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第55章

st. ives-第55章

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the law; call it what you please;' said I; and with that; our four 

horsemen having for the moment headed us by a considerable 

interval; I hailed my post…boy and inquired who was the nearest 

magistrate and where he lived。  Archdeacon Clitheroe; he told me; a 

prodigious dignitary; and one who lived but a lane or two back; and 

at the distance of only a mile or two out of the direct road。  I 

showed him the king's medallion。



'Take the lady there; and at full gallop;' I cried。



'Right; sir!  Mind yourself;' says the postillion。



And before I could have thought it possible; he had turned the 

carriage to the rightabout and we were galloping south。



Our outriders were quick to remark and imitate the manoeuvre; and 

came flying after us with a vast deal of indiscriminate shouting; 

so that the fine; sober picture of a carriage and escort; that we 

had presented but a moment back; was transformed in the twinkling 

of an eye into the image of a noisy fox…chase。  The two postillions 

and my own saucy rogue were; of course; disinterested actors in the 

comedy; they rode for the mere sport; keeping in a body; their 

mouths full of laughter; waving their hats as they came on; and 

crying (as the fancy struck them) Tally…ho!'  'Stop; thief!'  'A 

highwayman!  A highwayman!'  It was otherguess work with Bellamy。  

That gentleman no sooner observed our change of direction than he 

turned his horse with so much violence that the poor animal was 

almost cast upon its side; and launched her in immediate and 

desperate pursuit。  As he approached I saw that his face was deadly 

white and that he carried a drawn pistol in his hand。  I turned at 

once to the poor little bride that was to have been; and now was 

not to be; she; upon her side; deserting the other window; turned 

as if to meet me。



'O; O; don't let him kill me!' she screamed。



'Never fear;' I replied。



Her face was distorted with terror。  Her hands took hold upon me 

with the instinctive clutch of an infant。  The chaise gave a flying 

lurch; which took the feet from under me and tumbled us anyhow upon 

the seat。  And almost in the same moment the head of Bellamy 

appeared in the window which Missy had left free for him。



Conceive the situation!  The little lady and I were falling … or 

had just fallen … backward on the seat; and offered to the eye a 

somewhat ambiguous picture。  The chaise was speeding at a furious 

pace; and with the most violent leaps and lurches; along the 

highway。  Into this bounding receptacle Bellamy interjected his 

head; his pistol arm; and his pistol; and since his own horse was 

travelling still faster than the chaise; he must withdraw all of 

them again in the inside of the fraction of a minute。  He did so; 

but he left the charge of the pistol behind him … whether by design 

or accident I shall never know; and I dare say he has forgotten!  

Probably he had only meant to threaten; in hopes of causing us to 

arrest our flight。  In the same moment came the explosion and a 

pitiful cry from Missy; and my gentleman; making certain he had 

struck her; went down the road pursued by the furies; turned at the 

first corner; took a flying leap over the thorn hedge; and 

disappeared across country in the least possible time。



Rowley was ready and eager to pursue; but I withheld him; thinking 

we were excellently quit of Mr。 Bellamy; at no more cost than a 

scratch on the forearm and a bullet…hole in the left…hand claret…

coloured panel。  And accordingly; but now at a more decent pace; we 

proceeded on our way to Archdeacon Clitheroe's; Missy's gratitude 

and admiration were aroused to a high pitch by this dramatic scene; 

and what she was pleased to call my wound。  She must dress it for 

me with her handkerchief; a service which she rendered me even with 

tears。  I could well have spared them; not loving on the whole to 

be made ridiculous; and the injury being in the nature of a cat's 

scratch。  Indeed; I would have suggested for her kind care rather 

the cure of my coat…sleeve; which had suffered worse in the 

encounter; but I was too wise to risk the anti…climax。  That she 

had been rescued by a hero; that the hero should have been wounded 

in the affray; and his wound bandaged with her handkerchief (which 

it could not even bloody); ministered incredibly to the recovery of 

her self…respect; and I could hear her relate the incident to 'the 

young ladies; my school…companions;' in the most approved manner of 

Mrs。 Radcliffe!  To have insisted on the torn coat…sleeve would 

have been unmannerly; if not inhuman。



Presently the residence of the archdeacon began to heave in sight。  

A chaise and four smoking horses stood by the steps; and made way 

for us on our approach; and even as we alighted there appeared from 

the interior of the house a tall ecclesiastic; and beside him a 

little; headstrong; ruddy man; in a towering passion; and 

brandishing over his head a roll of paper。  At sight of him Miss 

Dorothy flung herself on her knees with the most moving 

adjurations; calling him father; assuring him she was wholly cured 

and entirely repentant of her disobedience; and entreating 

forgiveness; and I soon saw that she need fear no great severity 

from Mr。 Greensleeves; who showed himself extraordinarily fond; 

loud; greedy of caresses and prodigal of tears。



To give myself a countenance; as well as to have all ready for the 

road when I should find occasion; I turned to quit scores with 

Bellamy's two postillions。  They had not the least claim on me; but 

one of which they were quite ignorant … that I was a fugitive。  It 

is the worst feature of that false position that every gratuity 

becomes a case of conscience。  You must not leave behind you any 

one discontented nor any one grateful。  But the whole business had 

been such a 'hurrah…boys' from the beginning; and had gone off in 

the fifth act so like a melodrama; in explosions; reconciliations; 

and the rape of a post…horse; that it was plainly impossible to 

keep it covered。  It was plain it would have to be talked over in 

all the inn…kitchens for thirty miles about; and likely for six 

months to come。  It only remained for me; therefore; to settle on 

that gratuity which should be least conspicuous … so large that 

nobody could grumble; so small that nobody would be tempted to 

boast。  My decision was hastily and nor wisely taken。  The one 

fellow spat on his tip (so he called it) for luck; the other 

developing a sudden streak of piety; prayed God bless me with 

fervour。  It seemed a demonstration was brewing; and I determined 

to be off at once。  Bidding my own post…boy and Rowley be in 

readiness for an immediate start; I reascended the terrace and 

presented myself; hat in hand; before Mr。 Greensleeves and the 

archdeacon。



'You will excuse me; I trust;' said I。  'I think shame to interrupt 

this agreeable scene of family effusion; which I have been 

privileged in some small degree to bring about。'



And at these words the storm broke。



'Small degree! small degree; sir!' cries the father; 'that shall 

not pass; Mr。 St。 Eaves!  If I've got my darling back; and none the 

worse for that vagabone rascal; I know whom I have to thank。  Shake 

hands with me … up to the elbows; sir!  A Frenchman you may be; but 

you're one of the right breed; by God!  And; by God; sir; you may 

have anything you care to ask of me; down to Dolly's hand; by God!'



All this he roared out in a voice surprisingly powerful from so 

small a person。  Every word was thus audible to the servants; who 

had followed them out of the house and now congregated about us on 

the terrace; as well as to Rowley and the five postillions on the 

gravel sweep below。  The sentiments expressed were popular; some 

ass; whom the devil moved to be my enemy; proposed three cheers; 

and they were given with a will。  To hear my own name resounding 

amid

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