catherine-a story(凯瑟琳的故事)-第32部分
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Whistlebinkie； of a mull of snuff； for which crime he was condemned to
the Tolbooth prison at Eddenboro； in Scotland； and whipped many times in
publick。
〃These deserved punishments did not at all alter Captain Macshane's
disposition； and on the 17th of February last； he stopped the Bavarian
Envoy's coach on Blackheath； coming from Dover； and robbed his
Excellency and his chaplain； taking from the former his money； watches；
star； a fur…cloak； his sword （a very valuable one）； and from the latter a
Romish missal； out of which he was then reading； and a case…bottle。〃
〃The Bavarian Envoy！〃 said Tom parenthetically。 〃My master；
Beinkleider； was his Lordship's regimental tailor in Germany； and is now
making a Court suit for him。 It will be a matter of a hundred pounds to
him； I warrant。〃
Doctor Wood resumed his reading。 〃Humhum！ A Romish missal； out
of which he was reading； and a case…bottle。
〃By means of the famous Mr。 Wild； this notorious criminal was
brought to justice； and the case…bottle and missal have been restored to
Father O'Flaherty。
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〃During his confinement in Newgate； Mr。 Macshane could not be
brought to express any contrition for his crimes； except that of having
killed his commanding officer。 For this Wood he pretended an excessive
sorrow； and vowed that usquebaugh had been the cause of his death；
indeed； in prison he partook of no other liquor； and drunk a bottle of it on
the day before his death。
〃He was visited by several of the clergy and gentry in his cell； among
others； by the Popish priest whom he had robbed； Father O'FIaherty；
before mentioned； who attended him likewise in his last moments （if that
idolatrous worship may be called attention）； and likewise by the Father's
patron； the Bavarian Ambassador； his Excellency Count Maximilian de
Galgenstein。〃
As old Wood came to these words； he paused to give them utterance。
〃What！ Max？〃 screamed Mrs。 Hayes； letting her ink…bottle fall over
her ledgers。
〃Why； be hanged if it ben't my father！〃 said Mr。 Billings。
〃Your father； sure enough； unless there be others of his name； and
unless the scoundrel is hanged；〃 said the Doctorsinking his voice；
however； at the end of the sentence。
Mr。 Billings broke his pipe in an agony of joy。 〃I think we'll have the
coach now； Mother；〃 says he； 〃and I'm blessed if Polly Briggs shall not
look as fine as a duchess。〃
〃Polly Briggs is a low slut； Tom； and not fit for the likes of you； his
Excellency's son。 Oh； fie！ You must be a gentleman now； sirrah； and I
doubt whether I shan't take you away from that odious tailor's shop
altogether。〃
To this proposition Mr。 Billings objected altogether； for； besides Mrs。
Briggs before alluded to； the young gentleman was much attached to his
master's daughter； Mrs。 Margaret Gretel； or Gretchen Beinkleider。
〃No；〃 says he。 〃There will be time to think of that hereafter； ma'am。 If
my pa makes a man of me； why； of course； the shop may go to the deuce；
for what I care； but we had better wait； look you； for something certain
before we give up such a pretty bird in the hand as this。〃
〃He speaks like Solomon；〃 said the Doctor。
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〃I always said he would be a credit to his old mother； didn't I； Brock？〃
cried Mrs。 Cat； embracing her son very affectionately。 〃A credit to her； ay；
I warrant； a real blessing！ And dost thou want any money； Tom？ for a
lord's son must not go about without a few pieces in his pocket。 And I tell
thee； Tommy； thou must go and see his Lordship； and thou shalt have a
piece of brocade for a waistcoat； thou shalt； ay； and the silver…hilted sword
I told thee of； but oh； Tommy； Tommy！ have a care； and don't be a…
drawing of it in naughty company at the gaming…houses； or at the〃
〃A drawing of fiddlesticks； Mother！ If I go to see my father； I must
have a reason for it； and instead of going with a sword in my hand； I shall
take something else in it。〃
〃The lad IS a lad of nous；〃 cried Doctor Wood； 〃although his mother
does spoil him so cruelly。 Look you； Madam Cat： did you not hear what he
said about Beinkleider and the clothes？ Tommy will just wait on the Count
with his Lordship's breeches。 A man may learn a deal of news in the trying
on of a pair of breeches。〃
And so it was agreed that in this manner the son should at first make
his appearance before his father。 Mrs。 Cat gave him the piece of brocade；
which； in the course of the day； was fashioned into a smart waistcoat （for
Beinkleider's shop was close by； in Cavendish Square）。 Mrs。 Gretel； with
many blushes； tied a fine blue riband round his neck； and； in a pair of silk
stockings； with gold buckles to his shoes； Master Billings looked a very
proper young gentleman。
〃And； Tommy；〃 said his mother； blushing and hesitating； 〃should Max…
…should his Lordship ask after yourwant to know if your mother is alive；
you can say she is； and well； and often talks of old times。 And； Tommy〃
（after another pause）； 〃you needn't say anything about Mr。 Hayes； only say
I'm quite well。〃
Mrs。 Hayes looked at him as he marched down the street； a long long
way。 Tom was proud and gay in his new costume； and was not unlike his
father。 As she looked； lo！ Oxford Street disappeared； and she saw a green
common； and a village； and a little inn。 There was a soldier leading a pair
of horses about on the green common； and in the inn sat a cavalier； so
young； so merry； so beautiful！ Oh； what slim white hands he had； and
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winning words； and tender； gentle blue eyes！ Was it not an honour to a
country lass that such a noble gentleman should look at her for a moment？
Had he not some charm about him that she must needs obey when he
whispered in her ear； 〃Come； follow me！〃 As she walked towards the lane
that morning； how well she remembered each spot as she passed it； and the
look it wore for the last time！ How the smoke was rising from the pastures；
how the fish were jumping and plashing in the mill…stream！ There was the
church； with all its windows lighted up with gold； and yonder were the
reapers sweeping down the brown corn。 She tried to sing as she went up
the hillwhat was it？ She could not remember； but oh； how well she
remembered the sound of the horse's hoofs； as they came quicker； quicker…
…nearer； nearer！ How noble he looked on his great horse！ Was he thinking
of her； or were they all silly words which he spoke last night； merely to
pass away the time and deceive poor girls with？ Would he remember
them；would he？
〃Cat my dear；〃 here cried Mr。 Brock； alias Captain； alias Doctor Wood；
〃here's the meat a…getting cold； and I am longing for my breakfast。〃
As they went in he looked her hard in the face。 〃What； still at it； you
silly girl？ I've been watching you these five minutes； Cat； and be hanged
but I think a word from Galgenstein； and you would follow him as a fly
does a treacle…pot！〃
They went in to breakfast； but though there was a hot shoulder of
mutton and onion…sauceMrs。 Catherine's favourite dishshe never
touched a morsel of it。
In the meanwhile Mr。 Thomas Billings； in his new clothes which his
mamma had given him； in his new riband which the fair Miss Beinkleider
had tied round his neck； and having his Excellency's breeches wrapped in
a silk handkerchief in his right hand； turned down in the direction of
Whitehall； where the Bavarian Envoy lodged。 But； before he waited on
him； Mr。 Billings； being excessively pleased with his personal appearance；
made an early visit to Mrs。 Briggs； who lived in the neighbourhood of
Swallow Street； and who； after expressing herself with much enthusiasm
regarding her Tommy's good looks； immediately asked him what he would
stand to drink？ Raspberry gin being suggested； a pint of that liquor was
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sent for； and so great was the confidence and intimacy subsisting between
these two young people； that the reader will be glad to hear that Mrs。 Polly
accepted every shilling of the money which Tom Billings had received
from his mamma the day before； nay； could with difficulty be prevented
from seizing upon the cut…velvet breeches which he was carrying to the
nobleman for whom they were made。 Having paid his adieux to Mrs。 Polly；
Mr。 Billings departed to visit his father。
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CHAPTER IX。 INTERVIEW
BETWEEN COUNT
