burlesques-第30节
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are beautiful; and will become Mrs。 Plush admirably。'
〃This was hall!Confewshn! And there stood the footmen sniggerin;
and that hojus Mary Hann half a cryin; half a laffing at me! 'Who
has she gone hoff with?' rors I; and Mary Hann (smiling with one
hi) just touched the top of one of the Johns' canes who was goin
out with the noats to put hoff the brekfst。 It was Silvertop then!
〃I bust out of the house in a stayt of diamoniacal igsitement!
〃The stoary of that ilorpmint I have no art to tell。 Here it is
from the Morning Tatler newspaper:
〃ELOPEMENT IN HIGH LIFE。
〃THE ONLY AUTHENTIC ACCOUNT。
〃The neighborhood of Berkeley Square; and the whole fashionable
world; has been thrown into a state of the most painful excitement
by an event which has just placed a noble family in great
perplexity and affliction。
〃It has long been known among the select nobility and gentry that a
marriage was on the tapis between the only daughter of a Noble
Earl; and a Gentleman whose rapid fortunes in the railway world
have been the theme of general remark。 Yesterday's paper; it was
supposed; in all human probability would have contained an account
of the marriage of James De la Pl…che; Esq。; and the Lady Angelina
; daughter of the Right honorable the Earl of B…re…cres。 The
preparations for this ceremony were complete: we had the pleasure
of inspecting the rich trousseau (prepared by Miss Twiddler; of
Pall Mall); the magnificent jewels from the establishment of
Messrs。 Storr and Mortimer; the elegant marriage cake; which;
already cut up and portioned; is; alas! not destined to be eaten by
the friends of Mr。 De la Pl…che; the superb carriages; and
magnificent liveries; which had been provided in a style of the
most lavish yet tasteful sumptuosity。 The Right Reverend the Lord
Bishop of Bullocksmithy had arrived in town to celebrate the
nuptials; and is staying at Mivart's。 What must have been the
feelings of that venerable prelate; what those of the agonized and
noble parents of the Lady Angelinawhen it was discovered; on the
day previous to the wedding; that her Ladyship had fled the
paternal mansion! To the venerable Bishop the news of his noble
niece's departure might have been fatal: we have it from the
waiters of Mivart's that his Lordship was about to indulge in the
refreshment of turtle soup when the news was brought to him;
immediate apoplexy was apprehended; but Mr。 Macann; the celebrated
surgeon of Westminster; was luckily passing through Bond Street at
the time; and being promptly called in; bled and relieved the
exemplary patient。 His Lordship will return to the Palace;
Bullocksmithy; tomorrow。
〃The frantic agonies of the Right Honorable the Earl of Bareacres
can be imagined by every paternal heart。 Far be it from us to
disturbimpossible is it for us to describe their noble sorrow。
Our reporters have made inquiries every ten minutes at the Earl's
mansion in Hill Street; regarding the health of the Noble Peer and
his incomparable Countess。 They have been received with a rudeness
which we deplore but pardon。 One was threatened with a cane;
another; in the pursuit of his official inquiries; was saluted with
a pail of water; a third gentleman was menaced in a pugilistic
manner by his Lordship's porter; but being of an Irish nation; a
man of spirit and sinew; and Master of Arts of Trinity College;
Dublin; the gentleman of our establishment confronted the menial;
and having severely beaten him; retired to a neighboring hotel much
frequented by the domestics of the surrounding nobility; and there
obtained what we believe to be the most accurate particulars of
this extraordinary occurrence。
〃George Frederick Jennings; third footman in the establishment of
Lord Bareacres; stated to our employe as follows:Lady Angelina
had been promised to Mr。 De la Pluche for near six weeks。 She
never could abide that gentleman。 He was the laughter of all the
servants' hall。 Previous to his elevation he had himself been
engaged in a domestic capacity。 At that period he had offered
marriage to Mary Ann Hoggins; who was living in the quality of
ladies'…maid in the family where Mr。 De la P。 was employed。 Miss
Hoggins became subsequently lady's…maid to Lady Angelinathe
elopement was arranged between those two。 It was Miss Hoggins who
delivered the note which informed the bereaved Mr。 Plush of his
loss。
〃Samuel Buttons; page to the Right honorable the Earl of Bareacres;
was ordered on Friday afternoon at eleven o'clock to fetch a
cabriolet from the stand in Davies Street。 He selected the cab No。
19;796; driven by George Gregory Macarty; a one…eyed man from
Clonakilty; in the neighborhood of Cork; Ireland (of whom more
anon); and waited; according to his instructions; at the corner of
Berkeley Square with his vehicle。 His young lady; accompanied by
her maid; Miss Mary Ann Hoggins; carrying a band…box; presently
arrived; and entered the cab with the box: what were the contents
of that box we have never been able to ascertain。 On asking her
Ladyship whether he should order the cab to drive in any particular
direction; he was told to drive to Madame Crinoline's; the eminent
milliner in Cavendish Square。 On requesting to know whether he
should accompany her Ladyship; Buttons was peremptorily ordered by
Miss Hoggins to go about his business。
〃Having now his clue; our reporter instantly went in search of cab
19;796; or rather the driver of that vehicle; who was discovered
with no small difficulty at his residence; Whetstone Park;
Lincoln's Inn Fields; where he lives with his family of nine
children。 Having received two sovereigns; instead doubtless of two
shillings (his regular fare; by the way; would have been only one…
and…eightpence); Macarty had not gone out with the cab for the two
last days; passing them in a state of almost ceaseless intoxication。
His replies were very incoherent in answer to the queries of our
reporter; and; had not that gentleman himself been a compatriot; it
is probable he would have refused altogether to satisfy the curiosity
of the public。
〃At Madame Crinoline's; Miss Hoggins quitted the carriage; and A
GENTLEMAN entered it。 Macarty describes him as a very CLEVER
gentleman (meaning tall) with black moustaches; Oxford…gray
trousers; and black hat and a pea…coat。 He drove the couple TO THE
EUSTON SQUARE STATION; and there left them。 How he employed his
time subsequently we have stated。
〃At the Euston Square Station; the gentleman of our establishment
learned from Frederick Corduroy; a porter there; that a gentleman
answering the above description had taken places to Derby。 We have
despatched a confidential gentleman thither; by a special train;
and shall give his report in a second edition。
〃SECOND EDITION。
〃(From our Reporter。)
〃NEWCASTLE; Monday。
〃I am just arrived at this ancient town; at the 'Elephant and
Cucumber Hotel。' A party travelling under the name of MR。 AND MRS。
JONES; the gentleman wearing moustaches; and having with them a
blue band…box; arrived by the train two hours before me; and have
posted onwards to SCOTLAND。 I have ordered four horses; and write
this on the hind boot; as they are putting to。
〃THIRD EDITION。
〃GRETNA GREEN; Monday Evening。
〃The mystery is at length solved。 This afternoon; at four o'clock;
the Hymeneal Blacksmith; of Gretna Green; celebrated the marriage
between George Granby Silvertop; Esq。; a Lieutenant in the 150th
Hussars; third son of General John Silvertop; of Silvertop Hall;
Yorkshire; and Lady Emily Silvertop; daughter of the late sister of
the present Earl of Bareacres; and the Lady Angelina Amelia
Arethusa Anaconda Alexandrina Alicompania Annemaria Antoinetta;
daughter of the last…named Earl Bareacres。
(Here follows a long extract from the Marriage Service in the Book
of Common Prayer; which was not read on the occasion; and need not
be repeated here。)
〃After the ceremony; the young couple partook of a slight
refreshment of sherry and waterthe former the Captain pronounced
to be execrable; and; having myself tasted some glasses from the
VERY SAME BOTTLE with which the young and noble pair were served; I
must say I think the Captain was rather hard upon mine host of the
'Bagpipes Hotel and Posting…House;' whence they instantly proceeded。
I follow them as soon as the horses have fed。
〃FOURTH EDITION。
〃SHAMEFUL TREATMENT OF OUR REPORTER。
〃WHISTLEBINKIE; N。 B。 Monday; Midnight。
〃I arrived at this romantic little villa about two hours after the
newly married couple; whose progress I have the honor to trace;
reached Whistlebinkie。 They have taken up their residence at the
'Cairngorm Arms'mine is at the other hostelry; the 'Clachan of
Whistlebinkie。'
〃On driving up to the 'Cairngorm Arms;' I found a gentleman of
military ap