the bedford-row conspiracy- 第9部分

s　say　you　will。　You　used　to　look　so　in　old　days；　and　forgive　me　my　caprices　THEN。　Do　give　me　a　little　winewe　will　drink　to　the　memory　of　old　days。〃　Her　eyes　filled　with　tears；　and　poor　Scully's　hand　caused　such　a　rattling　and　trembling　of　the　glass　and　the　decanter　that　the　Duke　of　Doldrumwho　had　been；　during　the　course　of　this　whispered　sentimentality；　describing　a　famous　run　with　the　Queen's　hounds　at　the　top　of　his　voicestopped　at　the　jingling　of　the　glass；　and　his　tale　was　lost　for　ever。　　Scully　hastily　drank　his　wine；　and　Lady　Gorgon　turned　round　to　her　next　neighbour；　a　little　gentleman　in　black；　between　whom　and　herself　certain　conscious　looks　passed。　〃I　am　glad　poor　Sir　George　is　not　here；〃　said　he；　smiling。　Lady　Gorgon　said；　〃Pooh；　for　shame！〃　　The　little　gentleman　was　no　other　than　Josiah　Crampton；　Esquire；　that　eminent　financier；　and　he　was　now　going　through　the　curious　calculation　before　mentioned；　by　which　you　BUY　A　MAN　FOR　NOTHING。　　He　intended　to　pay　the　very　same　price　for　Sir　George　Gorgon；　too；　but　there　was　no　need　to　tell　the　baronet　so；　only　of　this　the　reader　must　be　made　aware。　While　Mr。　Crampton　was　conducting　this　intrigue；　which　was　to　bring　a　new　recruit　to　the　Ministerial　ranks；　his　mighty　spirit　condescended　to　ponder　upon　subjects　of　infinitely　less　importance；　and　to　arrange　plans　for　the　welfare　of　his　nephew　and　the　young　woman　to　whom　he　had　made　a　present　of　his　heart。　　These　young　persons；　as　we　said　before；　had　arranged　to　live　in　Mr。　Perkins's　own　house　in　Bedford　Row。　　It　was　of　a　peculiar　construction；　and　might　more　properly　be　called　a　house　and　a　half：　　for　a　snug　little　tenement　of　four　chambers　protruded　from　the　back　of　the　house　into　the　garden。　　These　rooms　communicated　with　the　drawing…rooms　occupied　by　Mr。　Scully；　and　Perkins；　who　acted　as　his　friend　and　secretary；　used　frequently　to　sit　in　the　one　nearest　the　Member's　study；　in　order　that　he　might　be　close　at　hand　to　confer　with　that　great　man。　　The　rooms　had　a　private　entrance　too；　were　newly　decorated；　and　in　them　the　young　couple　proposed　to　live；　the　kitchen　and　garrets　being　theirs　likewise。　　What　more　could　they　need？　　We　are　obliged　to　be　particular　in　describing　these　apartments；　for　extraordinary　events　occurred　therein。　To　say　the　truth；　until　the　present　period　Mr。　Crampton　had　taken　no　great　interest　in　his　nephew's　marriage；　or；　indeed；　in　the　young　man　himself。　　The　old　gentleman　was　of　a　saturnine　turn；　and　inclined　to　undervalue　the　qualities　of　Mr。　Perkins；　which　were　idleness；　simplicity；　enthusiasm；　and　easy　good…nature。　〃Such　fellows　never　do　anything　in　the　world；〃　he　would　say；　and　for　such　he　had　accordingly　the　most　profound　contempt。　　But　when；　after　John　Perkins's　repeated　entreaties；　he　had　been　induced　to　make　the　acquaintance　of　Miss　Gorgon；　he　became　instantly　charmed　with　her；　and　warmly　espoused　her　cause　against　her　overbearing　relations。　At　his　suggestion　she　wrote　back　to　decline　Sir　George　Gorgon's　peremptory　invitation；　and　hinted　at　the　same　time　that　she　had　attained　an　age　and　a　position　which　enabled　her　to　be　the　mistress　of　her　own　actions。　　To　this　letter　there　came　an　answer　from　Lady　Gorgon　which　we　shall　not　copy；　but　which　simply　stated　that　Miss　Lucy　Gorgon's　conduct　was　unchristian；　ungrateful；　unladylike；　and　immodest；　that　the　Gorgon　family　disowned　her　for　the　future；　and　left　her　at　liberty　to　form　whatever　base　connections　she　pleased。　〃A　pretty　world　this；〃　said　Mr。　Crampton；　in　a　great　rage；　when　the　letter　was　shown　to　him。　　〃This　same　fellow；　Scully；　dissuades　my　nephew　from　taking　a　place；　because　Scully　wants　it　for　himself。　This　prude　of　a　Lady　Gorgon　cries　out　shame；　and　disowns　an　innocent　amiable　girl：　　she　a　heartless　jilt　herself　once；　and　a　heartless　flirt　now。　　The　Pharisees；　the　Pharisees！　　And　to　call　mine　a　base　family；　too！〃　Now；　Lady　Gorgon　did　not　in　the　least　know　Mr。　Crampton's　connection　with　Mr。　Perkins；　or　she　would　have　been　much　more　guarded　in　her　language；　but　whether　she　knew　it　or　not；　the　old　gentleman　felt　a　huge　indignation；　and　determined　to　have　his　revenge。　〃That's　right；　Uncle！　　SHALL　I　call　Gorgon　out？〃　said　the　impetuous　young　Perkins；　who　was　all　for　blood。　〃John；　you　are　a　fool；〃　said　his　uncle。　　〃You　shall　have　a　better　revenge：　　you　shall　be　married　from　Sir　George　Gorgon's　house；　and　you　shall　see　Mr。　William　Pitt　Scully　sold　for　nothing。〃　　This　to　the　veteran　diplomatist　seemed　to　be　the　highest　triumph　which　man　could　possibly　enjoy。　It　was　very　soon　to　take　place：　　and；　as　has　been　the　case　ever　since　the　world　began；　woman；　lovely　woman　was　to　be　the　cause　of　Scully's　fall。　　The　tender　scene　at　Lord　Mantrap's　was　followed　by　many　others　equally　sentimental。　　Sir　George　Gorgon　called　upon　his　colleague　the　very　next　day；　and　brought　with　him　a　card　from　Lady　Gorgon　inviting　Mr。　Scully　to　dinner。　　The　attorney　eagerly　accepted　the　invitation；　was　received　in　Baker　Street　by　the　whole　amiable　family　with　much　respectful　cordiality；　and　was　pressed　to　repeat　his　visits　as　country　neighbours　should。　　More　than　once　did　he　call；　and　somehow　always　at　the　hour　when　Sir　George　was　away　at　his　club；　or　riding　in　the　Park；　or　elsewhere　engaged。　　Sir　George　Gorgon　was　very　old；　very　feeble；　very　much　shattered　in　constitution。　　Lady　Gorgon　used　to　impart　her　fears　to　Mr。　Scully　every　time　he　called　there；　and　the　sympathising　attorney　used　to　console　her　as　best　he　might。　　Sir　George's　country　agent　neglected　the　propertyhis　lady　consulted　Mr。　Scully　concerning　it。　　He　knew　to　a　fraction　how　large　her　jointure　was；　how　she　was　to　have　Gorgon　Castle　for　her　life；　and　how；　in　the　event　of　the　young　baronet's　death　（he；　too；　was　a　sickly　poor　boy）；　the　chief　part　of　the　estates；　bought　by　her　money；　would　be　at　her　absolute　disposal。　〃What　a　pity　these　odious　politics　prevent　me　from　having　you　for　our　agent；〃　would　Lady　Gorgon　say；　and　indeed　Scully　thought　it　was　a　pity　too。　　Ambitious　Scully！　what　wild　notions　filled　his　brain。　He　used　to　take　leave　of　Lady　Gorgon　and　ruminate　upon　these　things；　and　when　he　was　gone；　Sir　George　and　her　Ladyship　used　to　laugh。　〃If　we　can　but　commit　himif　we　can　but　make　him　vote　for　Pincher；〃　said　the　General；　〃my　peerage　is　secure。　　Hawksby　and　Crampton　as　good　as　told　me　so。〃　The　point　had　been　urged　upon　Mr。　Scully　repeatedly　and　adroitly。　〃Is　not　Pincher　a　more　experienced　man　than　Macabaw？〃　would　Sir　George　say　to　his　guest　over　their　wine。　　Scully　allowed　it。　　〃Can't　you　vote　for　him　on　personal　grounds；　and　say　so　in　the　House？〃　Scully　wished　he　couldhow　he　wished　he　could！　　Every　time　the　General　coughed；　Scully　saw　his　friend's　desperate　situation　more　and　more；　and　thought　how　pleasant　it　would　be　to　be　lord　of　Gorgon　Castle。　　〃Knowing　my　property；〃　cried　Sir　George；　〃as　you　do；　and　with　your　talents　and　integrity；　what　a　comfort　it　would　be　could　I　leave　you　as　guardian　to　my　boy！　　But　these　cursed　politics　prevent　it；　my　dear　fellow。　　Why　WILL　you　be　a　Radical？〃　　And　Scully　cursed　politics　too。　　〃Hang　the　low…bred　rogue；〃　added　Sir　George；　when　William　Pitt　Scully　left　the　house：　　〃he　will　do　everything　but　promise。〃　〃My　dear　General；〃　said　Lady　Gorgon；　sidling　up　to　him　and　patting　him　on　his　old　yellow　cheek〃My　dear　Georgy；　tell　me　one　thing；are　you　jealous？〃　〃Jealous；　my　dear！　and　jealous　of　THAT　fellowpshaw！〃　〃Well；　then；　give　me　leave；　and　you　shall　have　the　promise　to…morrow。〃　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　*　　　　　　　　　　*　　　　　　　　　　*　To…morrow　arrived。　　It　was　a　remarkably　fine　day；　and　in　the　forenoon　Mr。　Perkins　gave　his　accustomed　knock　at　Scully's　study；　which　was　only　separated　from　his　own　sitting…room　by　a　double　door。　John　had　wisely　followed　his　uncle's　advice；　and　was　on　the　best　terms　with　the　honourable　Member。　〃Here　are　a　few　sentences；〃　said　he；　〃which　I　think　may　suit　your　purpose。　　Great　public　servicesundeniable　merityears　of　integritycause　of　reform；　and　Macabaw　for　ever！〃　　He　put　down　the　paper。　　It　was；　in　fact；　a　speech　in　favour　of　Mr。　Macabaw。　〃Hush；〃　said　Scully；　rather　surlily；　for　he　was　thinking　how　disagreeable　it　was　to　support　Macabaw；　and　besides；　there　were　clerks　in　the　room；　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。