catherine-a story(凯瑟琳的故事)-第19节
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husband？ I know not； indeed； if ever I saw you before。 For what do you
seize him？ How much will you take to release him； and let us go？ Name
the sum； he is rich； and〃
〃RICH； Catherine！〃 cried Hayes。 〃Rich！O heavens！ Sir； I have
nothing but my hands to support me： I am a poor carpenter； sir； working
under my father！〃
〃He can give twenty guineas to be free； I know he can！〃 said Mrs。 Cat。
〃I have but a guinea to carry me home；〃 sighed out Hayes。
〃But you have twenty at home； John；〃 said his wife。 〃Give these brave
gentlemen a writing to your mother； and she will pay； and you will let us
free then； gentlemenwon't you？〃
〃When the money's paid； yes；〃 said the leader； Mr。 Brock。
〃Oh； in course；〃 echoed the tall man with the halberd。 〃What's a
thrifling detintion； my dear？〃 continued he； addressing Hayes。 〃We'll
amuse you in your absence； and drink to the health of your pretty wife
here。〃
This promise； to do the halberdier justice； he fulfilled。 He called upon
the landlady to produce the desired liquor； and when Mr。 Hayes flung
himself at that lady's feet； demanding succour from her； and asking
whether there was no law in the land
〃There's no law at the 'Three Rooks' except THIS！〃 said Mr。 Brock in
reply； holding up a horse…pistol。 To which the hostess； grinning； assented；
and silently went her way。
After some further solicitations； John Hayes drew out the necessary
letter to his father； stating that he was pressed； and would not be set free
under a sum of twenty guineas； and that it would be of no use to detain the
bearer of the letter； inasmuch as the gentlemen who had possession of him
vowed that they would murder him should any harm befall their comrade。
As a further proof of the authenticity of the letter； a token was added： a
ring that Hayes wore； and that his mother had given him。
The missives were； after some consultation； entrusted to the care of the
tall halberdier； who seemed to rank as second in command of the forces
that marched under Corporal Brock。 This gentleman was called
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indifferently Ensign； Mr。； or even Captain Macshane； his intimates
occasionally in sport called him Nosey； from the prominence of that
feature in his countenance； or Spindleshins； for the very reason which
brought on the first Edward a similar nickname。 Mr。 Macshane then
quitted Worcester； mounted on Hayes's horse； leaving all parties at the
〃Three Rooks〃 not a little anxious for his return。
This was not to be expected until the next morning； and a weary nuit
de noces did Mr。 Hayes pass。 Dinner was served； and； according to
promise； Mr。 Brock and his two friends enjoyed the meal along with the
bride and bridegroom。 Punch followed； and this was taken in company；
then came supper。 Mr。 Brock alone partook of this； the other two
gentlemen preferring the society of their pipes and the landlady in the
kitchen。
〃It is a sorry entertainment； I confess；〃 said the ex…corporal； 〃and a
dismal way for a gentleman to spend his bridal night； but somebody must
stay with you； my dears： for who knows but you might take a fancy to
scream out of window； and then there would be murder； and the deuce and
all to pay。 One of us must stay； and my friends love a pipe； so you must
put up with my company until they can relieve guard。〃
The reader will not； of course； expect that three people who were to
pass the night； however unwillingly； together in an inn…room； should sit
there dumb and moody； and without any personal communication； on the
contrary； Mr。 Brock； as an old soldier； entertained his prisoners with the
utmost courtesy； and did all that lay in his power； by the help of liquor and
conversation； to render their durance tolerable。 On the bridegroom his
attentions were a good deal thrown away： Mr。 Hayes consented to drink
copiously； but could not be made to talk much； and； in fact； the fright of
the seizure； the fate hanging over him should his parents refuse a ransom；
and the tremendous outlay of money which would take place should they
accede to it； weighed altogether on his mind so much as utterly to unman
it。
As for Mrs。 Cat； I don't think she was at all sorry in her heart to see the
old Corporal： for he had been a friend of old timesdear times to her； she
had had from him； too； and felt for him； not a little kindness； and there was
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really a very tender； innocent friendship subsisting between this pair of
rascals； who relished much a night's conversation together。
The Corporal； after treating his prisoners to punch in great quantities；
proposed the amusement of cards： over which Mr。 Hayes had not been
occupied more than an hour； when he found himself so excessively sleepy
as to be persuaded to fling himself down on the bed dressed as he was； and
there to snore away until morning。
Mrs。 Catherine had no inclination for sleep； and the Corporal； equally
wakeful； plied incessantly the bottle； and held with her a great deal of
conversation。 The sleep； which was equivalent to the absence； of John
Hayes took all restraint from their talk。 She explained to Brock the
circumstances of her marriage； which we have already described； they
wondered at the chance which had brought them together at the 〃Three
Rooks；〃 nor did Brock at all hesitate to tell her at once that his calling was
quite illegal； and that his intention was simply to extort money。 The
worthy Corporal had not the slightest shame regarding his own profession；
and cut many jokes with Mrs。 Cat about her late one； her attempt to
murder the Count； and her future prospects as a wife。
And here； having brought him upon the scene again； we may as well
shortly narrate some of the principal circumstances which befell him after
his sudden departure from Birmingham； and which he narrated with much
candour to Mrs。 Catherine。
He rode the Captain's horse to Oxford （having exchanged his military
dress for a civil costume on the road）； and at Oxford he disposed of
〃George of Denmark；〃 a great bargain； to one of the heads of colleges。 As
soon as Mr。 Brock； who took on himself the style and title of Captain
Wood； had sufficiently examined the curiosities of the University； he
proceeded at once to the capital： the only place for a gentleman of his
fortune and figure。
Here he read； with a great deal of philosophical indifference； in the
Daily Post； the Courant； the Observator； the Gazette； and the chief journals
of those days； which he made a point of examining at 〃Button's〃 and
〃Will's；〃 an accurate description of his person； his clothes； and the horse
he rode； and a promise of fifty guineas' reward to any person who would
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give an account of him （so that he might be captured） to Captain Count
Galgenstein at Birmingham； to Mr。 Murfey at the 〃Golden Ball〃 in the
Savoy； or Mr。 Bates at the 〃Blew Anchor in Pickadilly。〃 But Captain Wood；
in an enormous full…bottomed periwig that cost him sixty pounds；* with
high red heels to his shoes； a silver sword； and a gold snuff…box； and a
large wound （obtained； he said； at the siege of Barcelona）； which
disfigured much of his countenance； and caused him to cover one eye； was
in small danger； he thought； of being mistaken for Corporal Brock； the
deserter of Cutts's； and strutted along the Mall with as grave an air as the
very best nobleman who appeared there。 He was generally； indeed； voted
to be very good company； and as his expenses were unlimited （〃A few
