catherine-a story(凯瑟琳的故事)-第7节
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CAPTAIN。 What do you say to a silver trimming； pretty Catherine？
Don't you think a scarlet riding…cloak； handsomely laced； would become
you wonderfully well？and a grey hat with a blue feather and a pretty
nag to ride onand all the soldiers to present arms as you pass； and say；
〃There goes the Captain's lady〃？ What do you think of a side…box at
Lincoln's Inn playhouse； or of standing up to a minuet with my Lord
Marquis at？
CORPORAL。 The ball； sir； ran right up his elbow； and was found the
next day by Surgeon Splinter of ours；where do you think； sir？ upon my
honour as a gentleman it came out of the nape of his
CAPTAIN。 Necklaceand a sweet pair of diamond earrings； mayhap
and a little shower of patches； which ornament a lady's face wondrously
and a leetle rougethough； egad！ such peach…cheeks as yours don't want
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Catherine： A Story
it；fie！ Mrs。 Catherine； I should think the birds must come and peck at
them as if they were fruit
CORPORAL。 Over the wall； and three…and…twenty of our fellows
jumped after me。 By the Pope of Rome； friend Tummas； that was a day！
Had you seen how the Mounseers looked when four…and…twenty
rampaging he…devils； sword and pistol； cut and thrust； pell…mell came
tumbling into the redoubt！ Why； sir； we left in three minutes as many
artillerymen's heads as there were cannon…balls。 It was； 〃Ah sacre！〃 〃D
… you； take that！〃 〃O mon Dieu！〃 〃Run him through！〃 〃Ventrebleu！〃 and it
WAS ventrebleu with him； I warrant you； for bleu； in the French language；
means 〃through；〃 and ventrewhy； you see； ventre means
CAPTAIN。 Waists； which are worn now excessive long； and for the
hoops； if you COULD but see themstap my vitals； my dear； but there
was a lady at Warwick's Assembly （she came in one of my Lord's coaches）
who had a hoop as big as a tent： you might have dined under it
comfortably；ha！ ha！ 'pon my faith； now
CORPORAL。 And there we found the Duke of Marlborough seated
along with Marshal Tallard； who was endeavouring to drown his sorrow
over a cup of Johannisberger wine； and a good drink too； my lads； only not
to compare to Warwick beer。 〃Who was the man who has done this？〃 said
our noble General。 I stepped up。 〃How many heads was it；〃 says he； 〃that
you cut off？〃 〃Nineteen；〃 says I； 〃besides wounding several。〃 When he
heard it （Mr。 Hayes； you don't drink） I'm blest if he didn't burst into tears！
〃Noble noble fellow；〃 says he。 〃Marshal； you must excuse me if I am
pleased to hear of the destruction of your countrymen。 Noble noble
fellow！here's a hundred guineas for you。〃 Which sum he placed in my
hand。 〃Nay；〃 says the Marshal 〃the man has done his duty：〃 and； pulling
out a magnificent gold diamond…hilted snuff…box； he gave me
MR。 BULLOCK。 What； a goold snuff…box？ Wauns； but thee WAST in
luck； Corporal！
CORPORAL。 No； not the snuff…box； butA PINCH OF SNUFF；ha！
ha！run me through the body if he didn't。 Could you but have seen the
smile on Jack Churchill's grave face at this piece of generosity！ So；
beckoning Colonel Cadogan up to him； he pinched his Ear and whispered…
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Catherine： A Story
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CAPTAIN。 〃May I have the honour to dance a minuet with your
Ladyship？〃 The whole room was in titters at Jack's blunder； for； as you
know very well； poor Lady Susan HAS A WOODEN LEG。 Ha！ ha！ fancy
a minuet and a wooden leg； hey； my dear？
MRS。 CATHERINE。 Gigglegigglegiggle： he！ he！ he！ Oh； Captain；
you rogue； you
SECOND TABLE。 Haw！ haw！ haw！ Well you be a foony mon；
Sergeant； zure enoff。
* * *
This little specimen of the conversation must be sufficient。 It will show
pretty clearly that EACH of the two military commanders was conducting
his operations with perfect success。 Three of the detachment of five
attacked by the Corporal surrendered to him： Mr。 Bullock； namely； who
gave in at a very early stage of the evening； and ignominiously laid down
his arms under the table； after standing not more than a dozen volleys of
beer； Mr。 Blacksmith's boy； and a labourer whose name we have not been
able to learn。 Mr。 Butcher himself was on the point of yielding； when he
was rescued by the furious charge of a detachment that marched to his
relief： his wife namely； who； with two squalling children； rushed into the
〃Bugle；〃 boxed Butcher's ears； and kept up such a tremendous fire of oaths
and screams upon the Corporal； that he was obliged to retreat。 Fixing then
her claws into Mr。 Butcher's hair； she proceeded to drag him out of the
premises； and thus Mr。 Brock was overcome。 His attack upon John Hayes
was a still greater failure； for that young man seemed to be invincible by
drink； if not by love： and at the end of the drinking…bout was a great deal
more cool than the Corporal himself； to whom he wished a very polite
good…evening； as calmly he took his hat to depart。 He turned to look at
Catherine； to be sure； and then he was not quite so calm： but Catherine did
not give any reply to his good…night。 She was seated at the Captain's table
playing at cribbage with him； and though Count Gustavus Maximilian lost
every game； he won more than he lost；sly fellow！and Mrs。 Catherine
was no match for him。
It is to be presumed that Hayes gave some information to Mrs。 Score；
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Catherine： A Story
the landlady： for； on leaving the kitchen； he was seen to linger for a
moment in the bar； and very soon after Mrs。 Catherine was called away
from her attendance on the Count； who； when he asked for a sack and toast；
was furnished with those articles by the landlady herself： and； during the
half…hour in which he was employed in consuming this drink； Monsieur de
Galgenstein looked very much disturbed and out of humour； and cast his
eyes to the door perpetually； but no Catherine came。 At last； very sulkily；
he desired to be shown to bed； and walked as well as he could （for； to say
truth； the noble Count was by this time somewhat unsteady on his legs） to
his chamber。 It was Mrs。 Score who showed him to it； and closed the
curtains； and pointed triumphantly to the whiteness of the sheets。
〃It's a very comfortable room；〃 said she； 〃though not the best in the
house； which belong of right to your Lordship's worship； but our best
room has two beds； and Mr。 Corporal is in that； locked and double…locked；
with his three tipsy recruits。 But your honour will find this here bed
comfortable and well…aired； I've slept in it myself this eighteen years。〃
〃What； my good woman； you are going to sit up； eh？ It's cruel hard on
you； madam。〃
〃Sit up； my Lord？ bless you； no！ I shall have half of our Cat's bed； as I
always do when there's company。〃 And with this Mrs。 Score curtseyed and
retired。
Very early the next morning the active landlady and her bustling
attendant had prepared the ale and bacon for the Corporal and his three
converts； and had set a nice white cloth for the Captain's breakfast。 The
young blacksmith did not eat with much satisfaction； but Mr。 Bullock and
his friend betrayed no sign of discontent； except such as may be
consequent upon an evening's carouse。 They walked very contentedly to
be registered before Doctor Dobbs； who was also justice of the peace； and
went in search of their slender bundles； and took leave of their few
acquaintances without much regret： for the gentlemen had been bred in the
workhouse； and had not； therefore； a large circle of friends。
It wanted only an hour of noon； and the noble Count had not
descended。 The men were waiting for him； and spent much of the Queen's
money （earned by the sale of their bodies overnight） while thus expecting
