catherine-a story(凯瑟琳的故事)-第48节
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To this charge Mr。 Hayes pleaded； very meekly； that he was not guilty；
and young Billings； taking him by the collar； and clinching his fist in his
face； swore a dreadful oath that he would have the life of him if he dared
abuse his mother。 Mrs。 Hayes then spoke of the general report abroad； that
he was going to desert her； which； if he attempted to do； Mr。 Billings
vowed that he would follow him to Jerusalem and have his blood。 These
threats； and the insolent language of young Billings； rather calmed Hayes
than agitated him： he longed to be on his journey； but he began to hope
that no obstacle would be placed in the way of it。 For the first time since
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many days； he began to enjoy a feeling something akin to security； and
could look with tolerable confidence towards a comfortable completion of
his own schemes of treason。
These points being duly settled； we are now arrived； O public； at a
point for which the author's soul hath been yearning ever since this history
commenced。 We are now come； O critic； to a stage of the work when this
tale begins to assume an appearance so interestingly horrific； that you
must have a heart of stone if you are not interested by it。 O candid and
discerning reader； who art sick of the hideous scenes of brutal bloodshed
which have of late come forth from pens of certain eminent wits；* if you
turn away disgusted from the book； remember that this passage hath not
been written for you； or such as you； who have taste to know and hate the
style in which it hath been composed； but for the public； which hath no
such taste：for the public； which can patronise four different
representations of Jack Sheppard；for the public whom its literary
providers have gorged with blood and foul Newgate garbage；and to
whom we poor creatures； humbly following at the tail of our great high…
priests and prophets of the press； may； as in duty bound； offer some small
gift of our own： a little mite truly； but given with good…will。 Come up； then；
fair Catherine and brave Count；appear； gallant Brock； and faultless
Billings；hasten hither； honest John Hayes： the former chapters are but
flowers in which we have been decking you for the sacrifice。 Ascend to
the altar； ye innocent lambs； and prepare for the final act： lo！ the knife is
sharpened； and the sacrificer ready！ Stretch your throats； sweet ones；for
the public is thirsty； and must have blood！
* This was written in 1840。
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CHAPTER THE LAST。
That Mr。 Hayes had some notion of the attachment of Monsieur de
Galgenstein for his wife is very certain： the man could not but perceive
that she was more gaily dressed； and more frequently absent than usual；
and must have been quite aware that from the day of the quarrel until the
present period； Catherine had never asked him for a shilling for the house
expenses。 He had not the heart to offer； however； nor； in truth； did she
seem to remember that money was due。
She received； in fact； many sums from the tender Count。 Tom was
likewise liberally provided by the same personage； who was； moreover；
continually sending presents of various kinds to the person on whom his
affections were centred。
One of these gifts was a hamper of choice mountain…wine； which had
been some weeks in the house； and excited the longing of Mr。 Hayes； who
loved wine very much。 This liquor was generally drunk by Wood and
Billings； who applauded it greatly； and many times； in passing through the
back…parlour；which he had to traverse in order to reach the stair； Hayes
had cast a tender eye towards the drink； of which； had he dared； he would
have partaken。
On the 1st of March； in the year 1726； Mr。 Hayes had gathered
together almost the whole sum with which he intended to decamp； and
having on that very day recovered the amount of a bill which he thought
almost hopeless； he returned home in tolerable good…humour； and feeling；
so near was his period of departure； something like security。 Nobody had
attempted the least violence on him： besides； he was armed with pistols；
had his money in bills in a belt about his person； and really reasoned with
himself that there was no danger for him to apprehend。
He entered the house about dusk； at five o'clock。 Mrs。 Hayes was
absent with Mr。 Billings； only Mr。 Wood was smoking； according to his
wont； in the little back…parlour； and as Mr。 Hayes passed； the old
gentleman addressed him in a friendly voice； and； wondering that he had
been such a stranger； invited him to sit and take a glass of wine。 There was
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a light and a foreman in the shop； Mr。 Hayes gave his injunctions to that
person； and saw no objection to Mr。 Wood's invitation。
The conversation； at first a little stiff between the two gentlemen；
began speedily to grow more easy and confidential： and so particularly
bland and good…humoured was Mr。； or Doctor Wood； that his companion
was quite caught； and softened by the charm of his manner； and the pair
became as good friends as in the former days of their intercourse。
〃I wish you would come down sometimes of evenings；〃 quoth Doctor
Wood； 〃for； though no book…learned man； Mr。 Hayes； look you； you are a
man of the world； and I can't abide the society of boys。 There's Tom； now；
since this tiff with Mrs。 Cat； the scoundrel plays the Grank Turk here！ The
pair of 'em； betwixt them； have completely gotten the upper hand of you。
Confess that you are beaten； Master Hayes； and don't like the boy？〃
〃No more I do；〃 said Hayes； 〃and that's the truth on't。 A man doth not
like to have his wife's sins flung in his face； nor to be perpetually bullied
in his own house by such a fiery sprig as that。〃
〃Mischief； sir；mischief only；〃 said Wood： 〃'tis the fun of youth； sir；
and will go off as age comes to the lad。 Bad as you may think himand he
is as skittish and fierce； sure enough； as a young colt…there is good stuff
in him； and though he hath； or fancies he hath； the right to abuse every one；
by the Lord he will let none others do so！ Last week； now； didn't he tell
Mrs。 Cat that you served her right in the last beating matter？ and weren't
they coming to knives； just as in your case？ By my faith； they were。 Ay；
and at the 〃Braund's Head；〃 when some fellow said that you were a bloody
Bluebeard； and would murder your wife； stab me if Tom wasn't up in an
instant and knocked the fellow down for abusing of you！〃
The first of these stories was quite true； the second was only a
charitable invention of Mr。 Wood； and employed； doubtless； for the
amiable purpose of bringing the old and young men together。 The scheme
partially succeeded； for； though Hayes was not so far mollified towards
Tom as to entertain any affection for a young man whom he had cordially
detested ever since he knew him； yet he felt more at ease and cheerful
regarding himself： and surely not without reason。 While indulging in these
benevolent sentiments； Mrs。 Catherine and her son arrived； and found；
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somewhat to their astonishment； Mr。 Hayes seated in the back…parlour； as
in former times； and they were invited by Mr。 Wood to sit down and drink。
We have said that certain bottles of mountain…wine were presented by
the Count to Mrs。 Catherine： these were； at Mr。 Wood's suggestion；
produced； and Hayes； who had long been coveting them； was charmed to
have an opportunity to drink his fill。 He forthwith began bragging of his
great powers as a drinker； and vowed that he could manage eight bottles
without becoming intoxicated。
Mr。 Wood grinned strangely； and looked in a peculiar way at Tom
Billings； who grinned too。 Mrs。 Cat's eyes were turned towards the ground：
but her face was deadly pa
