the lumley autograph-第3章
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页,按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页,按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部!
————未阅读完?加入书签已便下次继续阅读!
who gave such an impulse to the collecting mania; he declined
selling the work; however; for he had thoughts of printing it himself。
The application was mentioned by him; and; of course; the
manuscript gained notoriety; while the original letter became a
greater desideratum than ever。 The library at G… was searched
most carefully by a couple of brother book…worms; who crept over it
from cornice to carpeting; but to no purpose。
{Horace Walpole = Horace Walpole (1717…1797); a prolific writer;
connoisseur; and collector; best known for his extensive
correspondence; he established a taste for literary collecting by
would…be cultured gentlemen in England}
Some ten years later stillabout the time; by the bye; when
Chatterton's career came to such a miserable close in London; and
when Gilbert was dying in a hospital at Parisit happened that a
worthy physician; well known in the town of Southampton for his
benevolence and eccentricity; was on a professional visit to the child
of a poor journeyman trunk…maker; in the same place。 A supply of old
paper had just been brought in for the purpose of lining trunks;
according to the practice of the day。 A workman was busy sorting
these; rejecting some as refuse; and preserving others; when the
doctor stopped to answer an inquiry about the sick child。
{Chatterton = Thomas Chatterton (1752…1770); British poet; who
created an imaginary Thomas Rowley; a supposed medieval monk; to
whom he ascribed some of his poems。 Chatterton committed suicide
at the age of 18 when a poem of his; allegedly by Rowley; was
rejected; he was buried in a pauper's grave。 Susan Fenimore Cooper
no doubt has this in mind in naming a character in this story
Theodosia Rowley。
{Gilbert = Nicolas Gilbert (1751…1780); French poet; who died in
Paris at the age of 29。 The French writer Count Alfred de Vigny
(1797…1863); in his book of essays 〃Stello〃 (1832); popularized a
legend that Gilbert had died insane and in abject poverty at the
charity hospital of the Hotel Dieu in Paris; and compared his
miserable end with that of Chatteron; it seems likely that Vigny;
whose book appeared while Susan Fenimore Cooper was studying in
Paris; was her source for this reference to Gilbert。 In fact; Gilbert
was not impoverished; and died of injuries after falling from his
horse}
〃Better; Hopkinsdoing well。 But what have you here? I never see
old papers but I have an inclination to look them over。 If a man has
leisure; he may often pick up something amusing among such
rubbish。 Don't you ever read the papers that pass through your
hands?〃
〃No; sirI 'as no time for that; sir。 And then I was never taught to
read writing; and these 'ere papers is all written ones。 We puts them
that's written for one trunk; and them that's printed for another; as
you see; sir; one must have a heye to the looks of the work。〃
〃Why yesyou seem to manage the job very well; and I have a
trunk; by the bye; that wants patching up before my boy carries it off
with him; I'll send it round to you; Hopkins。 But staywhat's this?〃
and the doctor took up a soiled; yellow sheet of paper; from the
heap rejected by the workman; it contained a scrawl which proved to
be the identical letter of the poor poet; the Lumley autograph;
though in what manner it became mingled with that heap of rubbish
has never been satisfactorily ascertained。
〃Here's a poor fellow who had a hard fate; Hopkins;〃 said the
benevolent man; thoughtfully。 〃It is as good as a sermon on charity
to read that letter。〃
The trunk…maker begged to hear it。
〃Well; poor journeyman as I be; I was never yet in so bad a way as
that; sir。〃
〃And never will be; I hope; but this was a poet; Hopkinsand that's
but an indifferent trade to live by。 I'll tell you what; my good friend;〃
said the doctor; suddenly; 〃that letter is worth keeping; and you may
paste it in the trunk I'll send round this afternoonput it in the lid;
where it can be read。〃
The trunk was sent; and the letter actually pasted in it as part of the
new lining。 Dr。 H…; who; as we have observed; was rather
eccentric in his ways; had a son about to commence his career as a
soldier; and the worthy man thought the letter might teach the youth
a useful lesson of moderation and temperance; by showing him every
time he opened his trunk; the extreme of want to which his fellow
beings were occasionally reduced。 What success followed the plan
we cannot say。 The trunk; however; shared the young soldier's
wandering life; it carried the cornet's uniform to America; it was
besieged in Boston; and it made part of the besieging baggage at
Charleston。 It was not destined; however; to remain in the new
world; but followed its owner to the East Indies; carrying on this
second voyage; a lieutenant's commission。 At length; after passing
five…and…twenty years in Bengal; the trunk returned again to
Southampton; as one among some dozen others which made up the
baggage of the gallant Colonel H…; now rich in laurels and rupees。
The old trunk had even the honorable duty assigned it of carrying its
master's trophies; doubtless the most precious portion of the
colonel's possessions; though at the same time the lightest; as for
the rupees; the old worn…out box would have proved quite unequal to
transporting a single bag of them; for it was now sadly unfit for
service; thanks to the ravages of time and the white ants; and;
indeed; owed its preservation and return to its native soil solely to
the letter pasted in the lid; which; in the eyes of Colonel H…; was
a memento of home; and the eccentric character of a deceased
parent。
{cornet = the lowest officer rank in a British cavalry regiment; below
that of Lieutenant; now obsolete}
The time had now come; however; when the Lumley autograph was
about to emerge forever from obscurity; and receive the full homage
of collectors; the hour of triumph was at hand; the neglect of a
century was to be fully repaid by the highest honors of fame。 The
eye of beauty was about to kindle as it rested on the Lumley
autograph; jeweled fingers were to be raised; eager to snatch the
treasure from each other; busy literati stood ready armed for a war
of controversy in its behalf。
It happened that Colonel H… was invited to a fancy ball; and it
also happened that the lady whom he particularly admired; was to be
present on the occasion。 Such being the case; the most becoming
costume was to be selected for the evening。 What if the locks of the
gallant colonel were slightly sprinkled with gray? He was still a
handsome man; and knew very well that the dress of an eastern
aymeer was particularly well suited to his face and figure。 This dress;
preserved in a certain old trunk in the garret; was accordingly
produced。 The trunk was brought down to the dressing…room; the
costume examined piece by piece; pronounced in good condition by
the valet; and declared very becoming by the military friend called in
as counsellor。
{aymeer = Emir; a Muslim title signifying commander in Arabic}
〃But what a queer old box this is; H…;〃 said Major D…; eyeing
the trunk through his glass。
〃It's one I've had these hundred years;〃 replied the colonel。 〃So you
think this trumpery will do; D…?〃
〃Do? To be sure it will; my dear fellowit gives your Milesian skin
the true Nawaub dye。 But I was just trying to make out an old letter
pasted in the lid of your trunk; under my nose here。 Is this the way
you preserve your family archives?〃
{Milesian = slang term for Irish; from Milesius; mythical Spanish
conqueror of Ireland; Nawaub = from Nabob; Anglo…Indian slang for
one who has returned home from India with a large fortune}
〃That letter is really a curiosity in its way;〃 said the colonel; turning
from the glass and relating its history; so far at least as it was
known to himself。
His friend spelt it through。
〃My dear fellow; why don't you give this letter to the father of your
fair Louisa; he's quite rabid on such points; you'll make him a friend
for life by it!〃
The advice was followed。 The letter was cut from its old position in
the lid of the trunk; and presented to Sir John Blank; the father of
the lovely Louisa; who; in his turn; soon