the bedford-row conspiracy(百得福特娄阴谋)-第8节
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him； the old lady returned with a large packet； Perkins seized it with a
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trembling hand； and was yet more frightened to see the handwriting of
Mrs。 or Miss Biggs。
〃MY DEAR MR。 PERKINS；〃 she began〃Although I am not your
soul's adored； I performed her part for once； since I have read your letter；
as I told her。 You need not be very much alarmed； although Lucy is at
this moment in bed and unwell： for the poor girl has had a sad scene at
her grand uncle's house in Baker Street； and came home very much
affected。 Rest； however； will restore her； for she is not one of your
nervous sort； and I hope when you come in the morning； you will see her
as blooming as she was when you went out to…day on that unlucky walk。
〃See what Sir George Gorgon says of us all！ You won't challenge
him； I know； as he is to be your uncle； and so I may show you his letter。
〃Good…night； my dear John。 Do not go QUITE distracted before
morning； and believe me your loving aunt；
〃JEMIMA BIGGS。〃
〃41 BAKER STREET： 11th
December。
〃MAJOR…GENERAL SIR GEORGE GORGON has heard with the
utmost disgust and surprise of the engagement which Miss Lucy Gorgon
has thought fit to form。
〃The Major…General cannot conceal his indignation at the share which
Miss Biggs has taken in this disgraceful transaction。
〃Sir George Gorgon puts an absolute veto upon all further
communication between his niece and the low…born adventurer who has
been admitted into her society； and begs to say that Lieutenant Fitch； of
the Lifeguards； is the gentleman who he intends shall marry Miss Gorgon。
〃It is the Major…General's wish； that on the 28th Miss Gorgon should
be ready to come to his house； in Baker Street； where she will be more
safe from impertinent intrusions than she has been in Mucklebury Square。
〃MRS。 BIGGS； 〃Caroline Place；
〃Mecklenburgh Square。〃
When poor John Perkins read this epistle； blank rage and wonder filled
his soul； at the audacity of the little General； who thus； without the
smallest title in the world； pretended to dispose of the hand and fortune of
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his niece。 The fact is； that Sir George had such a transcendent notion of
his own dignity and station； that it never for a moment entered his head
that his niece； or anybody else connected with him； should take a single
step in life without previously receiving his orders； and Mr。 Fitch； a
baronet's son； having expressed an admiration of Lucy； Sir George had
determined that his suit should be accepted； and really considered Lucy's
preference of another as downright treason。
John Perkins determined on the death of Fitch as the very least
reparation that should satisfy him； and vowed too that some of the
General's blood should be shed for the words which he had dared to utter。
We have said that William Pitt Scully； Esquire； M。P。； occupied the first
floor of Mr。 Perkins's house in Bedford Row： and the reader is further to
be informed that an immense friendship had sprung up between these two
gentlemen。 The fact is； that poor John was very much flattered by
Scully's notice； and began in a very short time to fancy himself a political
personage； for he had made several of Scully's speeches； written more
than one letter from him to his constituents； and； in a word； acted as his
gratis clerk。 At least a guinea a week did Mr。 Perkins save to the pockets
of Mr。 Scully； and with hearty good will too； for he adored the great
William Pitt； and believed every word that dropped from the pompous lips
of that gentleman。
Well； after having discussed Sir George Gorgon's letter； poor Perkins；
in the utmost fury of mind that his darling should be slandered so； feeling
a desire for fresh air； determined to descend to the garden and smoke a
cigar in that rural quiet spot。 The night was very calm。 The
moonbeams slept softly upon the herbage of Gray's Inn gardens； and
bathed with silver splendour Theobald's Row。 A million of little frisky
twinkling stars attended their queen； who looked with bland round face
upon their gambols； as they peeped in and out from the azure heavens。
Along Gray's Inn wall a lazy row of cabs stood listlessly； for who would
call a cab on such a night？ Meanwhile their drivers； at the alehouse near；
smoked the short pipe or quaffed the foaming beer。 Perhaps from Gray's
Inn Lane some broken sounds of Irish revelry might rise。 Issuing
perhaps from Raymond Buildings gate； six lawyers' clerks might whoop a
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tipsy songor the loud watchman yell the passing hour； but beyond this all
was silence； and young Perkins； as he sat in the summerhouse at the
bottom of the garden； and contemplated the peaceful heaven； felt some
influences of it entering into his soul； and almost forgetting revenge；
thought but of peace and love。
Presently； he was aware there was someone else pacing the garden。
Who could it be？Not Blatherwick； for he passed the Sabbath with his
grandmamma at Clapham； not Scully surely； for he always went to
Bethesda Chapel； and to a select prayer…meeting afterwards。 Alas！ it
WAS Scully； for though that gentleman SAID that he went to chapel； we
have it for a fact that he did not always keep his promise； and was at this
moment employed in rehearsing an extempore speech； which he proposed
to deliver at St。 Stephen's。
〃Had I； sir；〃 spouted he； with folded arms； slowly pacing to and fro
〃Had I； sir； entertained the smallest possible intention of addressing the
House on the present occasionhum； on the present occasionI would
have endeavoured to prepare myself in a way that should have at least
shown my sense of the greatness of the subject before the House's
consideration； and the nature of the distinguished audience I have the
honour to address。 I am； sir； a plain manborn of the peoplemyself one
of the people； having won； thank Heaven； an honourable fortune and
position by my own honest labour； and standing here as I do〃
* * *
Here Mr。 Scully （it may be said that he never made a speech without
bragging about himself： and an excellent plan it is； for people cannot
help believing you at last）here； I say； Mr。 Scully； who had one arm raised；
felt himself suddenly tipped on the shoulder； and heard a voice saying；
〃Your money or your life！〃
The honourable gentleman twirled round as if he had been shot； the
papers on which a great part of this impromptu was written dropped from
his lifted hand； and some of them were actually borne on the air into
neighbouring gardens。 The man was； in fact； in the direst fright。
〃It's only I；〃 said Perkins； with rather a forced laugh； when he saw the
effect that his wit had produced。
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〃Only you！ And pray what the devwhat right have you toto come
upon a man of my rank in that way； and disturb me in the midst of very
important meditations？〃 asked Mr。 Scully； beginning to grow fierce。
〃I want your advice；〃 said Perkins； 〃on a matter of the very greatest
importance to me。 You know my idea of marrying？〃
〃Marry！〃 said Scully； 〃I thought you had given up that sill
