catherine-a story(凯瑟琳的故事)-第47节
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son stepped into the way； and he or somebody else hath been in the way
ever since。 Madam will never appear alone。 I believe it is this wondrous
chastity of the lady that has elicited this wondrous constancy of the
gentleman。 She is holding out for a settlement； who knows if not for a
marriage？ Her husband； she says； is ailing； her lover is fool enough； and
she herself conducts her negotiations； as I must honestly own； with a
pretty notion of diplomacy。〃
* * *
This is the only part of the reverend gentleman's letter that directly
affects this history。 The rest contains some scandal concerning greater
personages about the Court； a great share of abuse of the Elector of
Hanover； and a pretty description of a boxing…match at Mr。 Figg's
amphitheatre in Oxford Road； where John Wells； of Edmund Bury （as by
the papers may be seen）； master of the noble science of self…defence； did
engage with Edward Sutton； of Gravesend； master of the said science； and
the issue of the combat。
〃N。 B。〃adds the Father； in a postscript〃Monsieur Figue gives a hat
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to be cudgelled for before the Master mount； and the whole of this
fashionable information hath been given me by Monseigneur's son；
Monsieur Billings； garcon…tailleur； Chevalier de Galgenstein。〃
Mr。 Billings was； in fact； a frequent visitor at the Ambassador's house；
to whose presence he； by a general order； was always admitted。 As for the
connection between Mrs。 Catherine and her former admirer； the Abbe's
history of it is perfectly correct； nor can it be said that this wretched
woman； whose tale now begins to wear a darker hue； was； in anything but
SOUL； faithless to her husband。 But she hated him； longed to leave him；
and loved another： the end was coming quickly； and every one of our
unknowing actors and actresses were to be implicated； more or less； in the
catastrophe。
It will be seen that Mrs。 Cat had followed pretty closely the injunctions
of Mr。 Wood in regard to her dealings with the Count； who grew more
heart…stricken and tender daily； as the completion of his wishes was
delayed； and his desires goaded by contradiction。 The Abbe has quoted
one portion of a letter written by him； here is the entire performance；
extracted； as the holy father said； chiefly from the romance of the 〃Grand
Cyrus〃。
〃Unhappy Maximilian unto unjust Catherina。
〃MADAM；It must needs be that I love you better than any ever did；
since； notwithstanding your injustice in calling me perfidious； I love you
no less than I did before。 On the contrary； my passion is so violent； and
your unjust accusation makes me so sensible of it； that if you did but know
the resentments of my soule； you would confess your selfe the most cruell
and unjust woman in the world。 You shall； ere long； Madam； see me at
your feete； and as you were my first passion； so you will be my last。
〃On my knees I will tell you； at the first handsom opportunity； that the
grandure of my passion can only be equalled by your beauty； it hath
driven me to such a fatall necessity； as that I cannot hide the misery which
you have caused。 Sure； the hostil goddes have； to plague me； ordayned that
fatal marridge； by which you are bound to one so infinitly below you in
degree。 Were that bond of ill…omind Hymen cut in twayn witch binds you；
I swear； Madam； that my happiniss woulde be to offer you this hande； as I
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have my harte long agoe。 And I praye you to beare in minde this
declaracion； which I here sign with my hande； and witch I pray you may
one day be called upon to prove the truth on。 Beleave me； Madam； that
there is none in the World who doth more honor to your vertue than
myselfe； nor who wishes your happinesse with more zeal than
MAXIMILIAN。
〃From my lodgings in Whitehall； this 25th of February。
〃To the incomparable Catherina； these； with a scarlet satten petticoat。〃
The Count had debated about the sentence promising marriage in
event of Hayes's death； but the honest Abbe cut these scruples very short；
by saying； justly； that； because he wrote in that manner； there was no need
for him to act so； that he had better not sign and address the note in full；
and that he presumed his Excellency was not quite so timid as to fancy
that the woman would follow him all the way to Germany； when his
diplomatic duties would be ended； as they would soon。
The receipt of this billet caused such a flush of joy and exultation to
unhappy happy Mrs。 Catherine； that Wood did not fail to remark it； and
speedily learned the contents of the letter。 Wood had no need to bid the
poor wretch guard it very carefully： it never from that day forth left her； it
was her title of nobility；her pass to rank； wealth； happiness。 She began to
look down on her neighbours； her manner to her husband grew more than
ordinarily scornful； the poor vain wretch longed to tell her secret； and to
take her place openly in the world。 She a Countess； and Tom a Count's son！
She felt that she should royally become the title！
About this timeand Hayes was very much frightened at the
prevalence of the rumourit suddenly began to be about in his quarter that
he was going to quit the country。 The story was in everybody's mouth；
people used to sneer when he turned pale； and wept； and passionately
denied it。
It was said； too； that Mrs。 Hayes was not his wife； but his mistress
everybody had this storyhis mistress； whom he treated most cruelly； and
was about to desert。 The tale of the blow which had felled her to the
ground was known in all quarters。 When he declared that the woman tried
to stab him； nobody believed him： the women said he would have been
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served right if she had done so。 How had these stories gone abroad？
〃Three days more； and I WILL fly；〃 thought Hayes； 〃and the world may
say what it pleases。〃
Ay； fool； flyaway so swiftly that Fate cannot overtake thee： hide so
cunningly that Death shall not find thy place of refuge！
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Catherine： A Story
CHAPTER XIII。 BEING A
PREPARATION FOR THE END。
The reader； doubtless； doth now partly understand what dark acts of
conspiracy are beginning to gather around Mr。 Hayes； and possibly hath
comprehended
1。 That if the rumour was universally credited which declared that Mrs。
Catherine was only Hayes's mistress； and not his wife；
She might； if she so inclined； marry another person； and thereby not
injure her fame and excite wonderment； but actually add to her reputation。
2。 That if all the world did steadfastly believe that Mr。 Hayes intended
to desert this woman； after having cruelly maltreated her；
The direction which his journey might take would be of no
consequence； and he might go to Highgate； to Edinburgh； to
Constantinople； nay； down a well； and no soul would care to ask whither
he had gone。
These points Mr。 Hayes had not considered duly。 The latter case had
been put to him； and annoyed him； as we have seen； the former had
actually been pressed upon him by Mrs。 Hayes herself； who； in almost the
only communication she had had with him since their last quarrel； had
asked him； angrily； in the presence of Wood and her son； whether he had
dared to utter such lies； and how it came to pass that the neighbours
looked scornfully at her； and avoided her？
To this charge Mr。 Hayes pleaded； very meekly； that he was not guilty；
and young Billings； taking him by the co
