the bedford-row conspiracy-第4章

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　by　swallowing　three　cups　of　Mrs。　Rincer's　green　tea。　The　fact　is；　that　Lady　Gorgon's　passion　had　completely　got　the　better　of　her　reason。　　Her　Ladyship　was　naturally　cold；　and　artificially　extremely　squeamish；　and　when　this　great　red…faced　enemy　of　hers　looked　tenderly　at　her　through　his　red　little　eyes；　and　squeezed　her　hand　and　attempted　to　renew　old　acquaintance；　she　felt　such　an　intolerable　disgust　at　his　triumph；　at　his　familiarity；　and　at　the　remembrance　of　her　own　former　liking　for　him；　that　she　gave　utterance　to　the　speech　above　correctly　reported。　　The　Tories　were　delighted　with　her　spirit；　and　Cornet　Fitch；　with　much　glee；　told　the　story　to　the　General；　but　that　officer；　who　was　at　whist　with　some　of　his　friends；　flung　down　his　cards；　and　coming　up　to　his　lady；　said　briefly；　〃Madam；　you　are　a　fool！〃　〃I　will　NOT　stay　here　to　be　bearded　by　that　disgusting　man！Mr。　Fitch；　call　my　people。Henrietta；　bring　Miss　Lucy　from　that　linendraper　with　whom　she　is　dancing。　　I　will　not　stay；　General；　once　for　all。〃　Henrietta　ranshe　hated　her　cousin：　　Cornet　Fitch　was　departing。　〃Stop；　Fitch；〃　said　Sir　George；　seizing　him　by　the　arm。　　〃You　are　a　fool；　Lady　Gorgon；〃　said　he；　〃and　I　repeat　ita　…　fool！　　This　fellow　Scully　is　carrying　all　before　him：　　he　has　talked　with　everybody；　laughed　with　everybodyand　you；　with　your　infernal　airsa　brewer's　daughter；　by　…；　must　sit　like　a　queen　and　not　speak　to　a　soul！　　You've　lost　me　one　seat　of　my　borough；　with　your　infernal　pridefifteen　hundred　a　year；　by　Jove！and　you　think　you　will　bully　me　out　of　another。　　No；　madam；　you　SHALL　stay；　and　stay　supper　too；and　the　girls　shall　dance　with　every　cursed　chimney…sweep　and　butcher　in　the　room：　　they　shallconfound　me！〃　Her　Ladyship　saw　that　it　was　necessary　to　submit；　and　Mr。　Springer；　the　master　of　the　ceremonies；　was　called；　and　requested　to　point　out　some　eligible　partners　for　the　young　ladies。　　One　went　off　with　a　Whig　auctioneer；　another　figured　in　a　quadrille　with　a　very　Liberal　apothecary；　and　the　third；　Miss　Henrietta；　remained。　〃Hallo　you；　sir！〃　roared　the　little　General　to　John　Perkins；　who　was　passing　by。　　John　turned　round　and　faced　him。　〃You　were　dancing　with　my　niece　just　nowshow　us　your　skill　now；　and　dance　with　one　of　my　daughters。　　Stand　up；　Miss　Henrietta　GorgonMr。　What's…your…name？〃　〃My　name；〃　said　John；　with　marked　and　majestic　emphasis；　〃is　PERKINS。〃　　And　he　looked　towards　Lucy；　who　dared　not　look　again。　〃Miss　GorgonMr。　Perkins。　　There；　now　go　and　dance。〃　〃Mr。　Perkins　regrets；　madam；〃　said　John；　making　a　bow　to　Miss　Henrietta；　〃that　he　is　not　able　to　dance　this　evening。　　I　am　this　moment　obliged　to　look　to　the　supper；　but　you　will　find；　no　doubt；　some　other　PERSON　who　will　have　much　pleasure。〃　〃Go　to　…；　sir！〃　screamed　the　General；　starting　up；　and　shaking　his　cane。　〃Calm　yourself；　dearest　George；〃　said　Lady　Gorgon；　clinging　fondly　to　him。　　Fitch　twiddled　his　moustaches。　　Miss　Henrietta　Gorgon　stared　with　open　mouth。　　The　silks　of　the　surrounding　dowagers　rustledthe　countenances　of　all　looked　grave。　〃I　will　follow　you；　sir；　wherever　you　please；　and　you　may　hear　of　me　whenever　you　like；〃　said　Mr。　Perkins；　bowing　and　retiring。　　He　heard　little　Lucy　sobbing　in　a　corner。　　He　was　lost　at　oncelost　in　love；　he　felt　as　if　he　could　combat　fifty　generals！　he　never　was　so　happy　in　his　life。　The　supper　came；　but　as　that　meal　cost　five　shillings　a　head；　General　Gorgon　dismissed　the　four　spinsters　of　his　family　homewards　in　the　carriage；　and　so　saved　himself　a　pound。　　This　added　to　Jack　Perkins's　wrath；　he　had　hoped　to　have　seen　Miss　Lucy　once　more。　　He　was　a　steward；　and；　in　the　General's　teeth；　would　have　done　his　duty。　　He　was　thinking　how　he　would　have　helped　her　to　the　most　delicate　chicken…wings　and　blancmanges；　how　he　WOULD　have　made　her　take　champagne。　　Under　the　noses　of　indignant　aunt　and　uncle；　what　glorious　fun　it　would　have　been！　Out　of　place　as　Mr。　Scully's　present　was；　and　though　Lady　Gorgon　and　her　party　sneered　at　the　vulgar　notion　of　venison　and　turtle　for　supper；　all　the　world　at　Oldborough　ate　very　greedily　of　those　two　substantial　dishes；　and　the　Mayor's　wife　became　from　that　day　forth　a　mortal　enemy　of　the　Gorgons：　　for；　sitting　near　her　Ladyship；　who　refused　the　proffered　soup　and　meat；　the　Mayoress　thought　herself　obliged　to　follow　this　disagreeable　example。　　She　sent　away　the　plate　of　turtle　with　a　sigh；　saying；　however；　to　the　baronet's　lady；　〃I　thought；　mem；　that　the　LORD　MAYOR　OF　LONDON　always　had　turtle　to　his　supper？〃　〃And　what　if　he　didn't；　Biddy？〃　said　his　Honour　the　Mayor；　〃a　good　thing's　a　good　thing；　and　here　goes！〃　wherewith　he　plunged　his　spoon　into　the　savoury　mess。　　The　Mayoress；　as　we　have　said；　dared　not；　but　she　hated　Lady　Gorgon；　and　remembered　it　at　the　next　election。　The　pride；　in　fact；　and　insolence　of　the　Gorgon　party　rendered　every　person　in　the　room　hostile　to　them；　so　soon　as；　gorged　with　meat；　they　began　to　find　that　courage　which　Britons　invariably　derive　from　their　victuals。　　The　show　of　the　Gorgon　plate　seemed　to　offend　the　people。　　The　Gorgon　champagne　was　a　long　time；　too；　in　making　its　appearance。　　Arrive；　however；　it　did。　　The　people　were　waiting　for　it；　the　young　ladies；　not　accustomed　to　that　drink；　declined　pledging　their　admirers　until　it　was　produced；　the　men；　too；　despised　the　bucellas　and　sherry；　and　were　looking　continually　towards　the　door。　　At　last；　Mr。　Rincer；　the　landlord；　Mr。　Hock；　Sir　George's　butler；　and　sundry　others　entered　the　room。　　Bang！　went　the　corksfizz　the　foamy　liquor　sparkled　into　all　sorts　of　glasses　that　were　held　out　for　its　reception。　　Mr。　Hock　helped　Sir　George　and　his　party；　who　drank　with　great　gusto；　the　wine　which　was　administered　to　the　persons　immediately　around　Mr。　Scully　was　likewise　pronounced　to　be　good。　　But　Mr。　Perkins；　who　had　taken　his　seat　among　the　humbler　individuals；　and　in　the　very　middle　of　the　table；　observed　that　all　these　persons；　after　drinking；　made　to　each　other　very　wry　and　ominous　faces；　and　whispered　much。　　He　tasted　his　wine：　　it　was　a　villanous　compound　of　sugar；　vitriol；　soda…water；　and　green　gooseberries。　　At　this　moment　a　great　clatter　of　forks　was　made　by　the　president's　and　vice…president's　party。　　Silence　for　a　toast'twas　silence　all。　〃Landlord；〃　said　Mr。　Perkins；　starting　up　（the　rogue；　where　did　his　impudence　come　from？）　〃have　you　any　champagne　of　YOUR　OWN？〃　〃Silence！　down！〃　roared　the　Tories；　the　ladies　looking　aghast。　〃Silence；　sit　down　you！〃　shrieked　the　well…known　voice　of　the　General。　〃I　beg　your　pardon；　General；〃　said　young　John　Perkins；　〃but　where　COULD　you　have　bought　this　champagne？　　My　worthy　friend　I　know　is　going　to　propose　the　ladies；　let　us　at　any　rate　drink　such　a　toast　in　good　wine。〃　　（〃Hear；　hear！〃）　　〃Drink　her　Ladyship's　health　in　THIS　stuff？　　I　declare　to　goodness　I　would　sooner　drink　it　in　beer！〃　No　pen　can　describe　the　uproar　which　arose：　　the　anguish　of　the　Gorgonitesthe　shrieks；　jeers；　cheers；　ironic　cries　of　〃Swipes！〃　etc。；　which　proceeded　from　the　less　genteel　but　more　enthusiastic　Scullyites。　〃This　vulgarity　is　too　much；〃　said　Lady　Gorgon；　rising；　and　Mrs。　Mayoress　and　the　ladies　of　the　party　did　so　too。　The　General；　two　squires；　the　clergyman；　the　Gorgon　apothecary　and　attorney；　with　their　respective　ladies；　followed　her：　　they　were　plainly　beaten　from　the　field。　　Such　of　the　Tories　as　dared　remained；　and　in　inglorious　compromise　shared　the　jovial　Whig　feast。　〃Gentlemen　and　ladies；〃　hiccupped　Mr。　Heeltap；　〃I'll　give　you　a　toast。　　'Champagne　to　our　realhicfriends；'　no；　'Real　champagne　to　our　friends；'　andhicpooh！　'Champagne　to　our　friends；　and　real　pain　to　our　enemies；'huzzay！〃　The　Scully　faction　on　this　day　bore　the　victory　away；　and　if　the　polite　reader　has　been　shocked　by　certain　vulgarities　on　the　part　of　Mr。　Scully　and　his　friends；　he　must　remember　imprimis　that　Oldborough　was　an　inconsiderable　placethat　the　inhabitants　thereof　were　chiefly　tradespeople；　not　of　refined　habitsthat　Mr。　Scully　himself　had　only　for　three　months　mingled　among　the　aristocracy…　…that　his　young　friend　Perkins　was　violently　angryand　finally；　and　to　conclude；　that　the　proud　vulgarity　of　the　great　Sir　George　Gorgon　and　his　family　was　infinitely　more　odious　and　contemptible　than　the　mean　vulgarity　of　the　Scullyites　and　their　leader。　Immediately　after　this　event；　Mr。　Scully　and　his　young　friend　Perkins　returned　to　town；　the　latter　to　his　garrets　in　Bedford　Row　the　former　to　his　apartments　on　the　first　floor　of　the　same　house。　He　lived　here　to　superintend　his　legal　business：　　his　London　agents；　Messrs。　Higgs；　Biggs；　and　Blatherwick；　occupying　the　ground　floor；　the　junior　partner；　Mr。　Gustavus　Blatherwick；　the　second　flat　of　the　house。　　Scully　made　no　secret　of　his　profession　or　residence：　　he　was　an　attorney；　and　proud　of　it；　he　was　the　grandson　of　a　labourer；　and　thanked　God　for　it；　he　had　made　his　fortune　by　his　own　honest　labour；　and　why　should　he　be　ashamed　of　it？　And　now；　having　explained　at　full　length　who　the　several　heroes　and　heroines　of　this　history　were；　and　how　they　conducted　themselves　in　the　country；　let　us　describe　their　behaviour　in　London；　and　the　great　events　which　occurred　there。　You　must　know　that　Mr。　Perkins　bore　away　the　tenderest　recollections　of　the　young　lady　with　whom　he　had　danced　at　the　Oldborough　ball；　and；　h