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第50章

st. ives-第50章

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you up the road。  I think I could manage; somehow; to make a shift 

with all them dratted things … leastways if you was to give me a 

'and up with them at the start。'



'And I would see you far enough before I allowed you to try; Mr。 

Rowley!' I cried。  'Why; you would be quite defenceless!  A footpad 

that was an infant child could rob you。  And I should probably come 

driving by to find you in a ditch with your throat cut。  But there 

is something in your idea; for all that; and I propose we put it in 

execution no farther forward than the next corner of a lane。'



Accordingly; instead of continuing to aim for Aylesbury; we headed 

by cross…roads for some point to the northward of it; whither I 

might assist Rowley with the baggage; and where I might leave him 

to await my return in the post…chaise。



It was snowing to purpose; the country all white; and ourselves 

walking snowdrifts; when the first glimmer of the morning showed us 

an inn upon the highwayside。  Some distance off; under the shelter 

of a corner of the road and a clump of trees; I loaded Rowley with 

the whole of our possessions; and watched him till he staggered in 

safety into the doors of the GREEN DRAGON; which was the sign of 

the house。  Thence I walked briskly into Aylesbury; rejoicing in my 

freedom and the causeless good spirits that belong to a snowy 

morning; though; to be sure; long before I had arrived the snow had 

again ceased to fall; and the eaves of Aylesbury were smoking in 

the level sun。  There was an accumulation of gigs and chaises in 

the yard; and a great bustle going forward in the coffee…room and 

about the doors of the inn。  At these evidences of so much travel 

on the road I was seized with a misgiving lest it should be 

impossible to get horses; and I should be detained in the 

precarious neighbourhood of my cousin。  Hungry as I was; I made my 

way first of all to the postmaster; where he stood … a big; 

athletic; horsey…looking man; blowing into a key in the corner of 

the yard。



On my making my modest request; he awoke from his indifference into 

what seemed passion。



'A po'…shay and 'osses!' he cried。  'Do I look as if I 'ad a po'…

shay and 'osses?  Damn me; if I 'ave such a thing on the premises。  

I don't MAKE 'osses and chaises … I 'IRE 'em。  You might be God 

Almighty!' said he; and instantly; as if he had observed me for the 

first time; he broke off; and lowered his voice into the 

confidential。  'Why; now that I see you are a gentleman;' said he; 

'I'll tell you what!  If you like to BUY; I have the article to fit 

you。  Second…'and shay by Lycett; of London。  Latest style; good as 

new。  Superior fittin's; net on the roof; baggage platform; pistol 

'olsters … the most com…plete and the most gen…teel turn…out I ever 

see!  The 'ole for seventy…five pound!  It's as good as givin' her 

away!'



'Do you propose I should trundle it myself; like a hawker's 

barrow?' said I。  'Why; my good man; if I had to stop here; anyway; 

I should prefer to buy a house and garden!'



'Come and look at her!' he cried; and; with the word; links his arm 

in mine and carries me to the outhouse where the chaise was on 

view。



It was just the sort of chaise that I had dreamed of for my 

purpose: eminently rich; inconspicuous; and genteel; for; though I 

thought the postmaster no great authority; I was bound to agree 

with him so far。  The body was painted a dark claret; and the 

wheels an invisible green。  The lamp and glasses were bright as 

silver; and the whole equipage had an air of privacy and reserve 

that seemed to repel inquiry and disarm suspicion。  With a servant 

like Rowley; and a chaise like this; I felt that I could go from 

the Land's End to John o' Groat's House amid a population of bowing 

ostlers。  And I suppose I betrayed in my manner the degree in which 

the bargain tempted me。



'Come;' cried the postmaster … 'I'll make it seventy; to oblige a 

friend!'



'The point is: the horses;' said I。



'Well;' said he; consulting his watch; 'it's now gone the 'alf 

after eight。  What time do you want her at the door?'



'Horses and all?' said I。



''Osses and all!' says he。  'One good turn deserves another。  You 

give me seventy pound for the shay; and I'll 'oss it for you。  I 

told you I didn't MAKE 'osses; but I CAN make 'em; to oblige a 

friend。'



What would you have?  It was not the wisest thing in the world to 

buy a chaise within a dozen miles of my uncle's house; but in this 

way I got my horses for the next stage。  And by any other it 

appeared that I should have to wait。  Accordingly I paid the money 

down … perhaps twenty pounds too much; though it was certainly a 

well…made and well…appointed vehicle … ordered it round in half an 

hour; and proceeded to refresh myself with breakfast。



The table to which I sat down occupied the recess of a bay…window; 

and commanded a view of the front of the inn; where I continued to 

be amused by the successive departures of travellers … the fussy 

and the offhand; the niggardly and the lavish … all exhibiting 

their different characters in that diagnostic moment of the 

farewell: some escorted to the stirrup or the chaise door by the 

chamberlain; the chambermaids and the waiters almost in a body; 

others moving off under a cloud; without human countenance。  In the 

course of this I became interested in one for whom this ovation 

began to assume the proportions of a triumph; not only the under…

servants; but the barmaid; the landlady; and my friend the 

postmaster himself; crowding about the steps to speed his 

departure。  I was aware; at the same time; of a good deal of 

merriment; as though the traveller were a man of a ready wit; and 

not too dignified to air it in that society。  I leaned forward with 

a lively curiosity; and the next moment I had blotted myself behind 

the teapot。  The popular traveller had turned to wave a farewell; 

and behold! he was no other than my cousin Alain。  It was a change 

of the sharpest from the angry; pallid man I had seen at Amersham 

Place。  Ruddy to a fault; illuminated with vintages; crowned with 

his curls like Bacchus; he now stood before me for an instant; the 

perfect master of himself; smiling with airs of conscious 

popularity and insufferable condescension。  He reminded me at once 

of a royal duke; or an actor turned a little elderly; and of a 

blatant bagman who should have been the illegitimate son of a 

gentleman。  A moment after he was gliding noiselessly on the road 

to London。



I breathed again。  I recognised; with heartfelt gratitude; how 

lucky I had been to go in by the stable…yard instead of the 

hostelry door; and what a fine occasion of meeting my cousin I had 

lost by the purchase of the claret…coloured chaise!  The next 

moment I remembered that there was a waiter present。  No doubt but 

he must have observed me when I crouched behind the breakfast 

equipage; no doubt but he must have commented on this unusual and 

undignified behaviour; and it was essential that I should do 

something to remove the impression。



'Waiter!' said I; 'that was the nephew of Count Carwell that just 

drove off; wasn't it?'



'Yes; sir: Viscount Carwell we calls him;' he replied。



'Ah; I thought as much;' said I。  'Well; well; damn all these 

Frenchmen; say I!'



'You may say so indeed; sir;' said the waiter。  'They ain't not to 

say in the same field with our 'ome…raised gentry。'



'Nasty tempers?' I suggested。



'Beas'ly temper; sir; the Viscount 'ave;' said the waiter with 

feeling。  'Why; no longer agone than this morning; he was sitting 

breakfasting and reading in his paper。  I suppose; sir; he come on 

some pilitical information; or it might be about 'orses; but he 

raps his 'and upon the table sudden and calls for curacoa。  It gave 

me quite a turn; it did; he did it that sudden and 'ard。  Now; sir; 

that may be man

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