the bedford-row conspiracy-第3章

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ucy　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　if　she　would　dance　with　him。　The　young　lady　smilingly　agreed。　　The　great　example　of　Scully　and　Lady　Gorgon　was　followed　by　all　dancing　men　and　women。　　Political　enmities　were　forgotten。　　Whig　voters　invited　Tory　voters'　wives　to　the　dance。　　The　daughters　of　Reform　accepted　the　hands　of　the　sons　of　Conservatism。　　The　reconciliation　of　the　Romans　and　Sabines　was　not　more　touching　than　this　sweet　fusion。　　Whackwhack！　　Springer　clapped　his　hands；　and　the　fiddlers　adroitly　obeying　the　cheerful　signal；　began　playing　〃Sir　Roger　de　Coverley〃　louder　than　ever。　I　do　not　know　by　what　extraordinary　charm　（nescio　qua　praeter　solitum；　etc。）；　but　young　Perkins；　who　all　his　life　had　hated　country…dances；　was　delighted　with　this　one；　and　skipped　and　laughed；　poussetting；　crossing；　down…the…middling；　with　his　merry　little　partner；　till　every　one　of　the　bettermost　sort　of　the　thirty…nine　couples　had　dropped　panting　away；　and　till　the　youngest　Miss　Gorgon；　coming　up　to　his　partner；　said　in　a　loud　hissing　scornful　whisper；　〃Lucy；　Mamma　thinks　you　have　danced　quite　enough　with　thisthis　person。〃　　And　Lucy；　blushing；　starting　back；　and　looking　at　Perkins　in　a　very　melancholy　way；　made　him　a　little　curtsey；　and　went　off　to　the　Gorgonian　party　with　her　cousin。　Perkins　was　too　frightened　to　lead　her　back　to　her　placetoo　frightened　at　first；　and　then　too　angry。　　〃Person！〃　said　he：　　his　soul　swelled　with　a　desperate　republicanism：　　he　went　back　to　his　patron　more　of　a　Radical　than　ever。　He　found　that　gentleman　in　the　solitary　tea…room；　pacing　up　and　down　before　the　observant　landlady　and　handmaidens　of　the　〃Gorgon　Arms；〃　wiping　his　brows；　gnawing　his　fingershis　ears　looming　over　his　stiff　white　shirt…collar　as　red　as　fire。　　Once　more　the　great　man　seized　John　Perkins's　hand　as　the　latter　came　up。　〃D…　the　aristocrats！〃　roared　the　ex…follower　of　Squaretoes。　〃And　so　say　I！　but　what's　the　matter；　sir？〃　〃What's　the　matter？Why；　that　womanthat　infernal；　haughty；　straitlaced；　cold…blooded　brewer's　daughter！　　I　loved　that　woman；　sirI　KISSED　that　woman；　sir；　twenty　years　ago：　　we　were　all　but　engaged；　sir：　　we've　walked　for　hours　and　hours；　sirus　and　the　governessI've　got　a　lock　of　her　hair；　sir；　among　my　papers　now；　and　to…night；　would　you　believe　it？as　soon　as　she　got　to　the　bottom　of　the　set；　away　she　wentnot　one　word　would　she　speak　to　me　all　the　way　down：　　and　when　I　wanted　to　lead　her　to　her　place；　and　asked　her　if　she　would　have　a　glass　of　negus；　'Sir；'　says　she；　'I　have　done　my　duty；　I　bear　no　malice：　　but　I　consider　you　a　traitor　to　Sir　George　Gorgon's　familya　traitor　and　an　upstart！　　I　consider　your　speaking　to　me　as　a　piece　of　insolent　vulgarity；　and　beg　you　will　leave　me　to　myself！'　　There's　her　speech；　sir。　　Twenty　people　heard　it；　and　all　of　her　Tory　set　too。　　I'll　tell　you　what；　Jack：　at　the　next　election　I'll　put　YOU　up。　　Oh　that　woman！　that　woman！…　…and　to　think　that　I　love　her　still！〃　　Here　Mr。　Scully　paused；　and　fiercely　consoled　himself　by　swallowing　three　cups　of　Mrs。　Rincer's　green　tea。　The　fact　is；　that　Lady　Gorgon's　passion　had　co