the bedford-row conspiracy(百得福特娄阴谋)-第13章
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passages and found her way to her carriage in Whitehall。
〃I hope you have not been listening； you rogue？〃 said Mr。 Crampton to
his nephew； who blushed most absurdly by way of answer。 〃You would
have heard great State secrets； if you had dared to do so。 That woman is
perpetually here； and if peerages are to be had for the asking； she ought to
have been a duchess by this time。 I would not have admitted her but for
a reason that I have。 Go you now and ponder upon what you have heard
and seen。 Be on good terms with Scully； and； above all； speak not a word
concerning our interviewno； not a word even to your mistress。 By the
way； I presume； sir； you will recall your resignation？〃
The bewildered Perkins was about to stammer out a speech； when his
uncle； cutting it short； pushed him gently out of the door。
* * *
At the period when the important events occurred which have been
recorded here； parties ran very high； and a mighty struggle for the vacant
Speakership was about to come on。 The Right Honourable Robert
Pincher was the Ministerial candidate； and Sir Charles Macabaw was
patronised by the Opposition。 The two Members for Oldborough of
course took different sides； the baronet being of the Pincher faction； while
Mr。 William Pitt Scully strongly supported the Macabaw party。
It was Mr。 Scully's intention to deliver an impromptu speech upon the
occasion of the election； and he and his faithful Perkins prepared it
between them： for the latter gentleman had wisely kept his uncle's
counsel and his own and Mr。 Scully was quite ignorant of the conspiracy
that was brooding。 Indeed； so artfully had that young Machiavel of a
Perkins conducted himself； that when asked by his patron whether he had
given up his place in the Tape and Sealing Wax Office； he replied that 〃he
HAD tendered his resignation；〃 but did not say one word about having
recalled it。
〃You were right； my boy； quite right；〃 said Mr。 Scully。 〃A man of
uncompromising principles should make no compromise。〃 And herewith
he sat down and wrote off a couple of letters； one to Mr。 Hawksby； telling
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him that the place in the Sealing…Wax Office was； as he had reason to
know； vacant； and the other to his nephew； stating that it was to be his。
〃Under the rose； my dear Bob；〃 added Mr。 Scully； 〃it will cost you five
hundred pounds； but you cannot invest your money better。〃
It is needless to state that the affair was to be conducted 〃with the
strictest secresy and honour；〃 and that the money was to pass through Mr。
Scully's hands。
While； however； the great Pincher and Macabaw question was yet
undecided； an event occurred to Mr。 Scully； which had a great influence
upon his after…life。 A second grand banquet was given at the Earl of
Mantrap's： Lady Mantrap requested him to conduct Lady Gorgon to
dinner； and the latter； with a charming timidity； and a gracious melancholy
look into his face （after which her veined eyelids veiled her azure eyes）；
put her hand into the trembling one of Mr。 Scully and said as much as
looks could say； 〃Forgive and forget。〃
Down went Scully to dinner。 There were dukes on his right hand and
earls on his left； there were but two persons without title in the midst of
that glittering assemblage； the very servants looked like noblemen。 The
cook had done wonders； the wines were cool and rich； and Lady Gorgon
was splendid！ What attention did everybody pay to her and to him！
Why WOULD she go on gazing into his face with that tender imploring
look？ In other words； Scully； after partaking of soup and fish （he； during
their discussion； had been thinking over all the former love…and…hate
passages between himself and Lady Gorgon）； turned very red； and began
talking to her。
〃Were you not at the opera on Tuesday？〃 began he； assuming at once
the airs of a man of fashion。 〃I thought I caught a glimpse of you in the
Duchess of Diddlebury's box。〃
〃Opera； Mr。 Scully？〃 （pronouncing the word 〃Scully〃 with the utmost
softness）。 〃Ah； no！ we seldom go； and yet too often。 For serious
persons the enchantments of that place are too dangerous。 I am so
nervousso delicate； the smallest trifle so agitates； depresses； or irritates
me； that I dare not yield myself up to the excitement of music。 I am too
passionately attached to it； and； shall I tell you？ it has such a strange
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influence upon me； that the smallest false note almost drives me to
distraction； and for that very reason I hardly ever go to a concert or a ball。〃
〃Egad；〃 thought Scully； 〃I recollect when she would dance down a
matter of five…and…forty couple； and jingle away at the 'Battle of Prague'
all day。〃
She continued： 〃Don't you recollect； I do； withoh； what regret！… …
that day at Oldborough race…ball； when I behaved with such sad rudeness
to you？ You will scarcely believe me； and yet I assure you 'tis the fact；
the music had made me almost mad。 Do let me ask your pardon for my
conduct。 I was not myself。 Oh； Mr。 Scully！ I am no worldly woman； I
know my duties； and I feel my wrongs。 Nights and days have I lain
awake weeping and thinking of that unhappy day… …that I should ever
speak so to an old friend； for we WERE old friends； were we not？〃
Scully did not speak； but his eyes were bursting out of his head； and
his face was the exact colour of a deputy…lieutenant's uniform。
〃That I should ever forget myself and you so！ How I have been
longing for this opportunity to ask you to forgive me！ I asked Lady
Mantrap； when I heard you were to be here； to invite me to her party。
Come； I know you will forgive meyour eyes say you will。 You used to
look so in old days； and forgive me my caprices THEN。 Do give me a little
winewe will drink to the memory of old days。〃
Her eyes filled with tears； and poor Scully's hand caused such a
rattling and trembling of the glass and the decanter that the Duke of
Doldrumwho had been； during the course of this whispered
sentimentality； describing a famous run with the Queen's hounds at the top
of his voicestopped at the jingling of the glass； and his tale was lost for
ever。 Scully hastily drank his wine； and Lady Gorgon turned round to
her next neighbour； a little gentleman in black； between whom and herself
certain conscious looks passed。
〃I am glad poor Sir George is not here；〃 said he； smiling。
Lady Gorgon said； 〃Pooh； for shame！〃 The little gentleman was no
other than Josiah Crampton； Esquire； that eminent financier； and he was
now going through the curious calculation before mentioned； by w
