catherine-a story(凯瑟琳的故事)-第41节
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Mr。 Billings； and was led by the two gentlemen into an arbour； where she
was seated between them； and some wax…candles being lighted； punch was
brought。
She drank one or two glasses very eagerly； and so did her two
companions； although it was evident to see； from the flushed looks of both
of them； that they had little need of any such stimulus。 The Count； in the
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midst of his champagne； it must be said； had been amazingly stricken and
scandalised by the appearance of such a youth as Billings in a public place
with a lady under his arm。 He was； the reader will therefore understand； in
the moral stage of liquor； and when he issued out； it was not merely with
the intention of examining Mr。 Billings's female companion； but of
administering to him some sound correction for venturing； at his early
period of life； to form any such acquaintances。 On joining Billings； his
Excellency's first step was naturally to examine the lady。 After they had
been sitting for a while over their punch； he bethought him of his original
purpose； and began to address a number of moral remarks to his son。
We have already given some specimens of Monsieur de Galgenstein's
sober conversation； and it is hardly necessary to trouble the reader with
any further reports of his speeches。 They were intolerably stupid and dull；
as egotistical as his morning lecture had been； and a hundred times more
rambling and prosy。 If Cat had been in the possession of her sober senses；
she would have seen in five minutes that her ancient lover was a ninny；
and have left him with scorn； but she was under the charm of old
recollections； and the sound of that silly voice was to her magical。 As for
Mr。 Billings； he allowed his Excellency to continue his prattle； only
frowning； yawning； cursing occasionally； but drinking continually。
So the Count descanted at length upon the enormity of young
Billings's early liaisons； and then he told his own； in the year four； with a
burgomaster's daughter at Ratisbon； when he was in the Elector of
Bavaria's servicethen； after Blenheim； when he had come over to the
Duke of Marlborough； when a physician's wife at Bonn poisoned herself
for him； etc。 etc。； of a piece with the story of the canoness； which has been
recorded before。 All the tales were true。 A clever； ugly man every now and
then is successful with the ladies； but a handsome fool is irresistible。 Mrs。
Cat listened and listened。 Good heavens！ she had heard all these tales
before； and recollected the place and the timehow she was hemming a
handkerchief for Max； who came round and kissed her； vowing that the
physician's wife was nothing compared to herhow he was tired； and lying
on the sofa； just come home from shooting。 How handsome he looked！ Cat
thought he was only the handsomer now； and looked more grave and
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thoughtful； the dear fellow！
The garden was filled with a vast deal of company of all kinds； and
parties were passing every moment before the arbour where our trio sat。
About half…an…hour after his Excellency had quitted his own box and party；
the Rev。 Mr。 O'Flaherty came discreetly round； to examine the proceedings
of his diplomatical chef。 The lady in the mask was listening with all her
might； Mr。 Billings was drawing figures on the table with punch； and the
Count talking incessantly。 The Father Confessor listened for a moment；
and then； with something resembling an oath； walked away to the entry of
the gardens； where his Excellency's gilt coach； with three footmen； was
waiting to carry him back to London。 〃Get me a chair； Joseph；〃 said his
Reverence； who infinitely preferred a seat gratis in the coach。 〃That fool；〃
muttered he； 〃will not move for this hour。〃 The reverend gentleman knew
that； when the Count was on the subject of the physician's wife； his
discourses were intolerably long； and took upon himself； therefore； to
disappear； along with the rest of the Count's party； who procured other
conveyances； and returned to their homes。
After this quiet shadow had passed before the Count's box； many
groups of persons passed and repassed； and among them was no other than
Mrs。 Polly Briggs； to whom we have been already introduced。 Mrs。 Polly
was in company with one or two other ladies； and leaning on the arm of a
gentleman with large shoulders and calves； a fierce cock to his hat； and a
shabby genteel air。 His name was Mr。 Moffat； and his present occupation
was that of doorkeeper at a gambling… house in Covent Garden； where；
though he saw many thousands pass daily under his eyes； his own salary
amounted to no more than four…and…sixpence weekly；a sum quite
insufficient to maintain him in the rank which he held。
Mr。 Moffat had； however； received some fundsamounting indeed； to
a matter of twelve guineaswithin the last month； and was treating Mrs。
Briggs very generously to the concert。 It may be as well to say that every
one of the twelve guineas had come out of Mrs。 Polly's own pocket； who；
in return； had received them from Mr。 Billings。 And as the reader may
remember that； on the day of Tommy's first interview with his father； he
had previously paid a visit to Mrs。 Briggs； having under his arm a pair of
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breeches； which Mrs。 Briggs covetedhe should now be informed that she
desired these breeches； not for pincushions； but for Mr。 Moffat； who had
long been in want of a pair。 Having thus episodically narrated Mr。 Moffat's
history； let us state that he； his lady； and their friends； passed before the
Count's arbour； joining in a melodious chorus to a song which one of the
society； an actor of Betterton's； was singing：
〃'Tis my will； when I'm dead； that no tear shall be shed； No 'Hic jacet'
be graved on my stone； But pour o'er my ashes a bottle of red； And say a
good fellow is gone； My brave boys！ And say a good fellow is gone。〃
〃My brave boys〃 was given with vast emphasis by the party； Mr。
Moffat growling it in a rich bass； and Mrs。 Briggs in a soaring treble。 As to
the notes； when quavering up to the skies； they excited various emotions
among the people in the gardens。 〃Silence them blackguards！〃 shouted a
barber； who was taking a pint of small beer along with his lady。 〃Stop that
there infernal screeching！〃 said a couple of ladies； who were sipping
ratafia in company with two pretty fellows。
〃Dang it； it's Polly！〃 said Mr。 Tom Billings； bolting out of the box； and
rushing towards the sweet…voiced Mrs。 Briggs。 When he reached her；
which he did quickly； and made his arrival known by tipping Mrs。 Briggs
slightly on the waist； and suddenly bouncing down before her and her
friend； both of the latter drew back somewhat startled。
〃Law； Mr。 Billings！〃 says Mrs。 Polly； rather coolly； 〃is it you？ Who
thought of seeing you here？〃
〃Who's this here young feller？〃 says towering Mr。 Moffat； with his
bass voice。
〃It's Mr。 Billings； cousin； a friend of mine；〃 said Mrs。 Polly；
beseechingly。
〃Oh； cousin； if it's a friend of yours； he should know better how to
conduct himself； that's all。 Har you a dancing…master； young feller； that
you cut them there capers before gentlemen？〃 growled Mr。 Moffat； who
hated Mr。 Billings； for the excellent reason that he lived upon him。
〃Dancing…master be hanged！〃 said Mr。 Billings； with becoming spirit：
〃if you call me dancing…master； I'll pull your nose。〃
〃What！〃 roared Mr。 Moffat； 〃pull my nose？ MY NOSE！ I'll tell you
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what； my lad； if you durst move me； I'll cut your throat； curse me！〃
〃Oh； Moffycousin； I mean'tis a shame to treat the poor boy so。 Go
away； Tommy； do go away；
