snug ambush； studied and analyzed the effect of his own startling
disappearance。
Some time in the year 1758； there dawned upon Portsmouth a
personage bearing the ponderous title of King's Attorney； and carrying
much gold lace about him。 This gilded gentleman was Mr。 Wyseman
Clagett； of Bristol； England； where his father dwelt on the manor of Broad
Oaks； in a mansion with twelve chimneys； and kept a coach and eight or
ten servants。 Up to the moment of his advent in the colonies； Mr。
Wyseman Clagett had evidently not been able to keep anything but
himself。 His wealth consisted of his personal decorations； the golden frogs
on his lapels； and the tinsel at his throat； other charms he had none。 Yet
with these he contrived to dazzle the eyes of Lettice Mitchel； one of the
young beauties of the province； and to cause her to forget that she had
plighted troth with a Mr。 Warner； then in Europe； and destined to return
home with a disturbed heart。 Mr。 Clagett was a man of violent temper and
ingenious vindictiveness； and proved more than a sufficient punishment
for Lettice's infidelity。 The trifling fact that Warner was deadhe died
shortly after his returndid not interfere with the course of Mr。 Clagett's
jealousy； he was haunted by the suspicion that Lettice regretted her first
love； having left nothing undone to make her do so。 〃This is to pay
Warner's debts；〃 remarked Mr。 Clagett； as he twitched off the table…cloth
and wrecked the tea…things。
In his official capacity he was a relentless prosecutor。 The noun
Clagett speedily turned itself into a verb； 〃to Clagett〃 meant 〃to
prosecute；〃 they were convertible terms。 In spite of his industrious severity；
and his royal emoluments； if such existed； the exchequer of the King's
Attorney showed a perpetual deficit。 The stratagems to which he resorted
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from time to time in order to raise unimportant sums reminded one of
certain scenes in Moliere's comedies。
Mr。 Clagett had for his ame damnee a constable of the town。 They
were made for each other； they were two flowers with but a single stem；
and this was their method of procedure： Mr。 Clagett dispatched one of his
servants to pick a quarrel with some countryman on the street； or some
sailor drinking at an inn： the constable arrested the sailor or the
countryman； as the case might be； and hauled the culprit before Mr。
Clagett； Mr。 Clagett read the culprit a moral lesson； and fined him five
dollars and costs。 The plunder was then divided between the conspirators
two hearts that beat as oneClagett； of course； getting the lion's share。
Justice was never administered in a simpler manner in any country。 This
eminent legal light was extinguished in 1784； and the wick laid away in
the little churchyard in Litchfield； New Hampshire。 It is a satisfaction；
even after such a lapse of time； to know that Lettice survived the King's
Attorney sufficiently long to be very happy with somebody else。 Lettice
Mitchel was scarcely eighteen when she married Wyseman Clagett。
About eighty years ago； a witless fellow named Tilton seems to have
been a familiar figure on the streets of the old town。 Mr。 Brewster speaks
of him as 〃the well…known idiot； Johnny Tilton；〃 as if one should say； 〃the
well…known statesman； Daniel Webster。〃 It is curious to observe how any
sort of individuality gets magnified in this parochial atmosphere； where
everything lacks perspective； and nothing is trivial。 Johnny Tilton does not
appear to have had much individuality to start with； it was only after his
head was cracked that he showed any shrewdness whatever。 That
happened early in his unobtrusive boyhood。 He had frequently watched
the hens flying out of the loft window in his father's stable； which stood in
the rear of the Old Bell Tavern。 It occurred to Johnny； one day； that though
he might not be as bright as other lads； he certainly was in no respect
inferior to a hen。 So he placed himself on the sill of the window in the loft；
flapped his arms； and took flight。 The New England Icarus alighted head
downward； lay insensible for a while； and was henceforth looked upon as
a mortal who had lost his wits。 Yet at odd moments his cloudiness was
illumined by a gleam of intelligence such as had not been detected in him
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previous to his mischance。 As Polonius said of Hamletanother unstrung
mortalTilton's replies had 〃a happiness that often madness hits on； which
reason and sanity could not so prosperously be delivered of。〃 One morning；
he appeared at the flour…mill with a sack of corn to be ground for the
almshouse； and was asked what he knew。 〃Some things I know；〃 replied
poor Tilton； 〃and some things I don't know。 I know the miller's hogs grow
fat； but I don't know whose corn they fat on。〃 To borrow another word
from Polonius； though this be madness； yet there was method in it。 Tilton
finally brought up in the almshouse； where he was allowed the liberty of
roaming at will through the town。 He loved the water…side as if he had had
all his senses。 Often he was seen to stand for hours with a sunny； torpid
smile on his lips； gazing out upon the river where its azure ruffles itself
into silver against the islands。 He always wore stuck in his hat a few hen's
feathers； perhaps with some vague idea of still associating himself with the
birds of the air； if hens can come into that category。
George Jaffrey； third of the name； was a character of another
complexion； a gentleman born； a graduate of Harvard in 1730； and one of
His Majesty's Council in 1766a man with the blood of the lion and the
unicorn in every vein。 He remained to the bitter end； and beyond； a devout
royalist； prizing his shoe…buckles； not because they were of chased silver；
but because they bore the tower mark and crown stamp。 He stoutly
objected to oral prayer； on the ground that it gave rogues and hypocrites an
opportunity to impose on honest folk。 He was punctilious in his attendance
at church； and unfailing in his responses； though not of a particularly
devotional temperament。 On one occasion； at least； his sincerity is not to
be questioned。 He had been deeply irritated by some encroachments on the
boundaries of certain estates； and had gone to church that forenoon with
his mind full of the matter。 When the minister in the course of reading the
service came to the apostrophe； 〃Cursed be he who removeth his
neighbor's landmark；〃 Mr。 Jeffrey's feelings were too many for him； and
he cried out 〃Amen！〃 in a tone of voice that brought smiles to the
adjoining pews。
Mr。 Jaffrey's last will and testament was a whimsical document； in
spite of the Hon。 Jeremiah Mason； who drew up the paper。 It had
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originally been Mr。 Jaffrey's plan to leave his possessions to his beloved
friend； Colonel Joshua Wentworth； but the colonel by some maladroitness
managed to turn the current of Pactolus in another direction。 The vast
property was bequeathed to George Jaffrey Jeffries； the testator's
grandnephew； on condition that the heir； then a lad of thirteen； should drop
the name of Jeffries； reside permanently in Portsmouth； and adopt no
profession excepting that of gentleman。 There is an immense amount of
Portsmouth as well as George Jaffrey in that final clause。 George the
fourth handsomely complied with the requirements； and dying at the age
of sixty…six； without issue or assets； was the last of that particular line of
Georges。 I say that he handsomely complied with the requirements of the
will； but my statement appears to be subject to qualification
