the adventures of gerard(吉拉德历险记)-第25节
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Lord Rufton； where they would drink much wine； make wild bets； and talk
of their horses and their foxes。 How well I remember those strange
creatures。 Sir Barrington； Jack Lupton； of Barnstable； Colonel Addison；
Johnny Miller； Lord Sadler； and my enemy； the Honourable Baldock。
They were of the same stamp all of them； drinkers； madcaps； fighters；
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gamblers； full of strange caprices and extraordinary whims。 Yet they
were kindly fellows in their rough fashion； save only this Baldock； a fat
man； who prided himself on his skill at the box…fight。 It was he who； by
his laughter against the French because they were ignorant of sport； caused
me to challenge him in the very sport at which he excelled。 You will say
that it was foolish； my friends； but the decanter had passed many times；
and the blood of youth ran hot in my veins。 I would fight him； this
boaster； I would show him that if we had not skill at least we had courage。
Lord Rufton would not allow it。 I insisted。 The others cheered me on
and slapped me on the back。 〃No； dash it； Baldock； he's our guest；〃 said
Rufton。 〃It's his own doing；〃 the other answered。 〃Look here； Rufton；
they can't hurt each other if they wear the mawleys；〃 cried Lord Sadler。
And so it was agreed。
What the mawleys were I did not know； but presently they brought out
four great puddings of leather； not unlike a fencing glove； but larger。
With these our hands were covered after we had stripped ourselves of our
coats and our waistcoats。 Then the table； with the glasses and decanters；
was pushed into the corner of the room； and behold us； face to face！
Lord Sadler sat in the arm…chair with a watch in his open hand。 〃Time！〃
said he。
I will confess to you； my friends； that I felt at that moment a tremor
such as none of my many duels have ever given me。 With sword or
pistol I am at home； but here I only understood that I must struggle with
this fat Englishman and do what I could； in spite of these great puddings
upon my hands； to overcome him。 And at the very outset I was disarmed
of the best weapon that was left to me。 〃Mind； Gerard； no kicking！〃 said
Lord Rufton in my ear。 I had only a pair of thin dancing slippers； and yet
the man was fat； and a few well…directed kicks might have left me the
victor。 But there is an etiquette just as there is in fencing； and I refrained。
I looked at this Englishman and I wondered how I should attack him。
His ears were large and prominent。 Could I seize them I might drag him
to the ground。 I rushed in； but I was betrayed by this flabby glove； and
twice I lost my hold。 He struck me； but I cared little for his blows； and
again I seized him by the ear。 He fell； and I rolled upon him and
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thumped his head upon the ground。
How they cheered and laughed； these gallant Englishmen； and how
they clapped me on the back！
〃Even money on the Frenchman；〃 cried Lord Sadler。
〃He fights foul；〃 cried my enemy； rubbing his crimson ears。 〃He
savaged me on the ground。〃
〃You must take your chance of that；〃 said Lord Rufton； coldly。
〃Time！〃 cried Lord Sadler； and once again we advanced to the assault。
He was flushed； and his small eyes were as vicious as those of a bull…
dog。 There was hatred on his face。 For my part I carried myself lightly
and gaily。 A French gentleman fights but he does not hate。 I drew
myself up before him； and I bowed as I have done in the duello。
There can be grace and courtesy as well as defiance in a bow； I put all
three into this one； with a touch of ridicule in the shrug which
accompanied it。 It was at this moment that he struck me。 The room
spun round me。 I fell upon my back。 But in an instant I was on my feet
again and had rushed to a close combat。 His ear； his hair； his nose； I
seized them each in turn。 Once again the mad joy of the battle was in my
veins。 The old cry of triumph rose to my lips。 〃Vive l'Empereur！〃 I
yelled as I drove my head into his stomach。 He threw his arm round my
neck； and holding me with one hand he struck me with the other。 I
buried my teeth in his arm； and he shouted with pain。 〃Call him off；
Rufton！〃 he screamed。
〃Call him off； man！ He's worrying me！〃 They dragged me away
from him。 Can I ever forget it？the laughter； the cheering； the
congratulations！ Even my enemy bore me no ill…will； for he shook me by
the hand。 For my part I embraced him on each cheek。 Five years
afterward I learned from Lord Rufton that my noble bearing upon that
evening was still fresh in the memory of my English friends。
It is not； however； of my own exploits in sport that I wish to speak to
you to…night； but it is of the Lady Jane Dacre and the strange adventure of
which she was the cause。 Lady Jane Dacre was Lord Rufton's sister and
the lady of his household。 I fear that until I came it was lonely for her；
since she was a beautiful and refined woman with nothing in common
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with those who were about her。 Indeed； this might be said of many
women in the England of those days； for the men were rude and rough and
coarse； with boorish habits and few accomplishments； while the women
were the most lovely and tender that I have ever known。 We became
great friends； the Lady Jane and I； for it was not possible for me to drink
three bottles of port after dinner like those Devonshire gentlemen； and so I
would seek refuge in her drawing…room； where evening after evening she
would play the harpsichord and I would sing the songs of my own land。
In those peaceful moments I would find a refuge from the misery which
filled me； when I reflected that my regiment was left in the front of the
enemy without the chief whom they had learned to love and to follow。
Indeed； I could have torn my hair when I read in the English papers of
the fine fighting which was going on in Portugal and on the frontiers of
Spain； all of which I had missed through my misfortune in falling into the
hands of Milord Wellington。
From what I have told you of the Lady Jane you will have guessed
what occurred； my friends。 Etienne Gerard is thrown into the company
of a young and beautiful woman。 What must it mean for him？ What
must it mean for her？ It was not for me； the guest； the captive； to make
love to the sister of my host。 But I was reserved。
I was discreet。 I tried to curb my own emotions and to discourage
hers。 For my own part I fear that I betrayed myself； for the eye becomes
more eloquent when the tongue is silent。 Every quiver of my fingers as I
turned over her music…sheets told her my secret。 But sheshe was
admirable。 It is in these matters that women have a genius for deception。
If I had not penetrated her secret I should often have thought that she
forgot even that I was in the house。 For hours she would sit lost in a
sweet melancholy； while I admired her pale face and her curls in the lamp…
light； and thrilled within me to think that I had moved her so deeply。
Then at last I would speak； and she would start in her chair and stare at me
with the most admirable pretence of being surprised to find me in the
room。 Ah！ how I longed to hurl myself suddenly at her feet； to kiss her
white hand； to assure her that I had surprised her secret and that I would
not abuse her confidence。
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