vanity fair(名利场)-第124章

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Macmurdo　on　this　account；　and　he　was　the　common　refuge
of　gentlemen　in　trouble。
〃What's　the　row　about；　Crawley；　my　boy？〃　said　the
old　warrior。　　〃No　more　gambling　business；　hay；　like　that
when　we　shot　Captain　Marker？〃
〃It's　aboutabout　my　wife；〃　Crawley　answered；
casting　down　his　eyes　and　turning　very　red。
The　other　gave　a　whistle。　　〃I　always　said　she'd　throw
you　over；〃　he　beganindeed　there　were　bets　in　the
regiment　and　at　the　clubs　regarding　the　probable　fate　of
Colonel　Crawley；　so　lightly　was　his　wife's　character
esteemed　by　his　comrades　and　the　world；　but　seeing　the
savage　look　with　which　Rawdon　answered　the　expression
of　this　opinion；　Macmurdo　did　not　think　fit　to　enlarge
upon　it　further。
〃Is　there　no　way　out　of　it；　old　boy？〃　the　Captain
continued　in　a　grave　tone。　　〃Is　it　only　suspicion；　you　know；
oror　what　is　it？　Any　letters？　Can't　you　keep　it　quiet？
Best　not　make　any　noise　about　a　thing　of　that　sort　if　you
can　help　it。〃　〃Think　of　his　only　finding　her　out　now；〃　the
Captain　thought　to　himself；　and　remembered　a　hundred
particular　conversations　at　the　mess…table；　in　which　Mrs。
Crawley's　reputation　had　been　torn　to　shreds。
〃There's　no　way　but　one　out　of　it；〃　Rawdon　replied
〃and　there's　only　a　way　out　of　it　for　one　of　us；　Macdo
you　understand？　I　was　put　out　of　the　wayarrestedI
found　'em　alone　together。　　I　told　him　he　was　a　liar　and　a
coward；　and　knocked　him　down　and　thrashed　him。〃
〃Serve　him　right；〃　Macmurdo　said。　　〃Who　is　it？〃
Rawdon　answered　it　was　Lord　Steyne。
〃The　deuce！　　a　Marquis！　　they　said　hethat　is；　they
said　you〃
〃What　the　devil　do　you　mean？〃　roared　out　Rawdon；
〃do　you　mean　that　you　ever　heard　a　fellow　doubt　about
my　wife　and　didn't　tell　me；　Mac？〃
〃The　world's　very　censorious；　old　boy；〃　the　other
replied。　　〃What　the　deuce　was　the　good　of　my　telling　you
what　any　tom…fools　talked　about？〃
〃It　was　damned　unfriendly；　Mac；〃　said　Rawdon；　quite
overcome；　and；　covering　his　face　with　his　hands；　he　gave
way　to　an　emotion；　the　sight　of　which　caused　the　tough
old　campaigner　opposite　him　to　wince　with　sympathy。
〃Hold　up；　old　boy；〃　he　said；　〃great　man　or　not；　we'll　put
a　bullet　in　him；　damn　him。　　As　for　women；　they're　all　so。〃
〃You　don't　know　how　fond　I　was　of　that　one；〃
Rawdon　said；　half…inarticulately。　　〃Damme；　I　followed　her　like
a　footman。　　I　gave　up　everything　I　had　to　her。　　I'm　a
beggar　because　I　would　marry　her。　　By　Jove；　sir；　I've　pawned
my　own　watch　in　order　to　get　her　anything　she　fancied；
and　she　she's　been　making　a　purse　for　herself　all　the
time；　and　grudged　me　a　hundred　pound　to　get　me　out　of
quod。〃　He　then　fiercely　and　incoherently；　and　with　an
agitation　under　which　his　counsellor　had　never　before
seen　him　labour；　told　Macmurdo　the　circumstances　of
the　story。　　His　adviser　caught　at　some　stray　hints　in　it。
〃She　may　be　innocent；　after　all；〃　he　said。　　〃She　says
so。　　Steyne　has　been　a　hundred　times　alone　with　her　in
the　house　before。〃
〃It　may　be　so；〃　Rawdon　answered　sadly；　〃but　this　don't
look　very　innocent〃：　　and　he　showed　the　Captain　the
thousand…pound　note　which　he　had　found　in　Becky's
pocket…book。　　〃This　is　what　he　gave　her；　Mac；　and　she
kep　it　unknown　to　me；　and　with　this　money　in　the　house；
she　refused　to　stand　by　me　when　I　was　locked　up。〃　The
Captain　could　not　but　own　that　the　secreting　of　the
money　had　a　very　ugly　look。
Whilst　they　were　engaged　in　their　conference；　Rawdon
dispatched　Captain　Macmurdo's　servant　to　Curzon　Street；
with　an　order　to　the　domestic　there　to　give　up　a　bag　of
clothes　of　which　the　Colonel　had　great　need。　　And　during
the　man's　absence；　and　with　great　labour　and　a　Johnson's
Dictionary；　which　stood　them　in　much　stead；　Rawdon
and　his　second　composed　a　letter；　which　the　latter
was　to　send　to　Lord　Steyne。　　Captain　Macmurdo　had　the
honour　of　waiting　upon　the　Marquis　of　Steyne；　on　the　part
of　Colonel　Rawdon　Crawley；　and　begged　to　intimate　that
he　was　empowered　by　the　Colonel　to　make　any　arrangements
for　the　meeting　which；　he　had　no　doubt；　it　was　his
Lordship's　intention　to　demand；　and　which　the　circumstances
of　the　morning　had　rendered　inevitable。　　Captain
Macmurdo　begged　Lord　Steyne；　in　the　most　polite
manner；　to　appoint　a　friend；　with　whom　he　（Captain　M'M。）
might　communicate；　and　desired　that　the　meeting　might
take　place　with　as　little　delay　as　possible。
In　a　postscript　the　Captain　stated　that　he　had　in　his
possession　a　bank…note　for　a　large　amount；　which
Colonel　Crawley　had　reason　to　suppose　was　the　property　of
the　Marquis　of　Steyne。　　And　he　was　anxious；　on　the
Colonel's　behalf；　to　give　up　the　note　to　its　owner。
By　the　time　this　note　was　composed；　the　Captain's
servant　returned　from　his　mission　to　Colonel　Crawley's
house　in　Curzon　Street；　but　without　the　carpet…bag　and
portmanteau；　for　which　he　had　been　sent；　and　with　a
very　puzzled　and　odd　face。
〃They　won't　give　'em　up；〃　said　the　man；　〃there's　a
regular　shinty　in　the　house；　and　everything　at　sixes　and
sevens。　　The　landlord's　come　in　and　took　possession。　　The
servants　was　a　drinkin'　up　in　the　drawingroom。　　They
saidthey　said　you　had　gone　off　with　the　plate；
Colonel〃the　man　added　after　a　pause〃One　of　the
servants　is　off　already。　　And　Simpson；　the　man　as　was　very
noisy　and　drunk　indeed；　says　nothing　shall　go　out　of　the
house　until　his　wages　is　paid　up。〃
The　account　of　this　little　revolution　in　May　Fair
astonished　and　gave　a　little　gaiety　to　an　otherwise　very
triste　conversation。　　The　two　officers　laughed　at　Rawdon's
discomfiture。
〃I'm　glad　the　little　'un　isn't　at　home；〃　Rawdon　said；
biting　his　nails。　　〃You　remember　him；　Mac；　don't　you；　in
the　Riding　School？　How　he　sat　the　kicker　to　be　sure！
didn't　he？〃
〃That　he　did；　old　boy；〃　said　the　good…natured　Captain。
Little　Rawdon　was　then　sitting；　one　of　fifty　gown　boys；
in　the　Chapel　of　Whitefriars　School；　thinking；　not　about
the　sermon；　but　about　going　home　next　Saturday；　when
his　father　would　certainly　tip　him　and　perhaps　would
take　him　to　the　play。
〃He's　a　regular　trump；　that　boy；〃　the　father　went　on；
still　musing　about　his　son。　　〃I　say；　Mac；　if　anything　goes
wrongif　I　dropI　should　like　you　toto　go　and　see
him；　you　know；　and　say　that　I　was　very　fond　of　him；　and
that。　　Anddash　itold　chap；　give　him　these　gold　sleeve…
buttons：　　it's　all　I've　got。〃　He　covered　his　face　with　his
black　hands；　over　which　the　tears　rolled　and　made
furrows　of　white。　　Mr。　Macmurdo　had　also　occasion　to　take
off　his　silk　night…cap　and　rub　it　across　his　eyes。
〃Go　down　and　order　some　breakfast；〃　he　said　to　his
man　in　a　loud　cheerful　voice。　　〃What'll　you　have；　Crawley？
Some　devilled　kidneys　and　a　herringlet's　say。　　And；
Clay；　lay　out　some　dressing　things　for　the　Colonel：　　we
were　always　pretty　much　of　a　size；　Rawdon；　my　boy；　and
neither　of　us　ride　so　light　as　we　did　when　we　first
entered　the　corps。〃　With　which；　and　leaving　the　Colonel　to
dress　himself；　Macmurdo　turned　round　towards　the　wall；
and　resumed　the　perusal　of　Bell's　Life；　until　such　time　as
his　friend's　toilette　was　complete　and　he　was　at　liberty
to　commence　his　own。
This；　as　he　was　about　to　meet　a　lord；　Captain
Macmurdo　performed　with　particular　care。　　He　waxed　his
mustachios　into　a　state　of　brilliant　polish　and　put　on　a
tight　cravat　and　a　trim　buff　waistcoat；　so　that　all　the
young　officers　in　the　mess…room；　whither　Crawley　had
preceded　his　friend；　complimented　Mac　on　his　appearance
at　breakfast　and　asked　if　he　was　going　to　be　married
that　Sunday。

CHAPIER　LV
In　Which　the　Same　Subject　is　Pursued
Becky　did　not　rally　from　the　state　of　stupor　and　confusion
in　which　the　events　of　the　previous　night　had　plunged
her　intrepid　spirit　until　the　bells　of　the　Curzon　Street
Chapels　were　ringing　for　afternoon　service；　and　rising
from　her　bed　she　began　to　ply　her　own　bell；　in　order　to
summon　the　French　maid　who　had　left　her　some　hours
before。
Mrs。　Rawdon　Crawley　rang　many　times　in　vain；　and
though；　on　the　last　occasion；　she　rang　with　such
vehemence　as　to　pull　down　the　bell…rope；　Mademoiselle
Fifine　did　not　make　her　appearanceno；　not　though　her
mistress；　in　a　great　pet；　and　with　the　bell…rope　in　her　hand；
came　out　to　the　landing…place　with　her　hair　over　her
shoulders　and　screamed　out　repeatedly　for　her　attendant。
The　truth　is；　she　had　quitted　the　premises　for　many
hours；　and　upon　that　permission　which　is　called　French
leave　among　us　After　picking　up　the　trinkets　in　the
drawing…room；　Mademoiselle　had　ascended　to　her　own
apartments；　packed　and　corded　her　own　boxes　there；
tripped　out　and　called　a　cab　for　herself；　brought　down
her　trunks　with　her　own　hand；　and　without　ever　so　much
as　asking　the　aid　of　any　of　the　other　servants；　who　would
probably　have　refused　it；　as　they　hated　her　cordially；
and　without　wishing　any　one　of　them　good…bye；　had
made　her　exit　from　Curzon　Street。
The　game；　in　her　opinion；　was　over　in　that　little
domestic　establishment。　　Fifine　went　off　in　a　cab；　as　we
have　known　more　exalted　persons　of　her　nation　to　do
under　similar　circumstances：　　but；　more　provident　or
lucky　than　these；　she　secured　not　only　her　own　property；
but　some　of　her　mistress's　（if　indeed　that　lady　could　be
said　to　have　any　property　at　all）and　not　only　carried
off　the　trinkets　before　alluded　to；　and　some　favourite
dresses　on　which　she　had　long　kept　her　eye；　but　four
richly　gilt　Louis　Quatorze　candlesticks；　six　gilt　albums；
keepsakes；　and　Books　of　Beauty；　a　gold　enamelled
snuff…box　which　had　once　belonged　to　Madame　du　Barri；　and
the　sweetest　little　inkstand　and　mother…of…pearl　blotting
book；　which　Becky　used　when　she　composed　her　charming
little　pink　notes；　had　vanished　from　the　premises　in
Curzon　Street　together　with　Mademoiselle　Fifine；　and　all
the　silver　laid　on　the　table　for　the　little　festin　which
Rawdon　interrupted。　　The　plated　ware　Mademoiselle　left
behind　her　was　too　cumbrous；　probably　for　which
reason；　no　doubt；　she　also　left　the　fire　irons；　the
chimney…glasses；　and　the　rosewood　cottage　piano。
A　lady　very　like　her　subsequently　kept　a　milliner's
shop　in　the　Rue　du　Helder　at　Paris；　where　she　lived　with
great　credit　and　enjoyed　the　patronage　of　my　Lord
Steyne。　　This　person　always　spoke　of　England　as　of　the
most　treacherous　country　in　the　world；　and　stated　to　her
young　pupils　that　she　had　been　affreusement　vole　by
natives　of　that　island。　　It　was　no　doubt　compassion　for
her　misfortunes　which　induced　the　Marquis　of　Steyne　to
be　so　very　kind　to　Madame　de　Saint…Amaranthe。　　May
she　flourish　as　she　deservesshe　appears　no　more　in　our
quarter　of　Vanity　Fair。
Hearing　a　buzz　and　a　stir　below；　and　indignant　at　the
impudence　of　those　servants　who　would　not　answer　her
summons；　Mrs。　Crawley　flung　her　morning　robe　round
her　and　descended　majestically　to　the　drawing…room；
whence　the　noise　proceeded。
The　cook　was　there　with　blackened　face；　seated　on　the
beautiful　chintz　sofa　by　the　side　of　Mrs。　Raggles；　to　whom
she　was　administering　Maraschino。　　The　page　with　the
sugar…loaf　buttons；　who　carried　about　Becky's　pink
notes；　and　jumped　about　her　little　carriage　with　such
alacrity；　was　now　engaged　putting　his　fingers　into　a
cream　dish；　the　footman　was　talking　to　Raggles；　who
had　a　face　full　of　perplexity　and　woeand　yet；　though
the　door　was　open；　and　Becky　had　been　screaming　a
half…dozen　of　times　a　few　feet　off；　not　one　of　her
attendan