the bedford-row conspiracy-第12章

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whom　the　thoughtless　Perkins　had　not　at　first　perceived。　　As　soon　as　that　gentleman　saw　them；　〃You　are　busy；　I　see；〃　continued　he　in　a　lower　tone。　　〃I　came　to　say　that　I　must　be　off　duty　to…day；　for　I　am　engaged　to　take　a　walk　with　some　ladies　of　my　acquaintance。〃　So　saying；　the　light…hearted　young　man　placed　his　hat　unceremoniously　on　his　head；　and　went　off　through　his　own　door；　humming　a　song。　　He　was　in　such　high　spirits　that　he　did　not　even　think　of　closing　the　doors　of　communication；　and　Scully　looked　after　him　with　a　sneer。　〃Ladies；　forsooth；〃　thought　he；　〃I　know　who　they　are。　　This　precious　girl　that　he　is　fooling　with；　for　one；　I　suppose。〃　　He　was　right：　Perkins　was　off　on　the　wings　of　love；　to　see　Miss　Lucy；　and　she　and　Aunt　Biggs　and　Uncle　Crampton　had　promised　this　very　day　to　come　and　look　at　the　apartments　which　Mrs。　John　Perkins　was　to　occupy　with　her　happy　husband。　〃Poor　devil；〃　so　continued　Mr。　Scully's　meditations；　〃it　is　almost　too　bad　to　do　him　out　of　his　place；　but　my　Bob　wants　it；　and　John's　girl　has；　I　hear；　seven　thousand　pounds。　　His　uncle　will　get　him　another　place　before　all　that　money　is　spent。〃　　And　herewith　Mr。　Scully　began　conning　the　speech　which　Perkins　had　made　for　him。　He　had　not　read　it　more　than　six　times；in　truth；　he　was　getting　it　by　heart；when　his　head　clerk　came　to　him　from　the　front　room；　bearing　a　card：　　a　footman　had　brought　it；　who　said　his　lady　was　waiting　below。　　Lady　Gorgon's　name　was　on　the　card！　　To　seize　his　hat　and　rush　downstairs　was；　with　Mr。　Scully；　the　work　of　an　infinitesimal　portion　of　time。　It　was　indeed　Lady　Gorgon　in　her　Gorgonian　chariot。　〃Mr。　Scully；〃　said　she；　popping　her　head　out　of　window　and　smiling　in　a　most　engaging　way；　〃I　want　to　speak　to　you；　on　something　very　particular　INDEED〃and　she　held　him　out　her　hand。　　Scully　pressed　it　most　tenderly：　　he　hoped　all　heads　in　Bedford　Row　were　at　the　windows　to　see　him。　　〃I　can't　ask　you　into　the　carriage；　for　you　see　the　governess　is　with　me；　and　I　want　to　talk　secrets　to　you。〃　〃Shall　I　go　and　make　a　little　promenade？〃　said　mademoiselle；　innocently。　　And　her　mistress　hated　her　for　that　speech。　〃No。　　Mr。　Scully；　I　am　sure；　will　let　me　come　in　for　five　minutes？〃　Mr。　Scully　was　only　too　happy。　　My　Lady　descended　and　walked　upstairs；　leaning　on　the　happy　solicitor's　arm。　　But　how　should　he　manage？　　The　front　room　was　consecrated　to　clerks；　there　were　clerks　too；　as　ill…luck　would　have　it；　in　his　private　room。　　〃Perkins　is　out　for　the　day；〃　thought　Scully；　〃I　will　take　her　into　his　room。〃　And　into　Perkins's　room　he　took　heray；　and　he　shut　the　double　doors　after　him　too；　and　trembled　as　he　thought　of　his　own　happiness。　〃What　a　charming　little　study；〃　said　Lady　Gorgon；　seating　herself。　And　indeed　it　was　very　pretty：　　for　Perkins　had　furnished　it　beautifully；　and　laid　out　a　neat　tray　with　cakes；　a　cold　fowl；　and　sherry；　to　entertain　his　party　withal。　　〃And　do　you　bachelors　always　live　so　well？〃　continued　she；　pointing　to　the　little　cold　collation。　Mr。　Scully　looked　rather　blank　when　he　saw　it；　and　a　dreadful　suspicion　crossed　his　soul；　but　there　was　no　need　to　trouble　Lady　Gorgon　with　explanations：　　therefore；　at　once；　and　with　much　presence　of　mind；　he　asked　her　to　partake　of　his　bachelor's　fare　（she　would　refuse　Mr。　Scully　nothing　that　day）。　　A　pretty　sight　would　it　have　been　for　young　Perkins　to　see　strangers　so　unceremoniously　devouring　his　feast。　　She　drankMr。　Scully　drankand　so　emboldened　was　he　by　the　draught　that　he　actually　seated　himself　by　the　side　of　Lady　Gorgon；　on　John　Perkins's　new　sofa。　Her　Ladyship　had　of　course　something　to　say　to　him。　　She　was　a　pious　woman；　and　had　suddenly　conceived　a　violent　wish　for　building　a　chapel　of　ease　at　Oldborough；　to　which　she　entreated　him　to　subscribe。　　She　enlarged　upon　the　benefits　that　the　town　would　derive　from　it；　spoke　of　Sunday…schools；　sweet　spiritual　instruction；　and　the　duty　of　all　well…minded　persons　to　give　aid　to　the　scheme。　〃I　will　subscribe　a　hundred　pounds；〃　said　Scully；　at　the　end　of　her　Ladyship's　harangue：　　〃would　I　not　do　anything　for　you？〃　〃Thank　you；　thank　you；　dear　Mr。　Scully；〃　said　the　enthusiastic　woman。　　（How　the　〃dear〃　went　burning　through　his　soul！）　　　〃Ah！〃　added　she；　〃if　you　WOULD　but　do　anything　for　meif　you；　who　are　so　eminently；　so　truly　distinguished；　in　a　religious　point　of　view；　would　but　see　the　truth　in　politics　too；　and　if　I　could　see　your　name　among　those　of　the　true　patriot　party　in　this　empire；　how　blestoh！　how　blest　should　I　be！　　Poor　Sir　George　often　says　he　should　go　to　his　grave　happy；　could　he　but　see　you　the　guardian　of　his　boy；　and　I；　your　old　friend　（for　we　WERE　friends；　William）；　how　have　I　wept　to　think　of　you　as　one　of　those　who　are　bringing　our　monarchy　to　ruin。　　Do；　do　promise　me　this　too！〃　　And　she　took　his　hand　and　pressed　it　between　hers。　The　heart　of　William　Pitt　Scully；　during　this　speech；　was　thumping　up　and　down　with　a　frightful　velocity　and　strength。　　His　old　love；　the　agency　of　the　Gorgon　propertythe　dear　widowfive　thousand　a　year　cleara　thousand　delicious　hopes　rushed　madly　through　his　brain；　and　almost　took　away　his　reason。　　And　there　she　satshe；　the　loved　one；　pressing　his　hand　and　looking　softly　into　his　eyes。　Down；　down　he　plumped　on　his　knees。　〃Juliana！〃　shrieked　he；　〃don't　take　away　your　hand！　　My　lovemy　only　love！speak　but　those　blessed　words　again！　　Call　me　William　once　more；　and　do　with　me　what　you　will。〃　Juliana　cast　down　her　eyes　and　said；　in　the　very　smallest　type；　〃William！〃　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　*　　　　　　　　　　*　　　　　　　　　　*　when　the　door　opened；　and　in　walked　Mr。　Crampton；　leading　Mrs。　Biggs；　who　could　hardly　contain　herself　for　laughing；　and　Mr。　John　Perkins；　who　was　squeezing　the　arm　of　Miss　Lucy。　　They　had　heard　every　word　of　the　two　last　speeches。　For　at　the　very　moment　when　Lady　Gorgon　had　stopped　at　Mr。　Scully's　door；　the　four　above…named　individuals　had　issued　from　Great　James　Street　into　Bedford　Row。　Lucy　cried　out　that　it　was　her　aunt's　carriage；　and　they　all　saw　Mr。　Scully　come　out；　bare…headed；　in　the　sunshine；　and　my　Lady　descend；　and　the　pair　go　into　the　house。　　They　meanwhile　entered　by　Mr。　Perkins's　own　private　door；　and　had　been　occupied　in　examining　the　delightful　rooms　on　the　ground…floor；　which　were　to　be　his　dining…room　and　libraryfrom　which　they　ascended　a　stair　to　visit　the　other　two　rooms；　which　were　to　form　Mrs。　John　Perkins's　drawing…　room　and　bedroom。　　Now　whether　it　was　that　they　trod　softly；　or　that　the　stairs　were　covered　with　a　grand　new　carpet　and　drugget；　as　was　the　case；　or　that　the　party　within　were　too　much　occupied　in　themselves　to　heed　any　outward　disturbances；　I　know　not；　but　Lucy；　who　was　advancing　with　John　（he　was　saying　something　about　one　of　the　apartments；　the　rogue！）Lucy　started　and　whispered；　〃There　is　somebody　in　the　rooms！〃　and　at　that　instant　began　the　speech　already　reported；　〃THANK　YOU；　THANK　YOU；　DEAR　MR。　SCULLY；〃　etc。　etc。；　which　was　delivered　by　Lady　Gorgon　in　a　full　clear　voice；　for；　to　do　her　Ladyship　justice；　SHE　had　not　one　single　grain　of　love　for　Mr。　Scully；　and　during　the　delivery　of　her　little　oration；　was　as　cool　as　the　coolest　cucumber。　Then　began　the　impassioned　rejoinder；　to　which　the　four　listened　on　the　landing…place；　and　then　the　little　〃William；〃　as　narrated　above：　at　which　juncture　Mr。　Crampton　thought　proper　to　rattle　at　the　door；　and；　after　a　brief　pause；　to　enter　with　his　party。　〃William〃　had　had　time　to　bounce　off　his　knees；　and　was　on　a　chair　at　the　other　end　of　the　room。　〃What；　Lady　Gorgon！〃　said　Mr。　Crampton；　with　excellent　surprise；　〃how　delighted　I　am　to　see　you！　　Always；　I　see　employed　in　works　of　charity〃　（the　chapel…of…ease　paper　was　on　her　knees）；　〃and　on　such　an　occasion；　too；it　is　really　the　most　wonderful　coincidence！　　My　dear　madam；　here　is　a　silly　fellow；　a　nephew　of　mine；　who　is　going　to　marry　a　silly　girl；　a　niece　of　your　own。〃　〃Sir；　I〃　began　Lady　Gorgon；　rising。　〃They　heard　every　word；〃　whispered　Mr。　Crampton　eagerly。　　〃Come　forward；　Mr。　Perkins；　and　show　yourself。〃　　Mr。　Perkins　made　a　genteel　bow。　　〃Miss　Lucy；　please　to　shake　hands　with　your　aunt；　and　this；　my　dear　madam；　is　Mrs。　Biggs；　of　Mecklenburgh　Square；　who；　if　she　were　not　too　old；　might　marry　a　gentleman　in　the　Treasury；　who　is　your　very　humble　servant。〃　　And　with