the bedford-row conspiracy-第3章

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　however；　another　occasion　at　hand；　in　which　I　shall　be　proud　to　meet　him。　　Your　ball　is　on　the　night　of　the　6th。　　Party　forgottenbrotherly　unioninnocent　mirthbeauty；　OUR　DEAR　TOWN'S　BEAUTY；　our　daughters　in　the　joy　of　their　expanding　loveliness；　our　matrons　in　the　exquisite　contemplation　of　their　children's　bliss　can　you；　can　I；　can　Whig　or　Tory；　can　any　Briton　be　indifferent　to　a　scene　like　this；　or　refuse　to　join　in　this　heart…stirring　festival？　If　there　BE　such　let　them　pardon　meI；　for　one；　my　dear　Heeltap；　will　be　among　you　on　Friday　nightay；　and　hereby　invite　all　pretty　Tory　Misses；　who　are　in　want　of　a　partner。　〃I　am　here　in　the　very　midst　of　good　things；　you　know；　and　we　old　folks　like　A　SUPPER　after　a　dance。　　Please　to　accept　a　brace　of　bucks　and　a　turtle；　which　come　herewith。　　My　worthy　colleague；　who　was　so　liberal　last　year　of　his　soup　to　the　poor；　will　not；　I　trust；　refuse　to　taste　a　little　of　Alderman　Birch's'tis　offered　on　my　part　with　hearty　goodwill。　　Hey　for　the　6th；　and　vive　la　joie！　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　〃Ever；　my　dear　Heeltap；　your　faithful　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　〃W。　PITT　SCULLY。　〃P。S。Of　course　this　letter　is　STRICTLY　PRIVATE。　　Say　that　the　venison；　etc。　came　from　a　WELL…WISHER　TO　OLDBOROUGH。〃　This　amazing　letter　was　published；　in　defiance　of　Mr。　Scully's　injunctions；　by　the　enthusiastic　Heeltap；　who　said；　bluntly；　in　a　preface；　〃that　he　saw　no　reason　why　Mr。　Scully　should　be　ashamed　of　his　action；　and　he；　for　his　part；　was　glad　to　let　all　friends　at　Oldborough　know　of　it。〃　The　allusion　about　the　Gorgon　soup　was　killing：　　thirteen　paupers　in　Oldborough　had；　it　was　confidently　asserted；　died　of　it。　　Lady　Gorgon；　on　the　reading　of　this　letter；　was　struck　completely　dumb；　Sir　George　Gorgon　was　wild。　　Ten　dozen　of　champagne　was　he　obliged　to　send　down　to　the　〃Gorgon　Arms；〃　to　be　added　to　the　festival。　　He　would　have　stayed　away　if　he　could；　but　he　dared　not。　At　nine　o'clock；　he　in　general's　uniform；　his　wife　in　blue　satin　and　diamonds；　his　daughters　in　blue　crape　and　white　roses；　his　niece；　Lucy　Gorgon；　in　white　muslin；　his　son；　George　Augustus　Frederick　Grimsby　Gorgon；　in　a　blue　velvet　jacket；　sugar…loaf　buttons；　and　nankeens；　entered　the　north　door　of　the　ballroom；　to　much　cheering；　and　the　sound　of　〃God　save　the　King！〃　At　that　very　same　moment；　and　from　the　south　door；　issued　William　Pitt　Scully；　Esquire；　M。P。；　and　his　staff。　　Mr。　Scully　had　a　brand…new　blue　coat　and　brass　buttons；　buff　waistcoat；　white　kerseymere　tights；　pumps　with　large　rosettes；　and　pink　silk　stockings。　〃This　wool；〃　said　he　to　a　friend；　〃was　grown　on　Oldborough　sheep；　this　cloth　was　spun　in　Oldborough　looms；　these　buttons　were　cast　in　an　Oldborough　manufactory；　these　shoes　were　made　by　an　Oldborough　tradesman；　this　HEART　first　beat　in　Oldborough　town；　and　pray　Heaven　may　be　buried　there！〃　Could　anything　resist　a　man　like　this？　　John　Perkins；　who　had　come　down　as　one　of　Scully's　aides…de…camp；　in　a　fit　of　generous　enthusiasm；　leaped　on　a　whist…table；　flung　up　a　pocket…handkerchief；　and　shrieked〃SCULLY　FOR　EVER！〃　Heeltap；　who　was　generally　drunk；　fairly　burst　into　tears；　and　the　grave　tradesmen　and　Whig　gentry；　who　had　dined　with　the　Member　at　his　inn；　and　accompanied　him　thence　to　the　〃Gorgon　Arms；〃　lifted　their　deep　voices　and　shouted　〃Hear！〃　〃Good！〃　〃Bravo！〃　〃Noble！〃　〃Scully　for　ever！〃　〃God　bless　him！〃　and　〃Hurrah！〃　The　scene　was　tumultuously　affecting；　and　when　young　Perkins　sprang　down　from　the　table　and　came　blushing　up　to　the　Member；　that　gentleman　said；　〃Thank　you；　Jack！　　THANK　you；　my　boy！　　THANK　you；〃　in　a　way　which　made　Perkins　think　that　his　supreme　cup　of　bliss　was　quaffed；　that　he　had　but　to　die：　　for　that　life　had　no　other　such　joy　in　store　for　him。　　Scully　was　Perkins's　Napoleonhe　yielded　himself　up　to　the　attorney；　body　and　soul。　Whilst　this　scene　was　going　on　under　one　chandelier　of　the　ballroom；　beneath　the　other　scarlet　little　General　Gorgon；　sumptuous　Lady　Gorgon；　the　daughters　and　niece　Gorgons；　were　standing　surrounded　by　their　Tory　court；　who　affected　to　sneer　and　titter　at　the　Whig　demonstrations　which　were　taking　place。　〃What　a　howwid　thmell　of　whithkey！〃　lisped　Cornet　Fitch；　of　the　Dragoons；　to　Miss　Lucy；　confidentially。　　〃And　thethe　are　what　they　call　Whigth；　are　they？　　He！　he！〃　〃They　are　drunk；　…　me；drunk；　by　…！〃　said　the　General　to　the　Mayor。　〃WHICH　is　Scully？〃　said　Lady　Gorgon；　lifting　her　glass　gravely　（she　was　at　that　very　moment　thinking　of　the　syllabubs）。　　〃Is　it　that　tipsy　man　in　the　green　coat；　or　that　vulgar　creature　in　the　blue　one？〃　〃Law；　my　Lady；〃　said　the　Mayoress；　〃have　you　forgotten　him？　　Why；　that's　him　in　blue　and　buff。〃　〃And　a　monthous　fine　man；　too；〃　said　Cornet　Fitch。　　〃I　wish　we　had　him　in　our　twoophe'th　thix　feet　thwee；　if　he'th　an　inch；　ain't　he；　Genewal？〃　No　reply。　〃And　heavens！　Mamma；〃　shrieked　the　three　Gorgons　in　a　breath；　〃see；　one　creature　is　on　the　whist…table。　　Oh；　the　wretch！　〃I'm　sure　he's　very　good…looking；〃　said　Lucy；　simply。　Lady　Gorgon　darted　at　her　an　angry　look；　and　was　about　to　say　something　very　contemptuous；　when；　at　that　instant；　John　Perkins's　shout　taking　effect；　Master　George　Augustus　Frederick　Grimsby　Gorgon；　not　knowing　better；　incontinently　raised　a　small　shout　on　his　side。　〃Hear！　good！　bravo！〃　exclaimed　he；　〃Scully　for　ever！　　Hurra…a…a…ay！〃　and　fell　skipping　about　like　the　Whigs　opposite。　〃Silence；　you　brute　you！〃　groaned　Lady　Gorgon；　and　seizing　him　by　the　shirt…frill　and　coat…collar；　carried　him　away　to　his　nurse；　who；　with　many　other　maids　of　the　Whig　and　Tory　parties；　stood　giggling　and　peeping　at　the　landing…place。　Fancy　how　all　these　small　incidents　augmented　the　heap　of　Lady　Gorgon's　anger　and　injuries！　　She　was　a　dull　phlegmatic　woman　for　the　most　part；　and　contented　herself　generally　with　merely　despising　her　neighbours；　but　oh！　what　a　fine　active　hatred　raged　in　her　bosom　for　victorious　Scully！　　At　this　moment　Mr。　Perkins　had　finished　shaking　hands　with　his　NapoleonNapoleon　seemed　bent　upon　some　tremendous　enterprise。　　He　was　looking　at　Lady　Gorgon　very　hard。　〃She's　a　fine　woman；〃　said　Scully；　thoughtfully；　he　was　still　holding　the　hand　of　Perkins。　　And　then；　after　a　pause；　〃Gad！　I　think　I'll　try。〃　〃Try　what；　sir？〃　〃She's　a　DEUCED　fine　woman！〃　burst　out　again　the　tender　solicitor。　〃I　WILL　go。　　Springer；　tell　the　fiddlers　to　strike　up。〃　Springer　scuttled　across　the　room；　and　gave　the　leader　of　the　band　a　knowing　nod。　　Suddenly；　〃God　save　the　King〃　ceased；　and　〃Sir　Roger　de　Coverley〃　began。　　The　rival　forces　eyed　each　other；　Mr。　Scully；　accompanied　by　his　friend；　came　forward；　looking　very　red；　and　fumbling　two　large　kid　gloves。　〃HE'S　GOING　TO　ASK　ME　TO　DANCE；〃　hissed　out　Lady　Gorgon；　with　a　dreadful　intuition；　and　she　drew　back　behind　her　lord。　〃D…　it；　madam；　THEN　DANCE　with　him！〃　said　the　General。　　〃Don't　you　see　that　the　scoundrel　is　carrying　it　all　his　own　way！　　…　him！　and　…　him！　and　…　him！〃　　（All　of　which　dashes　the　reader　may　fill　up　with　oaths　of　such　strength　as　may　be　requisite）。　〃General！〃　cried　Lady　Gorgon；　but　could　say　no　more。　　Scully　was　before　her。　〃Madam！〃　exclaimed　the　Liberal　Member　for　Oldborough；　〃in　a　moment　like　thisI　saythat　isthat　on　the　present　occasionyour　Ladyshipunaccustomed　as　I　ampooh；　pshaWILL　your　Ladyship　give　me　the　distinguished　honour　and　pleasure　of　going　down　the　country…dance　with　your　Ladyship？〃　An　immense　heave　of　her　Ladyship's　ample　chest　was　perceptible。　Yards　of　blond　lace；　which　might　be　compared　to　a　foam　of　the　sea；　were　agitated　at　the　same　moment；　and　by　the　same　mighty　emotion。　The　river　of　diamonds　which　flowed　round　her　Ladyship's　neck；　seemed　to　swell　and　to　shine　more　than　ever。　　The　tall　plumes　on　her　ambrosial　head　bowed　down　beneath　the　storm。　　In　other　words；　Lady　Gorgon；　in　a　furious　rage；　which　she　was　compelled　to　restrain；　trembled；　drew　up；　and　bowing　majestically；　said；　〃Sir；　I　shall　have　much　pleasure。〃　　With　this；　she　extended　her　hand。　　Scully；　trembling；　thrust　forward　one　of　his　huge　kid…gloves；　and　led　her　to　the　head　of　the　country…dance。　　John　Perkinswho　I　presume　had　been　drinking　pretty　freely；　so　as　to　have　forgotten　his　ordinary　bashfulnesslooked　at　the　three　Gorgons　in　blue；　then　at　the　pretty　smiling　one　in　white；　and　stepping　up　to　her；　without　the　smallest　hesitation；　asked　her