He Attracts the Envy and ILL Offices of the Minor1 Knights3 of His Own Order, Over Whom he Obtains a COMPLETE Victory.
Such a pre-eminence could not be enjoyed without exciting the malevolence4 of envy and detraction5, in the propagation of which none were so industrious6 as the brethren of his own order, who had, like him, made a descent upon this island, and could not, without repining, see the whole harvest in the hands of one man, who, with equal art and discretion7, avoided all intercourse8 with their society. In vain they strove to discover his pedigree, and detect the particular circumstances of his life and conversation; all their inquiries9 were baffled by the obscurity of his origin, and that solitary10 scheme which he had adopted in the beginning of his career. The whole fruit of their investigation11 amounted to no more than a certainty that there was no family of any consideration in Europe known by the denomination12 of Fathom13; and this discovery they did not fail to divulge14 for the benefit of our adventurer, who had by this time taken such firm root in the favour of the great, as to set all those little arts at defiance15; and when the report reached his ear, actually made his friends merry with the conjectures16 which had been circulated at his expense.
His adversaries18, finding themselves disappointed in this effort, held a consultation19 to devise other measures against him, and came to a resolution of ending him by the sword, or rather of expelling him from the kingdom by the fear of death, which they hoped he had not courage enough to resist, because his deportment had always been remarkably20 mild and pacific. It was upon this supposition that they left to the determination of the dice21 the choice of the person who should execute their plan; and the lot falling upon a Swiss, who, from the station of a foot soldier in the Dutch service, out of which he had been drummed for theft, had erected22 himself into the rank of a self-created chevalier, this hero fortified23 himself with a double dose of brandy, and betook himself to a certain noted24 coffee-house, with an intent to affront25 Count Fathom in public.
He was lucky enough to find our adventurer sitting at a table in conversation with some persons of the first rank; upon which he seated himself in the next box, and after having intruded26 himself into their discourse27, which happened to turn upon the politics of some German courts, “Count,” said he to Ferdinand, in a very abrupt28 and disagreeable manner of address, “I was last night in company with some gentlemen, among whom a dispute happened about the place of your nativity; pray, what country are you of?” “Sir,” answered the other, with great politeness, “I at present have the honour to be of England.” “Oho!” replied the chevalier, “I ask your pardon, that is to say, you are incog; some people may find it convenient to keep themselves in that situation.” “True,” said the Count, “but some people are too well known to enjoy that privilege.” The Swiss being a little disconcerted at this repartee29, which extracted a smile from the audience, after some pause, observed, that persons of a certain class had good reason to drop the remembrance of what they have been; but a good citizen will not forget his country, or former condition. “And a bad citizen,” said Fathom, “cannot, if he would, provided he has met with his deserts; a sharper may as well forget the shape of a die, or a discarded soldier the sound of a drum.”
As the chevalier’s character and story were not unknown, this application raised an universal laugh at his expense, which provoked him to such a degree, that, starting up, he swore Fathom could not have mentioned any object in nature that he himself resembled so much as a drum, which was exactly typified by his emptiness and sound, with this difference, however, that a drum was never noisy till beaten, whereas the Count would never be quiet, until he should have undergone the same discipline. So saying, he laid his hand upon his sword with a menacing look, and walked out as if in expectation of being followed by our adventurer, who suffered himself to be detained by the company, and very calmly took notice, that his antagonist30 would not be ill pleased at their interposition. Perhaps he would not have comported31 himself with such ease and deliberation, had not he made such remarks upon the disposition32 of the chevalier, as convinced him of his own safety. He had perceived a perplexity and perturbation in the countenance33 of the Swiss, when he first entered the coffee-room; his blunt and precipitate34 way of accosting35 him seemed to denote confusion and compulsion; and, in the midst of his ferocity, this accurate observer discerned the trepidation36 of fear. By the help of these signs, his sagacity soon comprehended the nature of his schemes, and prepared accordingly for a formal defiance.
His conjecture17 was verified next morning by a visit from the chevalier, who, taking it for granted that Fathom would not face an adversary37 in the field, because he had not followed him from the coffee-house, went to his lodgings38 with great confidence, and demanded to see the Count upon an affair that would admit of no delay. Maurice, according to his instructions, told him that his master was gone out, but desired he would have the goodness to repose39 himself in the parlour, till the Count’s return, which he expected every moment. Ferdinand, who had taken post in a proper place for observation, seeing his antagonist fairly admitted, took the same road, and appearing before him, wrapped up in a long Spanish cloak, desired to know what had procured40 him the honour of such an early visit. The Swiss, raising his voice to conceal41 his agitation42, explained his errand, in demanding reparation for the injury his honour had sustained the preceding day, in that odious43 allusion44 to a scandalous report which had been raised by the malice45 of his enemies; and insisted, in a very imperious style, upon his attending him forthwith to the nursery in Hyde Park. “Have a little patience,” said our adventurer with great composure, “and I will do myself the pleasure to wait upon you in a few moments.”
With these words, he rang the bell, and, calling for a bason of water, laid aside his cloak, and displayed himself in his shirt, with a sword in his right hand, which was all over besmeared with recent blood, as if he had just come from the slaughter47 of a foe48. This phenomenon made such an impression upon the astonished chevalier, already discomposed by the resolute49 behaviour of the Count, that he became jaundiced with terror and dismay, and, while his teeth chattered50 in his head, told our hero he had hoped, from his known politeness, to have found him ready to acknowledge an injury which might have been the effect of anger or misapprehension, in which case the affair might have been compromised to their mutual51 satisfaction, without proceeding52 to those extremities53 which, among men of honour, are always accounted the last resource. To this representation Ferdinand answered, that the affair had been of the chevalier’s own seeking, inasmuch as he had intruded himself into his company, and treated him with the most insolent54 and unprovoked abuse, which plainly flowed from a premeditated design against his honour and reputation; he, therefore, far from being disposed to own himself in the wrong, would not even accept of a public acknowledgment from him, the aggressor, whom he looked upon as an infamous55 sharper, and was resolved to chastise56 accordingly.
Here the conversation was interrupted by the arrival of a person who was brought to the door in a chair, and conducted into another apartment, from which a message was brought to the Count, importing, that the stranger desired to speak with him upon business of the last importance. Fathom having chid57 the servant for admitting people without his order, desired the Swiss to excuse him for a minute longer, and went in to the next room, from whence the following dialogue was overheard by this challenger:—“Count,” said the stranger, “you are not ignorant of my pretensions59 to the heart of that young lady, at whose house I met you yesterday; therefore you cannot be surprised when I declare myself displeased60 with your visits and behaviour to my mistress, and demand that you will instantly promise to drop the correspondence.” “Else what follows?” answered Ferdinand, with a cool and temperate61 voice. “My resentment62 and immediate63 defiance,” replied the other; “for the only alternative I propose is, to forego your design upon that lady, or to decide our pretension58 by the sword.”
Our hero, having expressed a regard for this visitant as the son of a gentleman whom he honoured, was at the pains to represent the unreasonableness64 of his demand, and the folly65 of his presumption66; and earnestly exhorted67 him to put the issue of his cause upon a more safe and equitable68 footing. But this admonition, instead of appeasing69 the wrath70, seemed to inflame71 the resentment of the opponent, who swore he would not leave him until he should have accomplished72 the purport73 of his errand. In vain our adventurer requested half an hour for the despatch74 of some urgent business, in which he was engaged with a gentleman in the other parlour. This impetuous rival rejected all the terms he could propose, and even challenged him to decide the controversy75 upon the spot; an expedient76 to which the other having assented77 with reluctance78, the door was secured, the swords unsheathed, and a hot engagement ensued, to the inexpressible pleasure of the Swiss, who did not doubt that he himself would be screened from all danger by the event of this rencontre. Nevertheless, his hope was disappointed in the defeat of the stranger, who was quickly disarmed79, in consequence of a wound through the sword-arm; upon which occasion Fathom was heard to say, that, in consideration of his youth and family, he had spared his life; but he would not act with the same tenderness towards any other antagonist. He then bound up the limb he had disabled, conducted the vanquished80 party to his chair, rejoined the chevalier with a serene81 countenance, and, asking pardon for having detained him so long, proposed they should instantly set out in a hackney-coach for the place of appointment.
The stratagem82 thus conducted, had all the success the inventor could desire. The fear of the Swiss had risen almost to an ecstasy83 before the Count quitted the room; but after this sham84 battle, which had been preconcerted betwixt our adventurer and his friend Ratchcali, the chevalier’s terrors were unspeakable. He considered Fathom as a devil incarnate85, and went into the coach as a malefactor86 bound for Tyburn. He would have gladly compounded for the loss of a leg or arm, and entertained some transient gleams of hope, that he should escape for half a dozen flesh-wounds, which he would have willingly received as the price of his presumption; but these hopes were banished87 by the remembrance of that dreadful declaration which he had heard the Count make, after having overcome his last adversary; and he continued under the power of the most unsupportable panic, until the carriage halted at Hyde Park Corner, where he crawled forth46 in a most piteous and lamentable88 condition; so that, when they reached the spot, he was scarce able to stand.
Here he made an effort to speak, and propose an accommodation upon a new plan, by which he promised to leave his cause to the arbitrement of those gentlemen who were present at the rupture89, and to ask pardon of the Count, provided he should be found guilty of a trespass90 upon good manners; but this proposal would not satisfy the implacable Ferdinand, who, perceiving the agony of the Swiss, resolved to make the most of the adventure, and giving him to understand he was not a man to be trifled with, desired him to draw without further preamble91. Thus compelled, the unfortunate gamester pulled off his coat, and, putting himself in a posture92, to use the words of Nym, “winked, and held out his cold iron.”
Our adventurer, far from making a gentle use of the advantages he possessed93, fiercely attacked him, while he was incapable94 of making resistance, and, aiming at a fleshy part, ran him through the arm and outside of the shoulder at the very first pass. The chevalier, already stupefied with the horror of expectation, no sooner felt his adversary’s point in his body than he fell to the ground, and, concluding he was no longer a man for this world, began to cross himself with great devotion; while Fathom walked home deliberately95, and in his way sent a couple of chairmen to the assistance of the wounded knight2.
This achievement, which could not be concealed96 from the knowledge of the public, not only furnished the character of Fathom with fresh wreaths of admiration97 and applause, but likewise effectually secured him from any future attempts of his enemies, to whom the Swiss, for his own sake, had communicated such terrible ideas of his valour, as overawed the whole community.
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1
minor
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| adj.较小(少)的，较次要的；n.辅修学科；vi.辅修 | |
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knight
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| n.骑士，武士；爵士 | |
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knights
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| 骑士； （中古时代的）武士( knight的名词复数 )； 骑士； 爵士； （国际象棋中）马 | |
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malevolence
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| n.恶意，狠毒 | |
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detraction
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| n.减损；诽谤 | |
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industrious
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| adj.勤劳的，刻苦的，奋发的 | |
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discretion
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| n.谨慎；随意处理 | |
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8
intercourse
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| n.性交；交流，交往，交际 | |
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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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solitary
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| adj.孤独的，独立的，荒凉的；n.隐士 | |
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investigation
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| n.调查，调查研究 | |
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denomination
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| n.命名，取名，(度量衡、货币等的)单位 | |
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fathom
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| v.领悟，彻底了解 | |
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14
divulge
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| v.泄漏(秘密等)；宣布，公布 | |
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defiance
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| n.挑战，挑衅，蔑视，违抗 | |
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conjectures
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| 推测，猜想( conjecture的名词复数 ) | |
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conjecture
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| n./v.推测，猜测 | |
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18
adversaries
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| n.对手，敌手( adversary的名词复数 ) | |
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consultation
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| n.咨询；商量；商议；会议 | |
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remarkably
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| ad.不同寻常地，相当地 | |
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dice
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| n.骰子；vt.把（食物）切成小方块，冒险 | |
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22
ERECTED
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| adj. 直立的，竖立的，笔直的 vt. 使 ... 直立，建立 | |
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23
fortified
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| adj. 加强的 | |
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24
noted
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| adj.著名的，知名的 | |
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affront
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| n./v.侮辱，触怒 | |
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intruded
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| n.侵入的，推进的v.侵入，侵扰，打扰( intrude的过去式和过去分词 )；把…强加于 | |
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discourse
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| n.论文，演说；谈话；话语；vi.讲述，著述 | |
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abrupt
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| adj.突然的，意外的；唐突的，鲁莽的 | |
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29
repartee
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| n.机敏的应答 | |
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antagonist
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| n.敌人，对抗者，对手 | |
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comported
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| v.表现( comport的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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32
disposition
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| n.性情，性格；意向，倾向；排列，部署 | |
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countenance
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| n.脸色，面容；面部表情；vt.支持，赞同 | |
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precipitate
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| adj.突如其来的；vt.使突然发生；n.沉淀物 | |
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accosting
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| v.走过去跟…讲话( accost的现在分词 )；跟…搭讪；（乞丐等）上前向…乞讨；（妓女等）勾搭 | |
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36
trepidation
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| n.惊恐，惶恐 | |
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37
adversary
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| adj.敌手，对手 | |
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lodgings
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| n. 出租的房舍, 寄宿舍 | |
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repose
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| v.(使)休息；n.安息 | |
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procured
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| v.（努力）取得， （设法）获得( procure的过去式和过去分词 )；拉皮条 | |
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41
conceal
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| v.隐藏，隐瞒，隐蔽 | |
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agitation
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| n.搅动；搅拌；鼓动，煽动 | |
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odious
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| adj.可憎的，讨厌的 | |
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allusion
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| n.暗示，间接提示 | |
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45
malice
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| n.恶意，怨恨，蓄意；[律]预谋 | |
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forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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slaughter
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| n.屠杀，屠宰；vt.屠杀，宰杀 | |
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foe
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| n.敌人，仇敌 | |
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49
resolute
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| adj.坚决的，果敢的 | |
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50
chattered
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| （人）喋喋不休( chatter的过去式 )； 唠叨； （牙齿）打战； （机器）震颤 | |
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mutual
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| adj.相互的，彼此的；共同的，共有的 | |
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proceeding
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| n.行动，进行，(pl.)会议录，学报 | |
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extremities
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| n.端点( extremity的名词复数 )；尽头；手和足；极窘迫的境地 | |
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insolent
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| adj.傲慢的，无理的 | |
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infamous
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| adj.声名狼藉的，臭名昭著的，邪恶的 | |
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chastise
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| vt.责骂，严惩 | |
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chid
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| v.责骂，责备( chide的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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pretension
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| n.要求；自命，自称；自负 | |
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pretensions
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| 自称( pretension的名词复数 )； 自命不凡； 要求； 权力 | |
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60
displeased
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| a.不快的 | |
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temperate
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| adj.温和的，温带的，自我克制的，不过分的 | |
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resentment
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| n.怨愤，忿恨 | |
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immediate
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| adj.立即的；直接的，最接近的；紧靠的 | |
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unreasonableness
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| 无理性； 横逆 | |
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folly
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| n.愚笨，愚蠢，蠢事，蠢行，傻话 | |
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presumption
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| n.推测，可能性，冒昧，放肆，[法律]推定 | |
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exhorted
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| v.劝告，劝说( exhort的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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equitable
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| adj.公平的；公正的 | |
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appeasing
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| 安抚，抚慰( appease的现在分词 )； 绥靖（满足另一国的要求以避免战争） | |
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wrath
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| n.愤怒，愤慨，暴怒 | |
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inflame
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| v.使燃烧；使极度激动；使发炎 | |
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accomplished
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| adj.有才艺的；有造诣的；达到了的 | |
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purport
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| n.意义，要旨，大要；v.意味著，做为...要旨，要领是... | |
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despatch
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| n./v.(dispatch)派遣；发送；n.急件；新闻报道 | |
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controversy
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| n.争论，辩论，争吵 | |
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expedient
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| adj.有用的，有利的；n.紧急的办法，权宜之计 | |
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assented
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| 同意，赞成( assent的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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reluctance
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| n.厌恶，讨厌，勉强，不情愿 | |
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disarmed
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| v.裁军( disarm的过去式和过去分词 )；使息怒 | |
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vanquished
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| v.征服( vanquish的过去式和过去分词 )；战胜；克服；抑制 | |
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serene
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| adj. 安详的，宁静的，平静的 | |
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stratagem
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| n.诡计，计谋 | |
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ecstasy
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| n.狂喜，心醉神怡，入迷 | |
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sham
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| n./adj.假冒(的)，虚伪(的) | |
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incarnate
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| adj.化身的，人体化的，肉色的 | |
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malefactor
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| n.罪犯 | |
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87
banished
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| v.放逐，驱逐( banish的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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88
lamentable
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| adj.令人惋惜的，悔恨的 | |
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89
rupture
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| n.破裂；(关系的)决裂；v.(使)破裂 | |
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90
trespass
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| n./v.侵犯，闯入私人领地 | |
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91
preamble
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| n.前言；序文 | |
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92
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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93
possessed
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| adj.疯狂的；拥有的，占有的 | |
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94
incapable
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| adj.无能力的，不能做某事的 | |
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95
deliberately
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| adv.审慎地；蓄意地；故意地 | |
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96
concealed
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| a.隐藏的，隐蔽的 | |
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97
admiration
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| n.钦佩，赞美，羡慕 | |
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