Bufton had also himself paid a visit to Stepney more than once to see his quondam confederate--a visit which, although made under the garb9 of friendship, had really for its object the desire of finding out what Lewis Granger was doing, how he was living, and (which was the principal thing), whether there was any likelihood of his being able to obtain a share in such prosperity as might have fallen in Granger's way.
Now, it happened--as so often it will happen in real life, in spite of the jeers10 of imbeciles who regard, or profess11 to regard, coincidences as things which occur only in the more or less hard-bound brains of dramatists and romancists--that on the evening previous to the rencounter between Sir Geoffrey Barry and Granger, Bufton had written to the latter that he intended to be in Stepney on that night. And he informed him that, from an unexpected source, he had gotten some little money together, and, if Lewis pleased, he might possibly be able to join him in his "affairs."
Wherefore, at eight o'clock on this boisterous12 March night, the two men who had once been friends were again seated together; this time in Granger's house in the East End instead of in Bufton's fashionable lodgings13 of the days of his prosperity.
"And so," said the host--as he passed over to his guest some spirits and water, he having stated, without apology and with a fine sneer14 on his lip, that tokay and champagne15, such as had once flowed freely (on credit) in the old apartments of the Haymarket, were beyond his means--"and so you have found some money, eh? How have you done it? Trickeries des Grecs--'packing,' 'marking,' 'substitution,' or what not? Or has Madame la mère been kind? Has she consented to a little more blood-letting? Eh!"
"Nay16, nay," Bufton replied. He looked more like his old self now than when Granger had seen him last, since, doubtless owing to the welcome advent17 of a little ready money, he was adorned19 in a manner better corresponding with the old style than he had been lately.
To wit, he wore now a neat brown frock, a brown silk waistcoat, and black velvet20 breeches, while upon the table by his side lay a brand-new three-cornered hat, neatly21 fringed.
"Nay, but sometimes fortune befriends us. I have been a-racing at Drayton, and--and--well, I have won a few score guineas!"
"Wherefore, I presume," said Lewis Granger, "you have come here to pay me some of them. I should be rich--that is, rich for me--if I had all you owe me. All," he added emphatically, "that I hold your acknowledgment for."
"Oh! I protest, my friend----" exclaimed the other.
"Protest nothing. But, instead, remember. Recall two years ago. There is a sum of two thousand pounds for Glastonbury's bill; two thousand pounds, and my ruined life; for which latter I do not hold any acknowledgment, though, also, I do not forget."
And he regarded Bufton with so strange a glance that the visitor looked uneasy.
"Lewis," he said, "I have repented22 of that. You--you--know I have. And at my mother's death it will be paid. I can do no more," and he rubbed his chin as he spoke23, which action, for some reason that Granger could not have explained, irritated him as much as ever. Perhaps it did so because it recalled other instances when he had sat and watched him doing the same thing.
"Then," continued Granger, he repeating with emphasis, "there is the bond for five thousand guineas--the marriage bond--the marriage bond. I worked hard in that matter----"
"Curse the marriage bond!" cried Bufton. "Curse it, and the marriage, and all concerned with it. That has sunk me, ruined me for ever. Oh! Lewis," he went on, "do you know what I live for now? Now! now!"
"Annulling24 it; breaking it, I imagine."
"No!" the other almost shrieked25, "no! it cannot be broken; they say I am bound, tied for ever! No! it is not that, but vengeance on the cat who snared26 me, and--and--vengeance on the man who has married the true heiress. He insulted me in her park, he defeated me; me--I who knew every trick of fence; and he drove me forth27. And I do believe he was aware of that scheme while, if he did not aid in it, he at least did not prevent it."
"You ruined Anne's sister, drove her to her death. You have much to answer for," Granger said, his voice hard and stern; so hard and stern that almost it would seem as if he were egging the man on to frenzy28 for a purpose.
"Bah!" cried Bufton, "I would have provided well for the girl--have done all except marry her. That was impossible. I needed an heiress, and I got that other. That thing; that dancing, singing thing; fit only to be the wife of her mistress's coachman, or some porter."
"Wherefore you desire vengeance?"
"Vengeance! Oh, my God! if I could but have that on her and him--this insolent29, supercilious30 sailor. If I could. If I could."
"Yet you were always an admirer of superciliousness31 yourself."
"Bah!" he cried again, "amongst wits and men of fashion, yes! There it is suitable. But this fellow, this broken-down, impoverished32 man of birth, who can do no better than go a-sailing. And to be supercilious to me!"
"Vengeance, eh?" said Lewis Granger, meditating--pretending to meditate33. "Vengeance."
"Ay, vengeance on both; but I know not how to obtain it."
"Do you know," said Granger quietly--softly, indeed--"that both are in this neighbourhood? Not two miles away from where we now sit."
"What!" cried Bufton, full of astonishment34. "What! Both here; two miles away! It is impossible."
"Nevertheless it is true. Sir Geoffrey is in command of a French prize called the Mignonne, which lies off Bugsby's Hole. Anne--Bufton," with his eyes full on the man before him, "is in attendance on her mistress, Lady Barry."
"Oh! And Anne--Bufton. Damn you! Why call her that? Why----"
"You say your wedding is unbreakable. Therefore she is--Anne Bufton."
"How do you know all this? Do not play with me. Answer me truthfully, in God's name!"
"I know it well. Barry has been with me, trying to get men for the fleets. But," and now the clear tones in which he always spoke became, if possible, more distinct than ordinary, more--if the term may be used--metallic, "I have a better market than supplying the fleets with men. There is a Dutch schooner--the Nederland--lying further down the river, whose skipper pays me higher. She is in truth a--well! a kidnapper35. Those who get on board of her, men and--and--yes!--and women--she takes women too!--think that they are going out to become planters, farmers, people to whom land is granted. That is, the men think so, while the women--oh! it is in truth cruel----"
"The women. Yes, the women! What of them?"
"They think they will find husbands. But they, too, are sold. All are sold to the plantations36, or as good as sold; they are indented37 for a term of years. They are, in solemn fact, slaves--slaves herding38 with those whose death-warrants have been commuted39, with the scum and offal of the old world. The women die fast, the labour is terrible. Their hearts are broken."
"But how do you, how does the Dutch skipper get such?" Bufton asked, his eyes glistening40. Already there was a hideous41 idea dawning in his mind, accompanied by a horrible vision of "women dying fast, their hearts broken," in the slavery of the colonies.
"It is not hard to do," Granger said, still speaking slowly and very calmly. "Some are enticed42 with flowery promises, some are made drunk, while some--poor rustics43 these--going along lonely ways near the river, have been set upon and carried, gagged, to a boat, and sent off to the Nederland. You scorn me," he said, with an appearance of frankness as well as of self-depreciation, "for being concerned in such a trade as this! Yet, remember, I am a ruined, degraded man. Remember also by whom, and so forgive and pity me."
"I do! I do!" Bufton exclaimed with heartiness44, thinking, even as he did thus exclaim, what a fool this old tool and creature of his was to so expose his method of business. Yet he had something else to think about now besides Granger's simplicity--something of far more vital importance than that to meditate upon.
"How," he asked, "did you tell me it was done? How? With, let us say, the women. Will the master of this ship receive any taken to him? And--and--is he not in danger of being overhauled45? How can he slip away to sea past the guns of Woolwich and Tilbury?"
"They let him come up the river," said Granger, "why not, therefore, let him go down and out to sea? For his papers are examined when he comes, when he is empty of such stuff as he departs with. And till he is at sea, they--his cattle--are under hatches."
"Under hatches," Bufton muttered, his long chin stuck out before him, "under hatches. So that screams--the screams of women--oh! yes--they could not be heard. Of women wrenched46 away from----"
"Loving husbands, eh?" said Granger while controlling his features, which he feared would betray him.
"Bah! Loving husbands. No! Who cares for loving husbands? None! none, you fool!" and now there came upon the man's face that hateful sneer which always made Granger's blood boil, and, as of old, a desire to strike him on those curling lips arose. "No, dolt47! I am thinking of the screams of women wrenched from those whom they have snared into a noose48, those whom they have tricked and hoodwinked. My friend, you are but a simpleton."
"Oh!" exclaimed Granger coldly, with a well-assumed air of indifference49, "oh! that's it, is it? It is only Anne--Bufton--you seek vengeance on?"
"Only Anne! Only Anne Bufton, as you elect to term her. Who else, in God's name, should I seek to vent18 vengeance on--in such a way?"
"I know not," Granger said, with an inimitable shrug50 of his shoulders, while at the same time he turned up the backs of his fingers and appeared to be regarding his nails with interest, "if you do not know yourself."
"What do you mean? Speak. There is something in your mind. What is it?"
"I thought," Granger replied, "that you sought revenge on Barry, too."
"On Barry! What can I do with him? Damme! The Dutchman would not take him, the captain of a King's ship, would he? Even if we could get him there."
"Perhaps he would, if he did not know who he was: if he were disguised and did not appear as a naval51 officer. Such things have been. Yet it was not of him I thought."
"In Heaven's name, who then?"
"I fear 'tis you, Algernon, who are the dolt, the idiot, not I; or perhaps your own marriage made you forget that he too has lately entered into the holy bonds. He, too, has a wife, on board the Mignonne."
"My God!" Bufton exclaimed. "My God! You have thought of that! You--you whom but a moment ago I derided52. Ay! ay! you are right, 'tis I who am the fool. Oh! what a vengeance. Oh! oh! On him, this haughty53 bully54, this blustering55 sailor. But--oh no! no! no!" he cried, "it is impossible; it could never be. Get her out of an armed vessel56 and sell her into slavery in the colonies. It is impossible! Impossible!"
"Doubtless it is impossible," Granger agreed. "'Tis true. It is not to be thought on. I am a fool. Yet," he continued, again speaking very slowly and incisively57, "she will get herself out of it, out of the Mignonne, ere long. He sails in a day or so, and then she, Ariadne--the heiress whom you by rights should have had--comes ashore58 with Anne and her mother, the woman Pottle. They cannot go in his craft."
"How do you know this?"
"Partly from what Barry said to-day, after he had got men from me; partly from encountering his wife by Stepney Church a day or so ago. She speaks kindly59 of you now, Bufton; protests she thinks often of you--and--would pass her life by your side if you would have her."
One must not write down the horrible exclamations60 that issued from Bufton's lips as he heard these words--the execrations on the woman who had entrapped61 and ruined him. Yet even when he was calmer, he continued wildly--
"'Thinks kindly of me!' 'Would pass her life by my side!' Ay! she shall think kindly of me--in the colonies. In the fields, where she shall toil62 till her heart bursts, till she drops dead. Lewis! Lewis! Can it be done? Can it? Can it? And you have power here; have men at your call. I will pay. I have two hundred guineas. Help me, and we will ensnare them both. Oh! what a vengeance on that wanton and on Barry! Help me, Lewis!"
"I will help you," the other said; "vengeance is sweet."
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1
snare
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| n.陷阱，诱惑，圈套；（去除息肉或者肿瘤的）勒除器；响弦，小军鼓；vt.以陷阱捕获，诱惑 | |
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2
ethics
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| n.伦理学；伦理观，道德标准 | |
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vengeance
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| n.报复，报仇，复仇 | |
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4
miserable
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| adj.悲惨的，痛苦的；可怜的，糟糕的 | |
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5
ridicule
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| v.讥讽，挖苦；n.嘲弄 | |
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6
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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7
winced
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| 赶紧避开，畏缩( wince的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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8
hurled
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| v.猛投，用力掷( hurl的过去式和过去分词 )；大声叫骂 | |
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9
garb
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| n.服装，装束 | |
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jeers
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| n.操纵帆桁下部（使其上下的）索具；嘲讽( jeer的名词复数 )v.嘲笑( jeer的第三人称单数 ) | |
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11
profess
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| v.声称，冒称，以...为业，正式接受入教，表明信仰 | |
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12
boisterous
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| adj.喧闹的，欢闹的 | |
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13
lodgings
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| n. 出租的房舍, 寄宿舍 | |
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14
sneer
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| v.轻蔑；嘲笑；n.嘲笑，讥讽的言语 | |
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15
champagne
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| n.香槟酒；微黄色 | |
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16
nay
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| adv.不；n.反对票，投反对票者 | |
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17
advent
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| n.(重要事件等的)到来，来临 | |
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18
vent
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| n.通风口，排放口；开衩；vt.表达，发泄 | |
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19
adorned
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| [计]被修饰的 | |
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20
velvet
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| n.丝绒，天鹅绒；adj.丝绒制的，柔软的 | |
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21
neatly
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| adv.整洁地，干净地，灵巧地，熟练地 | |
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22
repented
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| 对（自己的所为）感到懊悔或忏悔( repent的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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23
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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24
annulling
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| v.宣告无效( annul的现在分词 )；取消；使消失；抹去 | |
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25
shrieked
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| v.尖叫( shriek的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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26
snared
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| v.用罗网捕捉，诱陷，陷害( snare的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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28
frenzy
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| n.疯狂，狂热，极度的激动 | |
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29
insolent
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| adj.傲慢的，无理的 | |
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30
supercilious
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| adj.目中无人的，高傲的；adv.高傲地；n.高傲 | |
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31
superciliousness
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| n.高傲，傲慢 | |
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32
impoverished
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| adj.穷困的，无力的，用尽了的v.使（某人）贫穷( impoverish的过去式和过去分词 )；使（某物）贫瘠或恶化 | |
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33
meditate
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| v.想，考虑，（尤指宗教上的）沉思，冥想 | |
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34
astonishment
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| n.惊奇，惊异 | |
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35
kidnapper
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| n.绑架者，拐骗者 | |
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36
plantations
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| n.种植园，大农场( plantation的名词复数 ) | |
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37
indented
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| adj.锯齿状的，高低不平的；缩进排版 | |
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38
herding
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| 中畜群 | |
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39
commuted
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| 通勤( commute的过去式和过去分词 )； 减（刑）； 代偿 | |
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40
glistening
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| adj.闪耀的，反光的v.湿物闪耀，闪亮( glisten的现在分词 ) | |
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41
hideous
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| adj.丑陋的，可憎的，可怕的，恐怖的 | |
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42
enticed
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| 诱惑，怂恿( entice的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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43
rustics
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| n.有农村或村民特色的( rustic的名词复数 )；粗野的；不雅的；用粗糙的木材或树枝制作的 | |
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44
heartiness
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| 诚实，热心 | |
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45
overhauled
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| v.彻底检查( overhaul的过去式和过去分词 )；大修；赶上；超越 | |
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46
wrenched
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| v.（猛力地）扭( wrench的过去式和过去分词 )；扭伤；使感到痛苦；使悲痛 | |
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47
dolt
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| n.傻瓜 | |
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48
noose
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| n.绳套，绞索（刑）；v.用套索捉；使落入圈套；处以绞刑 | |
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49
indifference
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| n.不感兴趣，不关心，冷淡，不在乎 | |
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50
shrug
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| v.耸肩(表示怀疑、冷漠、不知等) | |
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51
naval
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| adj.海军的，军舰的，船的 | |
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52
derided
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| v.取笑，嘲笑( deride的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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53
haughty
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| adj.傲慢的，高傲的 | |
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54
bully
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| n.恃强欺弱者，小流氓；vt.威胁，欺侮 | |
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55
blustering
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| adj.狂风大作的，狂暴的v.外强中干的威吓( bluster的现在分词 )；咆哮；（风）呼啸；狂吹 | |
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56
vessel
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| n.船舶；容器，器皿；管，导管，血管 | |
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57
incisively
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| adv.敏锐地，激烈地 | |
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58
ashore
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| adv.在(向)岸上，上岸 | |
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59
kindly
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| adj.和蔼的，温和的，爽快的；adv.温和地，亲切地 | |
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60
exclamations
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| n.呼喊( exclamation的名词复数 )；感叹；感叹语；感叹词 | |
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61
entrapped
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| v.使陷入圈套，使入陷阱( entrap的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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62
toil
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| vi.辛劳工作，艰难地行动；n.苦工，难事 | |
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