catherine-a story(凯瑟琳的故事)-第21节
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
cane； but the gentlemen rushed between us。
〃'O bluthanowns！' says honest Macshane； 'the lying scounthrel this
fellow is！ Gentlemen； I swear be me honour that Captain Wood was
wounded at Barcelona； and that I saw him there； and that he and I ran
away together at the battle of Almanza； and bad luck to us。'
〃You see； my dear； that these Irish have the strongest imaginations in
the world； and that I had actually persuaded poor Mac that he and I were
friends in Spain。 Everybody knew Mac； who was a character in his way；
and believed him。
〃'Strike a gentleman；' says I。 'I'll have your blood； I will。'
〃'This instant；' says the Count； who was boiling with fury； 'and where
you like。'
〃'Montague House；' says I。 'Good；' says he。 And off we went。 In good
time too； for the constables came in at the thought of such a disturbance；
and wanted to take us in charge。
〃But the gentlemen present； being military men； would not hear of this。
Out came Mac's rapier； and that of half…a…dozen others； and the constables
were then told to do their duty if they liked； or to take a crown…piece； and
71
… Page 72…
Catherine： A Story
leave us to ourselves。 Off they went； and presently； in a couple of coaches；
the Count and his friends； I and mine； drove off to the fields behind
Montague House。 Oh that vile coffee…house！ why did I enter it？
〃We came to the ground。 Honest Macshane was my second； and much
disappointed because the second on the other side would not make a fight
of it； and exchange a few passes with him； but he was an old major； a cool
old hand； as brave as steel； and no fool。 Well； the swords are measured；
Galgenstein strips off his doublet； and I my handsome cut…velvet in like
fashion。 Galgenstein flings off his hat； and I handed mine overthe lace on
it cost me twenty pounds。 I longed to be at him； forcurse him！I hate
him； and know that he has no chance with me at sword's…play。
〃'You'll not fight in that periwig； sure？' says Macshane。 'Of course not；'
says I； and took it off。
〃May all barbers be roasted in flames； may all periwigs； bobwigs；
scratchwigs； and Ramillies cocks； frizzle in purgatory from this day forth
to the end of time！ Mine was the ruin of me： what might I not have been
now but for that wig！
〃I gave it over to Ensign Macshane； and with it went what I had quite
forgotten； the large patch which I wore over one eye； which popped out
fierce； staring； and lively as was ever any eye in the world。
〃'Come on！' says I； and made a lunge at my Count； but he sprang back
（the dog was as active as a hare； and knew； from old times； that I was his
master with the small…sword）； and his second； wondering； struck up my
blade。
〃'I will not fight that man；' says he； looking mighty pale。 'I swear upon
my honour that his name is Peter Brock： he was for two years my corporal；
and deserted； running away with a thousand pounds of my moneys。 Look
at the fellow！ What is the matter with his eye？ why did he wear a patch
over it？ But stop！' says he。 'I have more proof。 Hand me my pocket…book。'
And from it； sure enough； he produced the infernal proclamation
announcing my desertion！ 'See if the fellow has a scar across his left ear'
（and I can't say； my dear； but what I have： it was done by a cursed
Dutchman at the Boyne）。 'Tell me if he has not got C。R。 in blue upon his
right arm' （and there it is sure enough）。 'Yonder swaggering Irishman may
72
… Page 73…
Catherine： A Story
be his accomplice for what I know； but I will have no dealings with Mr。
Brock； save with a constable for a second。'
〃'This is an odd story； Captain Wood；' said the old Major who acted for
the Count。
〃'A scounthrelly falsehood regarding me and my friend！' shouted out
Mr。 Macshane； 'and the Count shall answer for it。'
〃'Stop； stop！' says the Major。 'Captain Wood is too gallant a gentleman；
I am sure； not to satisfy the Count； and will show us that he has no such
mark on his arm as only private soldiers put there。'
〃'Captain Wood；' says I； 'will do no such thing； Major。 I'll fight that
scoundrel Galgenstein； or you； or any of you； like a man of honour； but I
won't submit to be searched like a thief！'
〃'No； in coorse；' said Macshane。
〃'I must take my man off the ground；' says the Major。
〃'Well； take him； sir；' says I； in a rage； 'and just let me have the
pleasure of telling him that he's a coward and a liar； and that my lodgings
are in Piccadilly； where； if ever he finds courage to meet me； he may hear
of me！'
〃'Faugh！ I shpit on ye all；' cries my gallant ally Macshane。 And sure
enough he kept his word； or all butsuiting the action to it at any rate。
〃And so we gathered up our clothes； and went back in our separate
coaches； and no blood spilt。
〃'And is it thrue now；' said Mr。 Macshane； when we were alone'is it
thrue now； all these divvles have been saying？' 'Ensign；' says I； 'you're a
man of the world？'
〃''Deed and I am； and insign these twenty…two years。'
〃'Perhaps you'd like a few pieces？' says I。
〃'Faith and I should； for to tell you the secred thrut； I've not tasted
mate these four days。'
〃'Well then； Ensign； it IS true；' says I； 'and as for meat； you shall have
some at the first cook…shop。' I bade the coach stop until he bought a
plateful； which he ate in the carriage； for my time was precious。 I just told
him the whole story： at which he laughed； and swore that it was the best
piece of GENERALSHIP he ever heard on。 When his belly was full； I took
73
… Page 74…
Catherine： A Story
out a couple of guineas and gave them to him。 Mr。 Macshane began to cry
at this； and kissed me； and swore he never would desert me： as； indeed； my
dear； I don't think he will； for we have been the best of friends ever since；
and he's the only man I ever could trust； I think。
〃I don't know what put it into my head； but I had a scent of some
mischief in the wind； so stopped the coach a little before I got home； and；
turning into a tavern； begged Macshane to go before me to my lodging；
and see if the coast was clear： which he did； and came back to me as pale
as death； saying that the house was full of constables。 The cursed quarrel
at the Tilt…yard had； I suppose； set the beaks upon me； and a pretty sweep
they made of it。 Ah； my dear！ five hundred pounds in money； five suits of
laced clothes； three periwigs； besides laced shirts； swords； canes； and
snuff…boxes； and all to go back to that scoundrel Count。
〃It was all over with me； I sawno more being a gentleman for me；
and if I remained to be caught； only a choice between Tyburn and a file of
grenadiers。 My love； under such circumstances； a gentleman can't be
particular； and must be prompt； the livery…stable was hard by where I used
to hire my coach to go to Court；ha！ ha！and was known as a man of
substance。 Thither I went immediately。 'Mr。 Warmmash；' says I； 'my
gallant friend here and I have a mind for a ride and a supper at
Twickenham； so you must lend us a pair of your best horses。' Which he did
in a twinkling； and off we rode。
〃We did not go into the Park； but turned off and cantered smartly up
towards Kilburn； and； when we got into the country； galloped as if the
devil were at our heels。 Bless you； my love； it was all done in a minute：
and the Ensign and I found ourselves regular knights of the road； before
we knew where we were almost。 Only think of our finding you and your
new husband at the 'Three Rooks'！ There's not a greater fence than the
landlady in all the country。 It was she that put us on seizing your husband；
and introduced us to the other two gentlemen； whose names I don't know
any more than the dead。〃
〃And what became of the horses？〃 said Mrs。 Catherine to Mr。 Brock；
when his tale was finished。
〃Rips； madam；〃 said he； 〃mere rips。 We sold them at Stourbridge fair；
74
… Page 75…
