vanity fair(名利场)-第150节

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by　his　master's　desk。　　Before　he　had　brought　it　into　the
study　that　morning；　he　had　read　in　the　journal　a　flaming
account　of　〃Festivities　at　Gaunt　House；〃　with　the　names
of　all　the　distinguished　personages　invited　by　tho　Marquis
of　Steyne　to　meet　his　Royal　Highness。　　Having　made
comments　upon　this　entertainment　to　the　housekeeper
and　her　niece　as　they　were　taking　early　tea　and　hot
buttered　toast　in　the　former　lady's　apartment；　and
wondered　how　the　Rawding　Crawleys　could　git　on；　the　valet
had　damped　and　folded　the　paper　once　more；　so　that　it
looked　quite　fresh　and　innocent　against　the　arrival　of
the　master　of　the　house。
Poor　Rawdon　took　up　the　paper　and　began　to　try　and
read　it　until　his　brother　should　arrive。　　But　the　print　fell
blank　upon　his　eyes；　and　he　did　not　know　in　the　least
what　he　was　reading。　　The　Government　news　and
appointments　（which　Sir　Pitt　as　a　public　man　was　bound
to　peruse；　otherwise　he　would　by　no　means　permit　the
introduction　of　Sunday　papers　into　his　household）；　the
theatrical　criticisms；　the　fight　for　a　hundred　pounds
a　side　between　the　Barking　Butcher　and　the　Tutbury
Pet；　the　Gaunt　House　chronicle　itself；　which　contained　a
most　complimentary　though　guarded　account　of　the
famous　charades　of　which　Mrs。　Becky　had　been　the
heroineall　these　passed　as　in　a　haze　before　Rawdon；　as　he
sat　waiting　the　arrival　of　the　chief　of　the　family。
Punctually；　as　the　shrill…toned　bell　of　the　black　marble
study　clock　began　to　chime　nine；　Sir　Pitt　made　his
appearance；　fresh；　neat；　smugly　shaved；　with　a　waxy　clean
face；　and　stiff　shirt　collar；　his　scanty　hair　combed　and
oiled；　trimming　his　nails　as　he　descended　the　stairs
majestically；　in　a　starched　cravat　and　a　grey　flannel
dressing…gowna　real　old　English　gentleman；　in　a　word
a　model　of　neatness　and　every　propriety。　　He　started　when
he　saw　poor　Rawdon　in　his　study　in　tumbled　clothes；　with
blood…shot　eyes；　and　his　hair　over　his　face。　　He　thought
his　brother　was　not　sober；　and　had　been　out　all　night　on
some　orgy。　　〃Good　gracious；　Rawdon；〃　he　said；　with　a
blank　face；　〃what　brings　you　here　at　this　time　of　the
morning？　Why　ain't　you　at　home？〃
〃Home；〃　said　Rawdon　with　a　wild　laugh。　　〃Don't　be
frightened；　Pitt。　　I'm　not　drunk。　　Shut　the　door；　I　want　to
speak　to　you。〃
Pitt　closed　the　door　and　came　up　to　the　table；　where
he　sat　down　in　the　other　arm…chairthat　one　placed　for
the　reception　of　the　steward；　agent；　or　confidential
visitor　who　came　to　transact　business　with　the　Baronet
and　trimmed　his　nails　more　vehemently　than　ever。
〃Pitt；　it's　all　over　with　me；〃　the　Colonel　said　after　a
pause。　　〃I'm　done。〃
〃I　always　said　it　would　come　to　this；〃　the　Baronet
cried　peevishly；　and　beating　a　tune　with　his　clean…
trimmed　nails。　　〃I　warned　you　a　thousand　times。　　I　can't
help　you　any　more。　　Every　shilling　of　my　money　is　tied
up。　　Even　the　hundred　pounds　that　Jane　took　you　last
night　were　promised　to　my　lawyer　to…morrow　morning；
and　the　want　of　it　will　put　me　to　great　inconvenience。
I　don't　mean　to　say　that　I　won't　assist　you　ultimately。
But　as　for　paying　your　creditors　in　full；　I　might　as　well
hope　to　pay　the　National　Debt。　　It　is　madness；　sheer
madness；　to　think　of　such　a　thing。　　You　must　come　to　a
compromise。　　It's　a　painful　thing　for　the　family；　but　everybody
does　it。　　There　was　George　Kitely；　Lord　Ragland's　son；
went　through　the　Court　last　week；　and　was　what　they
call　whitewashed；　I　believe。　　Lord　Ragland　would　not　pay
a　shilling　for　him；　and〃
〃It's　not　money　I　want；〃　Rawdon　broke　in。　　〃I'm　not
come　to　you　about　myself。　　Never　mind　what　happens　to
me　〃
〃What　is　the　matter；　then？〃　said　Pitt；　somewhat
relieved。
〃It's　the　boy；〃　said　Rawdon　in　a　husky　voice。　　〃I　want
you　to　promise　me　that　you　will　take　charge　of　him
when　I'm　gone。　　That　dear　good　wife　of　yours　has　always
been　good　to　him；　and　he's　fonder　of　her　than　he　is　of
his　。　　。　　。Damn　it。　　Look　here；　Pittyou　know　that　I
was　to　have　had　Miss　Crawley's　money。　　I　wasn't　brought
up　like　a　younger　brother；　but　was　always　encouraged　to
be　extravagant　and　kep　idle。　　But　for　this　I　might　have
been　quite　a　different　man。　　I　didn't　do　my　duty　with　the
regiment　so　bad。　　You　know　how　I　was　thrown　over
about　the　money；　and　who　got　it。〃
〃After　the　sacrifices　I　have　made；　and　the　manner　in
which　I　have　stood　by　you；　I　think　this　sort　of　reproach
is　useless；〃　Sir　Pitt　said。　　〃Your　marriage　was　your　own
doing；　not　mine。〃
〃That's　over　now；〃　said　Rawdon。　　〃That's　over　now。〃
And　the　words　were　wrenched　from　him　with　a　groan；
which　made　his　brother　start。
〃Good　God！　　is　she　dead？〃　Sir　Pitt　said　with　a　voice
of　genuine　alarm　and　commiseration。
〃I　wish　I　was；〃　Rawdon　replied。　　〃If　it　wasn't　for　little
Rawdon　I'd　have　cut　my　throat　this　morningand　that
damned　villain's　too。〃
Sir　Pitt　instantly　guessed　the　truth　and　surmised　that
Lord　Steyne　was　the　person　whose　life　Rawdon　wished　to
take。　　The　Colonel　told　his　senior　briefly；　and　in　broken
accents；　the　circumstances　of　the　case。　　〃It　was　a　regular
plan　between　that　scoundrel　and　her；〃　he　said。　　〃The
bailiffs　were　put　upon　me；　I　was　taken　as　I　was　going
out　of　his　house；　when　I　wrote　to　her　for　money；　she
said　she　was　ill　in　bed　and　put　me　off　to　another　day。
And　when　I　got　home　I　found　her　in　diamonds　and
sitting　with　that　villain　alone。〃　He　then　went　on　to　describe
hurriedly　the　personal　conflict　with　Lord　Steyne。　　To　an
affair　of　that　nature；　of　course；　he　said；　there　was　but
one　issue；　and　after　his　conference　with　his　brother；　he
was　going　away　to　make　the　necessary　arrangements　for
the　meeting　which　must　ensue。　　〃And　as　it　may　end
fatally　with　me；〃　Rawdon　said　with　a　broken　voice；　〃and
as　the　boy　has　no　mother；　I　must　leave　him　to　you　and
Jane；　Pittonly　it　will　be　a　comfort　to　me　if　you　will
promise　me　to　be　his　friend。〃
The　elder　brother　was　much　affected；　and　shook
Rawdon's　hand　with　a　cordiality　seldom　exhibited　by　him。
Rawdon　passed　his　hand　over　his　shaggy　eyebrows。
〃Thank　you；　brother；〃　said　he。　　〃I　know　I　can　trust　your
word。〃
〃I　will；　upon　my　honour；〃　the　Baronet　said。　　And　thus；
and　almost　mutely；　this　bargain　was　struck　between
them。
Then　Rawdon　took　out　of　his　pocket　the　little
pocket…book　which　he　had　discovered　in　Becky's　desk；　and　from
which　he　drew　a　bundle　of　the　notes　which　it　contained。
〃Here's　six　hundred；〃　he　said〃you　didn't　know　I　was
so　rich。　　I　want　you　to　give　the　money　to　Briggs；　who　lent
it　to　usand　who　was　kind　to　the　boyand　I've　always
felt　ashamed　of　having　taken　the　poor　old　woman's
money。　　And　here's　some　moreI've　only　kept　back　a
few　poundswhich　Becky　may　as　well　have；　to　get　on
with。〃　As　he　spoke　he　took　hold　of　the　other　notes　to
give　to　his　brother；　but　his　hands　shook；　and　he　was　so
agitated　that　the　pocket…book　fell　from　him；　and　out　of
it　the　thousand…pound　note　which　had　been　the　last　of
the　unlucky　Becky's　winnings。
Pitt　stooped　and　picked　them　up；　amazed　at　so　much
wealth。　　〃Not　that；〃　Rawdon　said。　　〃I　hope　to　put　a　bullet
into　the　man　whom　that　belongs　to。〃　He　had　thought　to
himself；　it　would　be　a　fine　revenge　to　wrap　a　ball　in　the
note　and　kill　Steyne　with　it。
After　this　colloquy　the　brothers　once　more　shook
hands　and　parted。　　Lady　Jane　had　heard　of　the　Colonel's
arrival；　and　was　waiting　for　her　husband　in　the　adjoining
dining…room；　with　female　instinct；　auguring　evil。　　The
door　of　the　dining…room　happened　to　be　left　open；　and
the　lady　of　course　was　issuing　from　it　as　the　two　brothers
passed　out　of　the　study。　　She　held　out　her　hand　to
Rawdon　and　said　she　was　glad　he　was　come　to　breakfast；
though　she　could　perceive；　by　his　haggard　unshorn　face
and　the　dark　looks　of　her　husband；　that　there　was　very
little　question　of　breakfast　between　them。　　Rawdon
muttered　some　excuses　about　an　engagement；　squeezing　hard
the　timid　little　hand　which　his　sister…in…law　reached　out
to　him。　　Her　imploring　eyes　could　read　nothing　but
calamity　in　his　face；　but　he　went　away　without　another
word。　　Nor　did　Sir　Pitt　vouchsafe　her　any　explanation。
The　children　came　up　to　salute　him；　and　he　kissed　them
in　his　usual　frigid　manner。　　The　mother　took　both　of　them
close　to　herself；　and　held　a　hand　of　each　of　them　as　they
knelt　down　to　prayers；　which　Sir　Pitt　read　to　them；　and
to　the　servants　in　their　Sunday　suits　or　liveries；　ranged
upon　chairs　on　the　other　side　of　the　hissing　tea…urn。
Breakfast　was　so　late　that　day；　in　consequence　of　the
delays　which　had　occurred；　that　the　church…bells　began
to　ring　whilst　they　were　sitting　over　their　meal；　and
Lady　Jane　was　too　ill；　she　said；　to　go　to　church；　though
her　thoughts　had　been　entirely　astray　during　the　period
of　family　devotion。
Rawdon　Crawley　meanwhile　hurried　on　from　Great
Gaunt　Street；　and　knocking　at　the　great　bronze
Medusa's　head　which　stands　on　the　portal　of　Gaunt　House；
brought　out　the　purple　Silenus　in　a　red　and　silver
waistcoat　who　acts　as　porter　of　that　palace。　　The　man　was
scared　also　by　the　Colonel's　dishevelled　appearance；　and
barred　the　way　as　if　afraid　that　the　other　was　going　to
force　it。　　But　Colonel　Crawley　only　took　out　a　card　and
enjoined　him　particularly　to　send　it　in　to　Lord　Steyne；
and　to　mark　the　address　written　on　it；　and　say　that
Colonel　Crawley　would　be　all　day　after