the bedford-row conspiracy(百得福特娄阴谋)-第2节
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
the paternal mansion of Gorgon Castle； and rejoiced in the name and title
of Sir George Grimsby Gorgon。
He； too； like his younger brother； had married a lady beneath his own
rank in life； having espoused the daughter and heiress of Mr。 Hicks； the
great brewer at Oldborough； who held numerous mortgages on the Gorgon
property； all of which he yielded up； together with his daughter Juliana； to
the care of the baronet。
What Lady Gorgon was in character； this history will show。 In
person； if she may be compared to any vulgar animal； one of her father's
heavy； healthy； broad…flanked； Roman…nosed white dray…horses might； to
the poetic mind； appear to resemble her。 At twenty she was a splendid
creature； and though not at her full growth； yet remarkable for strength and
sinew； at forty…five she was as fine a woman as any in His Majesty's
dominions。 Five feet seven in height； thirteen stone； her own teeth and
hair； she looked as if she were the mother of a regiment of Grenadier
Guards。 She had three daughters of her own size； and at length； ten years
after the birth of the last of the young ladies； a sonone sonGeorge
Augustus Frederick Grimsby Gorgon； the godson of a royal duke； whose
steady officer in waiting Sir George had been for many years。
It is needless to say； after entering so largely into a description of Lady
Gorgon； that her husband was a little shrivelled wizen…faced creature；
eight inches shorter than her Ladyship。 This is the way of the world； as
every single reader of this book must have remarked； for frolic love
delights to join giants and pigmies of different sexes in the bonds of
matrimony。 When you saw her Ladyship in flame…coloured satin and
gorgeous toque and feathers； entering the drawing…room； as footmen along
the stairs shouted melodiously； 〃Sir George and Lady Gorgon；〃 you beheld
in her company a small withered old gentleman； with powder and large
royal household buttons； who tripped at her elbow as a little weak…legged
5
… Page 6…
THE BEDFORD…ROW CONSPIRACY
colt does at the side of a stout mare。
The little General had been present at about a hundred and twenty
pitched battles on Hounslow Heath and Wormwood Scrubs； but had never
drawn his sword against an enemy。 As might be expected； therefore； his
talk and tenue were outrageously military。 He had the whole Army List
by heartthat is； as far as the field…officers： all below them he scorned。
A bugle at Gorgon Castle always sounded at breakfast； and dinner： a gun
announced sunset。 He clung to his pigtail for many years after the army
had forsaken that ornament； and could never be brought to think much of
the Peninsular men for giving it up。 When he spoke of the Duke； he used
to call him 〃MY LORD WELLINGTONI RECOLLECT HIM AS
CAPTAIN WELLESLEY。〃 He swore fearfully in conversation； was
most regular at church； and regularly read to his family and domestics the
morning and evening prayer； he bullied his daughters； seemed to bully his
wife； who led him whither she chose； gave grand entertainments； and
never asked a friend by chance； had splendid liveries； and starved his
people； and was as dull； stingy； pompous； insolent； cringing； ill…tempered a
little creature as ever was known。
With such qualities you may fancy that he was generally admired in
society and by his country。 So he was： and I never knew a man so
endowed whose way through life was not safewho had fewer pangs of
consciencemore positive enjoymentsmore respect shown to himmore
favours granted to him； than such a one as my friend the General。
Her Ladyship was just suited to him； and they did in reality admire
each other hugely。 Previously to her marriage with the baronet； many
love…passages had passed between her and William Pitt Scully； Esquire；
the attorney； and there was especially one story； a propos of certain
syllabubs and Sally…Lunn cakes； which seemed to show that matters had
gone very far。 Be this as it may； no sooner did the General （Major
Gorgon he was then） cast an eye on her； than Scully's five years' fabric of
love was instantly dashed to the ground。 She cut him pitilessly； cut Sally
Scully； his sister； her dearest friend and confidante； and bestowed her big
person upon the little aide…de…camp at the end of a fortnight's wooing。 In
the course of time their mutual fathers died； the Gorgon estates were
6
… Page 7…
THE BEDFORD…ROW CONSPIRACY
unencumbered： patron of both the seats in the borough of Oldborough；
and occupant of one； Sir George Grimsby Gorgon； Baronet； was a
personage of no small importance。
He was； it scarcely need to be said； a Tory； and this was the reason
why William Pitt Scully； Esquire； of the firm of Perkins and Scully；
deserted those principles in which he had been bred and christened；
deserted that church which he had frequented； for he could not bear to see
Sir George and my Lady flaunting in their grand pew；deserted； I say； the
church； adopted the conventicle； and became one of the most zealous and
eloquent supporters that Freedom has known in our time。 Scully； of the
house of Scully and Perkins； was a dangerous enemy。 In five years from
that marriage； which snatched from the jilted solicitor his heart's young
affections； Sir George Gorgon found that he must actually spend seven
hundred pounds to keep his two seats。 At the next election； a Liberal was
set up against his man； and actually ran him hard； and finally； at the end of
eighteen years； the rejected Scullythe mean attorneywas actually the
FIRST Member for Oldborough； Sir George Grimsby Gorgon； Baronet；
being only the second！
The agony of that day cannot be imaginedthe dreadful curses of Sir
George； who saw fifteen hundred a year robbed from under his very nose
the religious resignation of my Ladythe hideous window…smashing that
took place at the 〃Gorgon Arms；〃 and the discomfiture of the pelted Mayor
and Corporation。 The very next Sunday； Scully was reconciled to the
church （or attended it in the morning； and the meeting twice in the
afternoon）； and as Doctor Snorter uttered the prayer for the High Court of
Parliament； his eye； the eye of his whole partyturned towards Lady
Gorgon and Sir George in a most unholy triumph。 Sir George （who
always stood during prayers； like a military man） fairly sank down among
the hassocks； and Lady Gorgon was heard to sob as audibly as ever did
little beadle…belaboured urchin。
Scully； when at Oldborough； came from that day forth to church。
〃What；〃 said he； 〃was it to him？ were we not all brethren？〃 Old Perkins；
however； kept religiously to the Squaretoes congregation。 In fact； to tell
the truth； this subject had been debated between the partners； who saw the
7
… Page 8…
THE BEDFORD…ROW CONSPIRACY
advantage of courting both the Establishment and the Dissentersa
manoeuvre which； I need not say； is repeated in almost every country town
in England； where a solicitor's house has this kind of power and
connection。
Three months after this election came the races at Oldborough； and the
race…ball。 Gorgon was so infuriated by his defeat； that he gave 〃the
Gorgon cup and cover；〃 a matter of fifteen pounds。 Scully； 〃although
anxious；〃 as he wrote from town； 〃anxious beyond measure to preserve the
breed of horses for which our beloved country has ever been famous；
could attend no such sports as these； which but too often degenerated into
vice。〃 It was voted a shabby excuse。 Lady Gorgon was radiant in he
