登陆注册
15703300000054

第54章 WHICH EMBRACES A PERIOD OF SEVEN YEARS.(18)

It is not our purpose to make a great and learned display here, otherwise the costumes of the company assembled at this fete might afford scope for at least half-a-dozen pages of fine writing; and we might give, if need were, specimens of the very songs and music sung on the occasion. Does not the Burney collection of music, at the British Museum, afford one an ample store of songs from which to choose? Are there not the memoirs of Colley Cibber? those of Mrs.

Clark, the daughter of Colley? Is there not Congreve, and Farquhar--nay, and at a pinch, the "Dramatic Biography," or even the Spectator, from which the observant genius might borrow passages, and construct pretty antiquarian figments? Leave we these trifles to meaner souls! Our business is not with the breeches and periwigs, with the hoops and patches, but with the divine hearts of men, and the passions which agitate them. What need, therefore, have we to say that on this evening, after the dancing, the music, and the fireworks, Monsieur de Galgenstein felt the strange and welcome pangs of appetite, and was picking a cold chicken, along with some other friends in an arbour--a cold chicken, with an accompaniment of a bottle of champagne--when he was led to remark that a very handsome plump little person, in a gorgeous stiff damask gown and petticoat, was sauntering up and down the walk running opposite his supping-place, and bestowing continual glances towards his Excellency. The lady, whoever she was, was in a mask, such as ladies of high and low fashion wore at public places in those days, and had a male companion. He was a lad of only seventeen, marvellously well dressed--indeed, no other than the Count's own son, Mr. Thomas Billings; who had at length received from his mother the silver-hilted sword, and the wig, which that affectionate parent had promised to him.

In the course of the month which had elapsed since the interview that has been described in the former chapter, Mr. Billings had several times had occasion to wait on his father; but though he had, according to her wishes, frequently alluded to the existence of his mother, the Count had never at any time expressed the slightest wish to renew his acquaintance with that lady; who, if she had seen him, had only seen him by stealth.

The fact is, that after Billings had related to her the particulars of his first meeting with his Excellency; which ended, like many of the latter visits, in nothing at all; Mrs. Hayes had found some pressing business, which continually took her to Whitehall, and had been prowling from day to day about Monsieur de Galgenstein's lodgings. Four or five times in the week, as his Excellency stepped into his coach, he might have remarked, had he chosen, a woman in a black hood, who was looking most eagerly into his eyes: but those eyes had long since left off the practice of observing; and Madam Catherine's visits had so far gone for nothing.

On this night, however, inspired by gaiety and drink, the Count had been amazingly stricken by the gait and ogling of the lady in the mask. The Reverend O'Flaherty, who was with him, and had observed the figure in the black cloak, recognised, or thought he recognised, her. "It is the woman who dogs your Excellency every day," said he.

"She is with that tailor lad who loves to see people hanged--your Excellency's son, I mean." And he was just about to warn the Count of a conspiracy evidently made against him, and that the son had brought, most likely, the mother to play her arts upon him--he was just about, I say, to show to the Count the folly and danger of renewing an old liaison with a woman such as he had described Mrs.

Cat to be, when his Excellency, starting up, and interrupting his ghostly adviser at the very beginning of his sentence, said, "Egad, l'Abbe, you are right--it IS my son, and a mighty smart-looking creature with him. Hey! Mr. What's-your-name--Tom, you rogue, don't you know your own father?" And so saying, and cocking his beaver on one side, Monsieur de Galgenstein strutted jauntily after Mr.

Billings and the lady.

It was the first time that the Count had formally recognised his son.

"Tom, you rogue," stopped at this, and the Count came up. He had a white velvet suit, covered over with stars and orders, a neat modest wig and bag, and peach-coloured silk-stockings with silver clasps.

The lady in the mask gave a start as his Excellency came forward.

"Law, mother, don't squeege so," said Tom. The poor woman was trembling in every limb, but she had presence of mind to "squeege"Tom a great deal harder; and the latter took the hint, I suppose, and was silent.

The splendid Count came up. Ye gods, how his embroidery glittered in the lamps! What a royal exhalation of musk and bergamot came from his wig, his handkerchief, and his grand lace ruffles and frills! A broad yellow riband passed across his breast, and ended at his hip in a shining diamond cross--a diamond cross, and a diamond sword-hilt! Was anything ever seen so beautiful? And might not a poor woman tremble when such a noble creature drew near to her, and deigned, from the height of his rank and splendour, to look down upon her? As Jove came down to Semele in state, in his habits of ceremony, with all the grand cordons of his orders blazing about his imperial person--thus dazzling, magnificent, triumphant, the great Galgenstein descended towards Mrs. Catherine. Her cheeks glowed red-hot under her coy velvet mask, her heart thumped against the whalebone prison of her stays. What a delicious storm of vanity was raging in her bosom! What a rush of long-pent recollections burst forth at the sound of that enchanting voice!

同类推荐
  • 新书

    新书

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 遯斋闲览

    遯斋闲览

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • Heimskringla

    Heimskringla

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 建炎进退志

    建炎进退志

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 海上花魅影

    海上花魅影

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
热门推荐
  • 幻心:歌言宁静

    幻心:歌言宁静

    异世之光,带走一个女子。异世之光,带来一个女子。竺宁歌,祁梓言。她想要回去,想要逃离,却在最后一刻,后了悔。“我永远存在这戒中,生生世世,愿你永存。”ps:本文为短篇综合,书名和简介以第一个短篇为准。
  • 来回——天国遗失的天使

    来回——天国遗失的天使

    本文没有重生,没有穿越,更没有玄幻,有的却是一群少男少女从尽情挥霍着青春的少男少女,逐步走到成熟稳重的已“奔三”族。九个原本不可能有关联的人却因为同一个梦想走到了一起;两个彼此相爱的人相约在两年后见面,却不知他们的结局是喜是悲;一个默默守护心爱的女人的痴情男,似乎早已注定了他没有结局;男女之间的纯友谊与两个女人之间的友谊哪个更坚不可摧……他们如何向着梦想迈进?各自又是有着怎样的爱情故事?看小说吧!
  • 桃花眼

    桃花眼

    比桃花运更玄的是桃花眼!婚姻是什么?它算哪根葱?让男人心猿意马?让女人进退两难?花慕容是一个外表坚强内心脆弱的女人,怀孕五个月的时候,惊爆丈夫婚外情,是引产?还是离婚?是做单亲妈妈?还是继续在婚姻里瞌睡装死?而就在双方父母为了孙子的姓氏争得不可开交的时候,花慕容的丈夫在一次外出融资过程中遭遇车祸,她即将临盆,却该如何是好?一直追随着她的那双桃花眼,又能否给她真正的幸福?
  • 道尊你好

    道尊你好

    公元184年,东汉汉灵帝光和七年。在中国大地上爆发了一场规模巨大的宗教形式的农民大起义,他们在天公将军张角的带领下高喊“苍天已死,黄天当立,岁在甲子,天下大吉”的口号,后诸将战死,黄天覆灭。1833年后,继承这一切的人开始了属于他们的新征程。
  • TFBoys,我爱你

    TFBoys,我爱你

    帅,阳光,酷,吃货......所有的形象在他(她)们身上展现。
  • 我当为天

    我当为天

    不全的天道,造成了百世衰人的出现。轮回为什么停止?末法为什么成了乱世?天道因何缺失?天道不堪,我当为天。
  • 怪少年

    怪少年

    刚上大学的穆穆倪向往纯粹的爱情,为了见自己的心上人选择了做兼职赚钱。校长推荐她去照顾学校的两个智商189和200的天才。外人看来这两个人都是怪胎,头疼的穆穆倪开始了和他们斗智斗勇的生活,不经意之间,穆穆倪对爱情的认识,也开始慢慢改观……
  • 佛古闻禅师语录

    佛古闻禅师语录

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 多动漫涉及

    多动漫涉及

    害怕,失去所有;与其从没拥有,但是却又试图得到。明明在畏惧,明明不想去接触,却又向往着那世界,欲望在吞噬。本性与欲望,本能与抉择,人之罪多少?活着,既是罪,赎罪....“无法明白,我无法明白。”多么强大的力量,多么脆弱的人;当明白时,一切都已经失去了...
  • 洛城市

    洛城市

    她,是世间万物的女儿,同时也是一个麻辣女神。他,是一个霸道到不能在霸道的皇帝,却帅到要人命。两个完全不符的人,两个不属于一个世界的人,却如何走到一起。他的臣民,父母,兄弟姐妹,都认为她是妖女,两人的命运,到底要怎样?