catherine-a story(凯瑟琳的故事)-第39节
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garlic； nor white…wine； stap me！ nor Sauerkraut； though his Highness eats
half a bushel per day。 I ate it the first time at Court； but when they brought
it me a second time； I refusedrefused； split me and grill me if I didn't！
Everybody stared； his Highness looked as fierce as a Turk； and that
infernal Krahwinkel （my dear； I did for him afterwards）that cursed
Krahwinkel； I say； looked as pleased as possible； and whispered to
Countess Fritsch； 'Blitzchen； Frau Grafinn；' says he； 'it's all over with
Galgenstein。' What did I do？ I had the entree； and demanded it。 'Altesse；'
says I； falling on one knee； 'I ate no kraut at dinner to…day。 You remarked it：
I saw your Highness remark it。'
〃'I did； M。 le Comte；' said his Highness； gravely。
〃I had almost tears in my eyes； but it was necessary to come to a
resolution； you know。 'Sir；' said I； 'I speak with deep grief to your
Highness； who are my benefactor； my friend； my father； but of this I am
resolved； I WILL NEVER EAT SAUERKRAUT MORE： it don't agree
with me。 After being laid up for four weeks by the last dish of Sauerkraut
of which I partook； I may say with confidenceIT DON'T agree with me。
By impairing my health； it impairs my intellect； and weakens my strength；
and both I would keep for your Highness's service。'
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〃'Tut； tut！' said his Highness。 'Tut； tut； tut！' Those were his very words。
〃'Give me my sword or my pen；' said I。 'Give me my sword or my pen；
and with these Maximilian de Galgenstein is ready to serve you； but sure；…
…sure； a great prince will pity the weak health of a faithful subject； who
does not know how to eat Sauerkraut？' His Highness was walking about
the room： I was still on my knees； and stretched forward my hand to seize
his coat。
〃'GEHT ZUM TEUFEL； Sir！' said he； in a loud voice （it means 'Go to
the deuce；' my dear）；'Geht zum Teufel； and eat what you like！' With this
he went out of the room abruptly； leaving in my hand one of his buttons；
which I keep to this day。 As soon as I was alone； amazed by his great
goodness and bounty； I sobbed aloudcried like a child〃 （the Count's eyes
filled and winked at the very recollection）； 〃and when I went back into the
card…room； stepping up to Krahwinkel； 'Count；' says I； 'who looks foolish
now？'Hey there； La Rose； give me the diamond Yes； that was the very
pun I made； and very good it was thought。 'Krahwinkel；' says I； 'WHO
LOOKS FOOLISH NOW？' and from that day to this I was never at a
Court…day asked to eat SauerkrautNEVER！〃
〃Hey there； La Rose！ Bring me that diamond snuff…box in the drawer
of my secretaire；〃 and the snuff…box was brought。 〃Look at it； my dear；〃
said the Count； 〃for I saw you seemed to doubt。 There is the buttonthe
very one that came off his Grace's coat。〃
Mr。 Billings received it； and twisted it about with a stupid air。 The
story had quite mystified him； for he did not dare yet to think his father
was a foolhis respect for the aristocracy prevented him。
When the Count's communications had ceased； which they did as soon
as the story of the Sauerkraut was finished； a silence of some minutes
ensued。 Mr。 Billings was trying to comprehend the circumstances above
narrated； his Lordship was exhausted； the chaplain had quitted the room
directly the word Sauerkraut was mentionedhe knew what was coming。
His Lordship looked for some time at his son； who returned the gaze with
his mouth wide open。 〃Well；〃 said the Count〃well； sir？ What are you
sitting there for？ If you have nothing to say； sir； you had better go。 I had
you here to amuse mesplit meand not to sit there staring！〃
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Catherine： A Story
Mr。 Billings rose in a fury。
〃Hark ye； my lad；〃 said the Count； 〃tell La Rose to give thee five
guineas； and； ahcome again some morning。 A nice well…grown young
lad；〃 mused the Count； as Master Tommy walked wondering out of the
apartment； 〃a pretty fellow enough； and intelligent too。〃
〃Well； he IS an odd fellow； my father；〃 thought Mr。 Billings； as he
walked out； having received the sum offered to him。 And he immediately
went to call upon his friend Polly Briggs； from whom he had separated in
the morning。
What was the result of their interview is not at all necessary to the
progress of this history。 Having made her； however； acquainted with the
particulars of his visit to his father； he went to his mother's； and related to
her all that had occurred。
Poor thing； she was very differently interested in the issue of it！
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Catherine： A Story
CHAPTER X。 SHOWING HOW
GALGENSTEIN AND MRS。 CAT
RECOGNISE EACH OTHER IN
MARYLEBONE GARDENSAND
HOW THE COUNT DRIVES HER
HOME IN HIS CARRIAGE。
About a month after the touching conversation above related； there
was given； at Marylebone Gardens； a grand concert and entertainment； at
which the celebrated Madame Amenaide； a dancer of the theatre at Paris；
was to perform； under the patronage of several English and foreign
noblemen； among whom was his Excellency the Bavarian Envoy。 Madame
Amenaide was； in fact； no other than the maitresse en titre of the Monsieur
de Galgenstein； who had her a great bargain from the Duke de Rohan…
Chabot at Paris。
It is not our purpose to make a great and learned display here；
otherwise the costumes of the company assembled at this fete might afford
scope for at least half…a…dozen pages of fine writing； and we might give； if
need were； specimens of the very songs and music sung on the occasion。
Does not the Burney collection of music； at the British Museum； afford
one an ample store of songs from which to choose？ Are there not the
memoirs of Colley Cibber？ those of Mrs。 Clark； the daughter of Colley？ Is
there not Congreve； and Farquharnay； and at a pinch； the 〃Dramatic
Biography；〃 or even the Spectator； from which the observant genius might
borrow passages； and construct pretty antiquarian figments？ Leave we
these trifles to meaner souls！ Our business is not with the breeches and
periwigs； with the hoops and patches； but with the divine hearts of men；
and the passions which agitate them。 What need； therefore； have we to say
that on this evening； after the dancing； the music； and the fireworks；
Monsieur de Galgenstein felt the strange and welcome pangs of appetite；
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Catherine： A Story
and was picking a cold chicken； along with some other friends in an
arboura cold chicken； with an accompaniment of a bottle of champagne
when he was led to remark that a very handsome plump little person； in a
gorgeous stiff damask gown and petticoat； was sauntering up and down
the walk running opposite his supping…place； and bestowing continual
glances towards his Excellency。 The lady； whoever she was； was in a mask；
such as ladies of high and low fashion wore at public places in those days；
and had a male companion。 He was a lad of only seventeen； marvellously
well dressedindeed； no other than the Count's own son； Mr。 Thomas
Billings； who had at length received from his mother the silver…hilted
sword； and the wig； which that affectionate parent had promised to him。
In the course of the month which had elapsed since the interview that
has been described in the former chapter； Mr。 Billings had several times
had occasion to wait on his father； but though he had； according to her
wishes； frequently alluded to the existence of his mother； the Count had
never at any time expressed the slightest wish to renew his acquaintance
with that lady； who； if she had seen him； had only seen him by stealth。
The fact is； that after Billings had related to her the particu
