the bedford-row conspiracy(百得福特娄阴谋)-第16章
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and looking softly into his eyes。
Down； down he plumped on his knees。
〃Juliana！〃 shrieked he； 〃don't take away your hand！ My lovemy
only love！speak but those blessed words again！ Call me William once
more； and do with me what you will。〃
Juliana cast down her eyes and said； in the very smallest type；
〃William！〃
* * *
when the door opened； and in walked Mr。 Crampton； leading Mrs。
Biggs； who could hardly contain herself for laughing； and Mr。 John
Perkins； who was squeezing the arm of Miss Lucy。 They had heard every
word of the two last speeches。
For at the very moment when Lady Gorgon had stopped at Mr。 Scully's
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THE BEDFORD…ROW CONSPIRACY
door； the four above…named individuals had issued from Great James
Street into Bedford Row。
Lucy cried out that it was her aunt's carriage； and they all saw Mr。
Scully come out； bare…headed； in the sunshine； and my Lady descend； and
the pair go into the house。 They meanwhile entered by Mr。 Perkins's own
private door； and had been occupied in examining the delightful rooms on
the ground…floor； which were to be his dining…room and libraryfrom
which they ascended a stair to visit the other two rooms； which were to
form Mrs。 John Perkins's drawing… room and bedroom。 Now whether it
was that they trod softly； or that the stairs were covered with a grand new
carpet and drugget； as was the case； or that the party within were too much
occupied in themselves to heed any outward disturbances； I know not； but
Lucy； who was advancing with John （he was saying something about one
of the apartments； the rogue！）Lucy started and whispered； 〃There is
somebody in the rooms！〃 and at that instant began the speech already
reported； 〃THANK YOU； THANK YOU； DEAR MR。 SCULLY；〃 etc。 etc。；
which was delivered by Lady Gorgon in a full clear voice； for； to do her
Ladyship justice； SHE had not one single grain of love for Mr。 Scully； and
during the delivery of her little oration； was as cool as the coolest
cucumber。
Then began the impassioned rejoinder； to which the four listened on
the landing…place； and then the little 〃William；〃 as narrated above： at
which juncture Mr。 Crampton thought proper to rattle at the door； and；
after a brief pause； to enter with his party。
〃William〃 had had time to bounce off his knees； and was on a chair at
the other end of the room。
〃What； Lady Gorgon！〃 said Mr。 Crampton； with excellent surprise；
〃how delighted I am to see you！ Always； I see employed in works of
charity〃 （the chapel…of…ease paper was on her knees）； 〃and on such an
occasion； too；it is really the most wonderful coincidence！ My dear
madam； here is a silly fellow； a nephew of mine； who is going to marry a
silly girl； a niece of your own。〃
〃Sir； I〃 began Lady Gorgon； rising。
〃They heard every word；〃 whispered Mr。 Crampton eagerly。 〃Come
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forward； Mr。 Perkins； and show yourself。〃 Mr。 Perkins made a genteel
bow。 〃Miss Lucy； please to shake hands with your aunt； and this； my
dear madam； is Mrs。 Biggs； of Mecklenburgh Square； who； if she were not
too old； might marry a gentleman in the Treasury； who is your very
humble servant。〃 And with this gallant speech； old Mr。 Crampton began
helping everybody to sherry and cake。
As for William Pitt Scully； he had disappeared； evaporated； in the most
absurd sneaking way imaginable。 Lady Gorgon made good her retreat
presently； with much dignity； her countenance undismayed； and her face
turned resolutely to the foe。
* * *
About five days afterwards； that memorable contest took place in the
House of Commons； in which the partisans of Mr。 Macabaw were so very
nearly getting him the Speakership。 On the day that the report of the
debate appeared in the Times； there appeared also an announcement in the
Gazette as follows：
〃The King has been pleased to appoint John Perkins； Esquire； to be
Deputy…Subcomptroller of His Majesty's Tape Office and Custos of the
Sealing…Wax Department。〃
Mr。 Crampton showed this to his nephew with great glee； and was
chuckling to think how Mr。 William Pitt Scully would be annoyed； who
had expected the place； when Perkins burst out laughing and said； 〃By
heavens； here is my own speech！ Scully has spoken every word of it； he
has only put in Mr。 Pincher's name in the place of Mr。 Macabaw's。〃
〃He is ours now；〃 responded his uncle； 〃and I told you WE WOULD
HAVE HIM FOR NOTHING。 I told you； too； that you should be married
from Sir George Gorgon's； and here is proof of it。〃
It was a letter from Lady Gorgon； in which she said that； 〃had she
known Mr。 Perkins to be a nephew of her friend Mr。 Crampton； she never
for a moment would have opposed his marriage with her niece； and she
had written that morning to her dear Lucy； begging that the marriage
breakfast should take place in Baker Street。〃
〃It shall be in Mecklenburgh Square；〃 said John Perkins stoutly； and in
Mecklenburgh Square it was。
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William Pitt Scully； Esquire； was； as Mr。 Crampton said； hugely
annoyed at the loss of the place for his nephew。 He had still； however；
his hopes to look forward to； but these were unluckily dashed by the
coming in of the Whigs。 As for Sir George Gorgon； when he came to ask
about his peerage； Hawksby told him that they could not afford to lose him
in the Commons； for a Liberal Member would infallibly fill his place。
And now that the Tories are out and the Whigs are in； strange to say a
Liberal does fill his place。 This Liberal is no other than Sir George
Gorgon himself； who is still longing to be a lord； and his lady is still
devout and intriguing。 So that the Members for Oldborough have
changed sides； and taunt each other with apostasy； and hate each other
cordially。 Mr。 Crampton still chuckles over the manner in which he
tricked them both； and talks of those five minutes during which he stood
on the landing…place； and hatched and executed his 〃Bedford…Row
Conspiracy。〃
End of Project Gutenberg Etext The Bedford…Row Conspiracy； by
Thackeray
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