vanity fair(名利场)-第205章

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night；　never；〃　Monsieur　Fiche　whispered　to　Mrs。　Crawley
as　the　carriage　flashed　by；　and　she　peeped　out　at　it
from　behind　the　shrubs　that　hid　her。　　〃That　was　a
consolation　at　any　rate；〃　Becky　thought。
Whether　my　lord　really　had　murderous　intentions
towards　Mrs。　Becky　as　Monsieur　Fiche　said　（since
Monseigneur's　death　he　has　returned　to　his　native　country；
where　he　lives　much　respected；　and　has　purchased　from
his　Prince　the　title　of　Baron　Ficci）；　and　the　factotum
objected　to　have　to　do　with　assassination；　or　whether　he
simply　had　a　commission　to　frighten　Mrs。　Crawley　out　of
a　city　where　his　Lordship　proposed　to　pass　the　winter；
and　the　sight　of　her　would　be　eminently　disagreeable　to
the　great　nobleman；　is　a　point　which　has　never　been
ascertained：　　but　the　threat　had　its　effect　upon　the　little
woman；　and　she　sought　no　more　to　intrude　herself　upon
the　presence　of　her　old　patron。
Everybody　knows　the　melancholy　end　of　that
nobleman；　which　befell　at　Naples　two　months　after　the　French
Revolution　of　1830；　when　the　Most　Honourable　George
Gustavus；　Marquis　of　Steyne；　Earl　of　Gaunt　and　of　Gaunt
Castle；　in　the　Peerage　of　Ireland；　Viscount　Hellborough；
Baron　Pitchley　and　Grillsby；　a　Knight　of　the　Most　Noble
Order　of　the　Garter；　of　the　Golden　Fleece　of　Spain；　of
the　Russian　Order　of　Saint　Nicholas　of　the　First　Class；　of
the　Turkish　Order　of　the　Crescent；　First　Lord　of　the
Powder　Closet　and　Groom　of　the　Back　Stairs；　Colonel　of
the　Gaunt　or　Regent's　Own　Regiment　of　Militia；　a　Trustee
of　the　British　Museum；　an　Elder　Brother　of　the　Trinity
House；　a　Governor　of　the　White　Friars；　and　D。C。L。
died　after　a　series　of　fits　brought　on；　as　the　papers　said；
by　the　shock　occasioned　to　his　lordship's　sensibilities　by
the　downfall　of　the　ancient　French　monarchy。
An　eloquent　catalogue　appeared　in　a　weekly　print；
describing　his　virtues；　his　magnificence；　his　talents；　and
his　good　actions。　　His　sensibility；　his　attachment　to　the
illustrious　House　of　Bourbon；　with　which　he　claimed　an
alliance；　were　such　that　he　could　not　survive　the
misfortunes　of　his　august　kinsmen。　　His　body　was　buried　at
Naples；　and　his　heartthat　heart　which　always　beat　with
every　generous　and　noble　emotion　was　brought　back　to
Castle　Gaunt　in　a　silver　urn。　　〃In　him；〃　Mr。　Wagg　said；
〃the　poor　and　the　Fine　Arts　have　lost　a　beneficent　patron；
society　one　of　its　most　brilliant　ornaments；　and　England
one　of　her　loftiest　patriots　and　statesmen；〃　&c。；　&c。
His　will　was　a　good　deal　disputed；　and　an　attempt　was
made　to　force　from　Madame　de　Belladonna　the
celebrated　jewel　called　the　〃Jew's…eye〃　diamond；　which　his
lordship　always　wore　on　his　forefinger；　and　which　it　was
said　that　she　removed　from　it　after　his　lamented　demise。
But　his　confidential　friend　and　attendant；　Monsieur　Fiche
proved　that　the　ring　had　been　presented　to　the　said
Madame　de　Belladonna　two　days　before　the　Marquis's
death；　as　were　the　bank…notes；　jewels；　Neapolitan　and
French　bonds；　&c。；　found　in　his　lordship's　secretaire　and
claimed　by　his　heirs　from　that　injured　woman。

CHAPTER　LXV
Full　of　Business　and　Pleasure
The　day　after　the　meeting　at　the　play…table；　Jos　had
himself　arrayed　with　unusual　care　and　splendour；　and
without　thinking　it　necessary　to　say　a　word　to　any
member　of　his　family　regarding　the　occurrences　of　the　previous
night；　or　asking　for　their　company　in　his　walk；　he　sallied
forth　at　an　early　hour；　and　was　presently　seen　making
inquiries　at　the　door　of　the　Elephant　Hotel。　　In　consequence
of　the　fetes　the　house　was　full　of　company；　the
tables　in　the　street　were　already　surrounded　by　persons
smoking　and　drinking　the　national　small…beer；　the　public
rooms　were　in　a　cloud　of　smoke；　and　Mr。　Jos　having；　in
his　pompous　way；　and　with　his　clumsy　German；　made
inquiries　for　the　person　of　whom　he　was　in　search；　was
directed　to　the　very　top　of　the　house；　above　the　first…floor
rooms　where　some　travelling　pedlars　had　lived；　and　were
exhibiting　their　jewellery　and　brocades；　above　the　second…
floor　apartments　occupied　by　the　etat　major　of　the
gambling　firm；　above　the　third…floor　rooms；　tenanted　by　the
band　of　renowned　Bohemian　vaulters　and　tumblers；　and
so　on　to　the　little　cabins　of　the　roof；　where；　among
students；　bagmen；　small　tradesmen；　and　country…folks　come
in　for　the　festival；　Becky　had　found　a　little　nestas　dirty
a　little　refuge　as　ever　beauty　lay　hid　in。
Becky　liked　the　life。　　She　was　at　home　with　everybody
in　the　place；　pedlars；　punters；　tumblers；　students　and　all。
She　was　of　a　wild；　roving　nature；　inherited　from　father
and　mother；　who　were　both　Bohemians；　by　taste　and
circumstance；　if　a　lord　was　not　by；　she　would　talk　to　his
courier　with　the　greatest　pleasure；　the　din；　the　stir；　the
drink；　the　smoke；　the　tattle　of　the　Hebrew　pedlars；　the
solemn；　braggart　ways　of　the　poor　tumblers；　the　sournois
talk　of　the　gambling…table　officials；　the　songs　and　swagger
of　the　students；　and　the　general　buzz　and　hum　of
the　place　had　pleased　and　tickled　the　little　woman；　even
when　her　luck　was　down　and　she　had　not　wherewithal　to
pay　her　bill。　　How　pleasant　was　all　the　bustle　to　her　now
that　her　purse　was　full　of　the　money　which　little　Georgy
had　won　for　her　the　night　before！
As　Jos　came　creaking　and　puffing　up　the　final　stairs；
and　was　speechless　when　he　got　to　the　landing；　and　began
to　wipe　his　face　and　then　to　look　for　No。　　92；　the　room
where　he　was　directed　to　seek　for　the　person　he　wanted；
the　door　of　the　opposite　chamber；　No。　　90；　was　open；
and　a　student；　in　jack…boots　and　a　dirty　schlafrock；　was
lying　on　the　bed　smoking　a　long　pipe；　whilst　another
student　in　long　yellow　hair　and　a　braided　coat；　exceeding
smart　and　dirty　too；　was　actually　on　his　knees　at　No。　　92；
bawling　through　the　keyhole　supplications　to　the　person
within。
〃Go　away；〃　said　a　well…known　voice；　which　made　Jos
thrill；　〃I　expect　somebody；　I　expect　my　grandpapa。　　He
mustn't　see　you　there。〃
〃Angel　Englanderinn！〃　bellowed　the　kneeling　student
with　the　whity…brown　ringlets　and　the　large　finger…ring；
〃do　take　compassion　upon　us。　　Make　an　appointment。
Dine　with　me　and　Fritz　at　the　inn　in　the　park。　　We　will
have　roast　pheasants　and　porter；　plum…pudding　and
French　wine。　　We　shall　die　if　you　don't。〃
〃That　we　will；〃　said　the　young　nobleman　on　the　bed；
and　this　colloquy　Jos　overheard；　though　he　did　not
comprehend　it；　for　the　reason　that　he　had　never　studied
the　language　in　which　it　was　carried　on。
〃Newmero　kattervang　dooze；　si　vous　plait；〃　Jos　said
in　his　grandest　manner；　when　he　was　able　to　speak。
〃Quater　fang　tooce！〃　said　the　student；　starting　up；　and
he　bounced　into　his　own　room；　where　he　locked　the　door；
and　where　Jos　heard　him　laughing　with　his　comrade　on
the　bed。
The　gentleman　from　Bengal　was　standing；　disconcerted
by　this　incident；　when　the　door　of　the　92　opened　of
itself　and　Becky's　little　head　peeped　out　full　of　archness
and　mischief。　　She　lighted　on　Jos。　　〃It's　you；〃　she　said；
coming　out。　　〃How　I　have　been　waiting　for　you！　　Stop！
not　yetin　one　minute　you　shall　come　in。〃　In　that　instant
she　put　a　rouge…pot；　a　brandy　bottle；　and　a　plate　of　broken
meat　into　the　bed；　gave　one　smooth　to　her　hair；　and
finally　let　in　her　visitor。
She　had；　by　way　of　morning　robe；　a　pink　domino；　a
trifle　faded　and　soiled；　and　marked　here　and　there　with
pomaturn；　but　her　arms　shone　out　from　the　loose　sleeves
of　the　dress　very　white　and　fair；　and　it　was　tied　round
her　little　waist　so　as　not　ill　to　set　off　the　trim　little　figure
of　the　wearer。　　She　led　Jos　by　the　hand　into　her　garret。
〃Come　in；〃　she　said。　　〃Come　and　talk　to　me。　　Sit　yonder
on　the　chair〃；　and　she　gave　the　civilian's　hand　a　little
squeeze　and　laughingly　placed　him　upon　it。　　As　for
herself；　she　placed　herself　on　the　bednot　on　the　bottle
and　plate；　you　may　be　sureon　which　Jos　might　have
reposed；　had　he　chosen　that　seat；　and　so　there　she　sat
and　talked　with　her　old　admirer。
　　〃How　little　years　have　changed　you；〃　she　said　with　a
look　of　tender　interest。　　〃I　should　have　known　you
anywhere。　　What　a　comfort　it　is　amongst　strangers　to　see
once　more　the　frank　honest　face　of　an　old　friend！〃
The　frank　honest　face；　to　tell　the　truth；　at　this
moment　bore　any　expression　but　one　of　openness　and
honesty：　　it　was；　on　the