vanity fair(名利场)-第126章

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looking　out　from　her　dressing…room　window　in　the　upper
story）　the　Baronet　had　promised　to　go　and　seek　out　his
brother；　and　endeavour　to　bring　about　a　reconciliation。
Rawdon　found　some　of　the　young　fellows　of　the　regiment
seated　in　the　mess…room　at　breakfast；　and　was
induced　without　much　difficulty　to　partake　of　that　meal；
and　of　the　devilled　legs　of　fowls　and　soda…water　with
which　these　young　gentlemen　fortified　themselves。　　Then
they　had　a　conversation　befitting　the　day　and　their　time
of　life：　　about　the　next　pigeon…match　at　Battersea；　with
relative　bets　upon　Ross　and　Osbaldiston；　about
Mademoiselle　Ariane　of　the　French　Opera；　and　who　had　left
her；　and　how　she　was　consoled　by　Panther　Carr；　and
about　the　fight　between　the　Butcher　and　the　Pet；　and　the
probabilities　that　it　was　a　cross。　　Young　Tandyman；　a
hero　of　seventeen；　laboriously　endeavouring　to　get　up　a
pair　of　mustachios；　had　seen　the　fight；　and　spoke　in　the
most　scientific　manner　about　the　battle　and　the　condition
of　the　men。　　It　was　he　who　had　driven　the　Butcher　on　to
the　ground　in　his　drag　and　passed　the　whole　of　the
previous　night　with　him。　　Had　there　not　been　foul　play
he　must　have　won　it。　　All　the　old　files　of　the　Ring　were　in
it；　and　Tandyman　wouldn't　pay；　no；　dammy；　he　wouldn't
pay。　　It　was　but　a　year　since　the　young　Cornet；　now　so
knowing　a　hand　in　Cribb's　parlour；　had　a　still　lingering
liking　for　toffy；　and　used　to　be　birched　at　Eton。
So　they　went　on　talking　about　dancers；　fights；　drinking；
demireps；　until　Macmurdo　came　down　and　joined　the
boys　and　the　conversation。　　He　did　not　appear　to　think
that　any　especial　reverence　was　due　to　their　boyhood；
the　old　fellow　cut　in　with　stories；　to　the　full　as　choice
as　any　the　youngest　rake　present　had　to　tellnor　did　his
own　grey　hairs　nor　their　smooth　faces　detain　him。　　Old
Mac　was　famous　for　his　good　stories。　　He　was　not　exactly
a　lady's　man；　that　is；　men　asked　him　to　dine　rather　at
the　houses　of　their　mistresses　than　of　their　mothers。
There　can　scarcely　be　a　life　lower；　perhaps；　than　his；
but　he　was　quite　contented　with　it；　such　as　it　was；　and
led　it　in　perfect　good　nature；　simplicity；　and　modesty　of
demeanour。
By　the　time　Mac　had　finished　a　copious　breakfast；
most　of　the　others　had　concluded　their　meal。　　Young　Lord
Varinas　was　smoking　an　immense　Meerschaum　pipe；
while　Captain　Hugues　was　employed　with　a　cigar：　　that
violent　little　devil　Tandyman；　with　his　little　bull…terrier
between　his　legs；　was　tossing　for　shillings　with　all　his
might　（that　fellow　was　always　at　some　game　or　other）
against　Captain　Deuceace；　and　Mac　and　Rawdon　walked
off　to　the　Club；　neither；　of　course；　having　given　any　hint
of　the　business　which　was　occupying　their　minds。　　Both；
on　the　other　hand；　had　joined　pretty　gaily　in　the
conversation；　for　why　should　they　interrupt　it？　Feasting；
drinking；　ribaldry；　laughter；　go　on　alongside　of　all　sorts
of　other　occupations　in　Vanity　Fairthe　crowds　were
pouring　out　of　church　as　Rawdon　and　his　friend　passed
down　St。　　James's　Street　and　entered　into　their　Club。
The　old　bucks　and　habitues；　who　ordinarily　stand
gaping　and　grinning　out　of　the　great　front　window　of　the
Club；　had　not　arrived　at　their　posts　as　yetthe
newspaper…room　was　almost　empty。　　One　man　was　present
whom　Rawdon　did　not　know；　another　to　whom　he　owed
a　little　score　for　whist；　and　whom；　in　consequence；　he
did　not　care　to　meet；　a　third　was　reading　the　Royalist
（a　periodical　famous　for　its　scandal　and　its　attachment
to　Church　and　King）　Sunday　paper　at　the　table；　and
looking　up　at　Crawley　with　some　interest；　said；　〃Crawley；
I　congratulate　you。〃
〃What　do　you　mean？〃　said　the　Colonel。
〃It's　in　the　Observer　and　the　Royalist　too；〃　said　Mr。
Smith。
〃What？〃　Rawdon　cried；　turning　very　red。　　He　thought
that　the　affair　with　Lord　Steyne　was　already　in　the
public　prints。　　Smith　looked　up　wondering　and　smiling
at　the　agitation　which　the　Colonel　exhibited　as　he　took
up　the　paper　and；　trembling；　began　to　read。
Mr。　Smith　and　Mr。　Brown　（the　gentleman　with　。whom
Rawdon　had　the　outstanding　whist　account）　had　been
talking　about　the　Colonel　just　before　he　came　in。
〃It　is　come　just　in　the　nick　of　time；〃　said　Smith。　　〃I
suppose　Crawley　had　not　a　shilling　in　the　world。〃
〃It's　a　wind　that　blows　everybody　good；〃　Mr。　Brown
said。　　〃He　can't　go　away　without　paying　me　a　pony　he
owes　me。〃
〃What's　the　salary？〃　asked　Smith。
〃Two　or　three　thousand；〃　answered　the　other。　　〃But
the　climate's　so　infernal；　they　don't　enjoy　it　long。
Liverseege　died　after　eighteen　months　of　it；　and　the
man　before　went　off　in　six　weeks；　I　hear。〃
〃Some　people　say　his　brother　is　a　very　clever　man。　　I
always　found　him　a　d　bore；〃　Smith　ejaculated。　　〃He
must　have　good　interest；　though。　　He　must　have　got　the
Colonel　the　place。〃
〃He！〃　said　Brown。　　with　a　sneer。　　〃Pooh。　　It　was　Lord
Steyne　got　it。
〃How　do　you　mean？〃
〃A　virtuous　woman　is　a　crown　to　her　husband；〃
answered　the　other　enigmatically；　and　went　to　read　his
papers。
Rawdon；　for　his　part；　read　in　the　Royalist　the　following
astonishing　paragraph：
GOVERNORSHIP　OF　COVENTRY　ISLAND。H。M。S。
Yellowjack；　Commander　Jaunders；　has　brought　letters　and
papers　from　Coventry　Island。　　H。　　E。　　Sir　Thomas
Liverseege　had　fallen　a　victim　to　the　prevailing　fever　at
Swampton。　　His　loss　is　deeply　felt　in　the　flourishing
colony。　　We　hear　that　the　Governorship　has　been　offered　to
Colonel　Rawdon　Crawley；　C。B。；　a　distinguished　Waterloo
officer。　　We　need　not　only　men　of　acknowledged
bravery；　but　men　of　administrative　talents　to　superintend
the　affairs　of　our　colonies；　and　we　have　no　doubt
that　the　gentleman　selected　by　the　Colonial　Office　to
fill　the　lamented　vacancy　which　has　occurred　at
Coventry　Island　is　admirably　calculated　for　the　post　which
he　is　about　to　occupy。〃
〃Coventry　Island！　　Where　was　it？　Who　had　appointed
him　to　the　government？　You　must　take　me　out　as　your
secretary；　old　boy；〃　Captain　Macmurdo　said　laughing；
and　as　Crawley　and　his　friend　sat　wondering　and
perplexed　over　the　announcement；　the　Club　waiter　brought
in　to　the　Colonel　a　card　on　which　the　name　of　Mr。
Wenham　was　engraved；　who　begged　to　see　Colonel
Crawley。
The　Colonel　and　his　aide…de…camp　went　out　to　meet
the　gentleman；　rightly　conjecturing　that　he　was　an
emissary　of　Lord　Steyne。　　〃How　d'ye　do；　Crawley？　I　am
glad　to　see　you；〃　said　Mr。　Wenham　with　a　bland　smile；
and　grasping　Crawley's　hand　with　great　cordiality。
〃You　come；　I　suppose；　from　〃
〃Exactly；〃　said　Mr。　Wenham。
〃Then　this　is　my　friend　Captain　Macmurdo；　of　the　Life
Guards　Green。〃
〃Delighted　to　know　Captain　Macmurdo；　I'm　sure；〃　Mr。
Wenham　said　and　tendered　another　smile　and　shake　of
the　hand　to　the　second；　as　he　had　done　to　the　principal。
Mac　put　out　one　finger；　armed　with　a　buckskin　glove；
and　made　a　very　frigid　bow　to　Mr。　Wenham　over　his
tight　cravat。　　He　was；　perhaps；　discontented　at　being　put
in　communication　with　a　pekin；　and　thought　that　Lord
Steyne　should　have　sent　him　a　Colonel　at　the　very　least。
〃As　Macmurdo　acts　for　me；　and　knows　what　I　mean；〃
Crawley　said；　〃I　had　better　retire　and　leave　you　together。〃
〃Of　course；〃　said　Macmurdo。
〃By　no　means；　my　dear　Colonel；〃　Mr。　Wenham　said；
〃the　interview　which　I　had　the　honour　of　requesting　was
with　you　personally；　though　the　company　of　Captain
Macmurdo　cannot　fail　to　be　also　most　pleasing。　　In　fact；
Captain；　I　hope　that　our　conversation　will　lead　to　none
but　the　most　agreeable　results；　very　different　from　those
which　my　friend　Colonel　Crawley　appears　to　anticipate。〃
〃Humph！〃　said　Captain　Macmurdo。　　Be　hanged　to　these
civilians；　he　thought　to　himself；　they　are　always　for
arranging　and　speechifying。　　Mr。　Wenham　took　a　chair
which　was　not　offered　to　himtook　a　paper　from　his
pocket；　and　resumed
〃You　have　seen　this　gratifying　announcement　in　the
papers　this　morning；　Colonel？　Government　has　secured
a　most　valuable　servant；　and　you；　if　you　accept　office；　as
I　presume　you　will；　an　excellent　appointment。　　Three
thousand　a　year；　delightful　climate；　excellent　government…
house；　all　your　own　way　in　the　Colony；　and　a　certain
promotion。　　I　congratulate　you　with　all　my　heart。　　I
presume　you　know；　gentlemen；　to　whom　my　friend　is
indebted　for　this　piece　of　patronage？〃
〃Hanged　if　I　know；〃　the　Captain　said；　his　principal
turned　very　red。
〃To　one　of　the　most　generous　and　kindest　men　in　the
world；　as　he　is　one　of　the　greatestto　my　excellent
friend；　the　Marquis　of　Steyne。〃
〃I'll　see　him　d　before　I　take　his　place；〃　growled
out　Rawdon。
〃You　are　irritated　against　my　noble　friend；〃　Mr。
Wenham　calmly　resumed；　〃and　now；　in　the　name　of
common　sense　and　justice；　tell　me　why？〃
〃WHY？〃　cried　Rawdon　in　surprise。
〃Why？　Dammy！〃　said　the　Captain；　ringing　his　stick
on　the　ground。
〃Dammy；　indeed；〃　said　Mr。　Wenham　with　the　most
agreeable　smile；　〃still；　look　at　the　matter　as　a　man　of
the　worldas　an　honest　manand　see　if　you　have　not
been　in　the　wrong。　　You　come　home　from　a　journey；　and
findwhat？my　Lord　Steyne　supping　at　your　house　in
Curzon　Street　with　Mrs。　Crawley。　　Is　the　circumstance
strange　or　novel？　Has　he　not　been　a　hundred　times
before　in　the　same　position？　Upon　my　honour　and　word
as　a　gentleman〃Mr。　Wenham　here　put　his　hand　on
his　waistcoat　with　a　parliamentary　air〃I　declare　I　think
that　your　suspicions　are　monstrous　and　utterly
unfounded；　and　that　they　injure　an　honourable　gentleman
who　has　proved　his　good…will　towards　you　by　a　thousand
benefactionsand　a　most　spotless　and　innocent　lady。〃
〃You　don't　mean　to　say　thatthat　Crawley's
mistaken？〃　said　Mr。　Macmurdo。
〃I　believe　that　Mrs。　Crawley　is　as　innocent　as　my
wife；　Mrs。　Wenham；〃　Mr。　Wenham　said　with　great
energy。　　〃I　believe　that；　misled　by　an　infernal　jealousy；
my　friend　here　strikes　a　blow　against　not　only　an　infirm
and　old　man　of　high　station；　his　constant　friend　and
benefactor；　but　against　his　wife；　his　own　dearest　honour；
his　son's　future　reputation；　and　his　own　prospects　in
life。〃
〃I　will　tell　you　what　happened；〃　Mr。　Wenham
continued　with　great　solemnity；　〃I　was　sent　for　this
morning　by　my　Lord　Steyne；　and　found　him　in　a　pitiable　state；
as；　I　need　hardly　inform　Colonel　Crawley；　any　man　of
age　and　infirmity　would　be　after　a　personal　conflict　with
a　man　of　your　strength。　　I　say　to　your　face；　it　was　a
cruel　advantage　you　took　of　that　strength；　Colonel
Crawley。　　It　was　not　only　the　body　of　my　noble　and
excellent　friend　which　was　woundedhis　heart；　sir；　was
bleeding。　　A　man　whom　he　had　loaded　with　benefits　and
regarded　with　affection　had　subjected　him　to　the　foulest
indignity。　　What　was　this　very　appointment；　which　appears
in　the　journals　of　to…day；　but　a　proof　of　his　kindness　to
you？　When　I　saw　his　Lordship　this　morning　I　found　him
in　a　state　pitiable　indeed　to　see；　and　as　anxious　as　you
are　to　revenge　the　outrage　committed　upon　him；　by
blood。　　You　know　he　has　given　his　proofs；　I　presume；
Colonel　Crawley？〃
〃He　has　plenty　of　pluck；〃　said　the　Colonel。　　〃Nobody
ever　said　he　hadn't。〃
〃His　first　order　to　me　was　to　write　a　letter　of
challenge；　and　to　carry　it　to　Colonel　Crawley。　　One　or
other　of　us；〃　he　said；　〃must　not　survive　the　outrage
of　last　night。〃
Crawley　nodded。　　〃You're　coming　to　the　point；
Wenham；〃　he　said。
〃I　tried　my　utmost　to　calm　Lord　Steyne。　　Good　God！
sir；〃　I　said；　〃how　I　regret　that　Mrs。　We