vanity fair(名利场)-第79章

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return　to　the　ladies；　of　whom　he　stood　in　awe；　the　young
gentleman's　agreeable　frankness　left　him；　and　he　relapsed
into　his　usual　surly　timidity；　contenting　himself　by
saying　yes　and　no；　by　scowling　at　Lady　Jane；　and　by
upsetting　one　cup　of　coffee　during　the　evening。
If　he　did　not　speak　he　yawned　in　a　pitiable　manner；
and　his　presence　threw　a　damp　upon　the　modest
proceedings　of　the　evening；　for　Miss　Crawley　and　Lady　Jane
at　their　piquet；　and　Miss　Briggs　at　her　work；　felt　that
his　eyes　were　wildly　fixed　on　them；　and　were　uneasy
under　that　maudlin　look。
〃He　seems　a　very　silent；　awkward；　bashful　lad；〃　said
Miss　Crawley　to　Mr。　Pitt。
〃He　is　more　communicative　in　men's　society　than　with
ladies；〃　Machiavel　dryly　replied：　　perhaps　rather
disappointed　that　the　port　wine　had　not　made　Jim
speak　more。
He　had　spent　the　early　part　of　the　next　morning　in
writing　home　to　his　mother　a　most　flourishing　account
of　his　reception　by　Miss　Crawley。　　But　ah！　he　little　knew
what　evils　the　day　was　bringing　for　him；　and　how　short　his
reign　of　favour　was　destined　to　be。　　A　circumstance
which　Jim　had　forgottena　trivial　but　fatal　circumstance
had　taken　place　at　the　Cribb's　Arms　on　the　night
before　he　had　come　to　his　aunt's　house。　　It　was　no　other
than　thisJim；　who　was　always　of　a　generous　disposition；
and　when　in　his　cups　especially　hospitable；　had　in　the
course　of　the　night　treated　the　Tutbury　champion　and
the　Rottingdean　man；　and　their　friends；　twice　or　thrice
to　the　refreshment　of　gin…and…waterso　that　no　less　than
eighteen　glasses　of　that　fluid　at　eightpence　per　glass　were
charged　in　Mr。　James　Crawley's　bill。　　It　was　not　the
amount　of　eightpences；　but　the　quantity　of　gin　which
told　fatally　against　poor　James's　character；　when　his
aunt's　butler；　Mr。　Bowls；　went　down　at　his　mistress's
request　to　pay　the　young　gentleman's　bill。　　The　landlord；
fearing　lest　the　account　should　be　refused　altogether；
swore　solemnly　that　the　young　gent　had　consumed
personally　every　farthing's　worth　of　the　liquor：　　and　Bowls
paid　the　bill　finally；　and　showed　it　on　his　return　home
to　Mrs。　Firkin；　who　was　shocked　at　the　frightful
prodigality　of　gin；　and　took　the　bill　to　Miss　Briggs　as
accountant…general；　who　thought　it　her　duty　to　mention
the　circumstance　to　her　principal；　Miss　Crawley。
Had　he　drunk　a　dozen　bottles　of　claret；　the　old
spinster　could　have　pardoned　him。　　Mr。　Fox　and　Mr。
Sheridan　drank　claret。　　Gentlemen　drank　claret。　　But　eighteen
glasses　of　gin　consumed　among　boxers　in　an　ignoble
pot…houseit　was　an　odious　crime　and　not　to　be
pardoned　readily。　　Everything　went　against　the　lad：　　he　came
home　perfumed　from　the　stables；　whither　he　had　been
to　pay　his　dog　Towzer　a　visitand　whence　he　was
going　to　take　his　friend　out　for　an　airing；　when　he　met
Miss　Crawley　and　her　wheezy　Blenheim　spaniel；　which
Towzer　would　have　eaten　up　had　not　the　Blenheim　fled
squealing　to　the　protection　of　Miss　Briggs；　while　the
atrocious　master　of　the　bull…dog　stood　laughing　at　the
horrible　persecution。
This　day　too　the　unlucky　boy's　modesty　had　likewise
forsaken　him。　　He　was　lively　and　facetious　at　dinner。
During　the　repast　he　levelled　one　or　two　jokes　against　Pitt
Crawley：　　he　drank　as　much　wine　as　upon　the　previous
day；　and　going　quite　unsuspiciously　to　the　drawing…room；
began　to　entertain　the　ladies　there　with　some　choice
Oxford　stories。　　He　described　the　different　pugilistic　qualities
of　Molyneux　and　Dutch　Sam；　offered　playfully　to　give
Lady　Jane　the　odds　upon　the　Tutbury　Pet　against　the
Rottingdean　man；　or　take　them；　as　her　Ladyship　chose：
and　crowned　the　pleasantry　by　proposing　to　back
himself　against　his　cousin　Pitt　Crawley；　either　with　or　without
the　gloves。　　〃And　that's　a　fair　offer；　my　buck；〃　he　said；
with　a　loud　laugh；　slapping　Pitt　on　the　shoulder；　〃and
my　father　told　me　to　make　it　too；　and　he'll　go　halves
in　the　bet；　ha；　ha！〃　So　saying；　the　engaging　youth　nodded
knowingly　at　poor　Miss　Briggs；　and　pointed　his　thumb
over　his　shoulder　at　Pitt　Crawley　in　a　jocular　and
exulting　manner。
Pitt　was　not　pleased　altogether　perhaps；　but　still　not
unhappy　in　the　main。　　Poor　Jim　had　his　laugh　out：　　and
staggered　across　the　room　with　his　aunt's　candle；　when
the　old　lady　moved　to　retire；　and　offered　to　salute　her
with　the　blandest　tipsy　smile：　　and　he　took　his　own　leave
and　went　upstairs　to　his　bedroom　perfectly　satisfied　with
himself；　and　with　a　pleased　notion　that　his　aunt's　money
would　be　left　to　him　in　preference　to　his　father　and　all
the　rest　of　the　family。
Once　up　in　the　bedroom；　one　would　have　thought　he
could　not　make　matters　worse；　and　yet　this　unlucky　boy
did。　　The　moon　was　shining　very　pleasantly　out　on　the
sea；　and　Jim；　attracted　to　the　window　by　the　romantic
appearance　of　the　ocean　and　the　heavens；　thought　he
would　further　enjoy　them　while　smoking。　　Nobody　would
smell　the　tobacco；　he　thought；　if　he　cunningly　opened
the　window　and　kept　his　head　and　pipe　in　the　fresh　air。
This　he　did：　　but　being　in　an　excited　state；　poor　Jim
had　forgotten　that　his　door　was　open　all　this　time；　so
that　the　breeze　blowing　inwards　and　a　fine　thorough
draught　being　established；　the　clouds　of　tobacco　were
carried　downstairs；　and　arrived　with　quite　undiminished
fragrance　to　Miss　Crawley　and　Miss　Briggs。
The　pipe　of　tobacco　finished　the　business：　　and　the
Bute…Crawleys　never　knew　how　many　thousand　pounds
it　cost　them。　　Firkin　rushed　downstairs　to　Bowls　who
was　reading　out　the　〃Fire　and　the　Frying　Pan〃　to　his
aide…de…camp　in　a　loud　and　ghostly　voice。　　The　dreadful
secret　was　told　to　him　by　Firkin　with　so　frightened　a　look；
that　for　the　first　moment　Mr。　Bowls　and　his　young　man
thought　that　robbers　were　in　the　house；　the　legs　of　whom
had　probably　been　discovered　by　the　woman　under　Miss
Crawley's　bed。　　When　made　aware　of　the　fact；　however
to　rush　upstairs　at　three　steps　at　a　time　to　enter
the　unconscious　James's　apartment；　calling　out；　〃Mr。
James；〃　in　a　voice　stifled　with　alarm；　and　to　cry；　〃For
Gawd's　sake；　sir；　stop　that　'ere　pipe；〃　was　the　work　of
a　minute　with　Mr。　Bowls。　　〃O；　Mr。　James；　what　'AVE　you
done！〃　he　said　in　a　voice　of　the　deepest　pathos；　as　he
threw　the　implement　out　of　the　window。　　〃What　'ave　you
done；　sir！　　Missis　can't　abide　'em。〃
〃Missis　needn't　smoke；〃　said　James　with　a　frantic
misplaced　laugh；　and　thought　the　whole　matter　an　excellent
joke。　　But　his　feelings　were　very　different　in　the　morning；
when　Mr。　Bowls's　young　man；　who　operated　upon　Mr。
James's　boots；　and　brought　him　his　hot　water　to　shave
that　beard　which　he　was　so　anxiously　expecting；　handed
a　note　in　to　Mr。　James　in　bed；　in　the　handwriting　of
Miss　Briggs。
〃Dear　sir；〃　it　said；　〃Miss　Crawley　has　passed　an
exceedingly　disturbed　night；　owing　to　the　shocking　manner
in　which　the　house　has　been　polluted　by　tobacco；　Miss
Crawley　bids　me　say　she　regrets　that　she　is　too　unwell
to　see　you　before　you　goand　above　all　that　she　ever
induced　you　to　remove　from　the　ale…house；　where　she　is
sure　you　will　be　much　more　comfortable　during　the　rest
of　your　stay　at　Brighton。〃
And　herewith　honest　James's　career　as　a　candidate　for
his　aunt's　favour　ended。　　He　had　in　fact；　and　without
knowing　it；　done　what　he　menaced　to　do。　　He　had　fought
his　cousin　Pitt　with　the　gloves。
Where　meanwhile　was　he　who　had　been　once　first
favourite　for　this　race　for　money？　Becky　and　Rawdon；
as　we　have　seen；　were　come　together　after　Waterloo；
and　were　passing　the　winter　of　1815　at　Paris　in　great
splendour　and　gaiety。　　Rebecca　was　a　good　economist；
and　the　price　poor　Jos　Sedley　had　paid　for　her　two
horses　was　in　itself　sufficient　to　keep　their　little
establishment　afloat　for　a　year；　at　the　least；　there　was　no
occasion　to　turn　into　money　〃my　pistols；　the　same　which
I　shot　Captain　Marker；〃　or　the　gold　dressing…case；　or
the　cloak　lined　with　sable。　　Becky　had　it　made　into　a
pelisse　for　herself；　in　which　she　rode　in　the　Bois　de
Boulogne　to　the　admiration　of　all：　　and　you　should　have
seen　the　scene　between　her　and　her　delighted　husband；
whom　she　rejoined　after　the　army　had　entered　Cambray；
and　when　she　unsewed　herself；　and　let　out　of　her　dress
all　those　watches；　knick…knacks；　bank…notes；　cheques；　and
valuables；　which　she　had　secreted　in　the　wadding；　previous
to　her　meditated　flight　from　Brussels！　　Tufto　was　charmed；
and　Rawdon　roared　with　delighted　laughter；　and　swore
that　she　was　better　than　any　play　he　ever　saw；　by　Jove。
And　the　way　in　which　she　jockeyed　Jos；　and　which
she　described　with　infinite　fun；　carried　up　his　delight　to
a　pitch　of　quite　insane　enthusiasm。　　He　believed　in　his
wife　as　much　as　the　French　soldiers　in　Napoleon。
Her　success　in　Paris　was　remarkable。　　All　the　French
ladies　voted　her　charming。　　She　spoke　their　language
admirably。　　She　adopted　at　once　their　grace；　their　liveliness；
their　manner。　　Her　husband　was　stupid　certainlyall
English　are　stupidand；　besides；　a　dull　husband　at　Paris　is
always　a　point　in　a　lady's　favour。　　He　was　the　heir　of　the
rich　and　spirituelle　Miss　Crawley；　whose　house　had　been
open　to　so　many　of　the　French　noblesse　during　the
emigration。　　They　received　the　colonel's　wife　in　their　own
hotels〃Why；〃　wrote　a　great　lady　to　Miss　Crawley；　who
had　bought　her　lace　and　trinkets　at　the　Duchess's　own
price；　and　given　her　many　a　dinner　during　the　pinching
times　after　the　Revolution〃Why　does　not　our　dear　Miss
come　to　her　nephew　and　niece；　and　her　attached　friends
in　Paris？　All　the　world　raffoles　of　the　charming　Mistress
and　her　espiegle　beauty。　　Yes；　we　see　in　her　the　grace；
the　charm；　the　wit　of　our　dear　friend　Miss　Crawley！
The　King　took　notice　of　her　yesterday　at　the　Tuileries；
and　we　are　all　jealous　of　the　attention　which　Monsieur
pays　her。　　If　you　could　have　seen　the　spite　of　a　certain
stupid　Miladi　Bareacres　（whose　eagle…beak　and　toque
and　feat；hers　may　be　seen　peering　over　the　heads　of　all
assemblies）　when　Madame；　the　Duchess　of　Angouleme；
the　august　daughter　and　companion　of　kings；　desired
especially　to　be　presented　to　Mrs。　Crawley；　as　your　dear
daughter　and　protegee；　and　thanked　her　in　the　name
of　France；　for　all　your　benevolence　towards　our
unfortunates　during　their　exile！　　She　is　of　all　the　societies；
of　all　the　ballsof　the　ballsyesof　the　dances；　no；
and　yet　how　interesting　and　pretty　this　fair　creature　looks
surrounded　by　the　homage　of　the　men；　and　so　soon　to
be　a　mother！　　To　hear　her　speak　of　you；　her　protectress；
her　mother；　would　bring　tears　to　the　eyes　of　ogres。　　How
she　loves　you！　how　we　all　love　our　admirable；　our
respectable　Miss　Crawley！〃
It　is　to　be　feared　that　this　letter　of　the　Parisian　great
lady　did　not　by　any　means　advance　Mrs。　Becky's　interest
with　her　admirable；　her　respectable；　relative。　　On　the
contrary；　the　fury　of　the　old　spinster　was　beyond　bounds；
when　she　found　what　was　Rebecca's　situation；　and　how
audaciously　she　had　made　use　of　Miss　Crawley's　name；
to　get　an　entree　into　Parisian　society。　　Too　much　shaken
in　mind　and　body　to　compose　a　letter　in　the　French
language　in　reply　to　that　of　her　correspondent；　she
dictated　to　Briggs　a　furious　answer　in　her　own　native　tongue；
repudiating　Mrs。　Rawdon　Crawley　altogether；　and　warning
the　public　to　beware　of　her　as　a　most　artful　and
dangerous　person。　　But　as　Madame　the　Duchess　of　X
had　only　been　twenty　years　i