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！
And poor little Franklin Fox was compelled to own that she had。
The maitre d'hotel here announced that supper was served。 It was
remarked that even the coulis de dindonneau made no impression on
Bagnigge that night。
II。
The sensation produced by the debut of Amethyst Pimlico at the
court of the sovereign； and in the salons of the beau…monde； was
such as has seldom been created by the appearance of any other
beauty。 The men were raving with love； and the women with
jealousy。 Her eyes； her beauty； her wit； her grace； her ton；
caused a perfect fureur of admiration or envy。
Introduced by the Duchess of Fitzbattleaxe； along with her Grace's
daughters； the Ladies Gwendoline and Gwinever Portcullis； the
heiress's regal beauty quite flung her cousins' simple charms into
the shade； and blazed with a splendor which caused all 〃minor
lights〃 to twinkle faintly。 Before a day the beau…monde； before a
week even the vulgarians of the rest of the town； rang with the
fame of her charms； and while the dandies and the beauties were
raving about her； or tearing her to pieces in May Fair； even Mrs。
Dobbs （who had been to the pit of the 〃Hoperer〃 in a green turban
and a crumpled yellow satin） talked about the great HAIRESS to her
D。 in Bloomsbury Square。
Crowds went to Squab and Lynch's； in Long Acre； to examine the
carriages building for her； so faultless； so splendid； so quiet； so
odiously unostentatious and provokingly simple！ Besides the
ancestral services of argenterie and vaisselle plate； contained in
a hundred and seventy…six plate…chests at Messrs。 Childs'； Rumble
and Briggs prepared a gold service； and Garraway； of the Haymarket；
a service of the Benvenuto Cellini pattern； which were the
admiration of all London。 Before a month it is a fact that the
wretched haberdashers in the city exhibited the blue stocks； called
〃Heiress…killers； very chaste； two…and…six：〃 long before that； the
monde had rushed to Madame Crinoline's； or sent couriers to Madame
Marabou； at Paris； so as to have copies of her dresses； but； as the
Mantuan bard observes； 〃Non cuivis contigit；〃every foot cannot
accommodate itself to the chaussure of Cinderella。
With all this splendor； this worship； this beauty； with these
cheers following her； and these crowds at her feet； was Amethyst
happy？ Ah； no！ It is not under the necklace the most brilliant
that Briggs and Rumble can supply； it is not in Lynch's best
cushioned chariot that the heart is most at ease。 〃Que je me
ruinerai；〃 says Fronsac in a letter to Bossuet； 〃si je savais ou
acheter le bonheur！〃
With all her riches； with all her splendor； Amethyst was wretched
wretched； because lonely； wretched； because her loving heart had
nothing to cling to。 Her splendid mansion was a convent； no male
person even entered it； except Franklin Fox； （who counted for
nothing；） and the duchess's family； her kinsman old Lord
Humpington； his friend old Sir John Fogey； and her cousin； the
odious； odious Borodino。
The Prince de Borodino declared openly that Amethyst was engaged to
him。 Crible de dettes； it is no wonder that he should choose such
an opportunity to refaire sa fortune。 He gave out that he would
kill any man who should cast an eye on the heiress； and the monster
kept his word。 Major Grigg； of the Lifeguards； had already fallen
by his hand at Ostend。 The O'Toole； who had met her on the Rhine；
had received a ball in his shoulder at Coblentz； and did not care
to resume so dangerous a courtship。 Borodino could snuff a bougie
at a hundred and fifty yards。 He could beat Bertrand or Alexander
Dumas himself with the small…sword： he was the dragon that watched
this pomme d'or； and very few persons were now inclined to face a
champion si redoutable。
Over a salmi d'escargot at the 〃Coventry；〃 the dandies whom we
introduced in our last volume were assembled； there talking of the
heiress； and her story was told by Franklin Fox to Lord Bagnigge；
who； for a wonder； was interested in the tale。 Borodino's
pretensions were discussed； and the way in which the fair Amethyst
was confined。 Fitzbattleaxe House； in Belgrave Square； isas
everybody knowsthe next mansion to that occupied by Amethyst。 A
communication was made between the two houses。 She never went out
except accompanied by the duchess's guard； which it was impossible
to overcome。
〃Impossible！ Nothing's impossible；〃 said Lord Bagnigge。
〃I bet you what you like you don't get in；〃 said the young Marquis
of Martingale。
〃I bet you a thousand ponies I stop a week in the heiress's house
before the season's over；〃 Lord Bagnigge replied with a yawn； and
the bet was registered with shouts of applause。
But it seemed as if the Fates had determined against Lord Bagnigge；
for the very next day； riding in the Park； his horse fell with him；
he was carried home to his house with a fractured limb and a
dislocated shoulder； and the doctor's bulletins pronounced him to
be in the most dangerous state。
Martingale was a married man； and there was no danger of HIS riding
by the Fitzbattleaxe carriage。 A fortnight after the above events；
his lordship was prancing by her Grace's great family coach； and
chattering with Lady Gwinever about the strange wager。
〃Do you know what a pony is； Lady Gwinever？〃 he asked。 Her
ladyship said yes： she had a cream…colored one at Castle Barbican；
and stared when Lord Martingale announced that he should soon have
a thousand ponies； worth five…and…twenty pounds each； which were
all now kept at Coutts's。 Then he explained the circumstances of
the bet with Bagnigge。 Parliament was to adjourn in ten days； the
season would be over！ Bagnigge was lying ill chez lui； and the
five…and…twenty thousand were irrecoverably his。 And he vowed he
would buy Lord Binnacle's yachtcrew； captain； guns and all。
On returning home that night from Lady Polkimore's； Martingale
found among the many billets upon the gold plateau in his
antichambre； the following brief one； which made him start
〃DEAR MARTINGALE。Don't be too sure of Binnacle's yacht。 There
are still ten days before the season is over； and my ponies may lie
at Coutts's for some time to come。
〃Yours；
〃BAGNIGGE。
〃P。 S。I write with my left hand； for my right is still splintered
up from that confounded fall。〃
III。
The tall footman； number four； who had come in the place of John；
cashiered； （for want of proper mollets； and because his hair did
not take powder well；） had given great satisfaction to the under…
butler； who reported well of him to his chief； who had mentioned
his name with praise to the house…steward。 He was so good…looking
and well…spoken a young man； that the ladies in the housekeeper's
room deigned to notice him more than once； nor was his popularity
diminished on account of a quarrel in which he engaged with
Monsieur Anatole； the enormous Walloon chasseur； who was one day
found embracing Miss Flouncy； who waited on Amethyst's own maid。
The very instant Miss Flouncy saw Mr。 Jeames entering the Servants'
Hall； where Monsieur Anatole was engaged in 〃aggravating〃 her； Miss
Flouncy screamed： at the next moment the Belgian giant lay
sprawling upon the carpet； and Jeames； standing over him； assumed
so terrible a look； that the chasseur declined any further combat。
The victory was made known to the house…steward himself； who； being
a little partial to Miss Flouncy herself； complimented Jeames on
his valor； and poured out a glass of Madeira in his own room。
Who was Jeames？ He had come recommended by the Bagnigge people。
He had lived； he said； in that family two years。 〃But where there
was no ladies；〃 he said； 〃a gentleman's hand was spiled for
service；〃 and Jeames's was a very delicate hand； Miss Flouncy
admired it very much； and of course he did not defile it by menial
service： he had in a young man who called him sir； and did all the
coarse work； and Jeames read the morning paper to the ladies； not
spellingly and with hesitation； as many gentlemen do； but easily
and elegantly； speaking off the longest words without a moment's
difficulty。 He could speak French； too； Miss Flouncy found； who
was studying it under Mademoiselle Grande fille…de…chambre de
confiance； for when she said to him； 〃Polly voo Fransy； Munseer
Jeames？〃 he replied readily； 〃We； Mademaselle； j'ay passay boco de
tong a Parry。 Commong voo potty voo？〃 How Miss Flouncy admired
him as he stood before her； the day after he had saved Miss
Amethyst when the horses had run away with her in the Park！
Poor Flouncy； poor Flouncy！ Jeames had been but a week in
Amethyst's service； and already the gentle heart of the washing…
girl was irrecoverably gone！ Poor Flouncy！ Poor Flouncy！ he
thought not of thee。
It happened thus。 Miss Amethyst being engaged to drive with her
cousin the prince in his phaeton； her own ca