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第51章

st. ives-第51章

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

that may be manners in France; but hall I can say is; that I'm not 

used to it。'



'Reading the paper; was he?' said I。  'What paper; eh?'



'Here it is; sir;' exclaimed the waiter。  'Seems like as if he'd 

dropped it。'



And picking it off the floor he presented it to me。



I may say that I was quite prepared; that I already knew what to 

expect; but at sight of the cold print my heart stopped beating。  

There it was: the fulfilment of Romaine's apprehension was before 

me; the paper was laid open at the capture of Clausel。  I felt as 

if I could take a little curacoa myself; but on second thoughts 

called for brandy。  It was badly wanted; and suddenly I observed 

the waiter's eye to sparkle; as it were; with some recognition; 

made certain he had remarked the resemblance between me and Alain; 

and became aware … as by a revelation … of the fool's part I had 

been playing。  For I had now managed to put my identification 

beyond a doubt; if Alain should choose to make his inquiries at 

Aylesbury; and; as if that were not enough; I had added; at an 

expense of seventy pounds; a clue by which he might follow me 

through the length and breadth of England; in the shape of the 

claret…coloured chaise!  That elegant equipage (which I began to 

regard as little better than a claret…coloured ante…room to the 

hangman's cart) coming presently to the door; I left my breakfast 

in the middle and departed; posting to the north as diligently as 

my cousin Alain was posting to the south; and putting my trust 

(such as it was) in an opposite direction and equal speed。









CHAPTER XXII … CHARACTER AND ACQUIREMENTS OF MR。  ROWLEY





I AM not certain that I had ever really appreciated before that 

hour the extreme peril of the adventure on which I was embarked。  

The sight of my cousin; the look of his face … so handsome; so 

jovial at the first sight; and branded with so much malignity as 

you saw it on the second … with his hyperbolical curls in order; 

with his neckcloth tied as if for the conquests of love; setting 

forth (as I had no doubt in the world he was doing) to clap the Bow 

Street runners on my trail; and cover England with handbills; each 

dangerous as a loaded musket; convinced me for the first time that 

the affair was no less serious than death。  I believe it came to a 

near touch whether I should not turn the horses' heads at the next 

stage and make directly for the coast。  But I was now in the 

position of a man who should have thrown his gage into the den of 

lions; or; better still; like one who should have quarrelled 

overnight under the influence of wine; and now; at daylight; in a 

cold winter's morning; and humbly sober; must make good his words。  

It is not that I thought any the less; or any the less warmly; of 

Flora。  But; as I smoked a grim segar that morning in a corner of 

the chaise; no doubt I considered; in the first place; that the 

letter…post had been invented; and admitted privately to myself; in 

the second; that it would have been highly possible to write her on 

a piece of paper; seal it; and send it skimming by the mail; 

instead of going personally into these egregious dangers; and 

through a country that I beheld crowded with gibbets and Bow Street 

officers。  As for Sim and Candlish; I doubt if they crossed my 

mind。



At the Green Dragon Rowley was waiting on the doorsteps with the 

luggage; and really was bursting with unpalatable conversation。



'Who do you think we've 'ad 'ere; sir?' he began breathlessly; as 

the chaise drove off。  'Red Breasts'; and he nodded his head 

portentously。



'Red Breasts?' I repeated; for I stupidly did not understand at the 

moment an expression I had often heard。



'Ah!' said he。  'Red weskits。  Runners。  Bow Street runners。  Two 

on' em; and one was Lavender himself!  I hear the other say quite 

plain; 〃Now; Mr。 Lavender; IF you're ready。〃  They was breakfasting 

as nigh me as I am to that postboy。  They're all right; they ain't 

after us。  It's a forger; and I didn't send them off on a false 

scent … O no!  I thought there was no use in having them over our 

way; so I give them 〃very valuable information;〃 Mr。 Lavender said; 

and tipped me a tizzy for myself; and they're off to Luton。  They 

showed me the 'andcuffs; too … the other one did … and he clicked 

the dratted things on my wrist; and I tell you; I believe I nearly 

went off in a swound!  There's something so beastly in the feel of 

them!  Begging your pardon; Mr。 Anne;' he added; with one of his 

delicious changes from the character of the confidential schoolboy 

into that of the trained; respectful servant。



Well; I must not be proud!  I cannot say I found the subject of 

handcuffs to my fancy; and it was with more asperity than was 

needful that I reproved him for the slip about the name。



'Yes; Mr。 Ramornie;' says he; touching his hat。  'Begging your 

pardon; Mr。 Ramornie。  But I've been very piticular; sir; up to 

now; and you may trust me to be very piticular in the future。  It 

were only a slip; sir。'



'My good boy;' said I; with the most imposing severity; 'there must 

be no slips。  Be so good as to remember that my life is at stake。'



I did not embrace the occasion of telling him how many I had made 

myself。  It is my principle that an officer must never be wrong。  I 

have seen two divisions beating their brains out for a fortnight 

against a worthless and quite impregnable castle in a pass: I knew 

we were only doing it for discipline; because the General had said 

so at first; and had not yet found any way out of his own words; 

and I highly admired his force of character; and throughout these 

operations thought my life exposed in a very good cause。  With 

fools and children; which included Rowley; the necessity was even 

greater。  I proposed to myself to be infallible; and even when he 

expressed some wonder at the purchase of the claret…coloured 

chaise; I put him promptly in his place。  In our situation; I told 

him; everything had to be sacrificed to appearances; doubtless; in 

a hired chaise; we should have had more freedom; but look at the 

dignity!  I was so positive; that I had sometimes almost convinced 

myself。  Not for long; you may be certain!  This detestable 

conveyance always appeared to me to be laden with Bow Street 

officers; and to have a placard upon the back of it publishing my 

name and crimes。  If I had paid seventy pounds to get the thing; I 

should not have stuck at seven hundred to be safely rid of it。



And if the chaise was a danger; what an anxiety was the despatch…

box and its golden cargo!  I had never had a care but to draw my 

pay and spend it; I had lived happily in the regiment; as in my 

father's house; fed by the great Emperor's commissariat as by 

ubiquitous doves of Elijah … or; my faith! if anything went wrong 

with the commissariat; helping myself with the best grace in the 

world from the next peasant!  And now I began to feel at the same 

time the burthen of riches and the fear of destitution。  There were 

ten thousand pounds in the despatch…box; but I reckoned in French 

money; and had two hundred and fifty thousand agonies; I kept it 

under my hand all day; I dreamed of it at night。  In the inns; I 

was afraid to go to dinner and afraid to go to sleep。  When I 

walked up a hill I durst not leave the doors of the claret…coloured 

chaise。  Sometimes I would change the disposition of the funds: 

there were days when I carried as much as five or six thousand 

pounds on my own person; and only the residue continued to voyage 

in the treasure…chest … days when I bulked all over like my cousin; 

crackled to a touch with bank paper; and had my pockets weighed to 

bursting…point with sovereigns。  And there were other days when I 

wearied of the thing … or grew ashamed of it … and put al

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