The nature of his injury considered, Captain Lake recovered with wonderful regularity1 and rapidity. In four weeks he was out rather pale and languid but still able to walk without difficulty, leaning on a stick, for ten or fifteen minutes at a time. In another fortnight he had made another great advance, had thrown away his crutch2 handled stick, and recovered flesh and vigour3. In a fortnight more he had grown quite like himself again; and in a very few weeks more, I read in the same county paper, transmitted to me by the same fair hands, but this time not with a cross, but three distinct notes of admiration4 standing5 tremulously at the margin6 of the paragraph, the following to me for a time incredible, and very nearly to this day amazing, announcement:—
‘MARRIAGE IN HIGH LIFE.
‘The auspicious7 event so interesting to our county, which we have this day to announce, though for some time upon the tapis, has been attended with as little publicity8 as possible. The contemplated9 union between Captain Stanley Lake, late of the Guards, sole surviving son of the late General Williams Stanley Stanley Lake, of Plasrhwyn, and the beautiful and accomplished10 Miss Brandon, of Brandon Hall, in this county, was celebrated11 in the ancestral chapel12 of Brandon, situated13 within the manorial14 boundaries, in the immediate15 vicinity of the town of Gylingden, on yesterday. Although the marriage was understood to be strictly16 private — none but the immediate relations of the bride and bridegroom being present — the bells of Gylingden rang out merry peals17 throughout the day, and the town was tastefully decorated with flags, and brilliantly illuminated18 at night.
‘A deputation of the tenantry of the Gylingden and the Longmoor estates, together with those of the Brandon estate, went in procession to Brandon Hall in the afternoon, and read a well-conceived and affectionate address, which was responded to in appropriate terms by Captain Lake, who received them, with his beautiful bride at his side, in the great gallery — perhaps the noblest apartment in that noble ancestral mansion19. The tenantry were afterwards handsomely entertained under the immediate direction of Josiah Larkin, Esq., of the Lodge20, the respected manager of the Brandon estates, at the “Brandon Arms,” in the town of Gylingden. It is understood that the great territorial21 influence of the Brandon family will obtain a considerable accession in the estates of the bridegroom in the south of England.’
There was some more which I need not copy, being very like what we usually see on such occasions.
I read this piece of intelligence half a dozen times over during breakfast. ‘How that beautiful girl has thrown herself away!’ I thought. ‘Surely the Chelfords, who have an influence there, ought to have exerted it to prevent her doing anything so mad. His estates in the south of England, indeed! Why, he can’t have ￡300 a year clear from that little property in Devon. He is such a liar22; and so absurd, as if he could succeed in deceiving anyone upon the subject.’
So I read the paragraph over again, and laid down the paper, simply saying, ‘Well, certainly, that is disgusting!’
I had heard of his duel23. It was also said that it had in some way had reference to Miss Brandon. But this was the only rumoured24 incident which would at all have prepared one for the occurrence. I tried to recollect25 anything particular in his manner — there was nothing; and she positively26 seemed to dislike him. I had been utterly27 mystified, and so, I presume, had all the other lookers-on.
Well! after all, ’twas no particular business of mine.
At the club, I saw it in the ‘Morning Post;’ and an hour after, old Joe Gabloss, that prosy Argus who knows everything, recounted the details with patient precision, and in legal phrase, ‘put in’ letters from two or three country houses proving his statement.
So there was no doubting it longer: and Captain Stanley Lake, late of Her Majesty’s —— Regiment28 of Guards, idler, scamp, coxcomb29, and the beautiful Dorcas Brandon, heiress of Brandon, were man and wife.
I wrote to my fair friend, Miss Kybes, and had an answer confirming, if that were needed, the public announcement, and mentioning enigmatically, that it had caused ‘a great deal of conversation.’
The posture30 of affairs in the small world of Gylingden, except in the matter of the alliance just referred to, was not much changed.
Since the voluminous despatch31 from Marseilles, promising32 his return so soon, not a line had been received from Mark Wylder. He might arrive any day or night. He might possibly have received some unexpected check — if not checkmate, in that dark and deep game on which he seemed to have staked so awfully33. Mr. Jos. Larkin sometimes thought one thing, sometimes another.
In the meantime, Captain Lake accepted the trust. Larkin at times thought there was a constant and secret correspondence going on between him and Mark Wylder, and that he was his agent in adjusting some complicated and villainous piece of diplomacy34 by means of the fund — secret-service money — which Mark had placed at his disposal.
He, Mr. Larkin, was treated like a child in this matter, and his advice never so much as asked, nor his professional honour accredited35 by the smallest act of confidence.
Sometimes his suspicions took a different turn, and he thought that Lake might be one of those ‘persecutors’ of whom Mark spoke36 with such mysterious hatred37; and that the topic of their correspondence was, perhaps, some compromise, the subject or the terms of which would not bear the light.
Lake certainly made two visits to London, one of them of a week’s duration. The attorney being a sharp, long-headed fellow, who knew very well what business was, knew perfectly38 well, too, that two or three short letters might have settled any legitimate39 business which his gallant40 friend had in the capital.
But Lake was now married, and under the incantation whistled over him by the toothless Archdeacon of Mundlebury, had sprung up into a county magnate, and was worth cultivating, and to be treated tenderly.
So the attorney’s business was to smile and watch — to watch, and of course, to pray as heretofore — but specially41 to watch. He himself hardly knew all that was passing in his own brain. There are operations of physical nature which go on actively42 without your being aware of them; and the moral respiration43, circulation, insensible perspiration44, and all the rest of that peculiar45 moral system which exhibited its type in Jos. Larkin, proceeded automatically in the immortal46 structure of that gentleman.
Being very gentlemanlike in externals, with a certain grace, amounting very nearly to elegance47, and having applied48 himself diligently49 to please the county people, that proud fraternity, remembering his father’s estates, condoned50 his poverty, and took Captain Lake by the hand, and lifted him into their superb, though not very entertaining order.
There were solemn festivities at Brandon, and festive51 solemnities at the principal county houses in return. Though not much of a sportsman, Lake lent himself handsomely to all the sporting proceedings52 of the county, and subscribed53 in a way worthy54 of the old renown55 of Brandon Hall to all sorts of charities and galas. So he was getting on very pleasantly with his new neighbours, and was likely to stand very fairly in that dull, but not unfriendly society.
About three weeks after this great county marriage, there arrived, this time from Frankfort, a sharp letter, addressed to Jos. Larkin, Esq. It said:—
‘My Dear Sir — I think I have reason to complain. I have just seen by accident the announcement of the marriage at Brandon. I think as my friend, and a friend to the Brandon family, you ought to have done something to delay, if you could not stop it. Of course, you had the settlements, and devil’s in it if you could not have beat about a while — it was not so quick with me — and not doubled the point in a single tack56; and you know the beggar has next to nothing. Any way, it was your duty to have printed some notice that the thing was thought of. If you had put it, like a bit of news, in “Galignani,” I would have seen it, and known what to do. Well, that ship’s blew up. But I won’t let all go. The cur will begin to try for the county or for Dollington. You must quietly stop that, mind; and if he persists, just you put an advertisement in “Galignani,” saying Mr. Smith will take notice, that the other party is desirous to purchase, and becoming very pressing. Just you hoist57 that signal, and somebody will bear down, and blaze into him at all hazards — you’ll see how. Things have not gone quite smooth with me since; but it won’t be long till I run up my flag again, and take the command. Be perfectly civil with Stanley Lake till I come on board — that is indispensable; and keep this letter as close from every eye as sealed orders. You may want a trifle to balk58 S.L.‘s electioneering, and there’s an order on Lake for 200_l. Don’t trifle about the county and borough59. He must have no footing in either till I return.
‘Yours, dear Larkin,
‘Very truly
‘(but look after my business better),
‘M. WYLDER.’
The order on Lake, a little note, was enclosed:—
‘Dear Lake — I wish you joy, and all the good wishes going, as I could not make the prize myself.
‘Be so good to hand my lawyer, Mr. Jos. Larkin, of the Lodge, Gylingden, 200_l. sterling60, on my account.
‘Yours, dear Lake,
‘Very faithfully,
‘M. WYLDER.
200_l.)
‘23rd Feb., &c. &c.’
When Jos. Larkin presented this little order, it was in the handsome square room in which Captain Lake transacted61 business — a lofty apartment, wainscoted in carved oak, and with a great stone mantelpiece, with the Wylder arms, projecting in bold relief, in the centre, and a florid scroll62, with ‘RESURGAM’ standing forth63 as sharp as the day it was chiselled64 nearly three hundred years before.
There was some other business — Brandon business — to be talked over first; and that exhausted65, Mr. Larkin sat as usual, with one long thigh66 crossed upon the other — his arm thrown over the back of his chair, and his tall, bald head a little back, and his small mild eyes twinkling through their pink lids on the enigmatical captain, who had entered upon the march of ambition in a spirit so audacious and conquering.
‘I had a line from Mr. Mark Wylder yesterday afternoon, as usual without any address but the postmark;’ and good Mr. Larkin laughed a mild, little patient laugh, and lifted his open hand, and shook his head. ‘It really is growing too absurd — a mere67 order upon you to hand me 200_l. How I’m to dispose of it, I have not the faintest notion.’
And he laughed again; at the same time he gracefully68 poked69 the little note, between two fingers, to Captain Lake, who glanced full on him, for a second, as he took it.
‘And how is Mark?’ enquired70 Lake, with his odd, sly smile, as he scrawled71 a little endorsement72 on the order. ‘Does he say anything?’
‘No; absolutely nothing — he’s a very strange client!’ said Larkin, laughing again. ‘There can be no objection, of course, to your reading it; and he thinks — he thinks — he’ll be here soon again — oh, here it is.’
Mr. Larkin had been fumbling73, first in his deep waistcoat, and then in his breast-pocket, as if for the letter, which was locked fast into the iron safe, with Chubb’s patent lock, in his office at the Lodge. But it would not have done to have kept a secret from Captain Lake, of Brandon; and therefore his not seeing the note was a mere accident.
‘Oh! no — stupid! — that’s Mullett and Hock’s. I have not got it with me; but it does not signify, for there’s nothing in it. I hope I shall soon be favoured with his directions as to what to do with the money.’
‘He’s an odd fellow; and I don’t know how he feels towards me; but on my part there is no feeling, I do assure you, but the natural desire to live on the friendly terms which our ties of family and our position in the county’—
Stanley Lake was writing the cheque for 200_l. meanwhile, and handed it to Larkin; and as that gentleman penned a receipt, the captain continued — his eyes lowered to the little vellum-bound book in which he was now making an entry:—
‘You have handed me a large sum, Mr. Larkin — 3,276_l. 11_s. 4_d. I undertook this, you know, on the understanding that it was not to go on very long; and I find my own business pretty nearly as much as I can manage. Is Wylder at all definite as to when we may expect his return?’
‘Oh, dear no — quite as usual — he expects to be here soon; but that is all. I so wish I had brought his note with me; but I’m positive that is all.’
So, this little matter settled, the lawyer took his leave.
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收听单词发音
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1
regularity
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| n.规律性，规则性；匀称，整齐 | |
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2
crutch
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| n.T字形拐杖；支持，依靠，精神支柱 | |
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3
vigour
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| （=vigor）n.智力，体力，精力 | |
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4
admiration
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| n.钦佩，赞美，羡慕 | |
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5
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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6
margin
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| n.页边空白；差额；余地，余裕；边，边缘 | |
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7
auspicious
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| adj.吉利的；幸运的，吉兆的 | |
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8
publicity
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| n.众所周知，闻名；宣传，广告 | |
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9
contemplated
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| adj. 预期的 动词contemplate的过去分词形式 | |
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10
accomplished
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| adj.有才艺的；有造诣的；达到了的 | |
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11
celebrated
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| adj.有名的，声誉卓著的 | |
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12
chapel
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| n.小教堂，殡仪馆 | |
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13
situated
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| adj.坐落在...的，处于某种境地的 | |
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14
manorial
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| adj.庄园的 | |
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15
immediate
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| adj.立即的；直接的，最接近的；紧靠的 | |
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16
strictly
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| adv.严厉地，严格地；严密地 | |
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17
peals
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| n.（声音大而持续或重复的）洪亮的响声( peal的名词复数 )；隆隆声；洪亮的钟声；钟乐v.（使）（钟等）鸣响，（雷等）发出隆隆声( peal的第三人称单数 ) | |
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18
illuminated
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| adj.被照明的；受启迪的 | |
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19
mansion
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| n.大厦，大楼；宅第 | |
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20
lodge
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| v.临时住宿，寄宿，寄存，容纳；n.传达室，小旅馆 | |
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21
territorial
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| adj.领土的，领地的 | |
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22
liar
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| n.说谎的人 | |
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23
duel
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| n./v.决斗；(双方的)斗争 | |
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24
rumoured
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| adj.谣传的；传说的；风 | |
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25
recollect
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| v.回忆，想起，记起，忆起，记得 | |
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26
positively
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| adv.明确地，断然，坚决地；实在，确实 | |
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27
utterly
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| adv.完全地，绝对地 | |
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28
regiment
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| n.团，多数，管理；v.组织，编成团，统制 | |
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29
coxcomb
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| n.花花公子 | |
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30
posture
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| n.姿势，姿态，心态，态度；v.作出某种姿势 | |
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31
despatch
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| n./v.(dispatch)派遣；发送；n.急件；新闻报道 | |
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32
promising
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| adj.有希望的，有前途的 | |
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33
awfully
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| adv.可怕地，非常地，极端地 | |
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34
diplomacy
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| n.外交；外交手腕，交际手腕 | |
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35
accredited
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| adj.可接受的；可信任的；公认的；质量合格的v.相信( accredit的过去式和过去分词 )；委托；委任；把…归结于 | |
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36
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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37
hatred
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| n.憎恶，憎恨，仇恨 | |
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38
perfectly
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| adv.完美地，无可非议地，彻底地 | |
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39
legitimate
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| adj.合法的，合理的，合乎逻辑的；v.使合法 | |
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40
gallant
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| adj.英勇的，豪侠的；(向女人)献殷勤的 | |
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41
specially
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| adv.特定地；特殊地；明确地 | |
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42
actively
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| adv.积极地，勤奋地 | |
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43
respiration
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| n.呼吸作用；一次呼吸；植物光合作用 | |
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44
perspiration
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| n.汗水；出汗 | |
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45
peculiar
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| adj.古怪的，异常的；特殊的，特有的 | |
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46
immortal
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| adj.不朽的；永生的，不死的；神的 | |
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47
elegance
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| n.优雅；优美，雅致；精致，巧妙 | |
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48
applied
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| adj.应用的；v.应用，适用 | |
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49
diligently
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| ad.industriously;carefully | |
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50
condoned
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| v.容忍，宽恕，原谅( condone的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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51
festive
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| adj.欢宴的，节日的 | |
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52
proceedings
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| n.进程，过程，议程；诉讼(程序)；公报 | |
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53
subscribed
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| v.捐助( subscribe的过去式和过去分词 )；签署，题词；订阅；同意 | |
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54
worthy
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| adj.(of)值得的，配得上的；有价值的 | |
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55
renown
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| n.声誉，名望 | |
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56
tack
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| n.大头钉；假缝，粗缝 | |
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57
hoist
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| n.升高，起重机，推动；v.升起，升高，举起 | |
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58
balk
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| n.大方木料；v.妨碍；不愿前进或从事某事 | |
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59
borough
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| n.享有自治权的市镇；(英)自治市镇 | |
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60
sterling
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| adj.英币的(纯粹的，货真价实的)；n.英国货币(英镑) | |
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61
transacted
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| v.办理（业务等）( transact的过去式和过去分词 )；交易，谈判 | |
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62
scroll
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| n.卷轴，纸卷；(石刻上的)漩涡 | |
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63
forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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64
chiselled
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| adj.凿过的，凿光的； （文章等）精心雕琢的v.凿，雕，镌( chisel的过去式 ) | |
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65
exhausted
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| adj.极其疲惫的，精疲力尽的 | |
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66
thigh
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| n.大腿；股骨 | |
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67
mere
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| adj.纯粹的；仅仅，只不过 | |
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68
gracefully
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| ad.大大方方地；优美地 | |
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69
poked
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| v.伸出( poke的过去式和过去分词 )；戳出；拨弄；与（某人）性交 | |
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70
enquired
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| 打听( enquire的过去式和过去分词 )； 询问； 问问题； 查问 | |
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71
scrawled
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| 乱涂，潦草地写( scrawl的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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72
endorsement
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| n.背书；赞成，认可，担保；签(注)，批注 | |
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73
fumbling
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| n. 摸索,漏接 v. 摸索,摸弄,笨拙的处理 | |
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