royalty restored-第26部分
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
ch as possible； she seldom wears any other than green stockings。 I went yesterday to Miss Stuart's after the audience of those damned Muscovites： the king arrived there just before me； and as if the duke had sworn to pursue me wherever I went that day； he came in just after me。 The conversation turned upon the extraordinary appearance of the ambassadors。 I know not where that fool Crofts had heard that all these Muscovites had handsome wives； and that all their wives had handsome legs。 Upon this the king maintained； that no woman ever had such handsome legs as Miss Stuart； and she to prove the truth of his majesty's assertion； with the greatest imaginable ease； immediately showed her leg above the knee。 Some were ready to prostrate themselves in order to adore its beauty； for indeed none can be handsomer； but the duke alone began to criticize upon it。 He contended that it was too slender； and that as for himself he would give nothing for a leg that was not thicker and shorter； and concluded by saying that no leg was worth anything without green stockings； now this in my opinion was a sufficient demonstration that he had just seen green stockings； and had them fresh in his remembrance。〃
At hearing this story； Hamilton； being deeply in love with Lady Chesterfield； was scarcely less agitated or less jealous than her lord； but he was obliged to conceal his feelings。 Therefore； assuming the tone of an impartial hearer； he shrugged his shoulders； declared appearances were often deceitful； and maintained that even if she had given herself airs to encourage the duke； there were no grounds to show she had been culpable of improprieties。 My lord expressed himself much obliged to his friend for the interest he had shown in his troubles； and after exchanging a few compliments they parted。 Hamilton； full of wrath； returned home； and wrote a letter replete with violent expostulations and tender reproaches to the woman he loved。 This he delivered to her secretly at the next opportunity。 She received it from him with a smile； which scared all doubts of her frailty from his mind； and with a pressure of his hand which awoke the tenderest feelings in his heart。
He was now convinced her husband had allowed jealousy to blind him； and had magnified his unworthy suspicions to assurances of guilt。 Is this view Hamilton was fully confirmed by a letter he received from her the following day in answer to his own。 〃Are you not；〃 said she； 〃ashamed to give any credit to the visions of a jealous fellow； who brought nothing else with him from Italy？ Is it possible that the story of the green stockings； upon which he has founded his suspicions； should have imposed upon you； accompanied as it is with such pitiful circumstances？ Since he has made you his confidant； why did not he boast of breaking in pieces my poor harmless guitar？ This exploit； perhaps； might have convinced you more than all the rest； recollect yourself； and if you are really in love with me； thank fortune for a groundless jealousy； which diverts to another quarter the attention he might pay to my attachment for the most amiable and the most dangerous man at court。〃
Anointed by this flattering unction； such wounds as Hamilton had experienced were quickly healed； alas； only to bleed afresh at the certain knowledge that this charming woman had been making him her dupe！ For soon after； in a moment of indiscretion； and whilst the whole court； including her majesty； was assembled in the card…room； my lady there permitted the duke a liberty which confirmed her husband in his suspicions of their intimacy。 Hamilton at hearing this was wild with fury； and advised Lord Chesterfield to carry her away from the allurements of the court； and seclude her in one of his country mansions。 This was an advice to which the earl listened with complaisance； and carried out with despatch； to her intense mortification。
The whole court was amused by the story； but dismayed at the punishment my lord inflicted upon his lady。 Anthony Hamilton declares that in England 〃they looked with astonishment upon a man who could be so uncivil as to be jealous of his wife； and in the city of London it was a prodigy； till that time unknown； to see a husband have recourse to violent means to prevent what jealousy fears； and what it always deserves。〃 He adds； they endeavoured to excuse my lord by laying all the blame on his bad education； which made 〃all the mothers vow to God that none of their sons should ever set a foot in Italy； lest they should bring back with them that infamous custom of laying restraint upon their wives。〃
By the departure of Lady Chesterfield the court lost one of its most brilliant ornaments forever； for the unhappy countess never again returned to the gay scene of her adventures。 For three long years she endured banishment at Bretby in Derbyshire； and then died； it was believed； from the effects of poison。 For my lord； never having his suspicions of her intrigue cleared； insisted on her taking the sacrament by way of pledging her innocence； on which occasion he； in league with his chaplain； mixed poison in the sacred wine； as result of which she died。 This shocking story gained credence not only with the public； but with members of his own family； inasmuch as his daughter…in…law； Lady Gertrude Stanhope； after she had quarrelled with him； would； when she sat at his table； drink only of such wine and water as a trusty servant of hers procured。
This intrigue of the duke had given much uneasiness to his duchess； who had complained to the king and to her father； and had； moreover； set a watch upon the movements of his royal highness。 But such measures did not avail to make him a faithful husband； and no sooner was Lady Chesterfield removed from his sight； than Lady Denham took her place in his affections。 This latter mentioned gentlewoman was daughter of a valiant baronet； Sir William Brooke； and niece to a worthless peer； the Earl of Bristol。 The earl had； on the king's restoration； cherished ambitious schemes to obtain the merry monarch's favour； for which purpose he sought to commend himself by ministering to the royal pleasures。
Accordingly he entertained the king as became a loyal gentleman； giving him luxurious banquets and agreeable suppers； to which； by way of adding to his majesty's greater satisfaction； the noble host invited his nieces； Mistress Brooke and her sister。 The wily earl had； indeed； conceived a plan the better to forward his interests with the king； and was desirous one of these gentlewomen should subdue his majesty's heart； and become his mistress。 Margaret Brooke； the elder of the maidens； was at this time in her eighteenth year； and was in the full flower of such loveliness as was presented by a fair complexion； light brown hair； and dark grey eyes。 The merry monarch's susceptible heart was soon won by her beauty； the charming lady's amorous disposition was speedily conquered by his gallantry； and nothing prevented her becoming his mistress save Lady Castlemaine's jealousy。
This； however； proved an insurmountable obstacle； for the countess； hearing rumours of the pleasures which were enjoyed at my Lord Bristol's table； insisted on attending the king thither； and soon gave his gracious majesty an intimation he dared not disregardthat she would not suffer Miss Brooke as a rival。 Margaret Brooke was grievously disappointed； but the Duke of York beginning his attentions at the point where his majesty discontinued them； she was soon consoled for loss of the monarch's affection by the ardour of his brother's love。 But a short time after； probably foreseeing the ambiguous position in which she stood； she forsook her lover； and accepted a husband in the person of Sir John Denham。
This worthy knight was a man of parts； inasmuch as he was a soldier； a poet； and a gamester。 At the time of his marriage he had passed his fiftieth year； moreover； he limped painfully and carried a crutch。 His appearance； indeed； was far from imposing。 According to Aubrey； he was tall； had long legs； and was 〃incurvelting at his shoulders； his hair was but thin and flaxen； with a moist curl； his gait slow and rather astalking； his eye was a kind of light goose…grey； not big； but it had a strange piercingness； not as to shining and glory； but when he conversed he looked into your very thoughts。〃 His personal defects； however； were to a great degree compensated for by his great wealth。 Moreover he was surveyor…general of his majesty's works； had a town house in Scotland Yard； and a country residence at Waltham Cross in Essex。 But there are some deficiencies for which wealth does not atone； as no doubt Lady Denham promptly discovered； for； before a year of her married life had passed； she renewed her intrigue with the Duke of York。 His love for her seemed to have increased a thousandfold since fate had given her to the possession of another。 At royal drawing…rooms he took her aside and talked to her 〃in the sight of all the world；〃 and whenever she moved away from him he followed her like a dog。
Indeed； he made no effort to screen his passion； for not only did he make love to her in presence of the court； but he visited her at noonday； attended by his gentlemen； before all the town。 Nor did Lady Denham desire to conceal the honour with which； she considered； this amour covered her； but openly declared she would 〃not be his mistress； as Mrs。 Price； to go up and down the privy stairs； but will be owned publicly；〃 and in this respect she obtained her desire。 Meanwhile Sir John was rendered miserable； and； indeed； his desperation soon overthrew his reason； and rendered him a lunatic。 This affection first appeared during a journey he made to the famous free…stone quarries near Portland in Dorset。 When he came within a mile of his destination； he suddenly turned back； and proceeded to Hounslow； where he demanded rents for lands he had disposed of years before； and then hastening to town sought out the king and informed him he was the Holy Ghost。
This madness lasted but a short time； and the first use he made of his recovered senses was to plot vengeance on his wife。 Now there was one honour which she coveted above all others； that of being appointed a lady of the bedchamber
