At length the evening came—darkness closed over the old place, and as the appointed hour approached, Ashwoode became more and more excited.
"I must," thought he, "keep every faculty1 intensely on the stretch, to detect, if possible, the nature of their schemes. Blarden and Chancey have unquestionably hatched some other d——d plot, though what worse can befall me? I am netted as completely as their worst malice2 can desire. It is now seven o'clock. Another hour will determine all my doubts. Hark you, sirrah!" continued he, raising his voice, and addressing a servant who had entered the chamber3, "I expect a gentleman upon particular business at eight o'clock. On his arrival conduct him directly to this room."
Chancey and his burly companion both sat snugly5 before the fire smoking their pipes in silent enjoyment6, while their miserable7 host paced the room from wall to wall in mental torments9 indescribable.
At length the weary interval10 expired, and within a few minutes of the appointed hour, Nicholas Blarden was admitted by the servant, and ushered11 into the chamber in which Ashwoode expected his arrival.
"Well, Sir Henry," exclaimed Blarden, as he swaggered into the room, "you seem a little flustered12 still—eh? Hope you found your company pleasant. My friends' society is considered uncommon13 agreeable."
The visitor here threw himself into a chair, and continued—
"By the holy Saint Paul, as I rode up your cursed old dusky avenue, I began to think the chances were ten to one you had brought your throat and a razor acquainted before this. I have known men do it under your circumstances—of course I mean gentlemen, with fine friends and delicate habits, and who could not stand exposure and all that kind of thing. I say, Mr. Grimes, my sweet fellow, you may leave the room, but keep within call, do ye mind. Mr. Chancey and I want to have a little confidential14 conversation with my friend, Sir Henry. Bundle out, and the moment you hear me call your name, bolt in again like a shot."
Mr. Grimes, without answering, rose and lounged out of the room.
"Chancey, shut that door," continued Blarden. "Shut it tight, as tight as a drum. There, to your seat again. Now then, Sir Henry, we may as well to business; but first of all, sit down. I have no objection to your sitting. Don't be shy."
Sir Henry Ashwoode did seat himself, and the three members of this secret council drew their chairs around the table, each with very different feelings.
"I take it for granted," said Blarden, planting his elbow upon the table, and supporting his chin upon his hand, while he fixed15 his baleful eyes upon the young man, "I take it for granted, and as a matter of course, that you have been puzzling your brains all day to come at the reason why I allow you to be sitting in this house, instead of clapping your four bones under lock and key, in another place."
He paused here, as if to allow his exordium to impress itself upon the memory of his auditory, and then resumed,—
"And I take it for granted, moreover, that you are not quite fool enough to imagine that I care one blast if you were strung up by the hangman, and carved by the doctors, to-morrow—eh?"
He paused again.
"Well, then, it's possible you think I have some end of my own to serve, by letting the matter stand over this way. And so I have, by ——. You think right, if you never thought right before. I have an object in view, and it lies with you whether it's gained or lost. Do you mind?"
"Go on—go on—go on," repeated Ashwoode, gloomily.
"What a devil of a hurry you're in," observed Blarden, with a scornful chuckle16. "But don't tear yourself; you'll have it all time enough. Now I'm going to do great things for you—do you mind me? I'm going, in the first place, to give you your life and your character—such as it is; and, what's more, I'll not let you go to jail for debt neither. I'll not let you be ruined; for Nickey Blarden was never the man to do things by halves. Do you hear all I'm saying?"
"Yes, yes," said Ashwoode, faintly; "but the condition—come to that—the condition."
"Well, I will come to that. I will tell you the terms," rejoined Blarden. "I suppose you need not be told that I am worth a good penny, no matter how much. At any rate I'm rich—that much you do know. Well, perhaps you'll think it odd that I have not taken up a little to live more quiet and orderly; in short, that I have not sown my wild oats, and settled down, and all that, and become what they call an ornament17 to society—eh? You, perhaps, wonder how it comes I have not taken a rib—why I have not got married—eh? Well, I think myself it is a wonder, especially for such an admirer of the sex as I am, and I think it's a pity besides, and so I've made up my mind to mend the matter, do you see, and to take a wife without loss of time. She must have family, for I want that, and she must have beauty, for I would not marry the queen without it—family and beauty. I don't ask money; I have more of my own than I well know what to do with. Family and beauty is what I require. And I have settled the thing in my own mind, that the very article I want, just the thing to a nicety, is your sister—little, bright-eyed Mary—sporting Molly. I wish to marry her, and her I'll have—and that's the long and the short of the whole business."
"You—you marry my sister," exclaimed Ashwoode, returning the fellow's insolent18 gaze with a look of indescribable scorn and astonishment19.
"Yes—I—I myself—I, Nicholas Blarden, with more gold than a man could count in three lives," shouted Blarden, returning his gaze with a scowl20 of defiance—"I condescend21 to marry the sister of a ruined, beggared profligate—a common forger22, who has one foot in the dock at this minute. Down upon your marrow-bones, and thank me for my condescension—down, I say."
Overwhelmed with indignation and disgust, Ashwoode could not answer. All his self-command was required to resist his vehement23 internal impulse to strike the fellow to the ground and trample24 upon him. This strong emotion, however, had its spring in no generous source. No thought or care for Mary's feelings or fate crossed his mind; but only the sense of insulted pride, for even in the midst of all his misery25 and abasement26, his hereditary27 pride of birth survived: that this low, this entirely28 blasted, this branded ruffian should dare to propose to ally himself with the Ashwoodes of Morley Court—a family whose blood was as pure as centuries of aristocratic transmission, and repeated commixture with that of nobility, could make it—a family who stood, in consideration and respect, one of the very highest of the country! Could flesh and blood endure it?
"Make your mind up at once—I have no time to spare; and just remember that the locality of your night's lodging29 depends upon your decision," said Blarden, coolly, looking at his watch. "If, unfortunately for yourself, you should resolve against the connection, then you must have the goodness to accompany us into town to-night, and the law takes its course quietly with you, and your neck-bone must only reconcile itself to an ugly bit of a twist. If otherwise, you're a made man. Run the matter fairly over in your mind, and see which of us two should desire the thing most. As for me, I tell you plainly, it's a bit of a fancy—no more—and may pass off in a day or two, for I don't pretend to be extraordinarily30 steady in love affairs, and always had rather a roving eye; and if I should happen to cool, by ——, you'll be in a nice hobble. So I think you had best take the ball at the hop—do you mind—and make no mouths at your good fortune."
Blarden paused, and looked at his huge chased-gold watch again, and laid it on the table, as if to measure Ashwoode's deliberation by the minute. Meanwhile the young baronet had ample time to recollect31 the desperate pressure of his circumstances, which outraged32 pride had for a moment half obliterated33 from his mind, and the process of remembrance was in no small degree assisted by the heavy tread of the constable34, distinctly audible from the hall.
"Blarden," said Ashwoode, in a voice low and husky with agitation35, "she'll never consent—you can't expect it: she'll never marry you."
"I'm not talking of the girl's consent just now," replied Blarden: "I'm asking only for yours in the first place. Am I to understand that you're agreed?"
"Then leave me alone to gain her consent," retorted Blarden, with a brutal37 smile. "I have a bit of a winning way with me—a knack38 of my own—for coming round a girl; and if she don't yield to that, why we must only try another course. When love is wanting, obedience39 is the next best thing: although we can't charm her, she's no girl if we can't frighten her—eh?"
Ashwoode was silent.
"Now mind, I require your active co-operation," continued Blarden; "there's to be no shamming40. I'm no greenhorn, and know a loaded die from a fair one. It's not safe to try hocus pocus with me, and if I don't get the girl, of course you're no brother of mine, and must not expect me to forget the old score that's between us. Do you understand me? Unless you bring this marriage about, you must only take the consequences, and I promise you they'll be of the very ugliest possible description."
"Agreed, agreed; talk no more of it just now," said Ashwoode, vehemently—"we understand one another. Tomorrow we may talk of it again; meanwhile torment8 me no more!"
"Well, I have said my say," rejoined Blarden, "and have nothing more to do but to inform you, that I intend passing the night here, and, in short, to make a visit of a week or so, for it's right the young lady should have an opportunity of knowing my geography before she marries me; and besides, I have heard a great account of old Sir Richard's cellar. Chancey, do you tell my servant to bring my things up to the room that Sir Henry will point out. Sir Henry, you'll see about my room—have a bit of fire in it—see to it yourself, mind; for do you mind, between ourselves, I think it's on the whole your better course to be uncommonly41 civil to me. Stir yourselves, gentlemen. And, Chancey, hand Grimes his fee, and let him be off. We'll try a jug42 of your claret, Sir Henry, and a spatchcock, or some little thing of the kind, and then to our virtuous43 beds—eh?"
After a carousal44 protracted45 to nearly three hours, during which Nickey Blarden treated his two companions to sundry46 ballads47, and other vocal48 efforts somewhat more boisterous49 than elegant, and supplying frequent allusion50, and not of the most delicate kind, to his contemplated51 change of condition, that interesting person proceeded somewhat unsteadily upstairs to his bed-chamber. With a suspicion, which even his tipsiness could not overcome, he jealously bolted the door upon the inside, and laid his sword and pistols upon the table by his bed, remembering that it was just possible that his entertainer might conceive an expeditious52 project for relieving himself of all his troubles, or at least the greater part of them. These pleasant precautions taken, Mr. Blarden undressed himself with all celerity and threw himself into bed.
This gentleman's opinion of mankind was by no means exalted53, nor at all complimentary54 to human nature. Utter, hardened selfishness he believed to be the master-passion of the human race, and any appeal which addressed itself to that, he looked upon as irresistible55. In applying this rule to Sir Henry Ashwoode he happened, indeed, to be critically correct, for the young baronet was in very nearly all points fashioned precisely56 according to honest Nickey's standard of humanity. That gentleman experienced, therefore, no misgivings57 as to his young friend's preferring at all hazards to remain at Morley Court, rather than quit the country, and enter upon a life of vagabond beggary.
"No, no," thought Blarden, "he'll not take leg bail58, just because he can gain nothing earthly by it now; the only thing I can see that could serve him at all—that is, supposing him to be against the match—is to cut my throat; however, I don't think he's wild enough to run that risk, and if he does try it, by ——, he'll have the worst of the game."
Thus, after a day of unclouded triumph, did Mr. Blarden compose himself to light and happy slumbers59.
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1
faculty
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| n.才能；学院，系；(学院或系的)全体教学人员 | |
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2
malice
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| n.恶意，怨恨，蓄意；[律]预谋 | |
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3
chamber
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| n.房间，寝室；会议厅；议院；会所 | |
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4
agitated
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| adj.被鼓动的，不安的 | |
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snugly
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| adv.紧贴地；贴身地；暖和舒适地；安适地 | |
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6
enjoyment
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| n.乐趣；享有；享用 | |
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7
miserable
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| adj.悲惨的，痛苦的；可怜的，糟糕的 | |
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8
torment
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| n.折磨；令人痛苦的东西(人)；vt.折磨；纠缠 | |
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torments
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| （肉体或精神上的）折磨，痛苦( torment的名词复数 )； 造成痛苦的事物[人] | |
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10
interval
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| n.间隔，间距；幕间休息，中场休息 | |
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11
ushered
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| v.引，领，陪同( usher的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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12
flustered
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| adj.慌张的；激动不安的v.使慌乱，使不安( fluster的过去式和过去分词) | |
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13
uncommon
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| adj.罕见的，非凡的，不平常的 | |
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14
confidential
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| adj.秘（机）密的，表示信任的，担任机密工作的 | |
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15
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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16
chuckle
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| vi.／n.轻声笑，咯咯笑 | |
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17
ornament
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| v.装饰，美化；n.装饰，装饰物 | |
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18
insolent
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| adj.傲慢的，无理的 | |
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19
astonishment
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| n.惊奇，惊异 | |
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20
scowl
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| vi.(at)生气地皱眉，沉下脸，怒视；n.怒容 | |
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21
condescend
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| v.俯就，屈尊；堕落，丢丑 | |
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22
forger
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| v.伪造；n.（钱、文件等的）伪造者 | |
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23
vehement
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| adj.感情强烈的；热烈的；(人)有强烈感情的 | |
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24
trample
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| vt.踩，践踏；无视，伤害，侵犯 | |
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25
misery
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| n.痛苦，苦恼，苦难；悲惨的境遇，贫苦 | |
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26
abasement
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| n.滥用 | |
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27
hereditary
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| adj.遗传的，遗传性的，可继承的，世袭的 | |
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28
entirely
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| ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地 | |
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29
lodging
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| n.寄宿，住所；(大学生的)校外宿舍 | |
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30
extraordinarily
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| adv.格外地；极端地 | |
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31
recollect
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| v.回忆，想起，记起，忆起，记得 | |
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32
outraged
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| a.震惊的，义愤填膺的 | |
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33
obliterated
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| v.除去( obliterate的过去式和过去分词 )；涂去；擦掉；彻底破坏或毁灭 | |
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34
constable
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| n.(英国)警察，警官 | |
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35
agitation
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| n.搅动；搅拌；鼓动，煽动 | |
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36
sullenly
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| 不高兴地，绷着脸，忧郁地 | |
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37
brutal
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| adj.残忍的，野蛮的，不讲理的 | |
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38
knack
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| n.诀窍，做事情的灵巧的，便利的方法 | |
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39
obedience
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| n.服从，顺从 | |
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40
shamming
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| 假装，冒充( sham的现在分词 ) | |
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41
uncommonly
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| adv. 稀罕(极，非常) | |
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42
jug
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| n.(有柄，小口，可盛水等的)大壶，罐，盂 | |
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43
virtuous
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| adj.有品德的，善良的，贞洁的，有效力的 | |
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44
carousal
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| n.喧闹的酒会 | |
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45
protracted
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| adj.拖延的；延长的v.拖延“protract”的过去式和过去分词 | |
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46
sundry
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| adj.各式各样的，种种的 | |
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47
ballads
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| 民歌，民谣，特别指叙述故事的歌( ballad的名词复数 )； 讴 | |
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48
vocal
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| adj.直言不讳的；嗓音的；n.[pl.]声乐节目 | |
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49
boisterous
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| adj.喧闹的，欢闹的 | |
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50
allusion
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| n.暗示，间接提示 | |
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51
contemplated
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| adj. 预期的 动词contemplate的过去分词形式 | |
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52
expeditious
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| adj.迅速的，敏捷的 | |
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53
exalted
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| adj.(地位等)高的，崇高的；尊贵的，高尚的 | |
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54
complimentary
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| adj.赠送的，免费的，赞美的，恭维的 | |
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55
irresistible
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| adj.非常诱人的，无法拒绝的，无法抗拒的 | |
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56
precisely
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| adv.恰好，正好，精确地，细致地 | |
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57
misgivings
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| n.疑虑，担忧，害怕；疑虑，担心，恐惧( misgiving的名词复数 )；疑惧 | |
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58
bail
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| v.舀（水），保释；n.保证金，保释，保释人 | |
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59
slumbers
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| 睡眠，安眠( slumber的名词复数 ) | |
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