the lumley autograph- 第6部分

〃And　yet　it　seems　incredible　that　any　lady　should　be　guilty　of　such
conduct！〃　I　exclaimed；　almost　repenting　having　allowed　the　previous
remarks　to　pass　my　lips。　〃Miss　Rowley　is　undoubtedly　a　woman　of
principleor　good　moral　standing。〃

〃Moral　standing！principle！〃　exclaimed　Lady　Holberton；　bitterly。　〃Yes；
where　an　autograph　is　concerned；　Theodosia　Rowley　has　all　the
principle　of　a　Magpie　〃

｛Magpie　=　European　bird　known　for　stealing　and　hiding　small　bright
objects。｝

Whatever　might　have　been　the　fact；　it　was　clear　at　least　that　Lady
Holberton's　opinion　was　now　unalterably　made　up。

〃Remember；　she　is　a　Butlerite！〃　added　the　lady；　thus　putting　the　last
touch　to　the　circumstantial　evidence　against　Miss　Rowley。

Weeks　passed　by。　The　advertisements　remained　unanswered。　The
police　could　give　no　information。　Lady　Holberton　was　in　despair；　the
physicians　declared　that　her　health　must　eventually　give　way　under
the　anxiety　and　disappointment　consequent　upon　this　melancholy
affair。　Much　sympathy　was　felt　for　the　afflicted　lady；　even　Miss
Rowley　called　often　to　condole；　but　she　was　never　admitted。

〃I　could　not　see　the　crocodile！〃　exclaimed　Lady　Holberton；　quite
thrown　off　her　guard　one　day；　by　the　sight　of　Miss　Rowley's　card
which　she　threw　into　the　fire。

Some　consolation；　however；　appeared　to　be　derived　from　the
assiduous　attentions　of　Mr。　T…；　who　personally　admired　Lady
Holberton；　at　least　he　professed　to　do　so；　though　some　persons
accused　him　of　interested　views；　and　aiming　at　her　album　rather
than　herself。　But　although　his　attentions　were　received；　yet　nothing
could　afford　full　consolation。　At　length；　all　other　means　failing；　at
the　end　of　a　month；　it　was　proposed　that　two　persons；　mutual
friends　of　Lady　Holberton　and　Miss　Rowley；　should　call　on　the　latter
lady；　and　appeal　privately　to　her　sense　of　honor；　to　restore　the
autograph　if　it　were　actually　in　her　possession。　This　plan　was　finally
agreed　on；　but　the　very　day　it　was　to　have　been　carried　into
execution；　Miss　Rowley　left　town　for　an　excursion　in　Finland。

As　for　myself；　I　was　also　on　the　wing；　and　left　London　about　the
same　time。　The　parting　with　Lady　Holberton　was　melancholy；　she
was　much　depressed；　and　the　physicians　had　recommended　the
waters　of　Wiesbaden。　Mr。　T…　was　also　preparing　for　an　excursion
to　Germany；　and　he　was　suspected　of　vascillating　｛sic｝　in　his
Butlerite　views；　brought　over　by　Lady　Holberton's　tears　and　logic。

Returning　to　London；　some　three　months　later；　I　found　many　of　my
former　acquaintainces　｛sic｝　were　absent；　but　Lady　Holberton；　Miss
Rowley；　and　Mr。　T…　were　all　in　town　again。　The　day　after　I　arrived…
…it　was　Tuesday　the　20th　of　Augustas　I　was　walking　along
Piccadilly；　about　five　o'clock　in　the　afternoon；　my　eye　fell　on　the
windows　of　Mr。　Thorpe's　great　establishment。　I　was　thinking　over　his
last　catalogue　of　autographs；　when　I　happened　to　observe　a　plain；
modest…looking　young　girl　casting　a　timid　glance　at　the　door。　There
was　something　anxious　and　hesitating　in　her　manner；　which
attracted　my　attention。　Accustomed；　like　most　Americans；　to　assist　a
woman　in　any　little　difficulty；　and　with　notions　better　suited　perhaps
to　the　meridian　of　Yankee…land　than　that　of　London；　I　asked　if　she
were　in　any　trouble。　How　richly　was　I　rewarded　for　the　act　of　good…
nature！　She　blushed　and　courtesied　｛sic｝。

｛Tuesday；　20th　of　August　=　does　this　date　the　final　composition　of
〃The　Lumley　Autograph〃　or　of　its　setting？　August　20　fell　on　a
Tuesday　in　1844　and　1850｝

〃Please；　sir；　is　it　true　that　they　pay　money　for　old　letters　at　this
place？〃

〃They　dohave　you　any　thing　of　the　kind　to　dispose　of？〃

Judge　of　my　gratification；　my　amazement；　when　she　produced　the
Lumley　Autograph！

Of　course　I　instantly　took　it；　at　her　own　priceonly　half　a　guinea
and　I　further　gave　her　Lady　Holberton's　address；　that　she　might
claim　the　liberal　reward　promised　far　the　precious　letter。　Tears　came
into　the　poor　child's　eyes　when　she　found　what　awaited　her；　and　I
may　as　well　observe　at　once　that　this　young　girl　proved　to　be　the
daughter　of　a　poor　bed…ridden　artisan　of　Clapham；　who　had　seen
better　days；　but　was　then　in　great　want。　It　is　an　ill…wind　that　blows
no　good　luck；　and　the　contest　for　the　Lumley　Autograph　was　a　great
advantage　to　the　poor　artisan　and　his　family。　The　girl　had　picked　up
the　paper　early　one　morning；　in　a　road　near　Clapham；　as　she　was
going　to　her　work；　Lady　Holberton　gave　her　a　handful　of　guineas　as
the　promised　rewarda　sum　by　the　bye　just　double　in　amount　what
the　poor　poet　had　received　for　his　best　poemand　she　also
continued　to　look　after　the　family　in　their　troubles。

But　to　return　to　the　important　document　itself。　Never　can　I　forget　the
expressive　gratitude　that　beamed　on　the　fine　countenance　of　Lady
Holberton　when　I　restored　it　once　more　to　her　possession。　She
rapidly　recovered　her　health　and　spirits；　and　it　was　generally
reported　that　seizing　this　favorable　moment；　Mr。　T…　had　offered
himself　and　his　collection；　and　that　both　had　been　graciously
accepted。　Miss　Rowley　called　and　a　sort　of　paix　platree　was　made　up
between　the　ladies。　A　cargo　of　American　autographs　arrived
containing　the　letter　of　the　Cherokee　editor；　the　sign…manual　of
governors　and　colonels　without　number；　and　I　even　succeeded　in
obtaining　epistles　from　several　noted　rowdies；　especially　to　gratify
the　ladies。　Lady　Holberton　made　her　selection；　and　the　rest　were
divided　between　Miss　Rowley　and　Mr。　T…。　Joy　at　the　recovery　of
the　Lumley　Autograph　seemed　to　diffuse　an　unusual　spirit　of
harmony　among　collectors；　many　desirable　exchanges　were　brought
about　and　things　looked　charmingly。　Alas；　how　little　were　we
prepared　for　what　ensued！

｛paix　platree　=　patched…up　peace　（French）｝

On　the　occasion　of　the　presence　in　London　of　two　illustrious　royal
travelers；　Lady　Holberton　gave　a　large　party。　So　said　the　papers　at
least；　but　I　knew　better。　It　was　chiefly　to　celebrate　the　recovery　of
the　Lumley　Autograph；　and　its　restoration　to　her　celebrated　Album
that　the　fete　was　given。　The　Album　was　produced；　in　spite　of　a　half…
formed　vow　of　Lady　Holberton　to　the　contrary；　but　then　His　Royal
Highness　Prince　…　…　had　particularly　requested　to　see　the　letter
of　the　poor　poet；　having　heard　it　mentioned　at　dinner。　The　evening
passed　off　brilliantly；　their　royal　highnesses；　came；　saw；　and
departed。　The　crowd　followed　them　to　another　house；　while　a　favored
few；　chiefly　collectors；　remained　lingering　about　the　table　on　which
lay　the　Album。　I　should　have　said　earlier；　that　Lady　Holberton　had
appointed　a　new　office　in　her　household　the　very　day　after　the　loss
of　the　Lumley　Autograph；　this　was　no　other　than　a　pretty　little　page；
dressed　in　the　old　costume　of　a　student　of　Padua；　whose　sole　duty　it
was　to　watch　over　the　Album　whenever　it　was　removed　from　the　rich
and　heavy　case　in　which　it　usually　lay　enshrined。　He　was　the　guard
of　the　Album；　and　was　strictly　enjoined　never；　for　one　instant；　to
remove　his　eyes　from　the　precious　volume　from　the　moment　he　was
placed　on　duty；　until　relieved。

Well；　there　we　were；　some　dozen　of　us；　collected　about　the　table；
Lady　Holberton　looking　triumphant；　Mr。　T…　very　proud；　and　there
stood　the　page　of　the　Album；　dressed　in　his　Paduasoy　gown；　with
eyes　fastened　on　the　book；　according　to　orders；　while　he　supported
its　gorgeous　case　in　his　arms。　Some　remark　was　made　as　to　the
extraordinary　manner　in　which　the　precious　Autograph　had　been　lost；
and　then　found　again。　My　blood　actually　boiled；　as　one　of　the
company　turned　to　me　and　asked　in　a　suspicious　tone；　if　I　did　not
know　more　of　its　history　than　I　chose　to　confess？　My　indignation　was
boundless；　fortunately　I　could　produce　the　friend　walking　with　me　in
Piccadilly；　and　the　artisan's　family　at　Clapham；　as　witnesses　in　my
favor。　Miss　Rowley　was　standing　near　me　at　the　moment。

｛Paduasoy　=　a　strong　corded　or　gros…grain　silk　fabric；　traditionally
associated　with　Padua；　Italy｝

〃Still；　Mr。　Howard；〃　observed　that　lady；　〃I　really　cannot　see　why　you
should　resent　the　insinuation　so　warmly。　Now；　do　you　know；　I　am　not
at　all　sorry　to　have　it　in　my　power　to　declare　that　I　have　some
knowledge　of　the　fate　of　that　paper　during　its　eclipse。〃

All　eyes　were　instantly　fixed　on　the　speaker。　The　lady　smiled　and
continued：

〃Lady　Holberton　thinks　the　Lumley　Autograph　was　stolenI
understand　she　even　thought　it　was　stolen　by　myself〃

She　here　turned　deliberately　toward　our　hostess；　who　looked　uneasy。

〃If　such　were　your　suspicions；　Lady　Holberton；〃　continued　Miss
Rowley；　speaking　with　great　deliberation〃I　am　happy　to　say　they
were　quite　correctyou　only　did　me　justiceI　am　proud　to　declare
the　deed　was　mine〃

We　were　all　speechless　at　hearing　this　sudden　and　bold　avowal。

〃It　was　I；　Theodosia　Rowley；　who　carried　offthe　word　is　of　little
consequencewho　stole；　I　repeat；　that　precious　paper。　So　long　as
the　treasure　was　mine；　the　consciousness　of　possessing　it　was
sufficient　in　itselfbut　having　afterward　lost　it　from　my　pocket　by
unpardonable　carelessness；　I　shall　at　least　now　glory　in　the　daring
deed　which　made　it　once　my　own。〃

Conceive　the　amazement　which　these　remarksdelivered　with　calm
enthusiasmproduced　among　the　listening　circle。　We　all　know　that
high　crimes　and　misdemeanors　enough　are　committed　by　men；　and
women　too；　but　somehow　or　other　the　delinquents　are　not　often
given　to　talking　of　them；　they　would　just　as　lief　in　general　that　the
act　should　not　be　known。　The　effect　of　Miss　Rowley's　words　was
different　on　different　individuals。　As　for　myself；　I　involuntarily　felt　for
the　handkerchief　in　my　pocket。　The　page　of　the　album　drew　nearer。
Lady　Holberton　looked　aghast；　as　though　she　had　seen　a　cannibal。
Some　bit　their　lips；　others　opened　their　eyes。　Mr。　T…；　however；
who　held　the　album　at　the　moment；　and　was　bending　over　it　when
Miss　Rowley　began　her　extraordinary　disclosure；　raised　his　eyes；
fixed　his　glasses　on　the　fair　speaker；　and　sent　through　them　such　a
glance　as　no　words　can　fully　describe。　It　was　a　glance　of　intense
admiration。

〃What　exalted　views！　What　sublime　sentiments！〃　he　exclaimed　in　an
ecstasy。

But　Mr。　T…'s　blaze　of　admiration　was　not　the　only　flame　at　work；
while　he　was　gazing　at　the　heroine