catherine-a story(凯瑟琳的故事)-第30节
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a very prominent nose； and a faded military dress； while the other； an old
weather…beaten； sober…looking personage； wore the costume of a civilian
both man and dress appearing to have reached the autumnal； or seedy state。
However； the pair seemed； in spite of their apparent poverty； to be
passably merry。 The old gentleman rode the horse； and had； in the course
of their journey； ridden him two miles at least in every three。 The tall one
walked with immense strides by his side； and seemed； indeed； as if he
could have quickly outstripped the four…footed animal； had he chosen to
exert his speed； or had not affection for his comrade retained him at his
stirrup。
A short time previously the horse had cast a shoe； and this the tall man
on foot had gathered up； and was holding in his hand： it having been voted
that the first blacksmith to whose shop they should come should be called
upon to fit it again upon the bay horse。
〃Do you remimber this counthry； Meejor？〃 said the tall man； who was
looking about him very much pleased； and sucking a flower。 〃I think thim
green cornfields is prettier looking at than the d… tobacky out yondther；
and bad lack to it！〃
〃I recollect the place right well； and some queer pranks we played here
seven years agone；〃 responded the gentleman addressed as Major。 〃You
remember that man and his wife； whom we took in pawn at the 'Three
Rooks'？〃
〃And the landlady only hung last Michaelmas？〃 said the tall man；
parenthetically。
〃Hang the landlady！we've got all we ever would out of HER； you
know。 But about the man and woman。 You went after the chap's mother；
and； like a jackass； as you are； let him loose。 Well； the woman was that
Catherine that you've often heard me talk about。 I like the wench； her；
for I almost brought her up； and she was for a year or two along with that
scoundrel Galgenstein； who has been the cause of my ruin。〃
〃The inferrnal blackguard and ruffian！〃 said the tall man； who； with
his companion； has no doubt been recognised by the reader。
〃Well； this Catherine had a child by Galgenstein； and somewhere here
hard by the woman lived to whom we carried the brat to nurse。 She was
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the wife of a blacksmith； one Billings： it won't be out of the way to get our
horse shod at his house； if he is alive still； and we may learn something
about the little beast。 I should be glad to see the mother well enough。〃
〃Do I remimber her？〃 said the Ensign。 〃Do I remimber whisky？ Sure I
do； and the snivelling sneak her husband； and the stout old lady her
mother…in…law； and the dirty one…eyed ruffian who sold me the parson's hat
that had so nearly brought me into trouble。 Oh but it was a rare rise we got
out of them chaps； and the old landlady that's hanged too！〃 And here both
Ensign Macshane and Major Brock； or Wood； grinned； and showed much
satisfaction。
It will be necessary to explain the reason of it。 We gave the British
public to understand that the landlady of the 〃Three Rooks；〃 at Worcester；
was a notorious fence； or banker of thieves； that is； a purchaser of their
merchandise。 In her hands Mr。 Brock and his companion had left property
to the amount of sixty or seventy pounds； which was secreted in a cunning
recess in a chamber of the 〃Three Rooks〃 known only to the landlady and
the gentlemen who banked with her； and in this place； Mr。 Sicklop； the
one…eyed man who had joined in the Hayes adventure； his comrade； and
one or two of the topping prigs of the county； were free。 Mr。 Sicklop had
been shot dead in a night attack near Bath： the landlady had been suddenly
hanged； as an accomplice in another case of robbery； and when； on their
return from Virginia； our two heroes； whose hopes of livelihood depended
upon it； had bent their steps towards Worcester； they were not a little
frightened to hear of the cruel fate of the hostess and many of the amiable
frequenters of the 〃Three Rooks。〃 All the goodly company were separated；
the house was no longer an inn。 Was the money gone too？ At least it was
worth while to look which Messrs。 Brock and Macshane determined to
do。
The house being now a private one； Mr。 Brock； with a genius that was
above his station； visited its owner； with a huge portfolio under his arm；
and； in the character of a painter； requested permission to take a particular
sketch from a particular window。 The Ensign followed with the artist's
materials （consisting simply of a screwdriver and a crowbar）； and it is
hardly necessary to say that； when admission was granted to them； they
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opened the well…known door； and to their inexpressible satisfaction
discovered； not their own peculiar savings exactly； for these had been
appropriated instantly； on hearing of their transportation； but stores of
money and goods to the amount of near three hundred pounds： to which
Mr。 Macshane said they had as just and honourable a right as anybody else。
And so they had as just a right as anybodyexcept the original owners： but
who was to discover them？
With this booty they set out on their journeyanywhere； for they knew
not whither； and it so chanced that when their horse's shoe came off； they
were within a few furlongs of the cottage of Mr。 Billings； the blacksmith。
As they came near； they were saluted by tremendous roars issuing from
the smithy。 A small boy was held across the bellows； two or three children
of smaller and larger growth were holding him down； and many others of
the village were gazing in at the window； while a man； half…naked； was
lashing the little boy with a whip； and occasioning the cries heard by the
travellers。 As the horse drew up； the operator looked at the new… comers
for a moment； and then proceeded incontinently with his work；
belabouring the child more fiercely than ever。
When he had done； he turned round to the new…comers and asked how
he could serve them？ whereupon Mr。 Wood （for such was the name he
adopted； and by such we shall call him to the end） wittily remarked that
however he might wish to serve THEM； he seemed mightily inclined to
serve that young gentleman first。
〃It's no joking matter；〃 said the blacksmith： 〃if I don't serve him so
now； he'll be worse off in his old age。 He'll come to the gallows； as sure as
his name is Bill…never mind what his name is。〃 And so saying； he gave
the urchin another cut； which elicited； of course； another scream。
〃Oh！ his name is Bill？〃 said Captain Wood。
〃His name's NOT Bill！〃 said the blacksmith； sulkily。 〃He's no name；
and no heart； neither。 My wife took the brat in； seven years ago； from a
beggarly French chap to nurse； and she kept him； for she was a good soul〃
（here his eyes began to wink）； 〃and she'sshe's gone now〃 （here he began
fairly to blubber）。 〃And d… him； out of love for her； I kept him too； and
the scoundrel is a liar and a thief。 This blessed day； merely to vex me and
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my boys here； he spoke ill of her； he did； and I'llcuthislifeoutI
will！〃 and with each word honest Mulciber applied a whack on the body of
little Tom Billings； who； by shrill shrieks； and oaths in treble；
acknowledged the receipt of the blows。
〃Come； come；〃 said Mr。 Wood； 〃set the boy down； and the bellows a…
going； my horse wants shoeing； and the poor lad has had strapping
enough。〃
The blacksmith obeyed； and cast poor Master Thomas loose。 As he
staggered away and looked back at his tormentor； his countenance
assumed an expression which made Mr。 Wood say； grasping hold of
Macshane's arm； 〃It's the boy； it's the boy！ When his mother gave
Galgenstein the laudanum； she had the self…same look with her！〃
〃Had she really now？〃 said Mr。 Macshane。
