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！
in the same dingy and gorgeous plated ware。 Miss Moss；
a dark…eyed maid in curl…papers； appeared with the
teapot； and； smiling； asked the Colonel how he had slep？
And she brought him in the Morning Post； with the
names of all the great people who had figured at Lord
Steyne's entertainment the night before。 It contained a
brilliant account of the festivities and of the beautiful
and accomplished Mrs。 Rawdon Crawley's admirable
personifications。
After a lively chat with this lady （who sat on the
edge of the breakfast table in an easy attitude displaying
the drapery of her stocking and an ex…white satin shoe；
which was down at heel）； Colonel Crawley called for
pens and ink； and paper； and being asked how many
sheets； chose one which was brought to him between
Miss Moss's own finger and thumb。 Many a sheet had
that dark…eyed damsel brought in； many a poor fellow
had scrawled and blotted hurried lines of entreaty and
paced up and down that awful room until his messenger
brought back the reply。 Poor men always use messengers
instead of the post。 Who has not had their letters； with
the wafers wet； and the announcement that a person
is waiting in the hall？
Now on the score of his application； Rawdon had not
many misgivings。
DEAR BECKY； （Rawdon wrote）
I HOPE YOU SLEPT WELL。 Don't be FRIGHTENED if I don't
bring you in your COFFY。 Last night as I was coming
home smoaking； I met with an ACCADENT。 I was NABBED
by Moss of Cursitor Streetfrom whose GILT AND SPLENDID
PARLER I write thisthe same that had me this time
two years。 Miss Moss brought in my teashe is grown
very FAT； and； as usual； had her STOCKENS DOWN AT HEAL。
It's Nathan's businessa hundred…and…fiftywith
costs； hundred…and…seventy。 Please send me my desk and
some CLOTHSI'm in pumps and a white tye （something
like Miss M's stockings）I've seventy in it。 And as
soon as you get this； Drive to Nathan'soffer him
seventy…five down； and ASK HIM TO RENEWsay I'll take
winewe may as well have some dinner sherry； but not
PICTURS； they're too dear。
If he won't stand it。 Take my ticker and such of your
things as you can SPARE； and send them to Ballswe
must； of coarse； have the sum to…night。 It won't do to
let it stand over； as to…morrow's Sunday； the beds here
are not very CLEAN； and there may be other things out
against meI'm glad it an't Rawdon's Saturday for
coming home。 God bless you。
Yours in haste；
R。 C。
P。S。 Make haste and come。
This letter； sealed with a wafer； was dispatched by
one of the messengers who are always hanging about
Mr。 Moss's establishment； and Rawdon； having seen him
depart； went out in the court…yard and smoked his cigar
with a tolerably easy mindin spite of the bars
overheadfor Mr。 Moss's court…yard is railed in like a cage；
lest the gentlemen who are boarding with him should
take a fancy to escape from his hospitality。
Three hours； he calculated； would be the utmost time
required； before Becky should arrive and open his prison
doors； and he passed these pretty cheerfully in smoking；
in reading the paper； and in the coffee…room with an
acquaintance； Captain Walker； who happened to be there；
and with whom he cut for sixpences for some hours；
with pretty equal luck on either side。
But the day passed away and no messenger returned
no Becky。 Mr。 Moss's tably…dy…hoty was served at the
appointed hour of half…past five； when such of the gentlemen
lodging in the house as could afford to pay for the
banquet came and partook of it in the splendid front
parlour before described； and with which Mr。 Crawley's
temporary lodging communicated； when Miss M。 （Miss
Hem； as her papa called her） appeared without the curl…
papers of the morning； and Mrs。 Hem did the honours
of a prime boiled leg of mutton and turnips； of which
the Colonel ate with a very faint appetite。 Asked whether
he would 〃stand〃 a bottle of champagne for the
company； he consented； and the ladies drank to his 'ealth；
and Mr。 Moss； in the most polite manner； 〃looked towards
him。〃
In the midst of this repast； however； the doorbell was
heardyoung Moss of the ruddy hair rose up with the
keys and answered the summons； and coming back； told
the Colonel that the messenger had returned with a bag；
a desk and a letter； which he gave him。 〃No ceramony；
Colonel； I beg；〃 said Mrs。 Moss with a wave of her
hand； and he opened the letter rather tremulously。 It
was a beautiful letter； highly scented； on a pink paper；
and with a light green seal。
MON PAUVRE CHER PETIT； （Mrs。 Crawley wrote）
I could not sleep ONE WINK for thinking of what had
become of my odious old monstre； and only got to rest
in the morning after sending for Mr。 Blench （for I was
in a fever）； who gave me a composing draught and left
orders with Finette that I should be disturbed ON NO
ACCOUNT。 So that my poor old man's messenger； who had
bien mauvaise mine Finette says； and sentoit le Genievre；
remained in the hall for some hours waiting my bell。
You may fancy my state when I read your poor dear
old ill…spelt letter。
Ill as I was； I instantly called for the carriage； and
as soon as I was dressed （though I couldn't drink a drop
of chocolateI assure you I couldn't without my
monstre to bring it to me）； I drove ventre a terre to
Nathan's。 I saw himI weptI criedI fell at hi~
odious knees。 Nothing would mollify the horrid man。
He would have all the money； he said； or keep my poor
monstre in prison。 I drove home with the intention of
paying that triste visite chez mon oncle （when every
trinket I have should be at your disposal though they
would not fetch a hundred pounds； for some； you know；
are with ce cher oncle already）； and found Milor there
with the Bulgarian old sheep…faced monster； who had
come to compliment me upon last night's performances。
Paddington came in； too； drawling and lisping and
twiddling his hair； so did Champignac； and his chef
everybody with foison of compliments and pretty speeches
plaguing poor me； who longed to be rid of them； and
was thinking every moment of the time of mon pauvre
prisonnier。
When they were gone； I went down on my knees to
Milor； told him we were going to pawn everything； and
begged and prayed him to give me two hundred pounds。
He pish'd and psha'd in a furytold me not to be such
a fool as to pawnand said he would see whether he
could lend me the money。 At last he went away；
promising that he would send it me in the morning： when
I will bring it to my poor old monster with a kiss fro
his affectionate
BECKY
I am writing in bed。 Oh I have such a headache and
such a heartache！
When Rawdon read over this letter； he turned so red
and looked so savage that the company at the table
d'hote easily perceived that bad news had reached
him。 All his suspicions； which he had been trying to
banish； returned upon him。 She could not even go out
and sell her trinkets to free him。 She could laugh and
talk about compliments paid to her； whilst he was in
prison。 Who had put him there？ Wenham had walked
with him。 Was there。。。。 He could hardly bear to think
of what he suspected。 Leaving the room hurriedly； he ran
into his ownopened his desk； wrote two hurried lines；
which he directed