Thus advertised the redoubtable1 Keith (at this time languishing2 in Newgate, and represented by deputies), the reverend divine who, by license4, performed more clandestine5 marriages among the upper classes than any other clergyman had ever done in London. Of course, the "scum and offal of the clergy," as Keith had more than once termed his rival practitioners6 in the Fleet, had, before the passing of the Marriage Act, united hundreds more couples than he had ever done; but, as he said, "What would you have? They marry drunken sailors to demireps, shopboys to their masters' daughters, who, as often as not, must secure a husband by hook or by crook7, and that at once; rich tradesmen's widows to decayed gentlemen, et id genus omne. But I, I am a gentleman of ancient family myself, and I will meddle8 with none but those of my own kidney."
While, since a certain date, namely, February 14, 1752, Keith had been so puffed9 up and vainglorious10 that it seemed as though, henceforth, nothing short of peers and heiresses, or peeresses and handsome young men, were considered by him fit for entanglement11 in his net; and certain it is that from that date his fees went up. For on that day he had tied together in bonds, never to be loosened--and which were never sought to be loosened--James, sixth Duke of Hamilton, to Elizabeth, second daughter of John Gunning, of Castle Coote, County Roscommon, who married en secondes noces, John Campbell, fifth Duke of Argyll, and was likewise created a peeress in her own right.
Indeed, he became so puffed up, that gradually he discontinued his advertisements in the papers, including the above directions, as well as his charge of a guinea, "inclusive of the license on a crown stamp and minister's and clerk's fees," and began to squabble and chaffer for three guineas and five guineas, and sometimes even ten, before he would perform his office.
Therefore it was five guineas which by his orders his deputy, Peter Symson, officiating in his stead, had extorted12 from Beau Bufton when consenting, on the day before the marriage, to put his chapel13 and his clerk and himself at that gentleman's service the next morning.
"So long," said Bufton, "as it ties me tight, I care not. That is the needful thing. That there can be no breaking of the knot."
"Be very sure there cannot," said Symson; "very sure. This is no hole-and-corner marriage shop where rakes and libertines14 can possess themselves of women's persons and properties, and, after having grown tired of their wives and abused their wealth, can get relief. Oh, no! And no tricks can be played here. No marrying under a false name, and claiming exemption15 thereby16; none of that. Your name may not be Algernon Bufton, as you tell me it is, and your lady's name may not be Ariadne Thorne; but, still, that will not serve."
"It will not be required to do so," said Bufton, thrusting out his long chin at the parson and favouring him with his sneer17; "we come here to get closely padlocked, not to be tied together with a piece of easily breakable thread."
"That is well; the class of marriages which I, on behalf of my suffering and injured employer, alone perform. Very well, because, once I have done my office, you are united until death you do part. You have sworn to me that your name is Algernon Bufton, and the lady's Ariadne Thorne; and though your name may be truly John Nokes, and hers Joan Stokes, as Algernon Bufton and Ariadne Thorne you will be united, and united you will have to remain. I, too, can swear oaths when necessary. Now, fail not to be here at your time to-morrow. I have another union to make at half after ten, also another at half after eleven. Fail not."
After which lengthy18 and iterative oration19, the deputy parson of the May Fair Chapel edged the Beau out of the vestry wherein their conversation had taken place, and wherein, also, the former had pouched20 his five guineas, he being cautious to be always paid beforehand.
Beau Bufton did take care to be there in time, while, to make assurance double sure, he arrived with his bride, she and Mrs. Pottle having been fetched by him from the corner of a street hard by the end of Cowley Street. The girl was very nervous, as he could see plainly, as well as recognise by the manner in which her hand trembled on his arm; also, she was white and with no bloom of natural colour on her cheeks, although Mrs. Pottle had, in its place, carefully applied21 the contents of the rouge-pot to them that morning. Otherwise, she was all that became a bride who did not wish to proclaim her position too distinctly. For the flowered brocade (which the Beau's eyes, astute22 in everything pertaining23 to clothes and gauds, noticed was not quite new and fresh, but had indeed been a little worn) was suitable enough to a young lady going out for a day's jaunt24; the great Rembrandt-like hat matched it well enough, and the fringed gloves, which were brand-new, gave a pleasing set-off to the remainder of her apparel.
Behind the happy pair, as now they descended25 from the hackney coach and entered the chapel, came Lewis Granger, he having on his arm Mrs. Pottle, while testifying by his countenance26 that he scarcely appreciated the honour of being that lady's escort. Yet he had arranged everything as became the jackal of the lion; he had sworn deeply, and with many vows27, to assist in bringing this marriage to a successful issue; even the indignity28 of Mrs. Pottle's company could not daunt29 him nor turn him from his resolution. The companionship of this stern and determined-looking woman at his side must be borne with for the next quarter of an hour. Though still he cast a glance of dismay, almost of shame, at two or three of the Beau's overnight guests who were already assembled and looked brave enough in their scarlet30 coats, as they all passed up with Mrs. Pottle to the spot where Keith's deputy was ready to perform the ceremony.
This deputy, Peter Symson by name, licensed31 by the Bishop32 of Salisbury as priest, seemed by his appearance to verify that which Bufton had said the evening before with regard to his habits. His face was extremely red, and the critical might have opined that it had neither been washed nor shaved this morning; his voice was hoarse33 and indistinct as he mumbled34 hastily the words of the irrevocable ceremony, as though anxious to get all concluded as soon as possible. In actual truth, he never performed the marriage ceremony without great fear that, at some moment of it, the myrmidons of Henry Fielding's successor at Bow Street might rush in on him and serve him with a warrant charging him with illegal practices.
Proudly, with a self-satisfied air--the air of one who has fought and conquered and is now reaping the spoils of victory--Beau Bufton went through with his marriage, that smile, which Granger thought so hateful, being on his lips while he uttered his responses clearly and audibly to all--as who would not do who was wedding a hundred thousand guineas? His bride also seemed to take courage as the end drew near, and ceased to shiver and shake as she had done at the commencement. She looked, too, more than once with a self-satisfied glance at the three boon36 companions who were by the door, as well as at Mrs. Pottle, and--once!--she looked at Granger.
"Sign the book!" exclaimed Symson now, as he closed his own, from which he had been reading in a gabbling, hurried manner. "Sign the book. Isaac, pass over the register to those whom the Lord hath joined together. There is no further fee, yet generous bridegrooms may still offer the minister a gift if they are so disposed. The clerk, too, would accept of something if it were tendered."
But Beau Bufton was deaf to these suggestions. He had paid his five guineas yesterday out of the remnants of the small stock of money left to him; he was not going to squander37 any of that new fortune which he had now secured. Wherefore, having signed his own name, and indicated with his finger the spot at which his wife should also sign hers, he turned a deaf ear to the reverend gentleman's suggestions, while, he turned on Granger a look of triumph--the proud glance of a successful man.
Then, as he did so, and as still the newly made wife bent38 over the greasy39 register, he heard a voice: it was that of the friend whose absence he had noticed regretfully as he entered the chapel; the voice of Lord John Dallas, saying:
"Ariadne Thorne! Ariadne Thorne! That Ariadne Thorne! My God!" While at the same time Bufton saw that the new-comer--the man who had but just arrived upon the scene--was making his way to where he and his wife stood. He saw, too, a strange look upon his face.
"Mrs. Algernon Bufton now," he said, regarding the young man with surprise; "Ariadne Thorne a quarter of an hour ago."
"Ariadne Thorne! never!" Lord John exclaimed, and, to the Beau's horror, he saw a glance of recognition pass between him and the woman at his side, who, to his further astonishment40, now trembled no more, but, instead, stood erect41 and with a look of defiance42 on her face. "Never Ariadne Thorne. I knew it. Knew it. She loves Geoffrey Barry too well! Ariadne Thorne," he repeated. "Nay43! Anne Tremlett, the actress--the singer at booths--the stroller. God! what have you done?"
"Tremlett! Ah!" and Bufton gasped44. "Tremlett."
White as a ghost now; himself shaking, as the woman he had married had shaken before; his face terrible to behold45, Bufton turned round, observing as he did so that all eyes were on him, while, pushing his wife on one side, he glared at the name she had inscribed46 in the register. Yet, it was not Anne Tremlett--a name of hideous47 memories to him--but, instead, "Anne Pottle."
"What does it mean?" he cried hoarsely48, his voice changed so as to be utterly49 unrecognisable. "Speak! Say, wanton! Speak! I say, or I will kill you!" he continued, almost in a shriek50.
"Be still," cried Granger, clasping his arm, "be still; this is a church."
"I will know all. Speak, I say, or----" and he made as though he would tear to pieces the woman who stood by his side. "Speak, damn you!"
"Begone from out this house!" cried Symson now. "Though not a duly consecrated51 edifice52, it shall not be polluted by you. Begone, I say!"
"I will not go," the wretched man snarled53, "till I have an explanation of why I have been trapped, hoodwinked like this. I will know, or----" and he made a snatch at the register as though to seize the leaf which recorded his marriage with Anne Pottle. An attempt frustrated54 by Symson, who, big and brawny55, thrust himself between it and the duped Beau.
"Let us do as he bids, let us go," his wife said now, her voice calm, and upon her face a look of intense hatred56. Yet she did not go, but, standing57 by her mother's side, said, while all who were present listened open-mouthed--even the curiosity of the Rev3. Peter Symson being aroused:
"Let me speak now. My sister and I--she was nigh blind--came to London three years ago, I to earn a living by my voice, she to be dependent on me, since mother could not ask Miss Ariadne to keep us all, though God knows she would have done so willingly; and this snake--this thing whom I have married for retaliation--he--well, he deceived her, ruined her--so--that--she slew58 herself. Oh, God! my sister--my dead sister--my little helpless sister!
"It was under the name of Tremlett, my mother's maiden59 name," she went on, recovering somewhat from her emotion, "that I earned my living by singing at Vauxhall and Ranelagh, and, to save trouble and explanation, she, too, went by that name; while he, meeting her at the latter place, where she ever waited for me, persuaded her to evil--ruined her, cursed her life, caused her to kill herself." And now the newly made wife wept. Then, suddenly, again recovering herself, she cried:
"Do you think, all you who are here, that when I met him by chance at Tunbridge at a masquerade, and learnt that he meditated60 villainy of a different kind, to another woman whom I loved dearly, to that Ariadne Thorne for whom he took me, I would spare him? Never! She was there, too, at Tunbridge, though not at the masquerade, and she lent me clothes, fallals, laces, even a fan, to go and make merry myself. Ah!" she cried, "I am avenged61! Avenged! This betrayer of innocent women, this fortune-hunter, is fooled to the top of his bent----Till death us do part!" she exclaimed, with a bitter laugh, breaking off, "Till death us do part!"
"This is no marriage," Beau Bufton said now, addressing Symson, "no marriage. You know that!"
"I know that it will give you much trouble to break it," the reverend gentleman said, with a leer of contempt. "I tie all tight. You were warned yesterday that false names would not save you. And, since she openly avows62 her name is Anne Pottle, in the name of Anne Pottle you are wed35. Now, I require you to be gone. Observe, there is another ceremony to be performed."
While as he spoke63 he pointed64 to the door, through which a second wedding party was entering.
"I renounce65 her!" Bufton cried now, "renounce her for ever. It is a trick played by a wanton!" he cried. "A trick that shall never succeed. You shall be laid by the heels in Newgate--you--you--you hedge priest--Great God!" he almost screamed, breaking off, "what brings you here too?" And in his rage he made an attempt to draw his sword.
For, behind that other small party which had entered the chapel, he saw the form of a man which he remembered well--had good cause to remember--the form of Sir Geoffrey Barry, with, leaning upon his arm, a young and beautiful woman.
"I am here," the new-comer said, "to present you to a lady whom I wish you to know. Pardon me," he continued, addressing the incoming wedding party which he had followed, "if I delay your ceremony for a short moment. But I am desirous of introducing this newly made happy man to my future wife--Miss Ariadne Thorne."
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1
redoubtable
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| adj.可敬的；可怕的 | |
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2
languishing
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| a. 衰弱下去的 | |
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3
rev
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| v.发动机旋转，加快速度 | |
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4
license
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| n.执照，许可证，特许；v.许可，特许 | |
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clandestine
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| adj.秘密的，暗中从事的 | |
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6
practitioners
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| n.习艺者，实习者( practitioner的名词复数 )；从业者（尤指医师） | |
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7
crook
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| v.使弯曲；n.小偷，骗子，贼；弯曲(处) | |
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8
meddle
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| v.干预，干涉，插手 | |
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9
puffed
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| adj.疏松的v.使喷出( puff的过去式和过去分词 )；喷着汽（或烟）移动；吹嘘；吹捧 | |
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10
vainglorious
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| adj.自负的；夸大的 | |
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11
entanglement
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| n.纠缠，牵累 | |
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12
extorted
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| v.敲诈( extort的过去式和过去分词 )；曲解 | |
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13
chapel
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| n.小教堂，殡仪馆 | |
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14
libertines
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| n.放荡不羁的人，淫荡的人( libertine的名词复数 ) | |
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15
exemption
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| n.豁免，免税额，免除 | |
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16
thereby
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| adv.因此，从而 | |
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17
sneer
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| v.轻蔑；嘲笑；n.嘲笑，讥讽的言语 | |
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18
lengthy
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| adj.漫长的，冗长的 | |
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19
oration
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| n.演说，致辞，叙述法 | |
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20
pouched
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| adj.袋形的，有袋的 | |
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21
applied
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| adj.应用的；v.应用，适用 | |
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22
astute
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| adj.机敏的，精明的 | |
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23
pertaining
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| 与…有关系的，附属…的，为…固有的(to) | |
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24
jaunt
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| v.短程旅游；n.游览 | |
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25
descended
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| a.为...后裔的，出身于...的 | |
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26
countenance
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| n.脸色，面容；面部表情；vt.支持，赞同 | |
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27
vows
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| 誓言( vow的名词复数 )； 郑重宣布，许愿 | |
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28
indignity
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| n.侮辱，伤害尊严，轻蔑 | |
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29
daunt
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| vt.使胆怯，使气馁 | |
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30
scarlet
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| n.深红色，绯红色，红衣；adj.绯红色的 | |
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31
licensed
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| adj.得到许可的v.许可，颁发执照(license的过去式和过去分词) | |
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32
bishop
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| n.主教，（国际象棋）象 | |
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33
hoarse
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| adj.嘶哑的，沙哑的 | |
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34
mumbled
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| 含糊地说某事，叽咕，咕哝( mumble的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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35
wed
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| v.娶，嫁，与…结婚 | |
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36
boon
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| n.恩赐，恩物，恩惠 | |
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37
squander
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| v.浪费，挥霍 | |
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38
bent
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| n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的 | |
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39
greasy
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| adj. 多脂的，油脂的 | |
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40
astonishment
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| n.惊奇，惊异 | |
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41
erect
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| n./v.树立，建立，使竖立；adj.直立的，垂直的 | |
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42
defiance
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| n.挑战，挑衅，蔑视，违抗 | |
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43
nay
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| adv.不；n.反对票，投反对票者 | |
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44
gasped
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| v.喘气( gasp的过去式和过去分词 )；喘息；倒抽气；很想要 | |
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45
behold
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| v.看，注视，看到 | |
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46
inscribed
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| v.写，刻( inscribe的过去式和过去分词 )；内接 | |
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47
hideous
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| adj.丑陋的，可憎的，可怕的，恐怖的 | |
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48
hoarsely
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| adv.嘶哑地 | |
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49
utterly
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| adv.完全地，绝对地 | |
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50
shriek
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| v./n.尖叫，叫喊 | |
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51
consecrated
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| adj.神圣的，被视为神圣的v.把…奉为神圣，给…祝圣( consecrate的过去式和过去分词 )；奉献 | |
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52
edifice
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| n.宏伟的建筑物(如宫殿，教室) | |
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53
snarled
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| v.（指狗）吠，嗥叫， （人）咆哮( snarl的过去式和过去分词 )；咆哮着说，厉声地说 | |
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54
frustrated
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| adj.挫败的，失意的，泄气的v.使不成功( frustrate的过去式和过去分词 )；挫败；使受挫折；令人沮丧 | |
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55
brawny
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| adj.强壮的 | |
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56
hatred
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| n.憎恶，憎恨，仇恨 | |
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57
standing
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| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
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58
slew
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| v.（使）旋转；n.大量，许多 | |
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59
maiden
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| n.少女，处女；adj.未婚的，纯洁的，无经验的 | |
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60
meditated
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| 深思，沉思，冥想( meditate的过去式和过去分词 )； 内心策划，考虑 | |
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61
avenged
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| v.为…复仇，报…之仇( avenge的过去式和过去分词 )；为…报复 | |
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62
avows
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| v.公开声明，承认( avow的第三人称单数 ) | |
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63
spoke
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| n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说 | |
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64
pointed
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| adj.尖的，直截了当的 | |
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65
renounce
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| v.放弃；拒绝承认，宣布与…断绝关系 | |
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