the bedford-row conspiracy(百得福特娄阴谋)-第12节
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hundred pounds； but you cannot invest your money better。〃
It is needless to state that the affair was to be conducted 〃with the
strictest secresy and honour；〃 and that the money was to pass through Mr。
Scully's hands。
While； however； the great Pincher and Macabaw question was yet
undecided； an event occurred to Mr。 Scully； which had a great influence
upon his after…life。 A second grand banquet was given at the Earl of
Mantrap's： Lady Mantrap requested him to conduct Lady Gorgon to
dinner； and the latter； with a charming timidity； and a gracious melancholy
look into his face （after which her veined eyelids veiled her azure eyes）；
put her hand into the trembling one of Mr。 Scully and said as much as
looks could say； 〃Forgive and forget。〃
Down went Scully to dinner。 There were dukes on his right hand and
earls on his left； there were but two persons without title in the midst of
that glittering assemblage； the very servants looked like noblemen。 The
cook had done wonders； the wines were cool and rich； and Lady Gorgon
was splendid！ What attention did everybody pay to her and to him！
Why WOULD she go on gazing into his face with that tender imploring
look？ In other words； Scully； after partaking of soup and fish （he； during
their discussion； had been thinking over all the former love…and…hate
passages between himself and Lady Gorgon）； turned very red； and began
talking to her。
〃Were you not at the opera on Tuesday？〃 began he； assuming at once
the airs of a man of fashion。 〃I thought I caught a glimpse of you in the
Duchess of Diddlebury's box。〃
〃Opera； Mr。 Scully？〃 （pronouncing the word 〃Scully〃 with the utmost
softness）。 〃Ah； no！ we seldom go； and yet too often。 For serious
persons the enchantments of that place are too dangerous。 I am so
nervousso delicate； the smallest trifle so agitates； depresses； or irritates
me； that I dare not yield myself up to the excitement of music。 I am too
passionately attached to it； and； shall I tell you？ it has such a strange
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influence upon me； that the smallest false note almost drives me to
distraction； and for that very reason I hardly ever go to a concert or a ball。〃
〃Egad；〃 thought Scully； 〃I recollect when she would dance down a
matter of five…and…forty couple； and jingle away at the 'Battle of Prague'
all day。〃
She continued： 〃Don't you recollect； I do； withoh； what regret！… …
that day at Oldborough race…ball； when I behaved with such sad rudeness
to you？ You will scarcely believe me； and yet I assure you 'tis the fact；
the music had made me almost mad。 Do let me ask your pardon for my
conduct。 I was not myself。 Oh； Mr。 Scully！ I am no worldly woman； I
know my duties； and I feel my wrongs。 Nights and days have I lain
awake weeping and thinking of that unhappy day… …that I should ever
speak so to an old friend； for we WERE old friends； were we not？〃
Scully did not speak； but his eyes were bursting out of his head； and
his face was the exact colour of a deputy…lieutenant's uniform。
〃That I should ever forget myself and you so！ How I have been
longing for this opportunity to ask you to forgive me！ I asked Lady
Mantrap； when I heard you were to be here； to invite me to her party。
Come； I know you will forgive meyour eyes say you will。 You used to
look so in old days； and forgive me my caprices THEN。 Do give me a little
winewe will drink to the memory of old days。〃
Her eyes filled with tears； and poor Scully's hand caused such a
rattling and trembling of the glass and the decanter that the Duke of
Doldrumwho had been； during the course of this whispered
sentimentality； describing a famous run with the Queen's hounds at the top
of his voicestopped at the jingling of the glass； and his tale was lost for
ever。 Scully hastily drank his wine； and Lady Gorgon turned round to
her next neighbour； a little gentleman in black； between whom and herself
certain conscious looks passed。
〃I am glad poor Sir George is not here；〃 said he； smiling。
Lady Gorgon said； 〃Pooh； for shame！〃 The little gentleman was no
other than Josiah Crampton； Esquire； that eminent financier； and he was
now going through the curious calculation before mentioned； by which
you BUY A MAN FOR NOTHING。 He intended to pay the very same
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price for Sir George Gorgon； too； but there was no need to tell the baronet
so； only of this the reader must be made aware。
While Mr。 Crampton was conducting this intrigue； which was to bring
a new recruit to the Ministerial ranks； his mighty spirit condescended to
ponder upon subjects of infinitely less importance； and to arrange plans for
the welfare of his nephew and the young woman to whom he had made a
present of his heart。 These young persons； as we said before； had
arranged to live in Mr。 Perkins's own house in Bedford Row。 It was of a
peculiar construction； and might more properly be called a house and a
half： for a snug little tenement of four chambers protruded from the back
of the house into the garden。 These rooms communicated with the
drawing…rooms occupied by Mr。 Scully； and Perkins； who acted as his
friend and secretary； used frequently to sit in the one nearest the Member's
study； in order that he might be close at hand to confer with that great man。
The rooms had a private entrance too； were newly decorated； and in them
the young couple proposed to live； the kitchen and garrets being theirs
likewise。 What more could they need？ We are obliged to be particular
in describing these apartments； for extraordinary events occurred therein。
To say the truth； until the present period Mr。 Crampton had taken no
great interest in his nephew's marriage； or； indeed； in the young man
himself。 The old gentleman was of a saturnine turn； and inclined to
undervalue the qualities of Mr。 Perkins； which were idleness； simplicity；
enthusiasm； and easy good…nature。
〃Such fellows never do anything in the world；〃 he would say； and for
such he had accordingly the most profound contempt。 But when； after
John Perkins's repeated entreaties； he had been induced to make the
acquaintance of Miss Gorgon； he became instantly charmed with her； and
warmly espoused her cause against her overbearing relations。
At his suggestion she wrote back to decline Sir George Gorgon's
peremptory invitation； and hinted at the same time that she had attained an
age and a position which enabled her to be the mistress of her own actions。
To this letter there came an answer from Lady Gorgon which we shall not
copy； but which simply stated that Miss Lucy Gorgon's conduct was
unchristian； ungrateful； unladylike； and immodest； that the Gorgon family
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disowned her for the future； and left her at liberty to form whatever base
connections she pleased。
〃A pretty world this；〃 said Mr。 Crampton； in a great rage； when the
letter was shown to him。 〃This same fellow； Scully； dissuades my
nephew from taking a place； because Scully wants it for himself。 This
prude of a Lady Gorgon cries out shame； and disowns an innocent amiable
girl： she a heartless jilt herself once； and a heartless flirt now。 The
Pharisees； the Pharisees！ And to call mine a base family； too！〃
Now； Lady Gorgon did not in the least know Mr。 Crampton's
connection with Mr。 Perkins； or she would have been much more guarded
in her language； but whether s
