the bedford-row conspiracy(百得福特娄阴谋)-第7节
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minute seated in her aunt's coach； along with that tremendous person。
Her case was bad enough； but what was it to Perkins's？ Fancy his
blank surprise and rage at having his love thus suddenly ravished from
him； and his delicious tete…a…tete interrupted。 He managed； in an
inconceivably short space of time； to conjure up half…a…million obstacles to
his union。 What should he do？ he would rush on to Baker Street； and
wait there until his Lucy left Lady Gorgon's house。
He could find no vehicle in the Regent's Park； and was in consequence
obliged to make his journey on foot。 Of course； he nearly killed himself
with running； and ran so quick； that he was just in time to see the two
ladies step out of Lady Gorgon's carriage at her own house； and to hear
Jerningham's fellow…footman roar to the Gorgonian coachman； 〃Half…past
seven！〃 at which hour we are； to this day； convinced that Lady Gorgon
was going out to dine。 Mr。 Jerningham's associate having banged to the
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door； with an insolent look towards Perkins； who was prying in with the
most suspicious and indecent curiosity； retired； exclaiming； 〃That chap has
a hi to our great…coats； I reckon！〃 and left John Perkins to pace the street
and be miserable。
John Perkins then walked resolutely up and down dismal Baker Street；
determined on an eclaircissement。 He was for some time occupied in
thinking how it was that the Gorgons were not at church； they who made
such a parade of piety； and John Perkins smiled as he passed the chapel；
and saw that two CHARITY SERMONS were to be preached that day
and therefore it was that General Gorgon read prayers to his family at
home in the morning。
Perkins； at last； saw that little General； in blue frock…coat and spotless
buff gloves； saunter scowling home； and half an hour before his arrival
had witnessed the entrance of Jerningham； and the three gaunt Miss
Gorgons； poodle； son…and…heir； and French governess； protected by him；
into Sir George's mansion。
〃Can she be going to stay all night？〃 mused poor John； after being on
the watch for three hours： when presently； to his inexpressible delight； he
saw a very dirty hackney…coach clatter up to the Gorgon door； out of
which first issued the ruby plush breeches and stalwart calves of Mr。
Jerningham； these were followed by his body； and then the gentleman；
ringing modestly； was admitted。
Again the door opened： a lady came out； nor was she followed by the
footman； who crossed his legs at the door…post and allowed her to mount
the jingling vehicle as best she might。 Mr。 Jerningham had witnessed the
scene in the Park Gardens； had listened to the altercation through the
library keyhole； and had been mighty sulky at being ordered to call a
coach for this young woman。 He did not therefore deign to assist her to
mount。
But there was ONE who did！ Perkins was by the side of his Lucy：
he had seen her start back and cry； 〃La； John！〃had felt her squeeze his
armhad mounted with her into the coach； and then shouted with a voice
of thunder to the coachman； 〃Caroline Place； Mecklenburgh Square。〃
But Mr。 Jerningham would have been much more surprised and
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puzzled if he had waited one minute longer； and seen this Mr。 Perkins；
who had so gallantly escaladed the hackney…coach； step out of it with the
most mortified； miserable； chap…fallen countenance possible。
The fact is； he had found poor Lucy sobbing fit to break her heart； and
instead of consoling her； as he expected； he only seemed to irritate her
further： for she said； 〃Mr。 PerkinsI begI insist； that you leave the
carriage。〃 And when Perkins made some movement （which； not being in
the vehicle at the time； we have never been able to comprehend）； she
suddenly sprang from the back…seat and began pulling at a large piece of
cord which communicated with the wrist of the gentleman driving； and；
screaming to him at the top of her voice； bade him immediately stop。
This Mr。 Coachman did； with a curious； puzzled； grinning air。
Perkins descended； and on being asked； 〃Vere ham I to drive the young
'oman； sir？〃 I am sorry to say muttered something like an oath； and uttered
the above…mentioned words； 〃Caroline Place； Mecklenburgh Square；〃 in a
tone which I should be inclined to describe as both dogged and sheepish
very different from that cheery voice which he had used when he first gave
the order。
Poor Lucy； in the course of those fatal three hours which had passed
while Mr。 Perkins was pacing up and down Baker Street； had received a
lecture which lasted exactly one hundred and eighty minutesfrom her
aunt first； then from her uncle； whom we have seen marching homewards；
and often from both together。
Sir George Gorgon and his lady poured out such a flood of advice and
abuse against the poor girl； that she came away from the interview quite
timid and cowering； and when she saw John Perkins （the sly rogue！ how
well he thought he had managed the trick！） she shrank from him as if he
had been a demon of wickedness； ordered him out of the carriage； and
went home by herself； convinced that she had committed some
tremendous sin。
While； then； her coach jingled away to Caroline Place； Perkins； once
more alone； bent his steps in the same direction。 A desperate； heart…
stricken man； he passed by the beloved's door； saw lights in the front
drawing…room； felt probably that she was there； but he could not go in。
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Moodily he paced down Doughty Street； and turning abruptly into
Bedford Row； rushed into his own chambers； where Mrs。 Snooks； the
laundress； had prepared his humble Sabbath meal。
A cheerful fire blazed in his garret； and Mrs。 Snooks had prepared for
him the favourite blade…bone he loved （blest four…days' dinner for a
bachelorroast； cold； hashed； grilled bladebone； the fourth being better
than the first）； but although he usually did rejoice in this mealordinarily；
indeed； grumbling that there was not enough to satisfy himhe； on this
occasion； after two mouthfuls； flung down his knife and fork； and buried
his two claws in his hair。
〃Snooks；〃 said he at last； very moodily； 〃remove this d mutton； give
me my writing things； and some hot brandy…and…water。〃
This was done without much alarm： for you must know that Perkins
used to dabble in poetry； and ordinarily prepare himself for composition
by this kind of stimulus。
He wrote hastily a few lines。
〃Snooks； put on your bonnet；〃 said he； 〃and carry thisYOU KNOW
WHERE！〃 he added； in a hollow； heart…breaking tone of voice； that
affected poor Snooks almost to tears。 She went； however； with the note；
which was to this purpose：
〃Lucy！ Lucy！ my soul's lovewhat； what has happened？ I am
writing this〃（a gulp of brandy…and…water）〃in a state bordering on
distractionmadnessinsanity〃（another）。 〃Why did you send me out of
the coach in that cruel cruel way？ Write to me a word； a line tell me；
tell me； I may come to youand leave me not in this agonising condition；
your faithful〃（glogglogglogthe whole glass）
〃J。P。〃
He never signed John Perkins in fullhe couldn't； it was so
unromantic。
Well； this missive was despatched by Mrs。 Snooks； and Perkins； in a
fearful state of excitement； haggard； wild； and with more brandy…and…
water； awaited the return of his messenger。
When at length； after about an absence of forty years； as it seemed to
him； the old lady returned wit
