the bedford-row conspiracy-第6章

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d　if　he　had　waited　one　minute　longer；　and　seen　this　Mr。　Perkins；　who　had　so　gallantly　escaladed　the　hackney…coach；　step　out　of　it　with　the　most　mortified；　miserable；　chap…fallen　countenance　possible。　The　fact　is；　he　had　found　poor　Lucy　sobbing　fit　to　break　her　heart；　and　instead　of　consoling　her；　as　he　expected；　he　only　seemed　to　irritate　her　further：　　for　she　said；　〃Mr。　PerkinsI　begI　insist；　that　you　leave　the　carriage。〃　　And　when　Perkins　made　some　movement　（which；　not　being　in　the　vehicle　at　the　time；　we　have　never　been　able　to　comprehend）；　she　suddenly　sprang　from　the　back…seat　and　began　pulling　at　a　large　piece　of　cord　which　communicated　with　the　wrist　of　the　gentleman　driving；　and；　screaming　to　him　at　the　top　of　her　voice；　bade　him　immediately　stop。　This　Mr。　Coachman　did；　with　a　curious；　puzzled；　grinning　air。　Perkins　descended；　and　on　being　asked；　〃Vere　ham　I　to　drive　the　young　'oman；　sir？〃　I　am　sorry　to　say　muttered　something　like　an　oath；　and　uttered　the　above…mentioned　words；　〃Caroline　Place；　Mecklenburgh　Square；〃　in　a　tone　which　I　should　be　inclined　to　describe　as　both　dogged　and　sheepishvery　different　from　that　cheery　voice　which　he　had　used　when　he　first　gave　the　order。　Poor　Lucy；　in　the　course　of　those　fatal　three　hours　which　had　passed　while　Mr。　Perkins　was　pacing　up　and　down　Baker　Street；　had　received　a　lecture　which　lasted　exactly　one　hundred　and　eighty　minutesfrom　her　aunt　first；　then　from　her　uncle；　whom　we　have　seen　marching　homewards；　and　often　from　both　together。　Sir　George　Gorgon　and　his　lady　poured　out　such　a　flood　of　advice　and　abuse　against　the　poor　girl；　that　she　came　away　from　the　interview　quite　timid　and　cowering；　and　when　she　saw　John　Perkins　（the　sly　rogue！　how　well　he　thought　he　had　managed　the　trick！）　she　shrank　from　him　as　if　he　had　been　a　demon　of　wickedness；　ordered　him　out　of　the　carriage；　and　went　home　by　herself；　convinced　that　she　had　committed　some　tremendous　sin。　While；　then；　her　coach　jingled　away　to　Caroline　Place；　Perkins；　once　more　alone；　bent　his　steps　in　the　same　direction。　　A　desperate；　heart…stricken　man；　he　passed　by　the　beloved's　door；　saw　lights　in　the　front　drawing…room；　felt　probably　that　she　was　there；　but　he　could　not　go　in。　　Moodily　he　paced　down　Doughty　Street；　and　turning　abruptly　into　Bedford　Row；　rushed　into　his　own　chambers；　where　Mrs。　Snooks；　the　laundress；　had　prepared　his　humble　Sabbath　meal。　A　cheerful　fire　blazed　in　his　garret；　and　Mrs。　Snooks　had　prepared　for　him　the　favourite　blade…bone　he　loved　（blest　four…days'　dinner　for　a　bachelorroast；　cold；　hashed；　grilled　bladebone；　the　fourth　being　better　than　the　first）；　but　although　he　usually　did　rejoice　in　this　mealordinarily；　indeed；　grumbling　that　there　was　not　enough　to　satisfy　himhe；　on　this　occasion；　after　two　mouthfuls；　flung　down　his　knife　and　fork；　and　buried　his　two　claws　in　his　hair。　〃Snooks；〃　said　he　at　last；　very　moodily；　〃remove　this　d　mutton；　give　me　my　writing　things；　and　some　hot　brandy…and…water。〃　This　was　done　without　much　alarm：　　for　you　must　know　that　Perkins　used　to　dabble　in　poetry；　and　ordinarily　prepare　himself　for　composition　by　this　kind　of　stimulus。　He　wrote　hastily　a　few　lines。　〃Snooks；　put　on　your　bonnet；〃　said　he；　〃and　carry　thisYOU　KNOW　WHERE！〃　he　added；　in　a　hollow；　heart…breaking　tone　of　voice；　that　affected　poor　Snooks　almost　to　tears。　　She　went；　however；　with　the　note；　which　was　to　this　purpose：　〃Lucy！　Lucy！　my　soul's　lovewhat；　what　has　happened？　　I　am　writing　this〃（a　gulp　of　brandy…and…water）〃in　a　state　bordering　on　distractionmadnessinsanity〃（another）。　　〃Why　did　you　send　me　out　of　the　coach　in　that　cruel　cruel　way？　　Write　to　me　a　word；　a　line　tell　me；　tell　me；　I　may　come　to　youand　leave　me　not　in　this　agonising　condition；　your　faithful〃（glogglogglogthe　whole　glass）　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　〃J。P。〃　He　never　signed　John　Perkins　in　fullhe　couldn't；　it　was　so　unromantic。　Well；　this　missive　was　despatched　by　Mrs。　Snooks；　and　Perkins；　in　a　fearful　state　of　excitement；　haggard；　wild；　and　with　more　brandy…and…water；　awaited　the　return　of　his　messenger。　When　at　length；　after　about　an　absence　of　forty　years；　as　it　seemed　to　him；　the　old　lady　returned　with　a　large　packet；　Perkins　seized　it　with　a　trembling　hand；　and　was　yet　more　frightened　to　see　the　handwriting　of　Mrs。　or　Miss　Biggs。　〃MY　DEAR　MR。　PERKINS；〃　she　began〃Although　I　am　not　your　soul's　adored；　I　performed　her　part　for　once；　since　I　have　read　your　letter；　as　I　told　her。　　You　need　not　be　very　much　alarmed；　although　Lucy　is　at　this　moment　in　bed　and　unwell：　　for　the　poor　girl　has　had　a　sad　scene　at　her　grand　uncle's　house　in　Baker　Street；　and　came　home　very　much　affected。　　Rest；　however；　will　restore　her；　for　she　is　not　one　of　your　nervous　sort；　and　I　hope　when　you　come　in　the　morning；　you　will　see　her　as　blooming　as　she　was　when　you　went　out　to…day　on　that　unlucky　walk。　〃See　what　Sir　George　Gorgon　says　of　us　all！　　You　won't　challenge　him；　I　know；　as　he　is　to　be　your　uncle；　and　so　I　may　show　you　his　letter。　〃Good…night；　my　dear　John。　　Do　not　go　QUITE　distracted　before　morning；　and　believe　me　your　loving　aunt；　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　〃JEMIMA　BIGGS。〃

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　〃41　BAKER　STREET：　　11th　December。　〃MAJOR…GENERAL　SIR　GEORGE　GORGON　has　heard　with　the　utmost　disgust　and　surprise　of　the　engagement　which　Miss　Lucy　Gorgon　has　thought　fit　to　form。　〃The　Major…General　cannot　conceal　his　indignation　at　the　share　which　Miss　Biggs　has　taken　in　this　disgraceful　transaction。　〃Sir　George　Gorgon　puts　an　absolute　veto　upon　all　further　communication　between　his　niece　and　the　low…born　adventurer　who　has　been　admitted　into　her　society；　and　begs　to　say　that　Lieutenant　Fitch；　of　the　Lifeguards；　is　the　gentleman　who　he　intends　shall　marry　Miss　Gorgon。　〃It　is　the　Major…General's　wish；　that　on　the　28th　Miss　Gorgon　should　be　ready　to　come　to　his　house；　in　Baker　Street；　where　she　will　be　more　safe　from　impertinent　intrusions　than　she　has　been　in　Mucklebury　Square。　　　　　　　　〃MRS。　BIGGS；　　　　　　　　　　　〃Caroline　Place；　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　〃Mecklenburgh　Square。〃　When　poor　John　Perkins　read　this　epistle；　blank　rage　and　wonder　filled　his　soul；　at　the　audacity　of　the　little　General；　who　thus；　without　the　smallest　title　in　the　world；　pretended　to　dispose　of　the　hand　and　fortune　of　his　niece。　　The　fact　is；　that　Sir　George　had　such　a　transcendent　notion　of　his　own　dignity　and　station；　that　it　never　for　a　moment　entered　his　head　that　his　niece；　or　anybody　else　connected　with　him；　should　take　a　single　step　in　life　without　previously　receiving　his　orders；　and　Mr。　Fitch；　a　baronet's　son；　having　expressed　an　admiration　of　Lucy；　Sir　George　had　determined　that　his　suit　should　be　accepted；　and　really　considered　Lucy's　preference　of　another　as　downright　treason。　John　Perkins　determined　on　the　death　of　Fitch　as　the　very　least　reparation　that　should　satisfy　him；　and　vowed　too　that　some　of　the　General's　blood　should　be　shed　for　the　words　which　he　had　dared　to　utter。　We　have　said　that　William　Pitt　Scully；　Esquire；　M。P。；　occupied　the　first　floor　of　Mr。　Perkins's　house　in　Bedford　Row：　　and　the　reader　is　further　to　be　informed　that　an　immense　friendship　had　sprung　up　between　these　two　gentlemen。　　The　fact　is；　that　poor　John　was　very　much　flattered　by　Scully's　notice；　and　began　in　a　very　short　time　to　fancy　himself　a　political　personage；　for　he　had　made　several　of　Scully's　speeches；　written　more　than　one　letter　from　him　to　his　constituents；　and；　in　a　word；　acted　as　his　gratis　clerk。　　At　least　a　guinea　a　week　did　Mr。　Perkins　save　to　the　pockets　of　Mr。　Scully；　and　with　hearty　good　will　too；　for　he　adored　the　great　William　Pitt；　and　believed　every　word　that　dropped　from　the　pompous　lips　of　that　gentleman。　Well；　after　having　discussed　Sir　George　Gorgon's　letter；　poor　Perkins；　in　the　utmost　fury　of　mind　that　his　darling　should　be　slandered　so；　feeling　a　desire　for　fresh　air；　determined　to　descend　to　the　garden　and　smoke　a　cigar　in　that　rural　quiet　spot。　　The　night　was　very　calm。　　The　moonbeams　slept　softly　upon　the　herbage　of　Gray's　Inn　gardens；　and　bathed　with　silver　splendour　Theobald's　Row。　A　million　of　little　frisky　twinkling　stars　attended　their　queen；　who　looked　with　bland　round　face　upon　their　gambols；　as　they　peeped　in　and　out　from　the　azure　heavens。　　Along　Gray's　Inn　wall　a　lazy　row　of　cabs　stood　listlessly；　for　who　would　call　a　cab　on　such　a　night？　Meanwhile　their　drivers；　at　the　alehouse　near；　smoked　the　short　pipe　or　quaffed　the　foaming　beer。　　Perhaps　from　Gray's　Inn　Lane　some　broken　sounds　of　Irish　revelry　might　rise。　　Issuing　perhaps　from　Raymond　Buildings　gate；　six　lawyers'　clerks　might　whoop　a　tipsy　songor　the　loud　watchman　yell　the　passing　hour；　but　beyond　this　all　was　silence；　and　young　Perkins；　as　he　sat　in　the　summerhouse　at　the　bottom　of　the　garden；　and　contemplated　the　peaceful　heaven；　felt　some　influences　of　it　entering　into　his　soul；　and　almost　forgetting　revenge；　thought　but　of　peace　and　love。　Presently；　he　was　aware　there　was　someone　else　pacing　the　garden。　Who　could　it　be？Not　Blatherwick；　for　he　passed　the　Sabbath　with　his　grandmamma　at　Clapham；　not　Scully　surely；　for　he　always　went　to　Bethesda　Chapel；　and　to　a　select　prayer…meeting　afterwards。　　Alas！　it　WAS　Scully；　for　though　that　gentleman　SAID　that　he　went　to　chapel；　we　have　it　for　a