the lumley autograph(卢母雷手迹)-第6节
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｛Black Hawk = Black Hawk （1767…1838）； an American Indian （Sac）
chieftain； defeated by the U。S。 Army in 1832； whose 〃Autobiography〃
（1833） became an American classic。｝
〃How charming！〃 exclaimed Miss Rowley； clasping her hands。 〃How
very obliging of you； Mr。 Howard。 Are you fond of shooting？ My brother's
preserves are in fine orderor perhaps you are partial to yachting〃
Bowing my thanks for these amiable hints； I carelessly observed that
the letter of the Cherokee editor was no sacrifice at all； for the chief and
myself were regular correspondents； I had a dozen of his letters； and had
just given one to Mr。 T…。 This intelligence evidently lessened Miss
Rowley's excessive gratitude。 She continued her applications； however；
casting an eye on her list。
〃Perhaps you correspond also with some rowdies； Mr。 Howard？ Could
you oblige me with a rowdy letter？〃
｛rowdies = in the mid…nineteenth century； an American slang term for
backwoodsmen or other rough and disorderly types｝
I drew up a little at this request； my correspondents； I assured the lady；
were generally men of respectability； though one of them was of a savage
race。
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〃No doubt； but in the way of autographs； you know； one would
correspond with〃
The sentence remained unfinished； for the lady added；
〃I wrote myself to Madame Laffarge； not long since。 I am sorry to say
Lady Holberton has two of hers； but although an excellent person in most
respects； yet it cannot be denied that as regards autographs； Lady
Holberton is very illiberal。 I offered her Grizzel Baillie； two Cardinals；
William Pitt； and Grace Darling； for one of her Laffarges； but she would
not part with it。 Yet the exchange was very fair； especially as Madame
Laffarge is still living。〃
｛Madame Laffarge = Marie Lafarge （1816…1853）； French woman
convicted in 1840 for poisoning her husband； later pardoned。 Grizzel
Baillie = Lady Grizel Baillie （1665…1746）； Scottish poet。 William Pitt =
either William Pitt 〃the Elder〃 （1708…1778） or William Pitt 〃the Younger〃
（1759…1806）； both British Prime Ministers。 Grace Darling = Grace Darling
（1815…1842）； English heroine and lighthouse keeper's daughter； famous for
her rescue of castaways in 1838。｝
I bowed an assent to the remark。
〃And then she herself actually once made proposals for
Schinderhannes； to a friend of mine； offering Howard； the philanthropist；
Talma； William Penn； and Fenelon for himall commonplace enough； you
knowand Schinderhannes quite unique。 My friend was indignant！〃
｛Schinderhannes = German bandit chief； executed in 1803。 Howard =
John Howard （1726…1790）； English philanthropist and prison reformer。
Talma = Francois Talma （1763…1826）； popular French playwright。 William
Penn （1644…1718）； Quaker founder of Pennsylvania。 Fenelon = Francois
Fenelon （1651…1715）； French Archbishop and writer｝
I ventured to excuse Lady Holberton by suggesting that probably at the
time her stock of notabilities was low。
Miss Rowley shook her head； and curled her lip； as if she fancied the
lady had only been seeking to drive a hard bargain。
〃On one point； however； I have carried the day； Mr。 Howard。 Lady
Holberton is not a little proud of her Vidocq； but I have obtained one far
superior to hers； one addressed to myself so piquant and gallant too。 I
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called on the dear old burglar on purpose to coax him into writing me a
note。〃
｛Vidocq = Francois Vidocq （1775…1857）； French police detective who
turned robber； and was exposed in 1832。｝
I wondered； in petto； whether I should meet any illustrious convicts at
Miss Rowley's party the next evening； but remembering to have heard her
called an exclusive； it did not seem very probable。
｛in petto = silently； to oneself （Latin）｝
After running her eye over the list again； Miss Rowley made another
inquiry。
〃Mr。 Howard； could you get me something from an American
Colonel？〃
I assured the lady we had colonels of all sorts； and begged to know
what particular variety she had placed on her cataloguewas it an officer
of the regular service； or one of no service at all？
〃Oh； the last； certainlyofficers who have seen service are so
commonplace！〃
My own pen was immediately placed at Miss Rowley's disposal； as my
sword would have been； had I owned one。 As I had been called colonel a
hundred times without having commanded a regiment once； my own name
was as good as any other on the present occasion。
〃You are very obliging。 Since you are so good； may I also trouble you
to procure me a line from a very remarkable personage of your countrya
very distinguished manhe has been President； or Speaker of the Senate；
or something of that sort。〃
To which of our head men did Miss Rowley allude？
〃He is called Uncle Sam； I believe。〃
｛Uncle Sam = 〃Uncle Sam〃 became a popular personification of the
United States during the War of 1812； replacing Brother Jonathan； and was
often used in contradistinction to the British 〃John Bull〃｝
This was not so easy a task； for though we have thousands of colonels；
there is but one Uncle Sam in the world。 On hearing that such was the case；
Miss Rowley's anxiety on the subject increased immeasurably； but I
assured her the old gentleman only put his name to treaties； and tariffs；
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and although his sons were wonderfully gallant； yet he himself had never
condescended to notice any woman but a queen regnant： and I further
endeavored to give some idea of his identity。 Miss Rowley stopped me
short； however。
〃Only procure me one line from him； Mr。 Howard； and I shall be
indebted to you for life。 It will be time enough to find out all about him
when I once have his namethat is the essential thing。〃
I shrunk from committing myself； however； declaring that I would as
soon engage to procure a billet…doux from Prester John。
｛Prester John = Mythical ruler believed in the Middle Ages to head a
powerful Christian Kingdom somewhere in Asia； later identified with the
Christian Kings of Ethiopia in Africa｝
〃Prester John！ That would； indeed； be quite invaluable！〃
This Asiatic diversion was a happy one； and came very apropos； for it
carried Miss Rowley into China； she inquired if I had any Chinese
connections。
〃Though altogether； I am pretty well satisfied with my Chinese
negotiations； as soon as the Celestial Empire was opened to the civilized
world； I engaged an agent there to collect for me。 But； could you put me
on the track of a Confucius？〃
｛opened to the civilized world = following the so…called Opium War；
Britain had in 1842 forced China to open trade with her｝
I was obliged to admit my inability to do so； and at the same moment
the collecting instincts of Lady Holberton and Mr。 T…； drew their
attention to the corner where Miss Rowley and myself were conversing； as
they moved toward us； Miss Rowley pocketed her list； throwing herself
upon my honor not to betray the deficiencies in her role d'equipage； or the
collecting negociations just opened between us。 Lady Holberton； as she
advanced； invited Miss Rowley； with an ill…concealed air of triumph； to
feast her eyes once more on the Lumley autograph； and not long after the
party broke up。
｛role d'equipage = muster roll （French）； here； Miss Rowley's list of her
autographs｝
The next day； in passing Holberton…House； I observed the chariot of a
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fashionable physician before the door； and at Miss Rowley's party in the
evening learned from Mr。 T… that Lady Holberton was quite unwell。
The following morning I called to inquire； and received for answer that
〃her ladyship w
