Musing11 over Lord Eskdale, the mind of Lucretia was drawn12 to the image of his friend; her friend; the friend of her parents. And why not marry Lord Monmouth? The idea pleased her. There was something great in the conception; difficult and strange. The result, if achieved, would give her all that she desired. She devoted13 her mind to this secret thought. She had no confidants. She concentrated her intellect on one point, and that was to fascinate the grandfather of Coningsby, while her step-mother was plotting that she should marry his grandson. The volition14 of Lucretia Colonna was, if not supreme15, of a power most difficult to resist. There was something charm-like and alluring16 in the conversation of one who was silent to all others; something in the tones of her low rich voice which acted singularly on the nervous system. It was the voice of the serpent; indeed, there was an undulating movement in Lucretia, when she approached you, which irresistibly17 reminded you of that mysterious animal.
Lord Monmouth was not insensible to the spell, though totally unconscious of its purpose. He found the society of Lucretia very agreeable to him; she was animated18, intelligent, original; her inquiries19 were stimulating20; her comments on what she saw, and heard, and read, racy and often indicating a fine humour. But all this was reserved for his ear. Before her parents, as before all others, Lucretia was silent, a little scornful, never communicating, neither giving nor seeking amusement, shut up in herself.
Lord Monmouth fell therefore into the habit of riding and driving with Lucretia alone. It was an arrangement which he found made his life more pleasant. Nor was it displeasing21 to Madame Colonna. She looked upon Lord Monmouth’s fancy for Lucretia as a fresh tie for them all. Even the Prince, when his wife called his attention to the circumstance, observed it with satisfaction. It was a circumstance which represented in his mind a continuance of good eating and good drinking, fine horses, luxurious22 baths, unceasing billiards23.
In this state of affairs appeared Sidonia, known before to her step-mother, but seen by Lucretia for the first time. Truly, he came, saw, and conquered. Those eyes that rarely met another’s were fixed24 upon his searching yet unimpassioned glance. She listened to that voice, full of music yet void of tenderness; and the spirit of Lucretia Colonna bowed before an intelligence that commanded sympathy, yet offered none.
Lucretia naturally possessed25 great qualities as well as great talents. Under a genial26 influence, her education might have formed a being capable of imparting and receiving happiness. But she found herself without a guide. Her father offered her no love; her step-mother gained from her no respect. Her literary education was the result of her own strong mind and inquisitive27 spirit. She valued knowledge, and she therefore acquired it. But not a single moral principle or a single religious truth had ever been instilled28 into her being. Frequent absence from her own country had by degrees broken off even an habitual29 observance of the forms of her creed30; while a life of undisturbed indulgence, void of all anxiety and care, while it preserved her from many of the temptations to vice31, deprived her of that wisdom ‘more precious than rubies,’ which adversity and affliction, the struggles and the sorrows of existence, can alone impart.
Lucretia had passed her life in a refined, but rather dissolute society. Not indeed that a word that could call forth32 a maiden33 blush, conduct that could pain the purest feelings, could be heard or witnessed in those polished and luxurious circles. The most exquisite34 taste pervaded35 their atmosphere; and the uninitiated who found themselves in those perfumed chambers37 and those golden saloons, might believe, from all that passed before them, that their inhabitants were as pure, as orderly, and as irreproachable38 as their furniture. But among the habitual dwellers39 in these delicate halls there was a tacit understanding, a prevalent doctrine40 that required no formal exposition, no proofs and illustrations, no comment and no gloss41; which was indeed rather a traditional conviction than an imparted dogma; that the exoteric public were, on many subjects, the victims of very vulgar prejudices, which these enlightened personages wished neither to disturb nor to adopt.
A being of such a temper, bred in such a manner; a woman full of intellect and ambition, daring and lawless, and satiated with prosperity, is not made for equable fortunes and an uniform existence. She would have sacrificed the world for Sidonia, for he had touched the fervent42 imagination that none before could approach; but that inscrutable man would not read the secret of her heart; and prompted alike by pique43, the love of power, and a weariness of her present life, Lucretia resolved on that great result which Mr. Rigby is now about to communicate to the Princess Colonna.
About half-an-hour after Mr. Rigby had entered that lady’s apartments it seemed that all the bells of Monmouth House were ringing at the same time. The sound even reached the Marquess in his luxurious recess44; who immediately took a pinch of snuff, and ordered his valet to lock the door of the ante-chamber36. The Princess Lucretia, too, heard the sounds; she was lying on a sofa, in her boudoir, reading the Inferno45, and immediately mustered46 her garrison47 in the form of a French maid, and gave directions that no one should be admitted. Both the Marquess and his intended bride felt that a crisis was at hand, and resolved to participate in no scenes.
The ringing ceased; there was again silence. Then there was another ring; a short, hasty, and violent pull; followed by some slamming of doors. The servants, who were all on the alert, and had advantages of hearing and observation denied to their secluded48 master, caught a glimpse of Mr. Rigby endeavouring gently to draw back into her apartment Madame Colonna, furious amid his deprecatory exclamations49.
‘For heaven’s sake, my dear Madame; for your own sake; now really; now I assure you; you are quite wrong; you are indeed; it is a complete misapprehension; I will explain everything. I entreat50, I implore51, whatever you like, just what you please; only listen.’
Then the lady, with a mantling52 visage and flashing eye, violently closing the door, was again lost to their sight. A few minutes after there was a moderate ring, and Mr. Rigby, coming out of the apartments, with his cravat53 a little out of order, as if he had had a violent shaking, met the servant who would have entered.
‘Order Madame Colonna’s travelling carriage,’ he exclaimed in a loud voice, ‘and send Mademoiselle Conrad here directly. I don’t think the fellow hears me,’ added Mr. Rigby, and following the servant, he added in a low tone and with a significant glance, ‘no travelling carriage; no Mademoiselle Conrad; order the britska round as usual.’
Nearly another hour passed; there was another ring; very moderate indeed. The servant was informed that Madame Colonna was coming down, and she appeared as usual. In a beautiful morning dress, and leaning on the arm of Mr. Rigby, she descended54 the stairs, and was handed into her carriage by that gentleman, who, seating himself by her side, ordered them to drive to Richmond.
Lord Monmouth having been informed that all was calm, and that Madame Colonna, attended by Mr. Rigby, had gone to Richmond, ordered his carriage, and accompanied by Lucretia and Lucian Gay, departed immediately for Blackwall, where, in whitebait, a quiet bottle of claret, the society of his agreeable friends, and the contemplation of the passing steamers, he found a mild distraction55 and an amusing repose56.
Mr. Rigby reported that evening to the Marquess on his return, that all was arranged and tranquil57. Perhaps he exaggerated the difficulties, to increase the service; but according to his account they were considerable. It required some time to make Madame Colonna comprehend the nature of his communication. All Rigby’s diplomatic skill was expended58 in the gradual development. When it was once fairly put before her, the effect was appalling59. That was the first great ringing of bells. Rigby softened60 a little what he had personally endured; but he confessed she sprang at him like a tigress balked61 of her prey62, and poured forth on him a volume of epithets63, many of which Rigby really deserved. But after all, in the present instance, he was not treacherous64, only base, which he always was. Then she fell into a passion of tears, and vowed65 frequently that she was not weeping for herself, but only for that dear Mr. Coningsby, who had been treated so infamously66 and robbed of Lucretia, and whose heart she knew must break. It seemed that Rigby stemmed the first violence of her emotion by mysterious intimations of an important communication that he had to make; and piquing67 her curiosity, he calmed her passion. But really having nothing to say, he was nearly involved in fresh dangers. He took refuge in the affectation of great agitation68 which prevented exposition. The lady then insisted on her travelling carriage being ordered and packed, as she was determined to set out for Rome that afternoon. This little occurrence gave Rigby some few minutes to collect himself, at the end of which he made the Princess several announcements of intended arrangements, all of which pleased her mightily69, though they were so inconsistent with each other, that if she had not been a woman in a passion, she must have detected that Rigby was lying. He assured her almost in the same breath, that she was never to be separated from them, and that she was to have any establishment in any country she liked. He talked wildly of equipages, diamonds, shawls, opera-boxes; and while her mind was bewildered with these dazzling objects, he, with intrepid70 gravity, consulted her as to the exact amount she would like to have apportioned71, independent of her general revenue, for the purposes of charity.
At the end of two hours, exhausted72 by her rage and soothed73 by these visions, Madame Colonna having grown calm and reasonable, sighed and murmured a complaint, that Lord Monmouth ought to have communicated this important intelligence in person. Upon this Rigby instantly assured her, that Lord Monmouth had been for some time waiting to do so, but in consequence of her lengthened74 interview with Rigby, his Lordship had departed for Richmond with Lucretia, where he hoped that Madame Colonna and Mr. Rigby would join him. So it ended, with a morning drive and suburban75 dinner; Rigby, after what he had gone through, finding no difficulty in accounting76 for the other guests not being present, and bringing home Madame Colonna in the evening, at times almost as gay and good-tempered as usual, and almost oblivious77 of her disappointment.
When the Marquess met Madame Colonna he embraced her with great courtliness, and from that time consulted her on every arrangement. He took a very early occasion of presenting her with a diamond necklace of great value. The Marquess was fond of making presents to persons to whom he thought he had not behaved very well, and who yet spared him scenes.
The marriage speedily followed, by special license78, at the villa79 of the Right Hon. Nicholas Rigby, who gave away the bride. The wedding was very select, but brilliant as the diamond necklace: a royal Duke and Duchess, Lady St. Julians, and a few others. Mr. Ormsby presented the bride with a bouquet80 of precious stones, and Lord Eskdale with a French fan in a diamond frame. It was a fine day; Lord Monmouth, calm as if he were winning the St. Leger; Lucretia, universally recognised as a beauty; all the guests gay, the Princess Colonna especially.
The travelling carriage is at the door which is to bear away the happy pair. Madame Colonna embraces Lucretia; the Marquess gives a grand bow: they are gone. The guests remain awhile. A Prince of the blood will propose a toast; there is another glass of champagne81 quaffed82, another ortolan devoured83; and then they rise and disperse84. Madame Colonna leaves with Lady St. Julians, whose guest for a while she is to become. And in a few minutes their host is alone.
Mr. Rigby retired85 into his library: the repose of the chamber must have been grateful to his feelings after all this distraction. It was spacious86, well-stored, classically adorned87, and opened on a beautiful lawn. Rigby threw himself into an ample chair, crossed his legs, and resting his head on his arm, apparently88 fell into deep contemplation.
He had some cause for reflection, and though we did once venture to affirm that Rigby never either thought or felt, this perhaps may be the exception that proves the rule.
He could scarcely refrain from pondering over the strange event which he had witnessed, and at which he had assisted.
It was an incident that might exercise considerable influence over his fortunes. His patron married, and married to one who certainly did not offer to Mr. Rigby such a prospect89 of easy management as her step-mother! Here were new influences arising; new characters, new situations, new contingencies90. Was he thinking of all this? He suddenly jumps up, hurries to a shelf and takes down a volume. It is his interleaved peerage, of which for twenty years he had been threatening an edition. Turning to the Marquisate of Monmouth, he took up his pen and thus made the necessary entry:
‘Married, second time, August 3rd, 1837, The Princess Lucretia Colonna, daughter of Prince Paul Colonna, born at Rome, February 16th, 1819.’
That was what Mr. Rigby called ‘a great fact.’ There was not a peerage-compiler in England who had that date save himself.
Before we close this slight narrative91 of the domestic incidents that occurred in the family of his grandfather since Coningsby quitted the Castle, we must not forget to mention what happened to Villebecque and Flora92. Lord Monmouth took a great liking93 to the manager. He found him very clever in many things independently of his profession; he was useful to Lord Monmouth, and did his work in an agreeable manner. And the future Lady Monmouth was accustomed to Flora, and found her useful too, and did not like to lose her. And so the Marquess, turning all the circumstances in his mind, and being convinced that Villebecque could never succeed to any extent in England in his profession, and probably nowhere else, appointed him, to Villebecque’s infinite satisfaction, intendant of his household, with a considerable salary, while Flora still lived with her kind step-father.
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1
determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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bestowed
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| 赠给，授予( bestow的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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coveted
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| adj.令人垂涎的；垂涎的，梦寐以求的v.贪求，觊觎(covet的过去分词)；垂涎；贪图 | |
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eminence
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| n.卓越，显赫；高地，高处；名家 | |
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distinguished
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| adj.卓越的，杰出的，著名的 | |
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homage
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| n.尊敬，敬意，崇敬 | |
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applied
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| adj.应用的；v.应用，适用 | |
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hovered
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| 鸟( hover的过去式和过去分词 )； 靠近（某事物）； （人）徘徊； 犹豫 | |
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imperturbability
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| n.冷静；沉着 | |
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callous
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| adj.无情的，冷淡的，硬结的，起老茧的 | |
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musing
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| n. 沉思，冥想 adj. 沉思的, 冥想的 动词muse的现在分词形式 | |
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drawn
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| v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的 | |
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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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volition
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| n.意志；决意 | |
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supreme
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| adj.极度的，最重要的；至高的，最高的 | |
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alluring
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| adj.吸引人的，迷人的 | |
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irresistibly
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| adv.无法抵抗地，不能自持地；极为诱惑人地 | |
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animated
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| adj.生气勃勃的，活跃的，愉快的 | |
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inquiries
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| n.调查( inquiry的名词复数 )；疑问；探究；打听 | |
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stimulating
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| adj.有启发性的，能激发人思考的 | |
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displeasing
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| 不愉快的，令人发火的 | |
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luxurious
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| adj.精美而昂贵的；豪华的 | |
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billiards
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| n.台球 | |
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fixed
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| adj.固定的，不变的，准备好的；(计算机)固定的 | |
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possessed
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| adj.疯狂的；拥有的，占有的 | |
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genial
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| adj.亲切的，和蔼的，愉快的，脾气好的 | |
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inquisitive
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| adj.求知欲强的，好奇的，好寻根究底的 | |
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instilled
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| v.逐渐使某人获得（某种可取的品质），逐步灌输( instill的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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habitual
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| adj.习惯性的；通常的，惯常的 | |
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creed
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| n.信条；信念，纲领 | |
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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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forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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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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exquisite
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| adj.精美的；敏锐的；剧烈的，感觉强烈的 | |
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pervaded
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| v.遍及，弥漫( pervade的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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chamber
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| n.房间，寝室；会议厅；议院；会所 | |
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chambers
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| n.房间( chamber的名词复数 )；（议会的）议院；卧室；会议厅 | |
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irreproachable
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| adj.不可指责的，无过失的 | |
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dwellers
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| n.居民，居住者( dweller的名词复数 ) | |
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doctrine
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| n.教义；主义；学说 | |
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gloss
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| n.光泽，光滑；虚饰；注释；vt.加光泽于；掩饰 | |
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fervent
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| adj.热的，热烈的，热情的 | |
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pique
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| v.伤害…的自尊心，使生气 n.不满，生气 | |
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recess
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| n.短期休息，壁凹（墙上装架子，柜子等凹处） | |
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inferno
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| n.火海；地狱般的场所 | |
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mustered
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| v.集合，召集，集结（尤指部队）( muster的过去式和过去分词 )；（自他人处）搜集某事物；聚集；激发 | |
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garrison
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| n.卫戍部队；驻地，卫戍区；vt.派(兵)驻防 | |
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secluded
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| adj.与世隔绝的；隐退的；偏僻的v.使隔开，使隐退( seclude的过去式和过去分词) | |
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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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entreat
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| v.恳求，恳请 | |
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implore
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| vt.乞求，恳求，哀求 | |
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mantling
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| 覆巾 | |
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cravat
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| n.领巾，领结；v.使穿有领结的服装，使结领结 | |
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descended
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| a.为...后裔的，出身于...的 | |
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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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repose
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| v.(使)休息；n.安息 | |
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tranquil
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| adj. 安静的, 宁静的, 稳定的, 不变的 | |
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expended
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| v.花费( expend的过去式和过去分词 )；使用（钱等）做某事；用光；耗尽 | |
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appalling
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| adj.骇人听闻的，令人震惊的，可怕的 | |
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softened
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| （使）变软( soften的过去式和过去分词 )； 缓解打击； 缓和； 安慰 | |
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balked
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| v.畏缩不前，犹豫( balk的过去式和过去分词 )；（指马）不肯跑 | |
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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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epithets
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| n.（表示性质、特征等的）词语( epithet的名词复数 ) | |
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treacherous
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| adj.不可靠的，有暗藏的危险的；adj.背叛的，背信弃义的 | |
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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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infamously
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| 不名誉地 | |
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piquing
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| v.伤害…的自尊心( pique的现在分词 )；激起（好奇心） | |
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agitation
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| n.搅动；搅拌；鼓动，煽动 | |
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mightily
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| ad.强烈地；非常地 | |
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intrepid
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| adj.无畏的，刚毅的 | |
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apportioned
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| vt.分摊，分配（apportion的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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exhausted
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| adj.极其疲惫的，精疲力尽的 | |
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soothed
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| v.安慰( soothe的过去式和过去分词 )；抚慰；使舒服；减轻痛苦 | |
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lengthened
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| （时间或空间）延长，伸长( lengthen的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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suburban
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| adj.城郊的，在郊区的 | |
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accounting
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| n.会计，会计学，借贷对照表 | |
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oblivious
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| adj.易忘的，遗忘的，忘却的，健忘的 | |
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license
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| n.执照，许可证，特许；v.许可，特许 | |
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villa
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| n.别墅，城郊小屋 | |
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80
bouquet
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| n.花束，酒香 | |
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81
champagne
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| n.香槟酒；微黄色 | |
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82
quaffed
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| v.痛饮( quaff的过去式和过去分词 )；畅饮；大口大口将…喝干；一饮而尽 | |
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devoured
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| 吞没( devour的过去式和过去分词 )； 耗尽； 津津有味地看； 狼吞虎咽地吃光 | |
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84
disperse
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| vi.使分散；使消失；vt.分散；驱散 | |
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retired
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| adj.隐退的，退休的，退役的 | |
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spacious
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| adj.广阔的，宽敞的 | |
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87
adorned
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| [计]被修饰的 | |
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apparently
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| adv.显然地；表面上，似乎 | |
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prospect
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| n.前景，前途；景色，视野 | |
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contingencies
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| n.偶然发生的事故，意外事故( contingency的名词复数 )；以备万一 | |
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narrative
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| n.叙述，故事；adj.叙事的，故事体的 | |
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flora
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| n.(某一地区的)植物群 | |
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liking
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| n.爱好；嗜好；喜欢 | |
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