Peregrine meets with Mrs. Hornbeck, and is consoled for his Loss — His Valet-de-chambre is embroiled1 with her Duenna, whom, however, he finds means to appease2.
Everything having thus resumed its natural channel, they dined together in great tranquility. In the afternoon, Peregrine, on pretence3 of staying at home to write letters, while his companions were at the coffee-house, ordered a coach to be called, and, with his valet-de-chambre, who was the only person acquainted with the present state of his thoughts, set out for the promenade4, to which all the ladies of fashion resort in the evening during the summer season, in hopes of seeing his fugitive5 among the rest.
Having made a circuit round the walk, and narrowly observed every female in the place, he perceived at some distance the livery of Hornbeck upon a lacquey that stood at the back of a coach; upon which he ordered his man to reconnoitre the said carriage, while he pulled up his glasses, that he might not be discovered before he should have received some intelligence by which he might conduct himself on this unexpected occasion, that already began to interfere6 with the purpose of his coming thither7, though it could not dispute his attention with the idea of his charming unknown.
His Mercury, having made his observations, reported that there was nobody in the coach but Mrs. Hornbeck and an elderly woman, who had all the air of a duenna; and that the servant was not the same footman who had attended them in France. Encouraged by this information, our hero ordered himself to be driven close up to that side of their convenience on which his old mistress sat, and accosted9 her with the usual salutation. This lady no sooner beheld10 her gallant11 than her cheeks reddened with a double glow, and she exclaimed, “Dear brother, I am overjoyed to see you! Pray come into our coach.” He took the hint immediately, and, complying with her request, embraced this new sister with great affection.
Perceiving that her attendant was very much surprised and alarmed at this unexpected meeting, she, in order to banish14 her suspicion, and at the same time give her lover his cue, told him that his brother (meaning her husband) was gone to the Spa for a few weeks, by the advice of physicians, on account of his ill state of health; and that, from his last letter, she had the pleasure to tell him he was in a fair way of doing well. The young gentleman expressed his satisfaction at this piece of news; observing, with an air of fraternal concern, that if his brother had not made too free with his constitution, his friends in England would have had no occasion to repine at his absence and want of health, by which he was banished15 from his own country and connections. He then asked, with an affectation of surprise, why she had not accompanied her spouse16, and was given to understand that his tenderness of affection would not suffer him to expose her to the fatigues17 of the journey, which lay among rocks that were almost inaccessible18.
The duenna’s doubts being eased by this preamble19 of conversation, he changed the subject to the pleasures of the place; and, among other such questions, inquired if she had as yet visited Versailles. This is a public-house, situated20 upon the canal, at the distance of about two miles from town, and accommodated with tolerable gardens, for the entertainment of company. When she replied in the negative, he proposed to accompany her thither immediately; but the governante, who had hitherto sat silent, objected to this proposal; telling them, in broken English, that as the lady was under her care, she could not answer to Mr. Hornbeck for allowing her to visit such a suspicious place. “As for that matter, madam,” said the confident gallant, “give yourself no trouble; the consequences shall be at my peril21; and I will undertake to insure you against my brother’s resentment22.” So saying, he directed the coachman to the place, and ordered his own to follow, under the auspices23 of his valet-de-chambre; while the old gentlewoman, overruled by his assurance, quietly submitted to his authority.
Being arrived at the place, he handed the ladies from the coach, and then, for the first time, observed that the duenna was lame24, a circumstance of which he did not scruple25 to take the advantage; for they had scarce alighted, and drunk a glass of wine, when he advised his sister to enjoy a walk in the garden; and although the attendant made shift to keep them almost always in view, they enjoyed a detached conversation, in which Peregrine learned that the true cause of her being left behind at Brussels, whilst her husband proceeded to Spa, was his dread26 of the company and familiarities of that place, to which his jealousy27 durst not expose her; and that she had lived three weeks in a convent at Lisle, from which she was delivered by his own free motion, because indeed he could no longer exist without her company; and, lastly, our lover understood that her governante was a mere28 dragon, who had been recommended to him by a Spanish merchant, whose wife she attended to her dying day; but she very much questioned whether or not her fidelity29 was proof enough against money and strong waters. Peregrine assured her the experiment should be tried before parting; and they agreed to pass the night at Versailles, provided his endeavours should succeed.
Having exercised themselves in this manner, until his duenna’s spirits were pretty much exhausted30, that she might be the be the better disposed to recruit them with a glass of liqueur, they returned to their apartment, and the cordial was recommended and received in a bumper31; but as it did not produce such a visible alteration32 as the sanguine33 hopes of Pickle34 had made him expect, and the old gentlewoman observed that it began to be late, and that the gates would be shut in a little time, he filled up a parting glass, and pledged her in equal quantity. Her blood was too much chilled to be warmed even by this extraordinary dose, which made immediate12 innovation in the brain of our youth, who, in the gaiety of his imagination, overwhelmed this she-Argus with such profusion35 of gallantry, that she was more intoxicated36 with his expressions than with the spirits she had drunk. When in the course of toying he dropped a purse into her bosom37, she seemed to forget how the night wore, and, with the approbation38 of her charge, assented39 to his proposal of having something for supper.
This was a great point which our adventurer had gained; and yet he plainly perceived that the governante mistook his meaning, by giving herself credit for all the passion he had professed40. As this error could be rectified41 by no other means than those of plying13 her with the bottle, until her distinguishing faculties42 should be overpowered, he promoted a quick circulation. She did him justice, without any manifest signs of inebriation43, so long, that his own eyes began to reel in the sockets44, and he found that before his scheme could be accomplished45, he should be effectually unfitted for all the purposes of love. He therefore had recourse to his valet-de-chambre, who understood the hint as soon as it was given, and readily undertook to perform the part of which his master had played the prelude46. This affair being settled to his satisfaction, and the night at odds47 with morning, he took an opportunity of imparting to the ear of this aged8 dulcinea a kind whisper, importing a promise of visiting her when his sister should be retired48 to her own chamber49, and an earnest desire of leaving her door unlocked.
This agreeable intimation being communicated, he conveyed a caution of the same nature to Mrs. Hornbeck, as he led her to her apartment; and darkness and silence no sooner prevailed in the house, than he and his trusted squire50 set out on their different voyages. Everything would have succeeded according to their wish, had not the valet-de-chambre suffered himself to fall asleep at the side of his inamorata, and, in the agitation51 of a violent dream, exclaimed in a voice so unlike that of her supposed adorer, that she distinguished52 the difference at once. Waking him with a pinch and a loud shriek53, she threatened to prosecute54 him for a rape55, and reviled56 him with all the epithets57 her rage and disappointment could suggest.
The Frenchman, finding himself detected, behaved with great temper and address: be begged she would compose herself, on account of her own reputation, which was extremely dear to him; protesting that he had a most inviolable esteem58 for her person. His representations had weight with the duenna, who, upon recollection, comprehended the whole affair, and thought it would be her interest to bring matters to an accommodation. She therefore admitted the apologies of her bed-fellow, provided he would promise to atone59 by marriage for the injury she had sustained; and in this particular he set her heart at ease by repeated vows60, which he uttered with surprising volubility, though without any intention to perform the least title of their contents.
Peregrine, who had been alarmed by her exclamation61, and ran to the door with a view of interposing according to the emergency of the case, overhearing the affair thus compromised, returned to his mistress, who was highly entertained with an account of what had passed, foreseeing that for the future she should be under no difficulty or restriction62 from the severity of her guard.
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1
embroiled
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| adj.卷入的；纠缠不清的 | |
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appease
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| v.安抚，缓和，平息，满足 | |
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pretence
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| n.假装，作假；借口，口实；虚伪；虚饰 | |
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promenade
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| n./v.散步 | |
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fugitive
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| adj.逃亡的，易逝的；n.逃犯，逃亡者 | |
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interfere
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| v.(in)干涉，干预；(with)妨碍，打扰 | |
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thither
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| adv.向那里；adj.在那边的，对岸的 | |
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aged
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| adj.年老的，陈年的 | |
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accosted
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| v.走过去跟…讲话( accost的过去式和过去分词 )；跟…搭讪；（乞丐等）上前向…乞讨；（妓女等）勾搭 | |
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beheld
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| v.看，注视( behold的过去式和过去分词 )；瞧；看呀；（叙述中用于引出某人意外的出现）哎哟 | |
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gallant
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| adj.英勇的，豪侠的；(向女人)献殷勤的 | |
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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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plying
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| v.使用（工具）( ply的现在分词 )；经常供应（食物、饮料）；固定往来；经营生意 | |
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banish
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| vt.放逐，驱逐；消除，排除 | |
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banished
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| v.放逐，驱逐( banish的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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spouse
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| n.配偶(指夫或妻) | |
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fatigues
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| n.疲劳( fatigue的名词复数 )；杂役；厌倦；（士兵穿的）工作服 | |
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inaccessible
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| adj.达不到的，难接近的 | |
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preamble
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| n.前言；序文 | |
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situated
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| adj.坐落在...的，处于某种境地的 | |
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peril
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| n.(严重的)危险；危险的事物 | |
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resentment
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| n.怨愤，忿恨 | |
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auspices
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| n.资助，赞助 | |
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lame
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| adj.跛的，(辩解、论据等)无说服力的 | |
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scruple
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| n./v.顾忌，迟疑 | |
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dread
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| vt.担忧，忧虑；惧怕，不敢；n.担忧，畏惧 | |
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jealousy
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| n.妒忌，嫉妒，猜忌 | |
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mere
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| adj.纯粹的；仅仅，只不过 | |
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fidelity
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| n.忠诚，忠实；精确 | |
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exhausted
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| adj.极其疲惫的，精疲力尽的 | |
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bumper
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| n.(汽车上的)保险杠；adj.特大的，丰盛的 | |
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alteration
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| n.变更，改变；蚀变 | |
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sanguine
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| adj.充满希望的，乐观的，血红色的 | |
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pickle
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| n.腌汁，泡菜；v.腌，泡 | |
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profusion
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| n.挥霍；丰富 | |
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intoxicated
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| 喝醉的，极其兴奋的 | |
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bosom
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| n.胸，胸部；胸怀；内心；adj.亲密的 | |
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approbation
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| n.称赞；认可 | |
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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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professed
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| 公开声称的，伪称的，已立誓信教的 | |
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41
rectified
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| [医]矫正的，调整的 | |
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42
faculties
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| n.能力( faculty的名词复数 )；全体教职员；技巧；院 | |
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43
inebriation
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| n.醉，陶醉 | |
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44
sockets
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| n.套接字，使应用程序能够读写与收发通讯协定(protocol)与资料的程序( Socket的名词复数 )；孔( socket的名词复数 )；（电器上的）插口；托座；凹穴 | |
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45
accomplished
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| adj.有才艺的；有造诣的；达到了的 | |
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prelude
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| n.序言，前兆，序曲 | |
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47
odds
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| n.让步，机率，可能性，比率；胜败优劣之别 | |
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48
retired
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| adj.隐退的，退休的，退役的 | |
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49
chamber
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| n.房间，寝室；会议厅；议院；会所 | |
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50
squire
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| n.护卫, 侍从, 乡绅 | |
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51
agitation
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| n.搅动；搅拌；鼓动，煽动 | |
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52
distinguished
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| adj.卓越的，杰出的，著名的 | |
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53
shriek
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| v./n.尖叫，叫喊 | |
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54
prosecute
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| vt.告发；进行；vi.告发，起诉，作检察官 | |
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55
rape
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| n.抢夺，掠夺，强奸；vt.掠夺，抢夺，强奸 | |
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56
reviled
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| v.辱骂，痛斥( revile的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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57
epithets
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| n.（表示性质、特征等的）词语( epithet的名词复数 ) | |
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58
esteem
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| n.尊敬，尊重；vt.尊重，敬重；把…看作 | |
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59
atone
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| v.赎罪，补偿 | |
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60
vows
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| 誓言( vow的名词复数 )； 郑重宣布，许愿 | |
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61
exclamation
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| n.感叹号，惊呼，惊叹词 | |
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62
restriction
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| n.限制，约束 | |
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