catherine-a story(凯瑟琳的故事)-第22节
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Catherine： A Story
and got but thirteen guineas for the two。〃
〃Andandthe Count； Max； where is he； Brock？〃 sighed she。
〃Whew！〃 whistled Mr。 Brock。 〃What； hankering after him still？ My
dear； he is off to Flanders with his regiment； and； I make no doubt； there
have been twenty Countesses of Galgenstein since your time。〃
〃I don't believe any such thing； sir；〃 said Mrs。 Catherine； starting up
very angrily。
〃If you did； I suppose you'd laudanum him； wouldn't you？〃
〃Leave the room； fellow；〃 said the lady。 But she recollected herself
speedily again； and； clasping her hands； and looking very wretched at
Brock； at the ceiling； at the floor； at her husband （from whom she violently
turned away her head）； she began to cry piteously： to which tears the
Corporal set up a gentle accompaniment of whistling； as they trickled one
after another down her nose。
I don't think they were tears of repentance； but of regret for the time
when she had her first love； and her fine clothes； and her white hat and
blue feather。 Of the two； the Corporal's whistle was much more innocent
than the girl's sobbing： he was a rogue； but a good…natured old fellow
when his humour was not crossed。 Surely our novel…writers make a great
mistake in divesting their rascals of all gentle human qualities： they have
suchand the only sad point to think of is； in all private concerns of life；
abstract feelings； and dealings with friends； and so on； how dreadfully like
a rascal is to an honest man。 The man who murdered the Italian boy； set
him first to play with his children whom he loved； and who doubtless
deplored his loss。
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Catherine： A Story
CHAPTER VI。 ADVENTURES OF
THE AMBASSADOR； MR。
MACSHANE。
If we had not been obliged to follow history in all respects； it is
probable that we should have left out the last adventure of Mrs。 Catherine
and her husband； at the inn at Worcester； altogether； for； in truth； very little
came of it； and it is not very romantic or striking。 But we are bound to
stick closely； above all； by THE TRUTHthe truth； though it be not
particularly pleasant to read of or to tell。 As anybody may read in the
〃Newgate Calendar；〃 Mr。 and Mrs。 Hayes were taken at an inn at
Worcester； were confined there； were swindled by persons who pretended
to impress the bridegroom for military service。 What is one to do after that？
Had we been writing novels instead of authentic histories； we might have
carried them anywhere else we chose： and we had a great mind to make
Hayes philosophising with Bolingbroke； like a certain Devereux； and Mrs。
Catherine maitresse en titre to Mr。 Alexander Pope； Doctor Sacheverel； Sir
John Reade the oculist； Dean Swift； or Marshal Tallard； as the very
commonest romancer would under such circumstances。 But alas and alas！
truth must be spoken； whatever else is in the wind； and the excellent
〃Newgate Calendar；〃 which contains the biographies and thanatographies
of Hayes and his wife； does not say a word of their connections with any
of the leading literary or military heroes of the time of Her Majesty Queen
Anne。 The 〃Calendar〃 says； in so many words； that Hayes was obliged to
send to his father in Warwickshire for money to get him out of the scrape；
and that the old gentleman came down to his aid。 By this truth must we
stick； and not for the sake of the most brilliant episode；no； not for a bribe
of twenty extra guineas per sheet； would we depart from it。
Mr。 Brock's account of his adventure in London has given the reader
some short notice of his friend； Mr Macshane。 Neither the wits nor the
principles of that worthy Ensign were particularly firm： for drink； poverty；
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and a crack on the skull at the battle of Steenkirk had served to injure the
former； and the Ensign was not in his best days possessed of any share of
the latter。 He had really； at one period； held such a rank in the army； but
pawned his half…pay for drink and play； and for many years past had lived；
one of the hundred thousand miracles of our city； upon nothing that
anybody knew of； or of which he himself could give any account。 Who
has not a catalogue of these men in his list？ who can tell whence comes
the occasional clean shirt； who supplies the continual means of
drunkenness； who wards off the daily…impending starvation？ Their life is a
wonder from day to day： their breakfast a wonder； their dinner a miracle；
their bed an interposition of Providence。 If you and I； my dear sir； want a
shilling tomorrow； who will give it us？ Will OUR butchers give us
mutton…chops？ will OUR laundresses clothe us in clean linen？not a bone
or a rag。 Standing as we do （may it be ever so） somewhat removed from
want；* is there one of us who does not shudder at the thought of
descending into the lists to combat with it； and expect anything but to be
utterly crushed in the encounter？
* The author； it must be remembered； has his lodgings and food
provided for him by the government of his country。
Not a bit of it； my dear sir。 It takes much more than you think for to
starve a man。 Starvation is very little when you are used to it。 Some people
I know even； who live on it quite comfortably； and make their daily bread
by it。 It had been our friend Macshane's sole profession for many years；
and he did not fail to draw from it such a livelihood as was sufficient； and
perhaps too good； for him。 He managed to dine upon it a certain or rather
uncertain number of days in the week； to sleep somewhere； and to get
drunk at least three hundred times a year。 He was known to one or two
noblemen who occasionally helped him with a few pieces； and whom he
helped in turnnever mind how。 He had other acquaintances whom he
pestered undauntedly； and from whom he occasionally extracted a dinner；
or a crown； or mayhap； by mistake； a goldheaded cane； which found its
way to the pawnbroker's。 When flush of cash； he would appear at the
coffee…house； when low in funds； the deuce knows into what mystic caves
and dens he slunk for food and lodging。 He was perfectly ready with his
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sword； and when sober； or better still； a very little tipsy； was a complete
master of it； in the art of boasting and lying he had hardly any equals； in
shoes he stood six feet five inches； and here is his complete signalement。 It
was a fact that he had been in Spain as a volunteer； where he had shown
some gallantry； had had a brain…fever； and was sent home to starve as
before。
Mr。 Macshane had； however； like Mr。 Conrad； the Corsair； one virtue
in the midst of a thousand crimes；he was faithful to his employer for the
time being： and a story is told of him； which may or may not be to his
credit； viz。 that being hired on one occasion by a certain lord to inflict a
punishment upon a roturier who had crossed his lordship in his amours； he；
Macshane； did actually refuse from the person to be belaboured； and who
entreated his forbearance； a larger sum of money than the nobleman gave
him for the beating； which he performed punctually； as bound in honour
and friendship。 This tale would the Ensign himself relate； with much self…
satisfaction； and when； after the sudden flight from London； he and Brock
took to their roving occupation； he cheerfully submitted to the latter as his
commanding officer； called him always Major； and； bating blunders and
drunkenness； was perfectly true to his leader。 He had a notionand； indeed；
I don't know that it was a wrong onethat his profession was now； as
before； strictly military； and according to the rules of honour。 Robbing he
called plundering the enemy； and hanging was； in his idea； a dastardly and
cruel advantage that the latter took； and
