the bedford-row conspiracy(百得福特娄阴谋)-第14节
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laid out a neat tray with cakes； a cold fowl； and sherry； to entertain his
party withal。 〃And do you bachelors always live so well？〃 continued she；
pointing to the little cold collation。
Mr。 Scully looked rather blank when he saw it； and a dreadful
suspicion crossed his soul； but there was no need to trouble Lady Gorgon
with explanations： therefore； at once； and with much presence of mind；
he asked her to partake of his bachelor's fare （she would refuse Mr。 Scully
nothing that day）。 A pretty sight would it have been for young Perkins to
see strangers so unceremoniously devouring his feast。 She drankMr。
Scully drankand so emboldened was he by the draught that he actually
seated himself by the side of Lady Gorgon； on John Perkins's new sofa。
Her Ladyship had of course something to say to him。 She was a
pious woman； and had suddenly conceived a violent wish for building a
chapel of ease at Oldborough； to which she entreated him to subscribe。
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She enlarged upon the benefits that the town would derive from it； spoke
of Sunday…schools； sweet spiritual instruction； and the duty of all well…
minded persons to give aid to the scheme。
〃I will subscribe a hundred pounds；〃 said Scully； at the end of her
Ladyship's harangue： 〃would I not do anything for you？〃
〃Thank you； thank you； dear Mr。 Scully；〃 said the enthusiastic woman。
（How the 〃dear〃 went burning through his soul！） 〃Ah！〃 added she； 〃if
you WOULD but do anything for meif you； who are so eminently； so
truly distinguished； in a religious point of view； would but see the truth in
politics too； and if I could see your name among those of the true patriot
party in this empire； how blestoh！ how blest should I be！ Poor Sir
George often says he should go to his grave happy； could he but see you
the guardian of his boy； and I； your old friend （for we WERE friends；
William）； how have I wept to think of you as one of those who are
bringing our monarchy to ruin。 Do； do promise me this too！〃 And she
took his hand and pressed it between hers。
The heart of William Pitt Scully； during this speech； was thumping up
and down with a frightful velocity and strength。 His old love； the agency
of the Gorgon propertythe dear widowfive thousand a year cleara
thousand delicious hopes rushed madly through his brain； and almost took
away his reason。 And there she satshe； the loved one； pressing his hand
and looking softly into his eyes。
Down； down he plumped on his knees。
〃Juliana！〃 shrieked he； 〃don't take away your hand！ My lovemy
only love！speak but those blessed words again！ Call me William once
more； and do with me what you will。〃
Juliana cast down her eyes and said； in the very smallest type；
〃William！〃
* * *
when the door opened； and in walked Mr。 Crampton； leading Mrs。
Biggs； who could hardly contain herself for laughing； and Mr。 John
Perkins； who was squeezing the arm of Miss Lucy。 They had heard every
word of the two last speeches。
For at the very moment when Lady Gorgon had stopped at Mr。 Scully's
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door； the four above…named individuals had issued from Great James
Street into Bedford Row。
Lucy cried out that it was her aunt's carriage； and they all saw Mr。
Scully come out； bare…headed； in the sunshine； and my Lady descend； and
the pair go into the house。 They meanwhile entered by Mr。 Perkins's own
private door； and had been occupied in examining the delightful rooms on
the ground…floor； which were to be his dining…room and libraryfrom
which they ascended a stair to visit the other two rooms； which were to
form Mrs。 John Perkins's drawing… room and bedroom。 Now whether it
was that they trod softly； or that the stairs were covered with a grand new
carpet and drugget； as was the case； or that the party within were too much
occupied in themselves to heed any outward disturbances； I know not； but
Lucy； who was advancing with John （he was saying something about one
of the apartments； the rogue！）Lucy started and whispered； 〃There is
somebody in the rooms！〃 and at that instant began the speech already
reported； 〃THANK YOU； THANK YOU； DEAR MR。 SCULLY；〃 etc。 etc。；
which was delivered by Lady Gorgon in a full clear voice； for； to do her
Ladyship justice； SHE had not one single grain of love for Mr。 Scully； and
during the delivery of her little oration； was as cool as the coolest
cucumber。
Then began the impassioned rejoinder； to which the four listened on
the landing…place； and then the little 〃William；〃 as narrated above： at
which juncture Mr。 Crampton thought proper to rattle at the door； and；
after a brief pause； to enter with his party。
〃William〃 had had time to bounce off his knees； and was on a chair at
the other end of the room。
〃What； Lady Gorgon！〃 said Mr。 Crampton； with excellent surprise；
〃how delighted I am to see you！ Always； I see employed in works of
charity〃 （the chapel…of…ease paper was on her knees）； 〃and on such an
occasion； too；it is really the most wonderful coincidence！ My dear
madam； here is a silly fellow； a nephew of mine； who is going to marry a
silly girl； a niece of your own。〃
〃Sir； I〃 began Lady Gorgon； rising。
〃They heard every word；〃 whispered Mr。 Crampton eagerly。 〃Come
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forward； Mr。 Perkins； and show yourself。〃 Mr。 Perkins made a genteel
bow。 〃Miss Lucy； please to shake hands with your aunt； and this； my
dear madam； is Mrs。 Biggs； of Mecklenburgh Square； who； if she were not
too old； might marry a gentleman in the Treasury； who is your very
humble servant。〃 And with this gallant speech； old Mr。 Crampton began
helping everybody to sherry and cake。
As for William Pitt Scully； he had disappeared； evaporated； in the most
absurd sneaking way imaginable。 Lady Gorgon made good her retreat
presently； with much dignity； her countenance undismayed； and her face
turned resolutely to the foe。
* * *
About five days afterwards； that memorable contest took place in the
House of Commons； in which the partisans of Mr。 Macabaw were so very
nearly getting him the Speakership。 On the day that the report of the
debate appeared in the Times； there appeared also an announcement in the
Gazette as follows：
〃The King has been pleased to appoint John Perkins； Esquire； to be
Deputy…Subcomptroller of His Majesty's Tape Office and Custos of the
Sealing…Wax Department。〃
Mr。 Crampton showed this to his nephew with great glee； and was
chuckling to think how Mr。 William Pitt Scully would be annoyed； who
had expected the place； when Perkins burst out laughing and said； 〃By
heavens； here is my own speech！ Scully has spoken every word of it； he
has only put in Mr。 Pincher's name in the place of Mr。 Macabaw's。〃
〃He is ours now；〃 responded his uncle； 〃and I told you WE WOULD
HAVE HIM FOR NOTHING。 I told you； too； that you should be married
from Sir George Gorgon's； and here is proof of it。〃
It was a letter from Lady Gorgon； in which she said that； 〃had she
known Mr。 Perkins to be a nephew of her friend Mr。 Crampton； she never
for a moment would have opposed his marriage with her niece； and she
had written that morning to her dear Lucy； begging that the marriage
breakfast should take place in Baker Street。〃
〃It shall be in Meckle
