the bedford-row conspiracy(百得福特娄阴谋)-第11节
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in part the cause of the delay of which you complain。 You gave us two
votes five years ago； you now only give us one。 If Sir George were to go
up to the Peers； we should lose even that one vote； and would it be
common sense in us to incur such a loss？ Mr。 Scully； the Liberal； would
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return another Member of his own way of thinking； and as for the Lords；
we have； you know； a majority there。〃
〃Oh； that horrid man！〃 said Lady Gorgon； cursing Mr。 Scully in her
heart； and beginning to play a rapid tattoo with her feet； 〃that miscreant；
that traitor； thatthat attorney has been our ruin。〃
〃Horrid man； if you please； but give me leave to tell you that the horrid
man is not the sole cause of your ruinif ruin you will call it。 I am sorry
to say that I do candidly think Ministers believe that Sir George Gorgon
has lost his influence in Oldborough as much through his own fault as
through Mr。 Scully's cleverness。〃
〃Our own fault！ Good heavens！ Have we not done everything
everything that persons of our station in the county could do； to keep those
misguided men？ Have we not remonstrated； threatened； taken away our
custom from the Mayor； established a Conservative apothecaryin fact；
done all that gentlemen could do？ But these are such times； Mr。 Crampton：
the spirit of revolution is abroad； and the great families of England are
menaced by democratic insolence。〃
This was Sir George Gorgon's speech always after dinner； and was
delivered by his lady with a great deal of stateliness。 Somewhat； perhaps；
to her annoyance； Mr。 Crampton only smiled； shook his head； and said
〃Nonsense； my dear Lady Gorgonpardon the phrase； but I am a plain
old man； and call things by their names。 Now； will you let me whisper in
your ear one word of truth？ You have tried all sorts of remonstrances；
and exerted yourself to maintain your influence in every way； except the
right one； and that is〃 〃What； in Heaven's name？〃
〃Conciliation。 We know your situation in the borough。 Mr。 Scully's
whole history； and； pardon me for saying so （but we men in office know
everything）； yours〃
Lady Gorgon's ears and cheeks now assumed the hottest hue of
crimson。 She thought of her former passages with Scully； and of the days
whenbut never mind when： for she suffered her veil to fall； and buried
her head in the folds of her handkerchief。 Vain folds！ The wily little Mr。
Crampton could see all that passed behind the cambric； and continued
〃Yes； madam； we know the absurd hopes that were formed by a certain
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attorney twenty years since。 We know how； up to this moment； he boasts
of certain walks〃
〃With the governesswe were always with the governess！〃 shrieked
out Lady Gorgon； clasping her hands。 〃She was not the wisest of
women。〃
〃With the governess； of course；〃 said Mr。 Crampton； firmly。 〃Do you
suppose that any man dare breathe a syllable against your spotless
reputation？ Never； my dear madam； but what I would urge is this… …you
have treated your disappointed admirer too cruelly。〃
〃What！ the traitor who has robbed us of our rights？〃
〃He never would have robbed you of your rights if you had been more
kind to him。 You should be gentle； madam； you should forgive him… …you
should be friends with him。〃
〃With a traitor； never！〃
〃Think what made him a traitor； Lady Gorgon； look in your glass； and
say if there be not some excuse for him？ Think of the feelings of the
man who saw beauty such as yoursI am a plain man and must speak
virtue such as yours； in the possession of a rival。 By heavens； madam； I
think he was RIGHT to hate Sir George Gorgon！ Would you have him
allow such a prize to be ravished from him without a pang on his part？〃
〃He was； I believe； very much attached to me；〃 said Lady Gorgon；
quite delighted； 〃but you must be aware that a young man of his station in
life could not look up to a person of my rank。〃
〃Surely not： it was monstrous pride and arrogance in Mr。 Scully。 But
que voulez…vous？ Such is the world's way。 Scully could not help loving
youwho that knows you can？ I am a plain man； and say what I think。
He loves you still。 Why make an enemy of him； who would at a word be
at your feet？ Dearest Lady Gorgon； listen to me。 Sir George Gorgon and
Mr。 Scully have already mettheir meeting was our contrivance。 It is for
our interest； for yours； that they should be friends。 If there were two
Ministerial Members for Oldborough； do you think your husband's
peerage would be less secure？ I am not at liberty to tell you all I know
on this subject； but do； I entreat you； be reconciled to him。〃
And after a little more conversation； which was carried on by Mr。
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Crampton in the same tender way； this important interview closed； and
Lady Gorgon； folding her shawl round her； threaded certain mysterious
passages and found her way to her carriage in Whitehall。
〃I hope you have not been listening； you rogue？〃 said Mr。 Crampton to
his nephew； who blushed most absurdly by way of answer。 〃You would
have heard great State secrets； if you had dared to do so。 That woman is
perpetually here； and if peerages are to be had for the asking； she ought to
have been a duchess by this time。 I would not have admitted her but for
a reason that I have。 Go you now and ponder upon what you have heard
and seen。 Be on good terms with Scully； and； above all； speak not a word
concerning our interviewno； not a word even to your mistress。 By the
way； I presume； sir； you will recall your resignation？〃
The bewildered Perkins was about to stammer out a speech； when his
uncle； cutting it short； pushed him gently out of the door。
* * *
At the period when the important events occurred which have been
recorded here； parties ran very high； and a mighty struggle for the vacant
Speakership was about to come on。 The Right Honourable Robert
Pincher was the Ministerial candidate； and Sir Charles Macabaw was
patronised by the Opposition。 The two Members for Oldborough of
course took different sides； the baronet being of the Pincher faction； while
Mr。 William Pitt Scully strongly supported the Macabaw party。
It was Mr。 Scully's intention to deliver an impromptu speech upon the
occasion of the election； and he and his faithful Perkins prepared it
between them： for the latter gentleman had wisely kept his uncle's
counsel and his own and Mr。 Scully was quite ignorant of the conspiracy
that was brooding。 Indeed； so artfully had that young Machiavel of a
Perkins conducted himself； that when asked by his patron whether he had
given up his place in the Tape and Sealing Wax Office； he replied that 〃he
HAD tendered his resignation；〃 but did not say one word about having
recalled it。
〃You were right； my boy； quite right；〃 said Mr。 Scully。 〃A man of
uncompromising principles should make no compromise。〃 And herewith
he sat down and wrote off a couple of letters； one to Mr。 Hawksby； telling
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him that the place in the Sealing…Wax Office was； as he had reason to
know； vacant； and the other to his nephew； stating that it was to be his。
〃Under the rose； my dear Bob；〃 added Mr。 Scully； 〃it will cost you five
hundred pounds； but you cannot invest your money better。〃
It is needless to state that the affa
