catherine-a story(凯瑟琳的故事)-第20节
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to be very good company； and as his expenses were unlimited （〃A few
convent candlesticks；〃 my dear； he used to whisper； 〃melt into a vast
number of doubloons〃）； he commanded as good society as he chose to ask
for： and it was speedily known as a fact throughout town； that Captain
Wood； who had served under His Majesty Charles III。 of Spain； had
carried off the diamond petticoat of Our Lady of Compostella； and lived
upon the proceeds of the fraud。 People were good Protestants in those days；
and many a one longed to have been his partner in the pious plunder。
* In the ingenious contemporary history of Moll Flanders； a periwig is
mentioned as costing that sum。
All surmises concerning his wealth； Captain Wood； with much
discretion； encouraged。 He contradicted no report； but was quite ready to
confirm all； and when two different rumours were positively put to him；
he used only to laugh； and say； 〃My dear sir； _I_ don't make the stories；
but I'm not called upon to deny them； and I give you fair warning； that I
shall assent to every one of them； so you may believe them or not； as you
please。〃 And so he had the reputation of being a gentleman； not only
wealthy； but discreet。 In truth； it was almost a pity that worthy Brock had
not been a gentleman born； in which case； doubtless； he would have lived
and died as became his station； for he spent his money like a gentleman；
he loved women like a gentleman； he would fight like a gentleman； he
gambled and got drunk like a gentleman。 What did he want else？ Only a
matter of six descents； a little money； and an estate； to render him the
equal of St。 John or Harley。 〃Ah； those were merry days！〃 would Mr。
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Brock say；for he loved； in a good old age； to recount the story of his
London fashionable campaign；〃and when I think how near I was to
become a great man； and to die perhaps a general； I can't but marvel at the
wicked obstinacy of my ill…luck。〃
〃I will tell you what I did； my dear： I had lodgings in Piccadilly； as if I
were a lord； I had two large periwigs； and three suits of laced clothes； I
kept a little black dressed out like a Turk； I walked daily in the Mall； I
dined at the politest ordinary in Covent Garden； I frequented the best of
coffee…houses； and knew all the pretty fellows of the town； I cracked a
bottle with Mr。 Addison； and lent many a piece to Dick Steele （a sad
debauched rogue； my dear）； and； above all； I'll tell you what I didthe
noblest stroke that sure ever a gentleman performed in my situation。
〃One day； going into 'Will's；' I saw a crowd of gentlemen gathered
together； and heard one of them say； 'Captain Wood！ I don't know the man；
but there was a Captain Wood in Southwell's regiment。' Egad； it was my
Lord Peterborough himself who was talking about me。 So； putting off my
hat； I made a most gracious conge to my Lord； and said I knew HIM； and
rode behind him at Barcelona on our entry into that town。
〃'No doubt you did； Captain Wood；' says my Lord； taking my hand；
'and no doubt you know me： for many more know Tom Fool； than Tom
Fool knows。' And with this； at which all of us laughed； my Lord called for
a bottle； and he and I sat down and drank it together。
〃Well； he was in disgrace； as you know； but he grew mighty fond of
me； andwould you believe it？nothing would satisfy him but presenting
me at Court！ Yes； to Her Sacred Majesty the Queen； and my Lady
Marlborough； who was in high feather。 Ay； truly； the sentinels on duty used
to salute me as if I were Corporal John himself！ I was on the high road to
fortune。 Charley Mordaunt used to call me Jack； and drink canary at my
chambers； I used to make one at my Lord Treasurer's levee； I had even got
Mr。 Army…Secretary Walpole to take a hundred guineas as a compliment：
and he had promised me a majority： when bad luck turned； and all my fine
hopes were overthrown in a twinkling。 〃You see； my dear； that after we
had left that gaby； Galgenstein；ha； hawith a gag in his mouth； and
twopence… halfpenny in his pocket； the honest Count was in the sorriest
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plight in the world； owing money here and there to tradesmen； a cool
thousand to the Warwickshire Squire： and all this on eighty pounds a year！
Well； for a little time the tradesmen held their hands； while the jolly Count
moved heaven and earth to catch hold of his dear Corporal and his dear
money…bags over again； and placarded every town from London to
Liverpool with descriptions of my pretty person。 The bird was flown；
however；the money clean gone；and when there was no hope of
regaining it； what did the creditors do but clap my gay gentleman into
Shrewsbury gaol： where I wish he had rotted； for my part。
〃But no such luck for honest Peter Brock； or Captain Wood； as he was
in those days。 One blessed Monday I went to wait on Mr。 Secretary； and he
squeezed my hand and whispered to me that I was to be Major of a
regiment in Virginiathe very thing： for you see； my dear； I didn't care
about joining my Lord Duke in Flanders； being pretty well known to the
army there。 The Secretary squeezed my hand （it had a fifty…pound bill in it）
and wished me joy； and called me Major； and bowed me out of his closet
into the ante…room； and； as gay as may be； I went off to the 'Tilt…yard
Coffee…house' in Whitehall； which is much frequented by gentlemen of our
profession； where I bragged not a little of my good luck。
〃Amongst the company were several of my acquaintance； and amongst
them a gentleman I did not much care to see； look you！ I saw a uniform
that I knewred and yellow facingsCutts's； my dear； and the wearer of
this was no other than his Excellency Gustavus Adolphus Maximilian；
whom we all know of！
〃He stared me full in the face； right into my eye （t'other one was
patched； you know）； and after standing stock…still with his mouth open；
gave a step back； and then a step forward； and then screeched out； 'It's
Brock！'
〃'I beg your pardon； sir；' says I； 'did you speak to me？'
〃'I'll SWEAR it's Brock；' cries Gal； as soon as he hears my voice； and
laid hold of my cuff （a pretty bit of Mechlin as ever you saw； by the way）。
〃'Sirrah！' says I； drawing it back； and giving my Lord a little touch of
the fist （just at the last button of the waistcoat； my dear；a rare place if
you wish to prevent a man from speaking too much： it sent him reeling to
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the other end of the room）。 'Ruffian！' says I。 'Dog！' says I。 'Insolent puppy
and coxcomb！ what do you mean by laying your hand on me？'
〃'Faith； Major； you giv him his BILLYFUL；' roared out a long Irish
unattached ensign； that I had treated with many a glass of Nantz at the
tavern。 And so； indeed； I had； for the wretch could not speak for some
minutes； and all the officers stood laughing at him； as he writhed and
wriggled hideously。
〃'Gentlemen； this is a monstrous scandal；' says one officer。 'Men of
rank and honour at fists like a parcel of carters！'
〃'Men of honour！' says the Count； who had fetched up his breath by
this time。 （I made for the door； but Macshane held me and said； 'Major；
you are not going to shirk him； sure？' Whereupon I gripped his hand and
vowed I would have the dog's life。）
〃'Men of honour！' says the Count。 'I tell you the man is a deserter； a
thief； and a swindler！ He was my corporal； and ran away with a thou'
〃'Dog； you lie！' I roared out； and made another cut at him with my
cane； but the gentlemen rushed between us。
〃'O bluthanowns！' says honest Macshane； 'the lying scounthrel th
