vanity fair(名利场)-第204章

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sold）；　and　the　silver　fountain　of　the　Pompili　family　shone
all　over　the　roof；　doors；　and　panels　of　the　house；　and
over　the　grand　velvet　baldaquins　prepared　to　receive
Popes　and　Emperors。
So　Becky；　who　had　arrived　in　the　diligence　from
Florence；　and　was　lodged　at　an　inn　in　a　very　modest　way；
got　a　card　for　Prince　Polonia's　entertainment；　and　her
maid　dressed　her　with　unusual　care；　and　she　went　to　this
fine　ball　leaning　on　the　arm　of　Major　Loder；　with　whom
she　happened　to　be　travelling　at　the　time（the　same
man　who　shot　Prince　Ravoli　at　Naples　the　next　year；　and
was　caned　by　Sir　John　Buckskin　for　carrying　four　kings
in　his　hat　besides　those　which　he　used　in　playing　at
ecarte　）and　this　pair　went　into　the　rooms　together；
and　Becky　saw　a　number　of　old　faces　which　she
remembered　in　happier　days；　when　she　was　not　innocent；
but　not　found　out。　　Major　Loder　knew　a　great　number
of　foreigners；　keen…looking　whiskered　men　with　dirty
striped　ribbons　in　their　buttonholes；　and　a　very　small
display　of　linen；　but　his　own　countrymen；　it　might　be
remarked；　eschewed　the　Major。　　Becky；　too；　knew　some
ladies　here　and　thereFrench　widows；　dubious　Italian
countesses；　whose　husbands　had　treated　them　illfaugh
what　shall　we　say；　we　who　have　moved　among
some　of　the　finest　company　of　Vanity　Fair；　of　this　refuse
and　sediment　of　rascals？　If　we　play；　let　it　be　with　clean
cards；　and　not　with　this　dirty　pack。　　But　every　man　who
has　formed　one　of　the　innumerable　army　of　travellers
has　seen　these　marauding　irregulars　hanging　on；　like
Nym　and　Pistol；　to　the　main　force；　wearing　the　king's
colours　and　boasting　of　his　commission；　but　pillaging
for　themselves；　and　occasionally　gibbeted　by　the　roadside。
Well；　she　was　hanging　on　the　arm　of　Major　Loder；
and　they　went　through　the　rooms　together；　and　drank　a
great　quantity　of　champagne　at　the　buffet；　where　the
people；　and　especially　the　Major's　irregular　corps；
struggled　furiously　for　refreshments；　of　which　when　the
pair　had　had　enough；　they　pushed　on　until　they　reached
the　Duchess's　own　pink　velvet　saloon；　at　the　end　of　the
suite　of　apartments　（where　the　statue　of　the　Venus　is；
and　the　great　Venice　looking…glasses；　framed　in　silver）；
and　where　the　princely　family　were　entertaining　their
most　distinguished　guests　at　a　round　table　at　supper。　　It
was　just　such　a　little　select　banquet　as　that　of　which
Becky　recollected　that　she　had　partaken　at　Lord　Steyne's
and　there　he　sat　at　Polonia's　table；　and　she　saw　him。
The　scar　cut　by　the　diamond　on　his　white；　bald；
shining　forehead　made　a　burning　red　mark；　his　red　whiskers
were　dyed　of　a　purple　hue；　which　made　his　pale　face
look　still　paler。　　He　wore　his　collar　and　orders；　his　blue
ribbon　and　garter。　　He　was　a　greater　Prince　than　any
there；　though　there　was　a　reigning　Duke　and　a　Royal
Highness；　with　their　princesses；　and　near　his　Lordship
was　seated　the　beautiful　Countess　of　Belladonna；　nee
de　Glandier；　whose　husband　（the　Count　Paolo　della
Belladonna）；　so　well　known　for　his　brilliant　entomological
collections；　had　been　long　absent　on　a　mission　to　the
Emperor　of　Morocco。
When　Becky　beheld　that　familiar　and　illustrious　face；
how　vulgar　all　of　a　sudden　did　Major　Loder　appear　to
her；　and　how　that　odious　Captain　Rook　did　smell　of
tobacco！　　In　one　instant　she　reassumed　her　fine…ladyship
and　tried　to　look　and　feel　as　if　she　were　in　May　Fair
once　more。　　〃That　woman　looks　stupid　and　ill…humoured；〃
she　thought；　〃I　am　sure　she　can't　amuse　him。　　No；　he　must
be　bored　by　herhe　never　was　by　me。〃　A　hundred　such
touching　hopes；　fears；　and　memories　palpitated　in　her
little　heart；　as　she　looked　with　her　brightest　eyes　（the
rouge　which　she　wore　up　to　her　eyelids　made　them
twinkle）　towards　the　great　nobleman。　　Of　a　Star　and　Garter
night　Lord　Steyne　used　also　to　put　on　his　grandest
manner　and　to　look　and　speak　like　a　great　prince；　as　he　was。
Becky　admired　him　smiling　sumptuously；　easy；　lofty；　and
stately。　　Ah；　bon　Dieu；　what　a　pleasant　companion　he
was；　what　a　brilliant　wit；　what　a　rich　fund　of　talk；　what
a　grand　manner！and　she　had　exchanged　this　for　Major
Loder；　reeking　of　cigars　and　brandy…and…water；　and
Captain　Rook　with　his　horsejockey　jokes　and　prize…ring
slang；　and　their　like。　　〃I　wonder　whether　he　will　know
me；〃　she　thought。　　Lord　Steyne　was　talking　and　laughing
with　a　great　and　illustrious　lady　at　his　side；　when　he
looked　up　and　saw　Becky。
She　was　all　over　in　a　flutter　as　their　eyes　met；　and　she
put　on　the　very　best　smile　she　could　muster；　and　dropped
him　a　little；　timid；　imploring　curtsey。　　He　stared　aghast
at　her　for　a　minute；　as　Macbeth　might　on　beholding
Banquo's　sudden　appearance　at　his　ball…supper；　and　remained
looking　at　her　with　open　mouth；　when　that　horrid　Major
Loder　pulled　her　away。
〃Come　away　into　the　supper…room；　Mrs。　R。；〃　was　that
gentleman's　remark：　　〃seeing　these　nobs　grubbing　away
has　made　me　peckish　too。　　Let's　go　and　try　the　old
governor's　champagne。〃　Becky　thought　the　Major　had　had
a　great　deal　too　much　already。
The　day　after　she　went　to　walk　on　the　Pincian　Hill
the　Hyde　Park　of　the　Roman　idlerspossibly　in　hopes　to
have　another　sight　of　Lord　Steyne。　　But　she　met　another
acquaintance　there：　　it　was　Mr。　Fiche；　his　lordship's
confidential　man；　who　came　up　nodding　to　her　rather
familiarly　and　putting　a　finger　to　his　hat。　　〃I　knew　that　Madame
was　here；〃　he　said；　〃I　followed　her　from　her　hotel。　　I　have
some　advice　to　give　Madame。〃
〃From　the　Marquis　of　Steyne？〃　Becky　asked；　resuming
as　much　of　her　dignity　as　she　could　muster；　and　not
a　little　agitated　by　hope　and　expectation。
〃No；〃　said　the　valet；　〃it　is　from　me。　　Rome　is　very
unwholesome。〃
〃Not　at　this　season；　Monsieur　Fichenot　till　after
Easter。〃
〃I　tell　Madame　it　is　unwholesome　now。　　There　is　always
malaria　for　some　people。　　That　cursed　marsh　wind　kills
many　at　all　seasons。　　Look；　Madame　Crawley；　you　were
always　bon　enfant；　and　I　have　an　interest　in　you；　parole
d'honneur。　　Be　warned。　　Go　away　from　Rome；　I　tell　you
or　you　will　be　ill　and　die。〃
Becky　laughed；　though　in　rage　and　fury。　　〃What！
assassinate　poor　little　me？〃　she　said。　　〃How　romantic！　　Does
my　lord　carry　bravos　for　couriers；　and　stilettos　in　the
fourgons？　Bah！　　I　will　stay；　if　but　to　plague　him。　　I　have
those　who　will　defend　me　whilst　I　am　here。〃
It　was　Monsieur　Fiche's　turn　to　laugh　now。　　〃Defend
you；〃　he　said；　〃and　who？　The　Major；　the　Captain；　any
one　of　those　gambling　men　whom　Madame　sees　would
take　her　life　for　a　hundred　louis。　　We　know　things　about
Major　Loder　（he　is　no　more　a　Major　than　I　am　my　Lord
the　Marquis）　which　would　send　him　to　the　galleys　or
worse。　　We　know　everything　and　have　friends　everywhere。
We　know　whom　you　saw　at　Paris；　and　what　relations　you
found　there。　　Yes；　Madame　may　stare；　but　we　do。　　How
was　it　that　no　minister　on　the　Continent　would　receive
Madame？　She　has　offended　somebody：　　who　never
forgiveswhose　rage　redoubled　when　he　saw　you。　　He　was
like　a　madman　last　night　when　he　came　home。　　Madame
de　Belladonna　made　him　a　scene　about　you　and　fired　off
in　one　of　her　furies。〃
〃Oh；　it　was　Madame　de　Belladonna；　was　it？〃　Becky
said；　relieved　a　little；　for　the　information　she　had　just　got
had　scared　her。
〃Noshe　does　not　mattershe　is　always　jealous。　　I
tell　you　it　was　Monseigneur。　　You　did　wrong　to　show
yourself　to　him。　　And　if　you　stay　here　you　will　repent　it。　　Mark
my　words。　　Go。　　Here　is　my　lord's　carriage〃and　seizing
Becky's　arm；　he　rushed　down　an　alley　of　the　garden　as
Lord　Steyne's　barouche；　blazing　with　heraldic　devices；
came　whirling　along　the　avenue；　borne　by　the　almost
priceless　horses；　and　bearing　Madame　de　Belladonna
lolling　on　the　cushions；　dark；　sulky；　and　blooming；　a　King
Charles　in　her　lap；　a　white　parasol　swaying　over　her
head；　and　old　Steyne　stretched　at　her　side　with　a　livid
face　and　ghastly　eyes。　　Hate；　or　anger；　or　desire　caused
them　to　brighten　now　and　then　still；　but　ordinarily；　they
gave　no　light；　and　seemed　tired　of　looking　out　on　a　world
of　which　almost　all　the　pleasure　and　all　the　best　beauty
had　palled　upon　the　worn…out　wicked　old　man。
〃Monseigneur　has　never　recovered　the　shock　of　that
night；　never；〃　Monsieur　Fiche　whispered　to　Mrs。　Crawley
as　the　carriage　flashed　by；　and　she　peeped　out　a