the bedford-row conspiracy-第2章
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er did the General （Major Gorgon he was then） cast an eye on her； than Scully's five years' fabric of love was instantly dashed to the ground。 She cut him pitilessly； cut Sally Scully； his sister； her dearest friend and confidante； and bestowed her big person upon the little aide…de…camp at the end of a fortnight's wooing。 In the course of time their mutual fathers died； the Gorgon estates were unencumbered： patron of both the seats in the borough of Oldborough； and occupant of one； Sir George Grimsby Gorgon； Baronet； was a personage of no small importance。 He was； it scarcely need to be said； a Tory； and this was the reason why William Pitt Scully； Esquire； of the firm of Perkins and Scully； deserted those principles in which he had been bred and christened； deserted that church which he had frequented； for he could not bear to see Sir George and my Lady flaunting in their grand pew；deserted； I say； the church； adopted the conventicle； and became one of the most zealous and eloquent supporters that Freedom has known in our time。 Scully； of the house of Scully and Perkins； was a dangerous enemy。 In five years from that marriage； which snatched from the jilted solicitor his heart's young affections； Sir George Gorgon found that he must actually spend seven hundred pounds to keep his two seats。 At the next election； a Liberal was set up against his man； and actually ran him hard； and finally； at the end of eighteen years； the rejected Scullythe mean attorneywas actually the FIRST Member for Oldborough； Sir George Grimsby Gorgon； Baronet； being only the second！ The agony of that day cannot be imaginedthe dreadful curses of Sir George； who saw fifteen hundred a year robbed from under his very nosethe religious resignation of my Ladythe hideous window…smashing that took place at the 〃Gorgon Arms；〃 and the discomfiture of the pelted Mayor and Corporation。 The very next Sunday； Scully was reconciled to the church （or attended it in the morning； and the meeting twice in the afternoon）； and as Doctor Snorter uttered the prayer for the High Court of Parliament； his eye； the eye of his whole partyturned towards Lady Gorgon and Sir George in a most unholy triumph。 Sir George （who always stood during prayers； like a military man） fairly sank down among the hassocks； and Lady Gorgon was heard to sob as audibly as ever did little beadle…belaboured urchin。 Scully； when at Oldborough； came from that day forth to church。 〃What；〃 said he； 〃was it to him？ were we not all brethren？〃 Old Perkins； however； kept religiously to the Squaretoes congregation。 In fact； to tell the truth； this subject had been debated between the partners； who saw the advantage of courting both the Establishment and the Dissentersa manoeuvre which； I need not say； is repeated in almost every country town in England； where a solicitor's house has this kind of power and connection。 Three months after this election came the races at Oldborough； and the race…ball。 Gorgon was so infuriated by his defeat； that he gave 〃the Gorgon cup and cover；〃 a matter of fifteen pounds。 Scully； 〃although anxious；〃 as he wrote from town； 〃anxious beyond measure to preserve the breed of horses for which our beloved country has ever been famous； could attend no such sports as these； which but too often degenerated into vice。〃 It was voted a shabby excuse。 Lady Gorgon was radiant in her barouche and four； and gladly became the patroness of the ball that was to ensue； and which all the gentry and townspeople； Tory and Whig； were in the custom of attending。 The ball took place on the last day of the races。 On that day； the walls of the market…house； the principal public buildings； and the 〃Gorgon Arms Hotel〃 itself； were plastered with the following： 〃Letter from our distinguished representative； William P。 Scully； Esquire； etc。； etc。 〃HOUSE OF COMMONS： June 1； 18。 〃MY DEAR HEELTAP；You know my opinion about horseracing； and though I blame neither you nor any brother Englishman who enjoys that manly sport； you will； I am sure； appreciate the conscientious motives which induce me not to appear among my friends and constituents on the festival of the 3rd； 4th； and 5th instant。 If _I_； however； cannot allow my name to appear among your list of stewards； ONE at least of the representatives of Oldborough has no such scruples。 Sir George Gorgon is among you： and though I differ from that honourable Baronet on more than ONE VITAL POINT； I am glad to think that he is with you。 A gentleman； a soldier； a man of property in the county； how can he be better employed than in forwarding the county's amusements； and in forwarding the happiness of all？ 〃Had I no such scruples as those to which I have just alluded； I must still have refrained from coming among you。 Your great Oldborough common…drainage and inclosure bill comes on to…morrow； and I shall be AT MY POST。 I am sure； if Sir George Gorgon were here； he and I should on this occasion vote side by side； and that party strife would be forgotten in the object of our common interestOUR DEAR NATIVE TOWN。 〃There is； however； another occasion at hand； in which I shall be proud to meet him。 Your ball is on the night of the 6th。 Party forgottenbrotherly unioninnocent mirthbeauty； OUR DEAR TOWN'S BEAUTY； our daughters in the joy of their expanding loveliness； our matrons in the exquisite contemplation of their children's bliss can you； can I； can Whig or Tory； can any Briton be indifferent to a scene like this； or refuse to join in this heart…stirring festival？ If there BE such let them pardon meI； for one； my dear Heeltap； will be among you on Friday nightay； and hereby invite all pretty Tory Misses； who are in want of a partner。 〃I am here in the very midst of good things； you know； and we old folks like A SUPPER after a dance。 Please to accept a brace of bucks and a turtle； which come herewith。 My worthy colleague； who was so liberal last year of his soup to the poor； will not； I trust； refuse to taste a little of Alderman Birch's'tis offered on my part with hearty goodwill。 Hey for the 6th； and vive la joie！ 〃Ever； my dear Heeltap； your faithful 〃W。 PITT SCULLY。 〃P。S。Of course this letter is STRICTLY PRIVATE。 Say that the venison； etc。 came from a WELL…WISHER TO OLDBOROUGH。〃 This amazing letter was published； in defiance of Mr。 Scully's injunctions； by the enthusiastic Heeltap； who said； bluntly； in a preface； 〃that he saw no reason why Mr。 Scully should be ashamed of his action； and he； for his part； was glad to let all friends at Oldborough know of it。〃 The allusion about the Gorgon soup was killing： thirteen paupers in Oldborough had； it was confidently asserted； died of it。 Lady Gorgon； on the reading of this letter； was struck completely dumb； Sir George Gorgon was wild。 Ten dozen of champagne was he obliged to send down to the 〃Gorgon Arms；〃 to be added to the festival。 He would have stayed away if he could； but he dared not。 At nine o'clock； he in general's uniform； his wife in blue satin and diamonds； his daughters in blue crape and white roses； his niece； Lucy Gorgon； in white muslin； his son； George Augustus Frederick Grimsby Gorgon； in a blue velvet jacket； sugar…loaf buttons； and nankeens； entered the north door of the ballroom； to much cheering； and the sound of 〃God save the King！〃 At that very same moment； and from the south door； issued William Pitt Scully； Esquire； M。P。； and his staff。 Mr。 Scully had a brand…new blue coat and brass buttons； buff waistcoat； white kerseymere tights； pumps with large rosettes； and pink silk stockings。 〃This wool；〃 said he to a friend； 〃was grown on Oldborough sheep； this cloth was spun in Oldborough looms； these buttons were cast in an Oldborough manufactory； these shoes were made by an Oldborough tradesman； this HEART first beat in Oldborough town； and pray Heaven may be buried there！〃 Could anything resist a man like this？ John Perkins； who had come down as one of Scully's aides…de…camp； in a fit of generous enthusiasm； leaped on a whist…table； flung up a pocket…handkerchief； and shrieked〃SCULLY FOR EVER！〃 Heeltap； who was generally drunk； fairly burst into tears； and the grave tradesmen and Whig gentry； who had dined with the Member at his inn； and accompanied him thence to the 〃Gorgon Arms；〃 lifted their deep voices and shouted 〃Hear！〃 〃Good！〃 〃Bravo！〃 〃Noble！〃 〃Scully for ever！〃 〃God bless him！〃 and 〃Hurrah！〃 The scene was tumultuously affecting； and when young Perkins sprang down from the table and came blushing up to the Member； that gentleman said； 〃Thank you； Jack！ THANK you； my boy！ THANK you；〃 in a way which made Perkins think that his supreme cup of bliss was quaffed； that he had but to die： for that life had no other such joy in store for him。 Scully was Perkins's Napoleonhe yielded himself up to the attorney； body and soul。 Whilst this scene was going on under one chandelier of the ballroom； beneath the other scarlet little General Gorgon； sumptuous Lady Gorgon； the daughters and niece Gorgons； were standing surrounded by their Tory court； who affected to sneer and titter at the Whig demonstrations which were taking place。 〃What a howwid thmell of whithkey！〃 lisped Cornet Fitch； of the Dragoons； to Miss Lucy； confidentially。 〃And thethe are what they call Whigth； are they？ He！ he！〃 〃They are drunk； … me；drunk； by …！〃 said the General to the Mayor。 〃WHICH is Scully？〃 said Lady Gorgon； lifting her glass gravely （she was at that very moment thinking of the syllabubs）。 〃Is it that tipsy man in the green coat； or that vulgar creature in the blue one？〃 〃Law； my Lady；〃 said the Mayoress； 〃have you forgotten him？ Why； that's him in blue and buff。〃 〃And a monthous fine man； too；〃 said Cornet Fitch。 〃I wish we had him in our twoophe'th thix feet thwee； if he'th an inch； ain't he； Genewal？〃 No reply。 〃And heavens！ Mamma；〃 shrieked the three Gorgons in a breath； 〃see； one creature is on the whist…table。 Oh； the wretch！ 〃I'm sure he's very good…looking；〃 said Lucy； simply。 Lady Gorgon darted at her an angry look； and was about to say something very contemptuous； when； at that instant； John Perkins's shout taking effect； Master George Augustus Frederick Grimsby Gorgon； not knowing better； incontinently raised a small shout on his side。 〃Hear！ good！ bravo！〃 exclaimed he； 〃Scully for ever！ Hurra…a…a…ay！〃 and fell skipping about like the Whigs opposite。 〃Silence； you brute you！〃 groaned Lady Gorgon； and seizing him by the shirt…frill and coat…collar； carried him away to his nurse； who； with many other maids of the Whig and Tory parties； stood giggling and peeping at the landing…place。 Fancy how all these small incidents augmented the heap of Lady Gorgon's anger and injuries！ She was a dull phlegmatic woman for the most part； and contented herself generally with merely despising her neighbours； but oh！ what a fine active hatred raged in her bosom for victorious Scully！ At this moment Mr。 Perkins had finished shaking hands with his NapoleonNapoleon seemed bent upon some tremendous enterprise。 He was looking at Lady Gorgon very hard。 〃She's a fine woman；〃 said Scully； thoughtfully； he was still holding the hand of Perkins。 And then； after a pause； 〃Gad！ I think I'll try。〃 〃Try what； sir？〃 〃She's a DEUCED fine woman！〃 burs
