Our group at length entered the great room, where their appearance created a very general sensation, notwithstanding the immense circle already formed round a character, which, previous to their entrance, had been the centre of attraction. They could not penetrate3 near enough to the inner part of the ring to see what was going on; but were told by a gentleman, who was politely resigning his own place to put our heroine a step nearer promotion4, that the character so surrounded was certainly the best which had yet appeared; and that, though unmasked, no one could make him out. “It would have been a thousand pities,” added[324] General Morven, whom they now encountered, “had he worn a mask; for the countenance5 is the best half of the jest, he looks so completely in earnest!” “And so truly anxious to commend and sell his goods,” said our first informant, who seemed to be a friend of the General’s, for they shook hands, and Generaled and Admiraled each other.
“And treats every one,” rejoined the General, “so exactly with the degree of respect which their assumed character claims.”
“The look he gave the woman selling the last dying speech, would immortalize a new Garrick!” said the General. “In short the whole thing is the most complete piece of acting6 I ever saw! His expression too of disappointment and astonishment7 is so good, when people, after looking at and pricing things, walk off without buying.”
Julia and Frances, each leaning on an arm of Edmund, had by this time, with the assistance[325] of the General and his friend, got almost to the front of the circle; whence, who should they behold8 standing2 in the centre, little thinking he was at a masquerade, and striving heart and soul to sell his fine things, but our old acquaintance Gotterimo. He was making his best bows to Lady Morven, who, in the blaze of jewels we have already described, was seated with her Sultan on a splendid ottoman. Ere, however, we proceed to relate what immediately followed, we must account for our poor little friend being found in such good company.
Having on his return to town, made some discoveries respecting the valuables pawned9 by the famous swindler, which, from the great interest evinced by Mrs. Montgomery in the mosaics10, he thought might be of consequence to a family that had so greatly befriended him, he determined11 to make his next travelling speculation12, attendance on the Ayrshire race meeting, and at its conclusion to proceed to Lord[326] Arandale’s castle, and give his lordship the important information. Various accidents so delayed our little traveller on the cross road, that he did not arrive at Arandale till many hours later than he intended. When he came to the lodge13 gates, he found them all open, and the grounds, as he proceeded, covered with lights, merry groups, &c. &c. “Dis be von fair,” thought Gotterimo; and he debated with himself, whether he should not take the opportunity of doing a little business; but, on second thoughts, he decided14 that an out of door fair held by torch-light, was no place to expose for sale such valuable articles as those of which his stock consisted. He continued his way, therefore, towards the Castle. This he found also lit up; while beneath its illuminated15 colonnade16, ascending17 its steps, and entering its open portals, he observed a motley crowd, many of whom, as the seller of matches, were of much lower degree than himself. He[327] could, therefore, feel no scruples18 in entering. He saw also, in the first hall, many who appeared prepared to turn a penny as well as himself; for some had packs on their backs, some baskets in their hands with perfumery, pastry19, pamphlets, newspapers, &c. He also saw as many, or more persons, whose appearance justified20 the hope of their making costly21 purchases. “Dis be de place for me!” thought Gotterimo. The crowd in the hall were moving onward22, and he moved with them. “I vill just go fere I see de odder tradge-peoples go,” he thought. He observed each person, as they passed a respectable looking man in black at the foot of the stairs, present a card. This appeared to him a very regular and business-like proceeding23. He determined, therefore, to do the like; and taking out one of his own cards, indicating the articles he had for sale, and the street and number of his shop in Bath, he handed it to the butler, who stood[328] receiving, almost at the same moment, so many tickets, that the nature of Gotterimo’s deposit was unnoticed.
He now ascended24 the great stairs without further obstacle, admiring as he went the magnificent carpets, which were spread beneath his feet on every step; the rich candelabras, which were held aloft by statues of bronze on every landing; and the splendid gold-laced liveries of the servants, who, everywhere, pointed25 the way, (gold in any shape, was never lost on Gotterimo). He passed through the cave, at a time when it was so much crowded, that he was not observed by his friends, the sea-nymphs; nor did he see them, so entirely26 was his attention absorbed, examining the pearls that lay scattered27 beneath his feet, to ascertain28 if any of them were real. Finding them however to be but imitation, he passed on through the grove29 to the great room. Here his ears were at once assailed30 with “Oystairs! Oystairs!”[329] “Who’ll buy my primroses31?” “Horrible and unnatural32 murder!—most cruel murder!” “Ripe strawberries! Ripe strawberries!” “Large apples! Large apples! Large apples!” And now a light wheelbarrow, impelled33 forward with the speed of a velocipede, by as light a little girl, ran up against him and almost upset itself, by driving over his feet. Flower girls courtesied as they passed, offering for sale bunches of roses. “You be var civil, my pretty dears,” said Gotterimo, “but I no give no money for such foolish tings.”
A richly dressed group now came in view; and Gotterimo thought he might have done “de great deal of business,” if it had not been for the ungenerous interference of a noisy, obtrusive34, gentleman’s hair-dresser, while he offered for sale rouge35, stays accommodated to the shape, lip-salve à la rose, Sicilian bloom, whiskers, eyebrows36, moustache, and ?’s invaluable37 solution for rendering38 red or grey hair a beautiful black, displaying for the benefit[330] of single gentlemen, a long list of the names of rich widows and great heiresses, &c.
Soon after this, it was, that our party, having as we have described, pressed their way through the surrounding crowd, first discovered, in the object of general curiosity, their little friend Gotterimo. He was, at the moment, as we have stated, making all his best bows to Lady Morven and Mr. Graham, the splendour of whose appearance had filled his bosom39 with hopes almost as dazzling as the constellation40 before which he worshipped. Lord Arandale now joining the group, a grand denouement41 took place. After much ado, the poor little intruder was got to comprehend, in some degree, his situation; at least to know that all the mob which surrounded him, consisted of ladies and gentlemen; though, why many of them should choose to appear so little like such, might not, perhaps, come quite within the scope of his comprehension.
Gotterimo’s motives42 for visiting Arandale[331] having been, in the first few moments, explained to the Earl, his lordship, with his good-natured smile, whispered about among his friends, the true quality of the supposed well sustained character. The buzz went round; and Gotterimo, on his progress through the rooms, to make his exit, was so often intercepted43 by such as wished either to oblige their noble host, or reward the little man for the amusement he had afforded themselves, that our friend’s boxes were quickly cleared of all their contents, and at prices highly satisfactory to the vendor44; who, on perceiving that he obtained whatever he demanded, not from the ignorance but from the whim45 of the purchasers, began to think it no great sin to raise the market a little.
Immediately after the interruption occasioned by Gotterimo’s adventures, our sea-nymphs and wood-nymphs, led by Britannia herself, formed for a peculiar46 dance, the plan[332] of which had been previously47 arranged. The figure was to take in the whole of the united group; and, on a signal given by the music, the young lady’s respective partners, in whatever disguise, were to join them as they stood in their places. Young Lord K? approached Lady Susan. Sir Philip flew to the side of Frances. Henry took his place near one of the Misses Morven. Lord Morven, Colonel Morven, &c. filled up the party, till Julia alone stood unclaimed, and, at the same time, importunately48 beset49 for alms by the old blind man who sold matches. He was bent50 double. A profusion51 of white hair fell around his patched and ragged52 shoulders. He held in one hand his hat, crutch53, and the string by which his dog was fastened, while his other hand was stretched forth54 with a beseeching55 palm, and, in the piteous and tremulous accents of extreme age, he craved56 her ladyship’s compassion57. At length, to humour the jest,[333] she offered him a small donation. This the mendicant58 bent on one knee to receive, grasping, as he did so, and firmly retaining the hand that presented it in one of his, while, with the other, he flung off his disguises, and sprang to his feet the young and handsome Marquis of H?, unmasked, but dressed for Neptune59, with a crown and trident, and splendid armour60 of gold and silver scales. The plaudits on the occasion were universal.
Edmund, who was thrown out by his absence from the breakfast table when the engagements for this dance were being formed, and who, consequently, was but a spectator, felt his arm touched from behind. He looked over his shoulder, and beheld61 the juggler62, who, turning, made signs to him to follow; he did not, however, feel disposed to take the hint. The dumb fortune-teller pressed nearer, and said, in a low distinct whisper, “I am not what I seem: follow me, if you wish to know who[334] you are!” These words aroused Edmund. He turned and immediately followed. “It must be some impertinent jest,” he said to himself, angry at his own credulity, “yet it is just possible that—that something, that some one connected with my strange history may—may have chosen——.” The dark figure meanwhile glided63 as rapidly through the dense64 crowd, as if there had been no obstacle to its free passage. It was with difficulty just kept in view by Edmund.
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1
beckon
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| v.(以点头或打手势)向...示意，召唤 | |
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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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penetrate
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| v.透(渗)入；刺入，刺穿；洞察，了解 | |
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4
promotion
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| n.提升，晋级；促销，宣传 | |
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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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acting
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| n.演戏，行为，假装；adj.代理的，临时的，演出用的 | |
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7
astonishment
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| n.惊奇，惊异 | |
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behold
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| v.看，注视，看到 | |
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pawned
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| v.典当，抵押( pawn的过去式和过去分词 )；以（某事物）担保 | |
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10
mosaics
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| n.马赛克( mosaic的名词复数 )；镶嵌；镶嵌工艺；镶嵌图案 | |
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11
determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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speculation
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| n.思索，沉思；猜测；投机 | |
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13
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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14
decided
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| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
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15
illuminated
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| adj.被照明的；受启迪的 | |
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colonnade
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| n.柱廊 | |
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ascending
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| adj.上升的，向上的 | |
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scruples
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| n.良心上的不安( scruple的名词复数 )；顾虑，顾忌v.感到于心不安，有顾忌( scruple的第三人称单数 ) | |
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pastry
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| n.油酥面团，酥皮糕点 | |
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justified
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| a.正当的，有理的 | |
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costly
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| adj.昂贵的，价值高的，豪华的 | |
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onward
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| adj.向前的，前进的；adv.向前，前进，在先 | |
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proceeding
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| n.行动，进行，(pl.)会议录，学报 | |
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ascended
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| v.上升，攀登( ascend的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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pointed
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| adj.尖的，直截了当的 | |
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entirely
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| ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地 | |
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scattered
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| adj.分散的，稀疏的；散步的；疏疏落落的 | |
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ascertain
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| vt.发现，确定，查明，弄清 | |
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grove
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| n.林子，小树林，园林 | |
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30
assailed
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| v.攻击( assail的过去式和过去分词 )；困扰；质问；毅然应对 | |
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31
primroses
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| n.报春花( primrose的名词复数 )；淡黄色；追求享乐（招至恶果） | |
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32
unnatural
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| adj.不自然的；反常的 | |
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impelled
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| v.推动、推进或敦促某人做某事( impel的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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obtrusive
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| adj.显眼的；冒失的 | |
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rouge
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| n.胭脂，口红唇膏；v.(在…上)擦口红 | |
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eyebrows
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| 眉毛( eyebrow的名词复数 ) | |
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invaluable
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| adj.无价的，非常宝贵的，极为贵重的 | |
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rendering
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| n.表现，描写 | |
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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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40
constellation
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| n.星座n.灿烂的一群 | |
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41
denouement
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| n.结尾，结局 | |
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42
motives
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| n.动机，目的( motive的名词复数 ) | |
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43
intercepted
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| 拦截( intercept的过去式和过去分词 )； 截住； 截击； 拦阻 | |
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vendor
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| n.卖主；小贩 | |
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whim
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| n.一时的兴致，突然的念头；奇想，幻想 | |
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46
peculiar
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| adj.古怪的，异常的；特殊的，特有的 | |
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previously
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| adv.以前，先前（地） | |
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importunately
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49
beset
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| v.镶嵌；困扰，包围 | |
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50
bent
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| n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的 | |
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51
profusion
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| n.挥霍；丰富 | |
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52
ragged
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| adj.衣衫褴褛的，粗糙的，刺耳的 | |
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53
crutch
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| n.T字形拐杖；支持，依靠，精神支柱 | |
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54
forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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55
beseeching
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| adj.恳求似的v.恳求，乞求（某事物）( beseech的现在分词 ) | |
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56
craved
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| 渴望，热望( crave的过去式 )； 恳求，请求 | |
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57
compassion
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| n.同情，怜悯 | |
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58
mendicant
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| n.乞丐；adj.行乞的 | |
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59
Neptune
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| n.海王星 | |
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60
armour
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| （=armor）n.盔甲；装甲部队 | |
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61
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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62
juggler
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| n. 变戏法者, 行骗者 | |
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63
glided
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| v.滑动( glide的过去式和过去分词 )；掠过；（鸟或飞机 ） 滑翔 | |
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64
dense
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| a.密集的，稠密的，浓密的；密度大的 | |
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