The Duke of St. James had never affected3 to be a man of business; still, he had taken it for granted that pecuniary4 embarrassment5 was not ever to be counted among his annoyances6. He wanted something to do, and determined7 to look into his affairs, merely to amuse himself.
The bankers were most polite. They brought their books, also several packets of papers neatly8 tied up, and were ready to give every information. The Duke asked for results. He found that the turf, the Alhambra, the expenses of his outfit9 in purchasing the lease and furniture of his mansion10, and the rest, had, with his expenditure11, exhausted his first year’s income; but he reconciled himself to this, because he chose to consider them extraordinary expenses. Then the festivities of Pen Bronnock counterbalanced the economy of his more scrambling12 life the preceding year; yet he had not exceeded his income much. Then he came to Sir Carte’s account. He began to get a little frightened. Two hundred and fifty thousand had been swallowed by Hauteville Castle: one hundred and twenty thousand by Hauteville House. Ninety-six thousand had been paid for furniture. There were also some awkward miscellanies which, in addition, exceeded the half-million.
This was smashing work; but castles and palaces, particularly of the correctest style of architecture, are not to be had for nothing. The Duke had always devoted13 the half-million to this object; but he had intended that sum to be sufficient. What puzzled and what annoyed him was a queer suspicion that his resources had been exhausted without his result being obtained. He sent for Sir Carte, who gave every information, and assured him that, had he had the least idea that a limit was an object, he would have made his arrangements accordingly. As it was, he assured the young Duke that he would be the Lord of the most sumptuous14 and accurate castle, and of the most gorgeous and tasteful palace, in Europe. He was proceeding15 with a cloud of words, when his employer cut him short by a peremptory16 demand of the exact sum requisite17 for the completion of his plans. Sir Carte was confused, and requested time. The estimates should be sent in as quickly as possible. The clerks should sit up all night, and even his own rest should not be an object, any more than the Duke’s purse. So they parted.
The Duke determined to run down to Brighton for change of scene. He promised his bankers to examine everything on his return; in the meantime, they were to make all necessary advances, and honour his drafts to any amount.
He found the city of chalk and shingles18 not quite so agreeable as last year. He discovered that it had no trees. There was there, also, just everybody that he did not wish to see. It was one great St. James’ Street, and seemed only an anticipation19 of that very season which he dreaded20. He was half inclined to go somewhere else, but could not fix upon any spot. London might be agreeable, as it was empty; but then those confounded accounts awaited him. The Bird of Paradise was a sad bore. He really began to suspect that she was little better than an idiot: then, she ate so much, and he hated your eating women. He gladly shuffled21 her off on that fool Count Frill, who daily brought his guitar to Kemp Town. They just suited each other. What a madman he had been, to have embarrassed himself with this creature! It would cost him a pretty ransom22 now before he could obtain his freedom. How we change! Already the Duke of St. James began to think of pounds, shillings, and pence. A year ago, so long as he could extricate23 himself from a scrape by force of cash, he thought himself a lucky fellow.
The Graftons had not arrived, but were daily expected. He really could not stand them. As for Lady Afy, he execrated24 the greenhornism which had made him feign25 a passion, and then get caught where he meant to capture. As for Sir Lucius, he wished to Heaven he would just take it into his head to repay him the fifteen thousand he had lent him at that confounded election, to say nothing of anything else.
Then there was Burlington, with his old loves and his new dances. He wondered how the deuce that fellow could be amused with such frivolity26, and always look so serene27 and calm. Then there was Squib: that man never knew when to leave off joking; and Annesley, with his false refinement28; and Darrell, with his petty ambition. He felt quite sick, and took a solitary29 ride: but he flew from Scylla to Charybdis. Mrs. Montfort could not forget their many delightful30 canters last season to Rottingdean, and, lo! she was at his side. He wished her down the cliff.
In this fit of the spleen he went to the theatre: there were eleven people in the boxes. He listened to the ‘School for Scandal.’ Never was slander31 more harmless. He sat it all out, and was sorry when it was over, but was consoled by the devils of ‘Der Freischutz.’ How sincerely, how ardently32 did he long to sell himself to the demon33! It was eleven o’clock, and he dreaded the play to be over as if he were a child. What to do with himself, or where to go, he was equally at a loss. The door of the box opened, and entered Lord Bagshot. If it must be an acquaintance, this cub34 was better than any of his refined and lately cherished companions.
‘Well, Bag, what are you doing with yourself?’
‘Oh! I don’t know; just looking in for a lark35. Any game?’
‘On my honour, I can’t say.’
‘What’s that girl? Oh! I see; that’s little Wilkins. There’s Moll Otway. Nothing new. I shall go and rattle36 the bones a little; eh! my boy?’
‘Rattle the bones? what is that?’
‘Don’t you know?’ and here this promising37 young peer manually explained his meaning.
‘What do you play at?’ asked the Duke.
‘Hazard, for my money; but what you like.’
‘Where?’
‘We meet at De Berghem’s. There is a jolly set of us. All crack men. When my governor is here, I never go. He is so jealous. I suppose there must be only one gamester in the family; eh! my covey?’ Lord Bagshot, excited by the unusual affability of the young Duke, grew quite familiar.
‘I have half a mind to look in with you,’ said his Grace with a careless air.
‘Oh! come along, by all means. They’ll be devilish glad to see you. De Berghem was saying the other day what a nice fellow you were, and how he should like to know you. You don’t know De Berghem, do you?’
‘I have seen him. I know enough of him.’
They quitted the theatre together, and under the guidance of Lord Bagshot, stopped at a door in Brunswick Terrace. There they found collected a numerous party, but all persons of consideration. The Baron38, who had once been a member of the diplomatic corps39, and now lived in England, by choice, on his pension and private fortune, received them with marked courtesy. Proud of his companion, Lord Bagshot’s hoarse40, coarse, idiot voice seemed ever braying41. His frequent introductions of the Duke of St. James were excruciating, and it required all the freezing of a finished manner to pass through this fiery42 ordeal43. His Grace was acquainted with most of the guests by sight, and to some he even bowed. They were chiefly men of a certain age, with the exception of two or three young peers like himself.
There was the Earl of Castlefort, plump and luxurious44, with a youthful wig45, who, though a sexagenarian, liked no companion better than a minor46. His Lordship was the most amiable47 man in the world, and the most lucky; but the first was his merit, and the second was not his fault. There was the juvenile48 Lord Dice49, who boasted of having done his brothers out of their miserable50 5,000L. patrimony51, and all in one night. But the wrinkle that had already ruffled52 his once clear brow, his sunken eye, and his convulsive lip, had been thrown, we suppose, into the bargain, and, in our opinion, made it a dear one. There was Temple Grace, who had run through four fortunes, and ruined four sisters. Withered53, though only thirty, one thing alone remained to be lost, what he called his honour, which was already on the scent54 to play booty. There was Cogit, who, when he was drunk, swore that he had had a father; but this was deemed the only exception to in vino Veritas. Who he was, the Goddess of Chance alone could decide; and we have often thought that he might bear the same relation to her as ?neas to the Goddess of Beauty. His age was as great a mystery as anything else. He dressed still like a boy, yet some vowed55 he was eighty. He must have been Salathiel. Property he never had, and yet he contrived56 to live; connection he was not born with, yet he was upheld by a set. He never played, yet he was the most skilful57 dealer58 going. He did the honours of a rouge59 et noir table to a miracle; and looking, as he thought, most genteel in a crimson60 waistcoat and a gold chain, raked up the spoils, or complacently61 announced après. Lord Castlefort had few secrets from him: he was the jackal to these prowling beasts of prey62; looked out for pigeons, got up little parties to Richmond or Brighton, sang a song when the rest were too anxious to make a noise, and yet desired a little life, and perhaps could cog a die, arrange a looking-glass, or mix a tumbler.
Unless the loss of an occasional napoleon at a German watering-place is to be so stigmatised, gaming had never formed one of the numerous follies63 of the Duke of St. James. Rich, and gifted with a generous, sanguine64, and luxurious disposition65, he had never been tempted66 by the desire of gain, or as some may perhaps maintain, by the desire of excitement, to seek assistance or enjoyment68 in a mode of life which stultifies69 all our fine fancies, deadens all our noble emotions, and mortifies70 all our beautiful aspirations71.
We know that we are broaching72 a doctrine73 which many will start at, and which some will protest against, when we declare our belief that no person, whatever his apparent wealth, ever yet gamed except from the prospect74 of immediate75 gain. We hear much of want of excitement, of ennui76, of satiety77; and then the gaming-table is announced as a sort of substitute for opium78, wine, or any other mode of obtaining a more intense vitality79 at the cost of reason. Gaming is too active, too anxious, too complicated, too troublesome; in a word, too sensible an affair for such spirits, who fly only to a sort of dreamy and indefinite distraction80.
The fact is, gaming is a matter of business. Its object is tangible81, clear, and evident. There is nothing high, or inflammatory, or exciting; no false magnificence, no visionary elevation82, in the affair at all. It is the very antipodes to enthusiasm of any kind. It presupposes in its votary83 a mind essentially84 mercantile. All the feelings that are in its train are the most mean, the most commonplace, and the most annoying of daily life, and nothing would tempt67 the gamester to experience them except the great object which, as a matter of calculation, he is willing to aim at on such terms. No man flies to the gaming-table in a paroxysm. The first visit requires the courage of a forlorn hope. The first stake will make the lightest mind anxious, the firmest hand tremble, and the stoutest85 heart falter86. After the first stake, it is all a matter of calculation and management, even in games of chance. Night after night will men play at rouge et noir, upon what they call a system, and for hours their attention never ceases, any more than it would if they were in the shop or oh the wharf87. No manual labour is more fatiguing88, and more degrading to the labourer, than gaming. Every gamester feels ashamed. And this vice89, this worst vice, from whose embrace, moralists daily inform us, man can never escape, is just the one from which the majority of men most completely, and most often, free themselves. Infinite is the number of men who have lost thousands in their youth, and never dream of chance again. It is this pursuit which, oftener than any other, leads man to self-knowledge. Appalled90 by the absolute destruction on the verge91 of which he finds his early youth just stepping; aghast at the shadowy crimes which, under the influence of this life, seem, as it were, to rise upon his soul; often he hurries to emancipate92 himself from this fatal thraldom93, and with a ruined fortune, and marred94 prospects95, yet thanks his Creator that his soul is still white, his conscience clear, and that, once more, he breathes the sweet air of heaven.
And our young Duke, we must confess, gamed, as all other men have gamed, for money. His satiety had fled the moment that his affairs were embarrassed. The thought suddenly came into his head while Bag-shot was speaking. He determined to make an effort to recover; and so completely was it a matter of business with him, that he reasoned that, in the present state of his affairs, a few thousands more would not signify; that these few thousands might lead to vast results, and that, if they did, he would bid adieu to the gaming-table with the same coolness with which he had saluted96 it.
Yet he felt a little odd when he first ‘rattled the bones;’ and his affected nonchalance97 made him constrained98. He fancied every one was watching him; while, on the contrary, all were too much interested in their own different parties. This feeling, however, wore off.
According to every novelist, and the moralists ‘our betters,’ the Duke of St. James should have been fortunate at least to-night. You always win at first, you know. If so, we advise said children of fancy and of fact to pocket their gains, and not play again. The young Duke had not the opportunity of thus acting99. He lost fifteen hundred pounds, and at half-past five he quitted the Baron’s.
Hot, bilious100, with a confounded twang in his mouth, and a cracking pain in his head, he stood one moment and sniffed101 in the salt sea breeze. The moon was unfortunately on the waters, and her cool, beneficent light reminded him, with disgust, of the hot, burning glare of the Baron’s saloon. He thought of May Dacre, but clenched102 his fist, and drove her image from his mind.
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1
exhausted
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| adj.极其疲惫的，精疲力尽的 | |
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rogue
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| n.流氓；v.游手好闲 | |
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affected
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| adj.不自然的，假装的 | |
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pecuniary
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| adj.金钱的；金钱上的 | |
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embarrassment
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| n.尴尬；使人为难的人(事物)；障碍；窘迫 | |
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annoyances
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| n.恼怒( annoyance的名词复数 )；烦恼；打扰；使人烦恼的事 | |
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determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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neatly
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| adv.整洁地，干净地，灵巧地，熟练地 | |
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outfit
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| n.（为特殊用途的）全套装备，全套服装 | |
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mansion
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| n.大厦，大楼；宅第 | |
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expenditure
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| n.(时间、劳力、金钱等)支出；使用，消耗 | |
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scrambling
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| v.快速爬行( scramble的现在分词 )；攀登；争夺；（军事飞机）紧急起飞 | |
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devoted
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| adj.忠诚的，忠实的，热心的，献身于...的 | |
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sumptuous
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| adj.豪华的，奢侈的，华丽的 | |
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proceeding
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| n.行动，进行，(pl.)会议录，学报 | |
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peremptory
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| adj.紧急的，专横的，断然的 | |
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requisite
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| adj.需要的，必不可少的；n.必需品 | |
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18
shingles
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| n.带状疱疹；（布满海边的）小圆石( shingle的名词复数 )；屋顶板；木瓦（板）；墙面板 | |
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anticipation
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| n.预期，预料，期望 | |
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dreaded
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| adj.令人畏惧的；害怕的v.害怕，恐惧，担心( dread的过去式和过去分词) | |
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21
shuffled
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| v.洗（纸牌）( shuffle的过去式和过去分词 )；拖着脚步走；粗心地做；摆脱尘世的烦恼 | |
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ransom
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| n.赎金，赎身；v.赎回，解救 | |
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23
extricate
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| v.拯救，救出；解脱 | |
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execrated
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| v.憎恶( execrate的过去式和过去分词 )；厌恶；诅咒；咒骂 | |
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feign
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| vt.假装，佯作 | |
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frivolity
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| n.轻松的乐事，兴高采烈；轻浮的举止 | |
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serene
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| adj. 安详的，宁静的，平静的 | |
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refinement
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| n.文雅；高尚；精美；精制；精炼 | |
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solitary
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| adj.孤独的，独立的，荒凉的；n.隐士 | |
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delightful
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| adj.令人高兴的，使人快乐的 | |
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slander
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| n./v.诽谤，污蔑 | |
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ardently
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| adv.热心地，热烈地 | |
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demon
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| n.魔鬼，恶魔 | |
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cub
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| n.幼兽，年轻无经验的人 | |
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lark
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| n.云雀，百灵鸟；n.嬉戏，玩笑；vi.嬉戏 | |
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rattle
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| v.飞奔，碰响；激怒；n.碰撞声；拨浪鼓 | |
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promising
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| adj.有希望的，有前途的 | |
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baron
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| n.男爵；(商业界等)巨头，大王 | |
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corps
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| n.(通信等兵种的)部队；(同类作的)一组 | |
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hoarse
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| adj.嘶哑的，沙哑的 | |
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braying
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| v.发出驴叫似的声音( bray的现在分词 )；发嘟嘟声；粗声粗气地讲话（或大笑）；猛击 | |
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fiery
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| adj.燃烧着的，火红的；暴躁的；激烈的 | |
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ordeal
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| n.苦难经历，（尤指对品格、耐力的）严峻考验 | |
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luxurious
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| adj.精美而昂贵的；豪华的 | |
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wig
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| n.假发 | |
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minor
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| adj.较小(少)的，较次要的；n.辅修学科；vi.辅修 | |
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amiable
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| adj.和蔼可亲的，友善的，亲切的 | |
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juvenile
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| n.青少年，少年读物；adj.青少年的，幼稚的 | |
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dice
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| n.骰子；vt.把（食物）切成小方块，冒险 | |
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miserable
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| adj.悲惨的，痛苦的；可怜的，糟糕的 | |
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51
patrimony
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| n.世袭财产，继承物 | |
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52
ruffled
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| adj. 有褶饰边的, 起皱的 动词ruffle的过去式和过去分词 | |
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53
withered
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| adj. 枯萎的，干瘪的，（人身体的部分器官）因病萎缩的或未发育良好的 动词wither的过去式和过去分词形式 | |
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54
scent
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| n.气味，香味，香水，线索，嗅觉；v.嗅，发觉 | |
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55
vowed
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| 起誓，发誓（vow的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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contrived
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| adj.不自然的，做作的；虚构的 | |
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57
skilful
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| (=skillful)adj.灵巧的，熟练的 | |
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58
dealer
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| n.商人，贩子 | |
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59
rouge
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| n.胭脂，口红唇膏；v.(在…上)擦口红 | |
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crimson
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| n./adj.深(绯)红色(的)；vi.脸变绯红色 | |
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complacently
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| adv. 满足地, 自满地, 沾沾自喜地 | |
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prey
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| n.被掠食者，牺牲者，掠食；v.捕食，掠夺，折磨 | |
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63
follies
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| 罪恶，时事讽刺剧； 愚蠢，蠢笨，愚蠢的行为、思想或做法( folly的名词复数 ) | |
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64
sanguine
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| adj.充满希望的，乐观的，血红色的 | |
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disposition
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| n.性情，性格；意向，倾向；排列，部署 | |
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tempted
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| v.怂恿（某人）干不正当的事；冒…的险（tempt的过去分词） | |
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67
tempt
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| vt.引诱，勾引，吸引，引起…的兴趣 | |
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68
enjoyment
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| n.乐趣；享有；享用 | |
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69
stultifies
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| v.使成为徒劳，使变得无用( stultify的第三人称单数 ) | |
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70
mortifies
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| v.使受辱( mortify的第三人称单数 )；伤害（人的感情）；克制；抑制（肉体、情感等） | |
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71
aspirations
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| 强烈的愿望( aspiration的名词复数 )； 志向； 发送气音； 发 h 音 | |
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72
broaching
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| n.拉削；推削；铰孔；扩孔v.谈起( broach的现在分词 )；打开并开始用；用凿子扩大（或修光）；（在桶上）钻孔取液体 | |
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doctrine
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| n.教义；主义；学说 | |
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prospect
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| n.前景，前途；景色，视野 | |
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immediate
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| adj.立即的；直接的，最接近的；紧靠的 | |
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ennui
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| n.怠倦，无聊 | |
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satiety
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| n.饱和；(市场的)充分供应 | |
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opium
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| n.鸦片；adj.鸦片的 | |
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vitality
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| n.活力，生命力，效力 | |
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distraction
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| n.精神涣散，精神不集中，消遣，娱乐 | |
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tangible
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| adj.有形的，可触摸的，确凿的，实际的 | |
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elevation
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| n.高度；海拔；高地；上升；提高 | |
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votary
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| n.崇拜者；爱好者；adj.誓约的，立誓任圣职的 | |
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essentially
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| adv.本质上，实质上，基本上 | |
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stoutest
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| 粗壮的( stout的最高级 )； 结实的； 坚固的； 坚定的 | |
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falter
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| vi.(嗓音)颤抖，结巴地说；犹豫；蹒跚 | |
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wharf
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| n.码头，停泊处 | |
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fatiguing
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| a.使人劳累的 | |
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vice
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| n.坏事；恶习；[pl.]台钳，老虎钳；adj.副的 | |
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appalled
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| v.使惊骇，使充满恐惧( appall的过去式和过去分词)adj.惊骇的；丧胆的 | |
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verge
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| n.边，边缘；v.接近，濒临 | |
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emancipate
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| v.解放，解除 | |
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thraldom
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| n.奴隶的身份，奴役，束缚 | |
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marred
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| adj. 被损毁, 污损的 | |
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prospects
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| n.希望，前途(恒为复数) | |
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saluted
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| v.欢迎，致敬( salute的过去式和过去分词 )；赞扬，赞颂 | |
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nonchalance
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| n.冷淡，漠不关心 | |
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constrained
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| adj.束缚的,节制的 | |
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acting
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| n.演戏，行为，假装；adj.代理的，临时的，演出用的 | |
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bilious
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| adj.胆汁过多的；易怒的 | |
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sniffed
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| v.以鼻吸气，嗅，闻( sniff的过去式和过去分词 )；抽鼻子（尤指哭泣、患感冒等时出声地用鼻子吸气）；抱怨，不以为然地说 | |
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clenched
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| v.紧握，抓紧，咬紧( clench的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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