In Which Captain Armine Increases His Knowledge of the Value of Money, and Also Becomes Aware of the Advantage of an Acquaintance Who Burns Coals.
FERDINAND returned to his hotel in no very good humour, revolving1 in his mind Miss Temple’s advice about optimism. What could she mean? Was there really a conspiracy2 to make him marry his cousin, and was Miss Temple one of the conspirators3? He could scarcely believe this, and yet it was the most probable, deduction4 from all that had been said and done. He had lived to witness such strange occurrences, that no event ought now to astonish him. Only to think that he had been sitting quietly in a drawing-room with Henrietta Temple, and she avowedly5 engaged to be married to another person, who was present; and that he, Ferdinand Armine, should be the selected companion of their morning ride, and be calmly invited to contribute to their daily amusement by his social presence! What next? If this were not an insult, a gross, flagrant, and unendurable outrage6, he was totally at a loss to comprehend what was meant by offended pride. Optimism, indeed! He felt far more inclined to embrace the faith of the Manichee! And what a fool was he to have submitted to such a despicable, such a degrading situation! What infinite weakness not to be able to resist her influence, the influence of a woman who had betrayed him! Yes! betrayed him. He had for some period reconciled his mind to entertain the idea of Henrietta’s treachery to him. Softened7 by time, atoned8 for by long suffering, extenuated9 by the constant sincerity10 of his purpose, his original imprudence, to use his own phrase in describing his misconduct, had gradually ceased to figure as a valid11 and sufficient cause for her behaviour to him. When he recollected12 how he had loved this woman, what he had sacrificed for her, and what misery13 he had in consequence entailed14 upon himself and all those dear to him; when he contrasted his present perilous15 situation with her triumphant16 prosperity, and remembered that while he had devoted17 himself to a love which proved false, she who had deserted18 him was, by a caprice of fortune, absolutely rewarded for her fickleness19; he was enraged20, he was disgusted, he despised himself for having been her slave; he began even to hate her. Terrible moment when we first dare to view with feelings of repugnance21 the being that our soul has long idolised! It is the most awful of revelations. We start back in horror, as if in the act of profanation22.
Other annoyances23, however, of a less ethereal character, awaited our hero on his return to his hotel. There he found a letter from his lawyer, informing him that he could no longer parry the determination of one of Captain Armine’s principal creditors25 to arrest him instantly for a considerable sum. Poor Ferdinand, mortified26 and harassed27, with his heart and spirit alike broken, could scarcely refrain from a groan28. However, some step must be taken. He drove Henrietta from his thoughts, and, endeavouring to rally some of his old energy, revolved29 in his mind what desperate expedient30 yet remained.
His sleep was broken by dreams of bailiffs, and a vague idea of Henrietta Temple triumphing in his misery; but he rose early, wrote a diplomatic note to his menacing creditor24, which he felt confident must gain him time, and then, making a careful toilet, for when a man is going to try to borrow money it is wise to look prosperous, he took his way to a quarter of the town where lived a gentleman with whose brother he had had some previous dealings at Malta, and whose acquaintance he had made in England in reference to them.
It was in that gloomy quarter called Golden-square, the murky31 repose32 of which strikes so mysteriously on the senses after the glittering bustle33 of the adjoining Regent-street, that Captain Armine stopped before a noble yet now dingy34 mansion35, that in old and happier days might probably have been inhabited by his grandfather, or some of his gay friends. A brass36 plate on the door informed the world that here resided Messrs. Morris and Levison, following the not very ambitious calling of coal merchants. But if all the pursuers of that somewhat humble37 trade could manage to deal in coals with the same dexterity38 as Messrs. Morris and Levison, what very great coal merchants they would be!
The ponderous39 portal obeyed the signal of the bell, and apparently40 opened without any human means; and Captain Armine, proceeding41 down a dark yet capacious passage, opened a door, which invited him by an inscription42 on ground glass that assured him he was entering the counting-house. Here several clerks, ensconced within lofty walls of the darkest and dullest mahogany, were busily employed; yet one advanced to an aperture43 in this fortification and accepted the card which the visitor offered him. The clerk surveyed the ticket with a peculiar44 glance; and then, begging the visitor to be seated, disappeared. He was not long absent, but soon invited Ferdinand to follow him. Captain Armine was ushered45 up a noble staircase, and into a saloon that once was splendid. The ceiling was richly carved, and there still might be detected the remains46 of its once gorgeous embellishment in the faint forms of faded deities47 and the traces of murky gilding48. The walls of this apartment were crowded with pictures, arranged, however, with little regard to taste, effect, or style. A sprawling49 copy of Titian’s Venus flanked a somewhat prim50 peeress by Hoppner; a landscape that smacked51 of Gainsborough was the companion of a dauby moonlight, that must have figured in the last exhibition; and insipid52 Roman matrons by Hamilton, and stiff English heroes by Northcote, contrasted with a vast quantity of second-rate delineations of the orgies of Dutch boors53 and portraits of favourite racers and fancy dogs. The room was crowded with ugly furniture of all kinds, very solid, and chiefly of mahogany; among which were not less than three escritoires, to say nothing of the huge horsehair sofas. A sideboard of Babylonian proportions was crowned by three massive and enormous silver salvers, and immense branch candlesticks of the same precious metal, and a china punch-bowl which might have suited the dwarf54 in Brobdignag. The floor was covered with a faded Turkey carpet. But amid all this solid splendour there were certain intimations of feminine elegance55 in the veil of finely-cut pink paper which covered the nakedness of the empty but highly-polished fire-place, and in the hand-screens, which were profusely56 ornamented57 with ribbon of the same hue58, and one of which afforded a most accurate if not picturesque59 view of Margate, while the other glowed with a huge wreath of cabbage-roses and jonquils.
Ferdinand was not long alone, and Mr. Levison, the proprietor60 of all this splendour, entered. He was a short, stout61 man, with a grave but handsome countenance62, a little bald, but nevertheless with an elaborateness of raiment which might better have become a younger man. He wore a plum-colored frock coat of the finest cloth; his green velvet63 waistcoat was guarded by a gold chain, which would have been the envy of a new town council; an immense opal gleamed on the breast of his embroidered64 shirt; and his fingers were covered with very fine rings.
‘Your sarvant, Captin,’ said Mr. Levison, and he placed a chair for his guest.
‘How are you, Levison?’ responded our hero in an easy voice. ‘Any news?’
Mr. Levison shrugged65 his shoulders, as he murmured, ‘Times is very bad, Captin.’
‘Oh! I dare say,’ said Ferdinand; ‘I wish they were as well with me as with you. By Jove, Levison, you must be making an immense fortune.’
Mr. Levison shook his head, as he groaned66 out, ‘I work hard, Captin; but times is terrible.’
‘Fiddlededee! Come! I want you to assist me a little, old fellow. No humbug67 between us.’
‘Oh!’ groaned Mr. Levison, ‘you could not come at a worse time; I don’t know what money is.’
‘Of course. However, the fact is, money I must have; and so, old fellow, we are old friends, and you must get it.’
‘What do you want, Captin?’ slowly spoke68 Mr. Levison, with an expression of misery.
‘Oh! I want rather a tolerable sum, and that is the truth; but I only want it for a moment.’
‘It is not the time, ’tis the money,’ said Mr. Levison. ‘You know me and my pardner, Captin, are always anxious to do what we can to sarve you.’
‘Well, now you can do me a real service, and, by Jove, you shall never repent69 it. To the point; I must have 1,500L.’
‘One thousand five hundred pounds!’ exclaimed Mr. Levison. ”Tayn’t in the country.’
‘Humbug! It must be found. What is the use of all this stuff with me? I want 1,500L., and you must give it me.’
‘I tell you what it is, Captin,’ said Mr. Levison, leaning over the back of a chair, and speaking with callous70 composure; ‘I tell you what it is, me and my pardner are very willing always to assist you; but we want to know when the marriage is to come off, and that’s the truth.’
‘Damn the marriage,’ said Captain Armine, rather staggered.
‘There it is, though,’ said Mr. Levison, very quietly. ‘You know, Captin, there is the arrears71 on that ’ere annuity72, three years next Michaelmas. I think it’s Michaelmas; let me see.’ So saying, Mr. Levison opened an escritoire, and brought forward an awful-looking volume, and, consulting the terrible index, turned to the fatal name of Armine. ‘Yes! three years next Michaelmas, Captin.’
‘Well, you will be paid,’ said Ferdinand.
‘We hope so,’ said Mr. Levison; ‘but it is a long figure.’
‘Well, but you get capital interest?’
‘Pish!’ said Mr. Levison; ‘ten per cent.! Why! it is giving away the money. Why! that’s the raw, Captin. With this here new bill annuities73 is nothink. Me and my pardner don’t do no annuities now. It’s giving money away; and all this here money locked up; and all to sarve you.’
‘Well; you will not help me,’ said Ferdinand, rising.
‘Do you raly want fifteen hundred?’ asked Mr. Levison.
‘By Jove, I do.’
‘Well now, Captin, when is this marriage to come off?’
‘Have I not told you a thousand times, and Morris too, that my cousin is not to marry until one year has passed since my grandfather’s death? It is barely a year. But of course, at this moment, of all others, I cannot afford to be short.’
‘Very true, Captin; and we are the men to sarve you, if we could. But we cannot. Never was such times for money; there is no seeing it. However, we will do what we can. Things is going very bad at Malta, and that’s the truth. There’s that young Catchimwhocan, we are in with him wery deep; and now he has left the Fusiliers and got into Parliament, he don’t care this for us. If he would only pay us, you should have the money; so help me, you should.’
‘But he won’t pay you,’ said Ferdinand. ‘What can you do?’
‘Why, I have a friend,’ said Mr. Levison, ‘who I know has got three hundred pound at his bankers, and he might lend it us; but we shall have to pay for it.’
‘I suppose so,’ said Ferdinand. ‘Well, three hundred.’
‘I have not got a shilling myself,’ said Mr. Levison. ‘Young Touchemup left us in the lurch74 yesterday for 750L., so help me, and never gave us no notice. Now, you are a gentleman, Captin; you never pay, but you always give us notice.’
Ferdinand could not help smiling at Mr. Levison’s idea of a gentleman.
‘Well, what else can you do?’
‘Why, there is two hundred coming in tomorrow,’ said Mr. Levison; ‘I can depend on that.’
‘Well, that is five.’
‘And you want fifteen hundred,’ said Mr. Levison. ‘Well, me and my pardner always like to sarve you, and it is very awkward certainly for you to want money at this moment. But if you want to buy jewels, I can get you any credit you like, you know.’
‘We will talk of that by and by,’ said Ferdinand.
‘Fifteen hundred pound!’ ejaculated Mr. Levison. ‘Well, I suppose we must make it 700L. somehow or other, and you must take the rest in coals.’
‘Oh, by Jove, Levison, that is too bad.’
‘I don’t see no other way,’ said Mr. Levison, rather doggedly75.
‘But, damn it, my good fellow, my dear Levison, what the deuce am I to do with 800L. worth of coals?’
‘Lord! My dear Captin, 800L. worth of coals is a mere76 nothink. With your connection, you will get rid of them in a morning. All you have got to do, you know, is to give your friends an order on us, and we will let you have cash at a little discount.’
‘Then you can let me have the cash now at a little discount, or even a great; I cannot get rid of 800L. worth of coals.’
‘Why, ‘tayn’t four hundred chaldron, Captin,’ rejoined Mr. Levison. ‘Three or four friends would do the thing. Why, Baron77 Squash takes ten thousand chaldron of us every year; but he has such a knack78, he gits the Clubs to take them.’
‘Baron Squash, indeed! Do you know whom you are talking to, Mr. Levison? Do you think that I am going to turn into a coal merchant? your working partner, by Jove! No, sir; give me the 700L., without the coals, and charge what interest you please.’ ‘We could not do it, Captin. ‘Tayn’t our way.’ ‘I ask you once more, Mr. Levison, will you let me have the money, or will you not?’
‘Now, Captin, don’t be so high and mighty79! ‘Tayn’t the way to do business. Me and my pardner wish to sarve you; we does indeed. And if a hundred pound will be of any use to you, you shall have it on your acceptance; and we won’t be curious about any name that draws; we won’t indeed.’
‘Well, Mr. Levison,’ said Ferdinand, rising, ‘I see we can do nothing today. The hundred pounds would be of no use to me. I will think over your proposition. Good morning to you.’
‘Ah, do!’ said Mr. Levison, bowing and opening the door, ‘do, Captin; we wish to sarve you, we does indeed. See how we behave about that arrears. Think of the coals; now do. Now for a bargin; come! Come, Captin, I dare say now you could get us the business of the Junior Sarvice Club; and then you shall have the seven hundred on your acceptance for three months, at two shillings in the pound; come!’
收听单词发音 |
1
revolving
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| adj.旋转的，轮转式的；循环的v.（使）旋转( revolve的现在分词 )；细想 | |
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conspiracy
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| n.阴谋，密谋，共谋 | |
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conspirators
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| n.共谋者，阴谋家( conspirator的名词复数 ) | |
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deduction
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| n.减除，扣除，减除额；推论，推理，演绎 | |
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avowedly
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| adv.公然地 | |
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outrage
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| n.暴行，侮辱，愤怒；vt.凌辱，激怒 | |
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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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atoned
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| v.补偿，赎（罪）( atone的过去式和过去分词 )；补偿，弥补，赎回 | |
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extenuated
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| v.（用偏袒的辩解或借口）减轻( extenuate的过去式和过去分词 )；低估，藐视 | |
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sincerity
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| n.真诚，诚意；真实 | |
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valid
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| adj.有确实根据的；有效的；正当的，合法的 | |
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recollected
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| adj.冷静的；镇定的；被回忆起的；沉思默想的v.记起，想起( recollect的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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misery
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| n.痛苦，苦恼，苦难；悲惨的境遇，贫苦 | |
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entailed
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| 使…成为必要( entail的过去式和过去分词 )； 需要； 限定继承； 使必需 | |
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perilous
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| adj.危险的，冒险的 | |
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triumphant
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| adj.胜利的，成功的；狂欢的，喜悦的 | |
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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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deserted
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| adj.荒芜的，荒废的，无人的，被遗弃的 | |
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fickleness
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| n.易变；无常；浮躁；变化无常 | |
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enraged
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| 使暴怒( enrage的过去式和过去分词 )； 歜； 激愤 | |
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repugnance
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| n.嫌恶 | |
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profanation
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| n.亵渎 | |
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annoyances
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| n.恼怒( annoyance的名词复数 )；烦恼；打扰；使人烦恼的事 | |
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creditor
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| n.债仅人，债主，贷方 | |
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creditors
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| n.债权人，债主( creditor的名词复数 ) | |
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mortified
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| v.使受辱( mortify的过去式和过去分词 )；伤害（人的感情）；克制；抑制（肉体、情感等） | |
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harassed
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| adj. 疲倦的，厌烦的 动词harass的过去式和过去分词 | |
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groan
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| vi./n.呻吟，抱怨；(发出)呻吟般的声音 | |
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revolved
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| v.（使）旋转( revolve的过去式和过去分词 )；细想 | |
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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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murky
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| adj.黑暗的，朦胧的；adv.阴暗地，混浊地；n.阴暗；昏暗 | |
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repose
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| v.(使)休息；n.安息 | |
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bustle
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| v.喧扰地忙乱，匆忙，奔忙；n.忙碌；喧闹 | |
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dingy
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| adj.昏暗的，肮脏的 | |
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mansion
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| n.大厦，大楼；宅第 | |
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brass
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| n.黄铜；黄铜器，铜管乐器 | |
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humble
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| adj.谦卑的，恭顺的；地位低下的；v.降低，贬低 | |
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dexterity
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| n.(手的)灵巧，灵活 | |
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ponderous
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| adj.沉重的，笨重的，(文章)冗长的 | |
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apparently
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| adv.显然地；表面上，似乎 | |
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proceeding
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| n.行动，进行，(pl.)会议录，学报 | |
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inscription
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| n.（尤指石块上的）刻印文字，铭文，碑文 | |
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aperture
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| n.孔，隙，窄的缺口 | |
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peculiar
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| adj.古怪的，异常的；特殊的，特有的 | |
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ushered
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| v.引，领，陪同( usher的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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remains
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| n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹 | |
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deities
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| n.神，女神( deity的名词复数 )；神祗；神灵；神明 | |
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gilding
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| n.贴金箔，镀金 | |
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sprawling
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| adj.蔓生的，不规则地伸展的v.伸开四肢坐[躺]( sprawl的现在分词 )；蔓延；杂乱无序地拓展；四肢伸展坐着（或躺着） | |
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prim
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| adj.拘泥形式的，一本正经的；n.循规蹈矩，整洁；adv.循规蹈矩地，整洁地 | |
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smacked
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| 拍，打，掴( smack的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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insipid
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| adj.无味的，枯燥乏味的，单调的 | |
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boors
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| n.农民( boor的名词复数 )；乡下佬；没礼貌的人；粗野的人 | |
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dwarf
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| n.矮子，侏儒，矮小的动植物；vt.使…矮小 | |
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elegance
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| n.优雅；优美，雅致；精致，巧妙 | |
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profusely
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| ad.abundantly | |
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ornamented
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| adj.花式字体的v.装饰，点缀，美化( ornament的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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hue
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| n.色度；色调；样子 | |
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picturesque
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| adj.美丽如画的，（语言）生动的，绘声绘色的 | |
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proprietor
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| n.所有人；业主；经营者 | |
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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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velvet
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| n.丝绒，天鹅绒；adj.丝绒制的，柔软的 | |
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64
embroidered
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| adj．绣花的 | |
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65
shrugged
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| vt.耸肩（shrug的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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groaned
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| v.呻吟( groan的过去式和过去分词 )；发牢骚；抱怨；受苦 | |
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67
humbug
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| n.花招，谎话，欺骗 | |
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68
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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repent
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| v.悔悟，悔改，忏悔，后悔 | |
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70
callous
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| adj.无情的，冷淡的，硬结的，起老茧的 | |
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71
arrears
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| n.到期未付之债，拖欠的款项；待做的工作 | |
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72
annuity
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| n.年金；养老金 | |
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73
annuities
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| n.养老金；年金( annuity的名词复数 )；（每年的）养老金；年金保险；年金保险投资 | |
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74
lurch
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| n.突然向前或旁边倒；v.蹒跚而行 | |
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75
doggedly
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| adv.顽强地，固执地 | |
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76
mere
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| adj.纯粹的；仅仅，只不过 | |
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77
baron
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| n.男爵；(商业界等)巨头，大王 | |
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78
knack
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| n.诀窍，做事情的灵巧的，便利的方法 | |
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79
mighty
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| adj.强有力的；巨大的 | |
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