vanity fair(名利场)-第117章

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was　somebody　in　those　days；　and　the　adventurous
Bedwin；　who　had　published　his　quarto　and　passed　some
months　under　the　tents　in　the　desert；　was　a　personage　of
no　small　importance。　　In　his　volume　there　were　several
pictures　of　Sands　in　various　oriental　costumes；　and　he
travelled　about　with　a　black　attendant　of　most
unprepossessing　appearance；　just　like　another　Brian　de　Bois
Guilbert。　　Bedwin；　his　costumes；　and　black　man；　were
hailed　at　Gaunt　House　as　very　valuable　acquisitions。
He　led　off　the　first　charade。　　A　Turkish　officer　with　an
immense　plume　of　feathers　（the　Janizaries　were
supposed　to　be　still　in　existence；　and　the　tarboosh　had　not
as　yet　displaced　the　ancient　and　majestic　head…dress　of
the　true　believers）　was　seen　couched　on　a　divan；　and
making　believe　to　puff　at　a　narghile；　in　which；　however；
for　the　sake　of　the　ladies；　only　a　fragrant　pastille　was
allowed　to　smoke。　　The　Turkish　dignitary　yawns　and
expresses　signs　of　weariness　and　idleness。　　He　claps　his　hands
and　Mesrour　the　Nubian　appears；　with　bare　arms；
bangles；　yataghans；　and　every　Eastern　ornamentgaunt；
tall；　and　hideous。　　He　makes　a　salaam　before　my　lord　the
Aga。
A　thrill　of　terror　and　delight　runs　through　the　assembly。
The　ladies　whisper　to　one　another。　　The　black　slave
was　given　to　Bedwin　Sands　by　an　Egyptian　pasha　in
exchange　for　three　dozen　of　Maraschino。　　He　has　sewn　up
ever　so　many　odalisques　in　sacks　and　tilted　them　into
the　Nile。
〃Bid　the　slave…merchant　enter；〃　says　the　Turkish
voluptuary　with　a　wave　of　his　hand。　　Mesrour　conducts　the
slave…merchant　into　my　lord's　presence；　he　brings　a
veiled　female　with　him。　　He　removes　the　veil。　　A　thrill　of
applause　bursts　through　the　house。　　It　is　Mrs。　Winkworth
（she　was　a　Miss　Absolom）　with　the　beautiful　eyes　and
hair。　　She　is　in　a　gorgeous　oriental　costume；　the　black
braided　locks　are　twined　with　innumerable　jewels；　her
dress　is　covered　over　with　gold　piastres。　　The　odious
Mahometan　expresses　himself　charmed　by　her　beauty。　　She
falls　down　on　her　knees　and　entreats　him　to　restore　her
to　the　mountains　where　she　was　born；　and　where　her
Circassian　lover　is　still　deploring　the　absence　of　his　Zuleikah。
No　entreaties　will　move　the　obdurate　Hassan。　　He
laughs　at　the　notion　of　the　Circassian　bridegroom。
Zuleikah　covers　her　face　with　her　hands　and　drops　down　in
an　attitude　of　the　most　beautiful　despair。　　There　seems　to
be　no　hope　for　her；　whenwhen　the　Kislar　Aga　appears。
The　Kislar　Aga　brings　a　letter　from　the　Sultan。　　Hassan
receives　and　places　on　his　head　the　dread　firman。　　A
ghastly　terror　seizes　him；　while　on　the　Negro's　face　（it　is
Mesrour　again　in　another　costume）　appears　a　ghastly
joy。　　〃Mercy！　　mercy！〃　cries　the　Pasha：　　while　the　Kislar
Aga；　grinning　horribly；　pulls　outa　bow…string。
The　curtain　draws　just　as　he　is　going　to　use　that　awful
weapon。　　Hassan　from　within　bawls　out；　〃First　two
syllables〃and　Mrs。　Rawdon　Crawley；　who　is　going　to　act　in
the　charade；　comes　forward　and　compliments　Mrs。
Winkworth　on　the　admirable　taste　and　beauty　of　her
costume。
The　second　part　of　the　charade　takes　place。　　It　is　still
an　Eastern　scene。　　Hassan；　in　another　dress；　is　in　an
attitude　by　Zuleikah；　who　is　perfectly　reconciled　to　him。
The　Kislar　Aga　has　become　a　peaceful　black　slave。　　It　is
sunrise　on　the　desert；　and　the　Turks　turn　their　heads
eastwards　and　bow　to　the　sand。　　As　there　are　no　dromedaries
at　hand；　the　band　facetiously　plays　〃The　Camels
are　coming。〃　An　enormous　Egyptian　head　figures　in　the
scene。　　It　is　a　musical　oneand；　to　the　surprise　of　the
oriental　travellers；　sings　a　comic　song；　composed　by　Mr。
Wagg。　　The　Eastern　voyagers　go　off　dancing；　like
Papageno　and　the　Moorish　King　in　The　Magic　Flute。　　〃Last
two　syllables；〃　roars　the　head。
The　last　act　opens。　　It　is　a　Grecian　tent　this　time。　　A
tall　and　stalwart　man　reposes　on　a　couch　there。　　Above
him　hang　his　helmet　and　shield。　　There　is　no　need　for
them　now。　　Ilium　is　down。　　Iphigenia　is　slain。　　Cassandra　is
a　prisoner　in　his　outer　halls。　　The　king　of　men　（it　is
Colonel　Crawley；　who；　indeed；　has　no　notion　about　the　sack
of　Ilium　or　the　conquest　of　Cassandra）；　the　anax　andron
is　asleep　in　his　chamber　at　Argos。　　A　lamp　casts　the
broad　shadow　of　the　sleeping　warrior　flickering　on　the
wallthe　sword　and　shield　of　Troy　glitter　in　its　light。
The　band　plays　the　awful　music　of　Don　Juan；　before　the
statue　enters。
Aegisthus　steals　in　pale　and　on　tiptoe。　　What　is　that
ghastly　face　looking　out　balefully　after　him　from　behind
the　arras？　He　raises　his　dagger　to　strike　the　sleeper；　who
turns　in　his　bed；　and　opens　his　broad　chest　as　if　for　the
blow。　　He　cannot　strike　the　noble　slumbering　chieftain。
Clytemnestra　glides　swiftly　into　the　room　like　an
apparitionher　arms　are　bare　and　whiteher　tawny　hair
floats　down　her　shouldersher　face　is　deadly　paleand
her　eyes　are　lighted　up　with　a　smile　so　ghastly　that
people　quake　as　they　look　at　her。
A　tremor　ran　through　the　room。　　〃Good　God！〃　somebody
said；　〃it's　Mrs。　Rawdon　Crawley。〃
Scornfully　she　snatches　the　dagger　out　of　Aegisthus's
hand　and　advances　to　the　bed。　　You　see　it　shining　over
her　head　in　the　glimmer　of　the　lamp；　andand　the　lamp
goes　out；　with　a　groan；　and　all　is　dark。
The　darkness　and　the　scene　frightened　people。　　Rebecca
performed　her　part　so　well；　and　with　such　ghastly
truth；　that　the　spectators　were　all　dumb；　until；　with　a
burst；　all　the　lamps　of　the　hall　blazed　out　again；　when
everybody　began　to　shout　applause。　　〃Brava！　　brava！〃　old
Steyne's　strident　voice　was　heard　roaring　over　all　the
rest。　　〃By；　she'd　do　it　too；〃　he　said　between　his　teeth。
The　performers　were　called　by　the　whole　house；　which
sounded　with　cries　of　〃Manager！　　Clytemnestra！〃
Agamemnon　could　not　be　got　to　show　in　his　classical
tunic；　but　stood　in　the　background　with　Aegisthus　and
others　of　the　performers　of　the　little　play。　　Mr。　Bedwin
Sands　led　on　Zuleikah　and　Clytemnestra。　　A　great
personage　insisted　on　being　presented　to　the　charming
Clytemnestra。　　〃Heigh　ha？　Run　him　through　the　body。
Marry　somebody　else；　hay？〃　was　the　apposite　remark
made　by　His　Royal　Highness。
〃Mrs。　Rawdon　Crawley　was　quite　killing　in　the　part；〃
said　Lord　Steyne。　　Becky　laughed；　gay　and　saucy　looking；
and　swept　the　prettiest　little　curtsey　ever　seen。
Servants　brought　in　salvers　covered　with　numerous　cool
dainties；　and　the　performers　disappeared　to　get　ready
for　the　second　charade…tableau。
The　three　syllables　of　this　charade　were　to　be　depicted
in　pantomime；　and　the　performance　took　place　in　the
following　wise：
First　syllable。　　Colonel　Rawdon　Crawley；　C。B。；　with　a
slouched　hat　and　a　staff；　a　great…coat；　and　a　lantern
borrowed　from　the　stables；　passed　across　the　stage　bawling
out；　as　if　warning　the　inhabitants　of　the　hour。　　In　the
lower　window　are　seen　two　bagmen　playing　apparently
at　the　game　of　cribbage；　over　which　they　yawn　much。
To　them　enters　one　looking　like　Boots　（the　Honourable
G。　　Ringwood）；　which　character　the　young　gentleman
performed　to　perfection；　and　divests　them　of　their　lower
coverings；　and　presently　Chambermaid　（the　Right
Honourable　Lord　Southdown）　with　two　candlesticks；　and　a
warming…pan。　　She　ascends　to　the　upper　apartment　and
warms　the　bed。　　She　uses　the　warming…pan　as　a　weapon
wherewith　she　wards　off　the　attention　of　the　bagmen。
She　exits。　　They　put　on　their　night…caps　and　pull　down
the　blinds。　　Boots　comes　out　and　closes　the　shutters　of
the　ground…floor　chamber。　　You　hear　him　bolting　and
chaining　the　door　within。　　All　the　lights　go　out。　　The　music
plays　Dormez；　dormez；　chers　Amours。　　A　voice　from
behind　the　curtain　says；　〃First　syllable。〃
Second　syllable。　　The　lamps　are　lighted　up　all　of　a
sudden。　　The　music　plays　the　old　air　from　John　of　Paris；
Ah　quel　plaisir　d'etre　en　voyage。　　It　is　the　same　scene。
Between　the　first　and　second　floors　of　the　house
represented；　you　behold　a　sign　on　which　the　Steyne　arms
are　painted。　　All　the　bells　are　ringing　all　over　the　house。
In　the　lower　apartment　you　see　a　man　with　a　long　slip　of
paper　presenting　it　to　another；　who　shakes　his　fists；
threatens　and　vows　that　it　is　monstrous。　　〃Ostler；　bring
round　my　gig；〃　cries　another　at　the　door。　　He　chucks
Chambermaid　（the　Right　Honourable　Lord　Southdown）
under　the　chin；　she　seems　to　deplore　his　absence；　as
Calypso　did　that　of　that　other　eminent　traveller　Ulysses。
Boots　（the　Honourable　G。　　Ringwood）　passes　with　a
wooden　box；　containing　silver　flagons；　and　cries　〃Pots〃
with　such　exquisite　humour　and　naturalness　that　the
whole　house　rings　with　applause；　and　a　bouquet　is　thrown
to　him。　　Crack；　crack；　crack；　go　the　whips。　　　Landlord；
chambermaid；　waiter　rush　to　the　door；　but　just　as　some
distinguished　guest　is　arriving；　the　curtains　close；　and　the
invisible　theatrical　manager　cries　out　〃Second　syllable。〃
〃I　think　it　must　be　'Hotel；'　〃　says　Captain　Grigg　of　the
Life　Guards；　there　is　a　general　laugh　at　the　Captain's
cleverness。　　He　is　not　very　far　from　the　mark。
While　the　third　syllable　is　in　preparation；　the　band
begins　a　nautical　medley〃All　in　the　Downs；〃　〃Cease　Rude
Boreas；〃　〃Rule　Britannia；〃　〃In　the　Bay　of　Biscay　O！〃
some　maritime　event　is　about　to　take　place。　　A　ben　is
heard　ringing　as　the　curtain　draws　aside。　　〃Now；　gents；
for　the　shore！〃　a　voice　exclaims。　　People　take　leave　of
each　other。　　They　point　anxiously　as　if　towards　the　clouds；
which　are　represented　by　a　dark　curtain；　and　they　nod
their　heads　in　fear。　　Lady　Squeams　（the　Right　Honourable
Lord　Southdown）；　her　lap…dog；　her　bags；　reticules；　and
husband　sit　down；　and　cling　hold　of　some　ropes。　　It　is
evidently　a　ship。
The　Captain　（Colonel　Crawley；　C。B。）；　with　a　cocked
hat　and　a　telescope；　comes　in；　holding　his　hat　on　his
head；　and　looks　out；　his　coat　tails　fly　about　as　if　in　the
wind。　　When　he　leaves　go　of　his　hat　to　use　his　telescope；
his　hat　flies　off；　with　immense　applause。　　It　is　blowing
fresh。　　The　music　rises　and　whistles　louder　and　louder；
the　mariners　go　across　the　stage　staggering；　as　if　the　ship
was　in　severe　motion。　　The　Steward　（the　Honourable　G。
Ringwood）　passes　reeling　by；　holding　six　basins。　　He　puts
one　rapidly　by　Lord　SqueamsLady　Squeams；　giving　a
pinch　to　her　dog；　which　begins　to　howl　piteously；　puts
her　pocket…handkerchief　to　her　face；　and　rushes　away　as
for　the　cabin。　　The　music　rises　up　to　the　wildest　pitch　of
stormy　excitement；　and　the　third　syllable　is　concluded。
There　was　a　little　ballet；　〃Le　Rossignol；〃　in　which
Montessu　and　Noblet　used　to　be　famous　in　those　days；
and　which　Mr。　Wagg　transferred　to　the　English　stage　as
an　opera；　putting　his　verse；　of　which　he　was　a　skilful
writer；　to　the　pretty　airs　of　the　ballet。　　It　was　dressed　in
old　French　costume；　and　little　Lord　Southdown　now
appeared　admirably　attired　in　the　disguise　of　an　old　woman
hobbling　about　the　stage　with　a　faultless　crooked　stick。
Trills　of　melody　were　heard　behind　the　scenes；　and
gurgling　from　a　sweet　pasteboard　cottage　covered　with
roses　and　trellis　work。　　〃Philomele；　Philomele；〃　cries
the　old　woman；　and　Philomele　comes　out。
More　applauseit　is　Mrs。　Rawdon　Crawley　in　powder
and　patches；　the　most　ravissante　little　Marquise　in　the
world。
She　comes　in　laughing；　humming；　and　frisks　about　the
stage　with　all　the　innocence　of　theatrical　youthshe
makes　a　curtsey。　　Mamma　says　〃Why；　chil