the notch on the ax and on being found out-第42章

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drank　the　wine；　and　he　winked　at　it　in　a　strange　manner。　　〃I
remember；〃　said　he；　musing；　〃when　port　wine　was　scarcely　drunk　in
this　countrythough　the　Queen　liked　it；　and　so　did　Hurley；　but
Bolingbroke　didn'the　drank　Florence　and　Champagne。　　Dr。　Swift　put
water　to　his　wine。　　'Jonathan；'　I　once　said　to　himbut　bah！　autres
temps；　autres　moeurs。　　Another　magnum；　James。〃

This　was　all　very　well。　　〃My　good　sir；〃　I　said；　〃it　may　suit　YOU　to
order　bottles　of　'20　port；　at　a　guinea　a　bottle；　but　that　kind　of
price　does　not　suit　me。　　I　only　happen　to　have　thirty…four　and
sixpence　in　my　pocket；　of　which　I　want　a　shilling　for　the　waiter；
and　eighteen　pence　for　my　cab。　　You　rich　foreigners　and　SWELLS　may
spend　what　you　like〃　（I　had　him　there：　for　my　friend's　dress　was　as
shabby　as　an　old…clothes　man's）；　〃but　a　man　with　a　family；　Mr。
Whatd'you…call'im；　cannot　afford　to　spend　seven　or　eight　hundred　a
year　on　his　dinner　alone。〃

〃Bah！〃　he　said。　　〃Nunkey　pays　for　all；　as　you　say。　　I　will　what　you
call　stant　the　dinner；　if　you　are　SO　POOR！〃　and　again　he　gave　that
disagreeable　grin；　and　placed　an　odious　crook…nailed　and　by　no
means　clean　finger　to　his　nose。　　But　I　was　not　so　afraid　of　him
now；　for　we　were　in　a　public　place；　and　the　three　glasses　of　port
wine　had；　you　see；　given　me　courage。

〃What　a　pretty　snuff…box！〃　he　remarked；　as　I　handed　him　mine；　which
I　am　still　old…fashioned　enough　to　carry。　　It　is　a　pretty　old　gold
box　enough；　but　valuable　to　me　especially　as　a　relic　of　an　old；　old
relative；　whom　I　can　just　remember　as　a　child；　when　she　was　very
kind　to　me。　　〃Yes；　a　pretty　box。　　I　can　remember　when　many　ladies
most　ladies；　carried　a　boxnay；　two　boxestabatiere　and
bonbonniere。　　What　lady　carries　snuff…box　now；　hey？　　Suppose　your
astonishment　if　a　lady　in　an　assembly　were　to　offer　you　a　prise？　　I
can　remember　a　lady　with　such　a　box　as　this；　with　a　tour；　as　we
used　to　call　it　then；　with　paniers；　with　a　tortoise…shell　cane；
with　the　prettiest　little　high…heeled　velvet　shoes　in　the　world！
ah！　that　was　a　time；　that　was　a　time！　　Ah；　Eliza；　Eliza；　I　have
thee　now　in　my　mind's　eye！　　At　Bungay　on　the　Waveney；　did　I　not
walk　with　thee；　Eliza？　　Aha；　did　I　not　love　thee？　　Did　I　not　walk
with　thee　then？　　Do　I　not　see　thee　still？〃

This　was　passing　strange。　　My　ancestressbut　there　is　no　need　to
publish　her　revered　namedid　indeed　live　at　Bungay　St。　Mary's；
where　she　lies　buried。　　She　used　to　walk　with　a　tortoise…shell
cane。　　She　used　to　wear　little　black　velvet　shoes；　with　the
prettiest　high　heels　in　the　world。

〃Did　youdid　youknow；　then；　my　great…gr…nd…m…ther？〃　I　said。

He　pulled　up　his　coat　sleeve〃Is　that　her　name？〃　he　said。

〃Eliza〃

There；　I　declare；　was　the　very　name　of　the　kind　old　creature
written　in　red　on　his　arm。

〃YOU　knew　her　old；〃　he　said；　divining　my　thoughts　（with　his　strange
knack）；　〃I　knew　her　young　and　lovely。　　I　danced　with　her　at　the
Bury　ball。　　Did　I　not；　dear；　dear　Miss　？〃

As　I　live；　he　here　mentioned　dear　gr…nny's　MAIDEN　name。　　Her　maiden
name　was　。　　Her　honored　married　name　was　。

〃She　married　your　great…gr…ndf…th…r　the　year　Poseidon　won　the
Newmarket　Plate；〃　Mr。　Pinto　dryly　remarked。

Merciful　powers！　　I　remember；　over　the　old　shagreen　knife　and　spoon
case　on　the　sideboard　in　my　gr…nny's　parlor；　a　print　by　Stubbs　of
that　very　horse。　　My　grandsire；　in　a　red　coat；　and　his　fair　hair
flowing　over　his　shoulders；　was　over　the　mantelpiece；　and　Poseidon
won　the　Newmarket　Cup　in　the　year　1783！

〃Yes；　you　are　right。　　I　danced　a　minuet　with　her　at　Bury　that　very
night；　before　I　lost　my　poor　leg。　　And　I　quarreled　with　your
grandf；　ha！〃

As　he　said　〃Ha！〃　there　came　three　quiet　little　taps　on　the　table
it　is　the　middle　table　in　the　〃Gray's…Inn　CoffeeHouse；〃　under　the
bust　of　the　late　Duke　of　W…ll…ngt…n。

〃I　fired　in　the　air；〃　he　continued；　〃did　I　not？〃　（Tap；　tap；　tap。）
〃Your　grandfather　hit　me　in　the　leg。　　He　married　three　months
afterwards。　　'Captain　Brown；'　I　said　'who　could　see　Miss　Sm…th
without　loving　her？'　　She　is　there！　　She　is　there！〃　（Tap；　tap；
tap。）　　〃Yes；　my　first　love〃

But　here　there　came　tap；　tap；　which　everybody　knows　means　〃No。〃

〃I　forgot；〃　he　said；　with　a　faint　blush　stealing　over　his　wan
features；　〃she　was　not　my　first　love。　　In　Germin　my　own　country
there　WAS　a　young　woman〃

Tap；　tap；　tap。　　There　was　here　quite　a　lively　little　treble　knock；
and　when　the　old　man　said；　〃But　I　loved　thee　better　than　all　the
world；　Eliza；〃　the　affirmative　signal　was　briskly　repeated。

And　this　I　declare　UPON　MY　HONOR。　　There　was；　I　have　said；　a　bottle
of　port　wine　before　usI　should　say　a　decanter。　　That　decanter　was
LIFTED　UP；　and　out　of　it　into　our　respective　glasses　two　bumpers　of
wine　were　poured。　　I　appeal　to　Mr。　Hart；　the　landlordI　appeal　to
James；　the　respectful　and　intelligent　waiter；　if　this　statement　is
not　true？　　And　when　we　had　finished　that　magnum；　and　I　saidfor　I
did　not　now　in　the　least　doubt　her　presence〃Dear　gr…nny；　may　we
have　another　magnum？〃　the　table　DISTINCTLY　rapped　〃No。〃。

〃Now；　my　good　sir；〃　Mr。　Pinto　said；　who　really　began　to　be　affected
by　the　wine；　〃you　understand　the　interest　I　have　taken　in　you。　　I
loved　Eliza　〃　（of　course　I　don't　mention　family　names）。　　〃I
knew　you　had　that　box　which　belonged　to　herI　will　give　you　what
you　like　for　that　box。　　Name　your　price　at　once；　and　I　pay　you　on
the　spot。〃

〃Why；　when　you　came　out；　you　said　you　had　not　six…pence　in　your
pocket。〃

〃Bah！　give　you　anything　you　likefiftya　hundreda　tausend
pound。〃

〃Come；　come；〃　said　I；　〃the　gold　of　the　box　may　be　worth　nine
guineas；　and　the　facon　we　will　put　at　six　more。〃

〃One　tausend　guineas！〃　he　screeched。　　〃One　tausend　and　fifty　pound
dere！〃　and　he　sank　back　in　his　chairno；　by　the　way；　on　his　bench；
for　he　was　sitting　with　his　back　to　one　of　the　partitions　of　the
boxes；　as　I　dare　say　James　remembers。

〃DON'T　go　on　in　this　way；〃　I　continued　rather　weakly；　for　I　did　not
know　whether　I　was　in　a　dream。　　〃If　you　offer　me　a　thousand　guineas
for　this　box　I　MUST　take　it。　　Mustn't　I；　dear　gr…nny？〃

The　table　most　distinctly　said　〃Yes〃；　and　putting　out　his　claws　to
seize　the　box；　Mr。　Pinto　plunged　his　hooked　nose　into　it；　and
eagerly　inhaled　some　of　my　47　with　a　dash　of　Hardman。

〃But　stay；　you　old　harpy！〃　I　exclaimed；　being　now　in　a　sort　of
rage；　and　quite　familiar　with　him。　　〃Where　is　the　money？　　Where　is
the　check？〃

〃James；　a　piece　of　note　paper　and　a　receipt　stamp！〃

〃This　is　all　mighty　well；　sir；〃　I　said；　〃but　I　don't　know　you；　I
never　saw　you　before。　　I　will　trouble　you　to　hand　me　that　box　back
again；　or　give　me　a　check　with　some　known　signature。〃

〃Whose？　　Ha；　Ha；　HA！〃

The　room　happened　to　be　very　dark。　　Indeed　all　the　waiters　were
gone　to　supper；　and　there　were　only　two　gentlemen　snoring　in　their
respective　boxes。　　I　saw　a　hand　come　quivering　down　from　the
ceilinga　very　pretty　hand；　on　which　was　a　ring　with　a　coronet；
with　a　lion　rampant　gules　for　a　crest。　　I　saw　that　hand　take　a　dip
of　ink　and　write　across　the　paper。　　Mr。　Pinto；　then；　taking　a　gray
receipt　stamp　out　of　his　blue　leather　pocketbook；　fastened　it　on　to
the　paper　by　the　usual　process；　and　the　hand　then　wrote　across　the
receipt　stamp；　went　across　the　table　and　shook　hands　with　Pinto；
and　then；　as　if　waving　him　an　adieu；　vanished　in　the　direction　of
the　ceiling。

There　was　the　paper　before　me；　wet　with　the　ink。　　There　was　the　pen
which　THE　HAND　had　used。　　Does　anybody　doubt　me？　　I　have　that　pen
now；a　cedar　stick　of　a　not　uncommon　sort；　and　holding　one　of
Gillott's　pens。　　It　is　in　my　inkstand　now；　I　tell　you。　　Anybody　may
see　it。　　The　handwriting　on　the　check；　for　such　the　document　was；
was　the　writing　of　a　female。　　It　ran　thus：〃London；　midnight；
March　31；　1862。　　Pay　the　bearer　one　thousand　and　fifty　pounds。
Rachel　Sidonia。　　To　Messrs。　Sidonia；　Pozzosanto　and　Co。；　London。〃

〃Noblest　and　best　of　women！〃　said　Pinto；　kissing　the　sheet　of　paper
with　much　reverence。　　〃My　good　Mr。　Roundabout；　I　suppose　you　do　not
question　THAT　signature？〃

Indeed　the　house　of　Sidonia；　Pozzosanto　and　Co。；　is　known　to　be　one
of　the　richest　in　Europe；　and　as　for　the　Countess　Rachel；　she　was
known　to　be　the　chief　manager　of　that　enormously　wealthy
establishment。　　There　was　only　one　little　difficulty；　the　Countess
Rachel　died　last　October。

I　pointed　out　this　circumstance；　and　tossed　over　the　paper　to　Pinto
with　a　sneer。

〃C'est　a　brandre　ou　a　laisser；〃　he　said　with　some　heat。　　〃You
literary　men　are　all　imbrudent；　but　I　did　not　tink　you　such　a　fool
wie　dis。　　Your　box　is　not　worth　twenty　pound；　and　I　offer　you　a
tausend　because　I　know　you　want　money　to　pay　dat　rascal　Tom's
college　bills。〃　　（This　strange　man　actually　knew　that　my　scapegrace
Tom　had　been　a　source　of　great　expense　and　annoyance　to　me。）　　〃You
see　money　costs　me　nothing；　and　you　refuse　to　take　it！　　Once；
twice；　will　you　take　this　check　in　exchange　for　your　trumpery
snuff…box？〃

What　could　I　do？　　My　poor　granny's　legacy　was　valuable　and　dear　to
me；　but　after　all　a　thousand　guineas　are　not　to　be　had　every　day。
〃Be　it　a　bargain；〃　said　I。　　〃Shall　we　have　a　glass　of　wine　on　it？〃
says　Pinto；　and　to　this　proposal　I　also　unwillingly　acceded；
reminding　him；　by　the　way；　that　he　had　not　yet　told　me　the　story　of
the　headless　man。

〃Your　poor　gr…ndm…ther　was　right　just　now；　when　she　said　she　was
not　my　first　love。　　'Twas　one　of　those　banale　expressions〃　（here
Mr。　P。　blushed　once　more）　〃which　we　use　to　women。　　We　tell　each　she
is　our　first　passion。　　They　reply　with　a　similar　illusory　formula。
No　man　is　any　woman's　first　love；　no　woman　any　man's。　　We　are　in
love　in　our　nurse's　arms；　and　women　coquette　with　their　eyes　before
their　tongue　can　form　a　word。　　How　could　your　lovely　relative　love
me？　　I　was　far；　far　too　old　for　her。　　I　am　older　than　I　look。　　I　am
so　old　that　you　would　not　believe　my　age　were　I　to　tell　you。　　I
have　loved　many　and　many　a　woman　before　your　relative。　　It　has　not
always　been　fortunate　for　them　to　love　me。　　Ah；　Sophronia！　　Round
the　dreadful　circus　where　you　fell；　and　whence　I　was　dragged
corpselike　by　the　heels；　there　sat　multitudes　more　savage　than　the
lions　which　mangled　your　sweet　form！　　Ah；　tenez！　when　we　marched　to
the　terrible　stake　together　at　Valladolidthe　Protestant　and　the
J　　But　away　with　memory！　　Boy！　it　was　happy　for　thy　grandam　that
she　loved　me　not。

〃During　that　strange　period；〃　he　went　on；　〃when　the　teeming　Time
was　great　with　the　revolution　that　was　speedily　to　be　born；　I　was
on　a　mission　in　Paris　with　my　excellent；　my　maligned　friend；
Cagliostro。　　Mesmer　was　one　of　our　band。　　I　seemed　to　occupy　but　an
obscure　rank　in　it：　though；　as　you　know；　in　secret　societies　the
humble　man　may　be　a　chief　and　directorthe　ostensible　leader　but　a
puppet　moved　by　unseen　hands。　　Never　mind　who　was　chief；　or　who　was
second。　　Never　mind　my　age。　　It　boots　not　to　tell　it：　why　shall　I
expose　myself　to　your　scornful　incredulityor　reply　to　your
questions　in　words　that　are　familiar　to　you；　but　which　you　cannot
understand？　　Words　are　symbols　of　things　which　you　know；　or　of
things　which　you　don't　know。　　If　you　don't　know　them；　to　speak　is
idle。〃　　（Here　I　confess　Mr。　P。　spoke　for　exactly　thirty…eight
minutes；　about　physics；　metaphysics；　language；　the