vanity fair(名利场)-第121章

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in　the　life　of　a　man　who　lives　on　nothing　a　year。
Upon　his　first　visit　to　Mr。　Moss；　the　Colonel；　then
a　bachelor；　had　been　liberated　by　the　generosity　of　his
aunt；　on　the　second　mishap；　little　Becky；　with　the　greatest
spirit　and　kindness；　had　borrowed　a　sum　of　money　from
Lord　Southdown　and　had　coaxed　her　husband's　creditor
（who　was　her　shawl；　velvet…gown；　lace　pocket…handkerchief；
trinket；　and　gim…crack　purveyor；　indeed）　to　take
a　portion　of　the　sum　claimed　and　Rawdon's　promissory
note　for　the　remainder：　　so　on　both　these　occasions　the
capture　and　release　had　been　conducted　with　the　utmost
gallantry　on　all　sides；　and　Moss　and　the　Colonel　were
therefore　on　the　very　best　of　terms。
〃You'll　find　your　old　bed；　Colonel；　and　everything
comfortable；〃　that　gentleman　said；　〃as　I　may　honestly　say。
You　may　be　pretty　sure　its　kep　aired；　and　by　the　best
of　company；　too。　　It　was　slep　in　the　night　afore　last　by
the　Honorable　Capting　Famish；　of　the　Fiftieth　Dragoons；
whose　Mar　took　him　out；　after　a　fortnight；　jest　to　punish
him；　she　said。　　But；　Law　bless　you；　I　promise　you；　he
punished　my　champagne；　and　had　a　party　ere　every　night
reglar　tip…top　swells；　down　from　the　clubs　and　the
West　EndCapting　Ragg；　the　Honorable　Deuceace；　who
lives　in　the　Temple；　and　some　fellers　as　knows　a　good
glass　of　wine；　I　warrant　you。　　I've　got　a　Doctor　of
Diwinity　upstairs；　five　gents　in　the　coffee…room；　and　Mrs。
Moss　has　a　tably…dy…hoty　at　half…past　five；　and　a　little
cards　or　music　afterwards；　when　we　shall　be　most　happy
to　see　you。〃
〃I'll　ring　when　I　want　anything；〃　said　Rawdon　and
went　quietly　to　his　bedroom。　　He　was　an　old　soldier；
we　have　said；　and　not　to　be　disturbed　by　any　little　shocks
of　fate。　　A　weaker　man　would　have　sent　off　a　letter　to　his
wife　on　the　instant　of　his　capture。　　〃But　what　is　the　use
of　disturbing　her　night's　rest？〃　thought　Rawdon。　　〃She
won't　know　whether　I　am　in　my　room　or　not。　　It　will
be　time　enough　to　write　to　her　when　she　has　had　her
sleep　out；　and　I　have　had　mine。　　It's　only　a　hundred…
and…seventy；　and　the　deuce　is　in　it　if　we　can't　raise
that。〃　And　so；　thinking　about　little　Rawdon　（whom　he
would　not　have　know　that　he　was　in　such　a　queer　place）；
the　Colonel　turned　into　the　bed　lately　occupied　by
Captain　Famish　and　fell　asleep。　　It　was　ten　o'clock　when
he　woke　up；　and　the　ruddy…headed　youth　brought　him；
with　conscious　pride；　a　fine　silver　dressing…case；　wherewith
he　might　perform　the　operation　of　shaving。　　Indeed
Mr。　Moss's　house；　though　somewhat　dirty；　was　splendid
throughout。　　There　were　dirty　trays；　and　wine…coolers　en
permanence　on　the　sideboard；　huge　dirty　gilt　cornices；
with　dingy　yellow　satin　hangings　to　the　barred　windows
which　looked　into　Cursitor　Streetvast　and　dirty　gilt
picture　frames　surrounding　pieces　sporting　and　sacred；　all
of　which　works　were　by　the　greatest　mastersand　fetched
the　greatest　prices；　too；　in　the　bill　transactions；　in　the
course　of　which　they　were　sold　and　bought　over　and
over　again。　　The　Colonel's　breakfast　was　served　to　him
in　the　same　dingy　and　gorgeous　plated　ware。　　Miss　Moss；
a　dark…eyed　maid　in　curl…papers；　appeared　with　the
teapot；　and；　smiling；　asked　the　Colonel　how　he　had　slep？
And　she　brought　him　in　the　Morning　Post；　with　the
names　of　all　the　great　people　who　had　figured　at　Lord
Steyne's　entertainment　the　night　before。　　It　contained　a
brilliant　account　of　the　festivities　and　of　the　beautiful
and　accomplished　Mrs。　Rawdon　Crawley's　admirable
personifications。
After　a　lively　chat　with　this　lady　（who　sat　on　the
edge　of　the　breakfast　table　in　an　easy　attitude　displaying
the　drapery　of　her　stocking　and　an　ex…white　satin　shoe；
which　was　down　at　heel）；　Colonel　Crawley　called　for
pens　and　ink；　and　paper；　and　being　asked　how　many
sheets；　chose　one　which　was　brought　to　him　between
Miss　Moss's　own　finger　and　thumb。　　Many　a　sheet　had
that　dark…eyed　damsel　brought　in；　many　a　poor　fellow
had　scrawled　and　blotted　hurried　lines　of　entreaty　and
paced　up　and　down　that　awful　room　until　his　messenger
brought　back　the　reply。　　Poor　men　always　use　messengers
instead　of　the　post。　　Who　has　not　had　their　letters；　with
the　wafers　wet；　and　the　announcement　that　a　person
is　waiting　in　the　hall？
Now　on　the　score　of　his　application；　Rawdon　had　not
many　misgivings。
DEAR　BECKY；　（Rawdon　wrote）
I　HOPE　YOU　SLEPT　WELL。　　Don't　be　FRIGHTENED　if　I　don't
bring　you　in　your　COFFY。　　Last　night　as　I　was　coming
home　smoaking；　I　met　with　an　ACCADENT。　　I　was　NABBED
by　Moss　of　Cursitor　Streetfrom　whose　GILT　AND　SPLENDID
PARLER　I　write　thisthe　same　that　had　me　this　time
two　years。　　Miss　Moss　brought　in　my　teashe　is　grown
very　FAT；　and；　as　usual；　had　her　STOCKENS　DOWN　AT　HEAL。
It's　Nathan's　businessa　hundred…and…fiftywith
costs；　hundred…and…seventy。　　Please　send　me　my　desk　and
some　CLOTHSI'm　in　pumps　and　a　white　tye　（something
like　Miss　M's　stockings）I've　seventy　in　it。　　And　as
soon　as　you　get　this；　Drive　to　Nathan'soffer　him
seventy…five　down；　and　ASK　HIM　TO　RENEWsay　I'll　take
winewe　may　as　well　have　some　dinner　sherry；　but　not
PICTURS；　they're　too　dear。
If　he　won't　stand　it。　　Take　my　ticker　and　such　of　your
things　as　you　can　SPARE；　and　send　them　to　Ballswe
must；　of　coarse；　have　the　sum　to…night。　　It　won't　do　to
let　it　stand　over；　as　to…morrow's　Sunday；　the　beds　here
are　not　very　CLEAN；　and　there　may　be　other　things　out
against　meI'm　glad　it　an't　Rawdon's　Saturday　for
coming　home。　　God　bless　you。
Yours　in　haste；
R。　　C。
P。S。　　Make　haste　and　come。
This　letter；　sealed　with　a　wafer；　was　dispatched　by
one　of　the　messengers　who　are　always　hanging　about
Mr。　Moss's　establishment；　and　Rawdon；　having　seen　him
depart；　went　out　in　the　court…yard　and　smoked　his　cigar
with　a　tolerably　easy　mindin　spite　of　the　bars
overheadfor　Mr。　Moss's　court…yard　is　railed　in　like　a　cage；
lest　the　gentlemen　who　are　boarding　with　him　should
take　a　fancy　to　escape　from　his　hospitality。
Three　hours；　he　calculated；　would　be　the　utmost　time
required；　before　Becky　should　arrive　and　open　his　prison
doors；　and　he　passed　these　pretty　cheerfully　in　smoking；
in　reading　the　paper；　and　in　the　coffee…room　with　an
acquaintance；　Captain　Walker；　who　happened　to　be　there；
and　with　whom　he　cut　for　sixpences　for　some　hours；
with　pretty　equal　luck　on　either　side。
But　the　day　passed　away　and　no　messenger　returned
no　Becky。　　Mr。　Moss's　tably…dy…hoty　was　served　at　the
appointed　hour　of　half…past　five；　when　such　of　the　gentlemen
lodging　in　the　house　as　could　afford　to　pay　for　the
banquet　came　and　partook　of　it　in　the　splendid　front
parlour　before　described；　and　with　which　Mr。　Crawley's
temporary　lodging　communicated；　when　Miss　M。　　（Miss
Hem；　as　her　papa　called　her）　appeared　without　the　curl…
papers　of　the　morning；　and　Mrs。　Hem　did　the　honours
of　a　prime　boiled　leg　of　mutton　and　turnips；　of　which
the　Colonel　ate　with　a　very　faint　appetite。　　Asked　whether
he　would　〃stand〃　a　bottle　of　champagne　for　the
company；　he　consented；　and　the　ladies　drank　to　his　'ealth；
and　Mr。　Moss；　in　the　most　polite　manner；　〃looked　towards
him。〃
In　the　midst　of　this　repast；　however；　the　doorbell　was
heardyoung　Moss　of　the　ruddy　hair　rose　up　with　the
keys　and　answered　the　summons；　and　coming　back；　told
the　Colonel　that　the　messenger　had　returned　with　a　bag；
a　desk　and　a　letter；　which　he　gave　him。　　〃No　ceramony；
Colonel；　I　beg；〃　said　Mrs。　Moss　with　a　wave　of　her
hand；　and　he　opened　the　letter　rather　tremulously。　　It
was　a　beautiful　letter；　highly　scented；　on　a　pink　paper；
and　with　a　light　green　seal。
MON　PAUVRE　CHER　PETIT；　（Mrs。　Crawley　wrote）
I　could　not　sleep　ONE　WINK　for　thinking　of　what　had
become　of　my　odious　old　monstre；　and　only　got　to　rest
in　the　morning　after　sending　for　Mr。　Blench　（for　I　was
in　a　fever）；　who　gave　me　a　composing　draught　and　left
orders　with　Finette　that　I　should　be　disturbed　ON　NO
ACCOUNT。　　So　that　my　poor　old　man's　messenger；　who　had
bien　mauvaise　mine　Finette　says；　and　sentoit　le　Genievre；
remained　in　the　hall　for　some　hours　waiting　my　bell。
You　may　fancy　my　state　when　I　read　your　poor　dear
old　ill…spelt　letter。
Ill　as　I　was；　I　instantly　called　for　the　carriage；　and
as　soon　as　I　was　dressed　（though　I　couldn't　drink　a　drop
of　chocolateI　assure　you　I　couldn't　without　my
monstre　to　bring　it　to　me）；　I　drove　ventre　a　terre　to
Nathan's。　　I　saw　himI　weptI　criedI　fell　at　hi~
odious　knees。　　Nothing　would　mollify　the　horrid　man。
He　would　have　all　the　money；　he　said；　or　keep　my　poor
monstre　in　prison。　　I　drove　home　with　the　intention　of
paying　that　triste　visite　chez　mon　oncle　（when　every
trinket　I　have　should　be　at　your　disposal　though　they
would　not　fetch　a　hundred　pounds；　for　some；　you　know；
are　with　ce　cher　oncle　already）；　and　found　Milor　there
with　the　Bulgarian　old　sheep…faced　monster；　who　had
come　to　compliment　me　upon　last　night's　performances。
Paddington　came　in；　too；　drawling　and　lisping　and
twiddling　his　hair；　so　did　Champignac；　and　his　chef
everybody　with　foison　of　compliments　and　pretty　speeches
plaguing　poor　me；　who　longed　to　be　rid　of　them；　and
was　thinking　every　moment　of　the　time　of　mon　pauvre
prisonnier。
When　they　were　gone；　I　went　down　on　my　knees　to
Milor；　told　him　we　were　going　to　pawn　everything；　and
begged　and　prayed　him　to　give　me　two　hundred　pounds。
He　pish'd　and　psha'd　in　a　furytold　me　not　to　be　such
a　fool　as　to　pawnand　said　he　would　see　whether　he
could　lend　me　the　money。　　At　last　he　went　away；
promising　that　he　would　send　it　me　in　the　morning：　　when
I　will　bring　it　to　my　poor　old　monster　with　a　kiss　fro
his　affectionate
BECKY
I　am　writing　in　bed。　　Oh　I　have　such　a　headache　and
such　a　heartache！
When　Rawdon　read　over　this　letter；　he　turned　so　red
and　looked　so　savage　that　the　company　at　the　table
d'hote　easily　perceived　that　bad　news　had　reached
him。　　All　his　suspicions；　which　he　had　been　trying　to
banish；　returned　upon　him。　　She　could　not　even　go　out
and　sell　her　trinkets　to　free　him。　　She　could　laugh　and
talk　about　compliments　paid　to　her；　whilst　he　was　in
prison。　　Who　had　put　him　there？　Wenham　had　walked
with　him。　　Was　there。。。。　　He　could　hardly　bear　to　think
of　what　he　suspected。　　Leaving　the　room　hurriedly；　he　ran
into　his　ownopened　his　desk；　wrote　two　hurried　lines；
which　he　directed　to　Sir　Pitt　or　Lady　Crawley；　and
bade　the　messenger　carry　them　at　once　to　Gaunt　Street；
bidding　him　to　take　a　cab；　and　promising　him　a　guinea
if　he　was　back　in　an　hour。
In　the　note　he　besought　his　dear　brother　and　sister；
for　the　sake　of　God；　for　the　sake　of　his　dear　child　and
his　honour；　to　come　to　him　and　relieve　him　from　his
difficulty。　　He　was　in　prison；　he　wanted　a　hundred　pounds
to　set　him　freehe　entreated　them　to　come　to　him。
He　went　back　to　the　dining…room　after　dispatching　his
messenger　and　called　for　more　wine。　　He　laughed　and
talked　with　a　strange　boisterousness；　as　the　people
thought。　　Sometimes　he　laughed　madly　at　his　own　fears
and　went　on　drinking　for　an　hour；　listening　all　the　while
for　the　carriage　which　was　to　bring　his　fate　back。
At　the　expiration　of　that　time；　wheels　were　heard
whirling　up　to　the　gatethe　young　janitor　went　out
with　his　gate…keys。　　It　was　a　lady　whom　he　let　in　at　the
bailiff's　door。
〃Colonel　Crawley；〃　she　said；　trembling　very　much。　　He；
with　a　knowing　look；　locked　th