catherine-a story(凯瑟琳的故事)-第46节
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lord？ It's the German law； Mr。 Wood says； and you know he was in them
countries with Marlborough。〃
〃Ay； that he would；〃 said Mr。 Wood； 〃in Germany： but Germany isn't
England； and it's no use talking of such things。〃
〃Hush； child！〃 said Mrs。 Hayes； quite eagerly： 〃how can _I_ marry the
Count？ Besides； a'n't I married； and isn't he too great a lord for me？〃
〃Too great a lord？not a whit； mother。 If it wasn't for Hayes； I might
be a lord now。 He gave me five guineas only last week； but curse the
skinflint who never will part with a shilling。〃
〃It's not so bad as his striking your mother； Tom。 I had my stick up；
and was ready to fell him t'other night；〃 added Mr。 Wood。 And herewith he
smiled； and looked steadily in Mrs。 Catherine's face。 She dared not look
again； but she felt that the old man knew a secret that she had been trying
to hide from herself。 Fool！ he knew it； and Hayes knew it dimly： and never；
never； since that day of the gala； had it left her； sleeping or waking。 When
Hayes； in his fear； had proposed to sleep away from her； she started with
joy： she had been afraid that she might talk in her sleep； and so let slip her
horrible confession。
Old Wood knew all her history since the period of the Marylebone fete。
He had wormed it out of her； day by day； he had counselled her how to act；
warned her not to yield； to procure； at least； a certain provision for her son；
and a handsome settlement for herself； if she determined on quitting her
husband。 The old man looked on the business in a proper philosophical
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light； told her bluntly that he saw she was bent upon going off with the
Count； and bade her take precautions： else she might be left as she had
been before。
Catherine denied all these charges； but she saw the Count daily；
notwithstanding； and took all the measures which Wood had
recommended to her。 They were very prudent ones。 Galgenstein grew
hourly more in love： never had he felt such a flame； not in the best days of
his youth； not for the fairest princess； countess； or actress； from Vienna to
Paris。
At lengthit was the night after he had seen Hayes counting his
money…bagsold Wood spoke to Mrs。 Hayes very seriously。 〃That
husband of yours； Cat；〃 said he； 〃meditates some treason； ay； and fancies
we are about such。 He listens nightly at your door and at mine： he is going
to leave you； be sure on't； and if he leaves you； he leaves you to starve。〃
〃I can be rich elsewhere；〃 said Mrs。 Cat。
〃What； with Max？〃
〃Ay； with Max： and why not？〃 said Mrs。 Hayes。
〃Why not； fool！ Do you recollect Birmingham？ Do you think that
Galgenstein； who is so tender now because he HASN'T won you； will be
faithful because he HAS？ Psha； woman； men are not made so！ Don't go to
him until you are sure： if you were a widow now； he would marry you； but
never leave yourself at his mercy： if you were to leave your husband to go
to him； he would desert you in a fortnight！〃
She might have been a Countess！ she knew she might； but for this
cursed barrier between her and her fortune。 Wood knew what she was
thinking of； and smiled grimly。
〃Besides；〃 he continued； 〃remember Tom。 As sure as you leave Hayes
without some security from Max； the boy's ruined： he who might be a lord；
if his mother had butPsha！ never mind： that boy will go on the road； as
sure as my name's Wood。 He's a Turpin cock in his eye； my dear；a
regular Tyburn look。 He knows too many of that sort already； and is too
fond of a bottle and a girl to resist and be honest when it comes to the
pinch。〃
〃It's all true；〃 said Mrs。 Hayes。 〃Tom's a high mettlesome fellow； and
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would no more mind a ride on Hounslow Heath than he does a walk now
in the Mall。〃
〃Do you want him hanged； my dear？〃 said Wood。
〃Ah； Doctor！〃
〃It IS a pity； and that's sure；〃 concluded Mr。 Wood； knocking the ashes
out of his pipe； and closing this interesting conversation。 〃It is a pity that
that old skinflint should be in the way of both your fortunes； and he about
to fling you over； too！〃
Mrs。 Catherine retired musing； as Mr。 Billings had previously done； a
sweet smile of contentment lighted up the venerable features of Doctor
Wood； and he walked abroad into the streets as happy a fellow as any in
London。
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CHAPTER XII。 TREATS OF
LOVE； AND PREPARES FOR
DEATH。
And to begin this chapter； we cannot do better than quote a part of a
letter from M。 l'Abbe O'Flaherty to Madame la Comtesse de X… at
Paris：
〃MADAM；The little Arouet de Voltaire； who hath come 'hither to
take a turn in England；' as I see by the Post of this morning； hath brought
me a charming pacquet from your Ladyship's hands； which ought to
render a reasonable man happy； but； alas！ makes your slave miserable。 I
think of dear Paris （and something more dear than all Paris； of which；
Madam； I may not venture to speak further）I think of dear Paris； and find
myself in this dismal Vitehall； where； when the fog clears up； I can catch a
glimpse of muddy Thames； and of that fatal palace which the kings of
England have been obliged to exchange for your noble castle of Saint
Germains； that stands so stately by silver Seine。 Truly； no bad bargain。 For
my part； I would give my grand ambassadorial saloons； hangings； gildings；
feasts； valets； ambassadors and all； for a bicoque in sight of the Thuilleries'
towers； or my little cell in the Irlandois。
〃My last sheets have given you a pretty notion of our ambassador's
public doings； now for a pretty piece of private scandal respecting that
great man。 Figure to yourself； Madam； his Excellency is in love； actually
in love； talking day and night about a certain fair one whom he hath
picked out of a gutter； who is well nigh forty years old； who was his
mistress when he was in England a captain of dragoons； some sixty；
seventy； or a hundred years since； who hath had a son by him； moreover； a
sprightly lad； apprentice to a tailor of eminence that has the honour of
making his Excellency's breeches。
〃Since one fatal night when he met this fair creature at a certain place
of publique resort； called Marylebone Gardens； our Cyrus hath been an
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altered creature。 Love hath mastered this brainless ambassador； and his
antics afford me food for perpetual mirth。 He sits now opposite to me at a
table inditing a letter to his Catherine； and copying it fromwhat do you
think？from the 'Grand Cyrus。' 'I swear； madam； that my happiness would
be to offer you this hand； as I have my heart long ago； and I beg you to
bear in mind this declaration。' I have just dictated to him the above tender
words； for our Envoy； I need not tell you； is not strong at writing or
thinking。
〃The fair Catherine； I must tell you； is no less than a carpenter's wife； a
well…to…do bourgeois； living at the Tyburn； or Gallows Road。 She found
out her ancient lover very soon after our arrival； and hath a marvellous
hankering to be a Count's lady。 A pretty little creature is this Madam
Catherine。 Billets； breakfasts； pretty walks； presents of silks and satins；
pass daily between the pair； but； strange to say； the lady is as virtuous as
Diana； and hath resisted all my Count's cajoleries hitherto。 The poor
fellow told me； with tears in his eyes； that he believed he should have
carried her by storm on the very first night of their meeting； but that her
son stepped into the way； and he or somebody else hat
