memoirs of carwin the biloquist(卡尔维恩)-第17章
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her； it is quite uncertain what return she may think proper to make。
Much； doubtless； will depend on your own perseverance and address； but
you will have many； perhaps insuperable obstacles to encounter on several
accounts； and especially in her attachment to the memory of her late
husband。 As to her devout temper； this is nearly allied to a warm
imagination in some other respects； and will operate much more in favour
of an ardent and artful lover； than against him。
I still expressed my willingness to try my fortune with her。
Well； said he； I anticipated your consent to my proposal； and the visit I
have just made was to her。 I thought it best to pave the way； by
informing her that I had met with one for whom she had desired me to
look out。 You must know that her father was one of these singular men
who set a value upon things exactly in proportion to the difficulty of
obtaining or comprehending them。 His passion was for antiques； and his
favourite pursuit during a long life was monuments in brass； marble； and
parchment； of the remotest antiquity。 He was wholly indifferent to the
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MEMOIRS OF CARWIN THE BILOQUIST ＇A fragment＇
character or conduct of our present sovereign and his ministers； but was
extremely solicitous about the name and exploits of a king of Ireland that
lived two or three centuries before the flood。 He felt no curiosity to
know who was the father of his wife's child； but would travel a thousand
miles； and consume months； in investigating which son of Noah it was that
first landed on the coast of Munster。 He would give a hundred guineas
from the mint for a piece of old decayed copper no bigger than his nail；
provided it had aukward characters upon it； too much defaced to be read。
The whole stock of a great bookseller was； in his eyes； a cheap exchange
for a shred of parchment； containing half a homily written by St。 Patrick。
He would have gratefully given all his patrimonial domains to one who
should inform him what pendragon or druid it was who set up the first
stone on Salisbury plain。
This spirit； as you may readily suppose； being seconded by great
wealth and long life； contributed to form a very large collection of
venerable lumber； which； though beyond all price to the collector himself；
is of no value to his heiress but so far as it is marketable。 She designs to
bring the whole to auction； but for this purpose a catalogue and description
are necessary。 Her father trusted to a faithful memory； and to vague and
scarcely legible memorandums； and has left a very arduous task to any one
who shall be named to the office。 It occurred to me； that the best means
of promoting your views was to recommend you to this office。
You are not entirely without the antiquarian frenzy yourself。 The
employment； therefore； will be somewhat agreeable to you for its own
sake。 It will entitle you to become an inmate of the same house； and thus
establish an incessant intercourse between you； and the nature of the
business is such； that you may perform it in what time； and with what
degree of diligence and accuracy you please。
I ventured to insinuate that； to a woman of rank and family； the
character of a hireling was by no means a favourable recommendation。
He answered； that he proposed； by the account he should give of me；
to obviate every scruple of that nature。 Though my father was no better
than a farmer； it is not absolutely certain but that my remoter ancestors had
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MEMOIRS OF CARWIN THE BILOQUIST ＇A fragment＇
princely blood in their veins： but as long as proofs of my low extraction
did not impertinently intrude themselves； my silence； or； at most；
equivocal surmises； seasonably made use of； might secure me from all
inconveniences on the score of birth。 He should represent me； and I was
such； as his friend； favourite； and equal； and my passion for antiquities
should be my principal inducement to undertake this office； though my
poverty would make no objection to a reasonable pecuniary recompense。
Having expressed my acquiescence in his measures； he thus proceeded：
My visit was made to my kinswoman； for the purpose； as I just now told
you； of paving your way into her family； but； on my arrival at her house； I
found nothing but disorder and alarm。 Mrs。 Benington； it seems； on
returning from a longer ride than customary； last Thursday evening； was
attacked by robbers。 Her attendants related an imperfect tale of
somebody advancing at the critical moment to her rescue。 It seems；
however； they did more harm than good； for the horses took to flight and
overturned the carriage； in consequence of which Mrs。 Benington was
severely bruised。 She has kept her bed ever since； and a fever was likely
to ensue； which has only left her out of danger to…day。
As the adventure before related； in which I had so much concern；
occurred at the time mentioned by Ludloe； and as all other circumstances
were alike； I could not doubt that the person whom the exertion of my
mysterious powers had relieved was Mrs。 Benington： but what an ill…
omened interference was mine！ The robbers would probably have been
satisfied with the few guineas in her purse； and； on receiving these； would
have left her to prosecute her journey in peace and security； but； by
absurdly offering a succour； which could only operate upon the fears of
her assailants； I endangered her life； first by the desperate discharge of a
pistol； and next by the fright of the horses。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 My anxiety； which
would have been less if I had not been； in some degree； myself the author
of the evil； was nearly removed by Ludloe's proceeding to assure me that
all danger was at an end； and that he left the lady in the road to perfect
health。 He had seized the earliest opportunity of acquainting her with the
purpose of his visit； and had brought back with him her cheerful
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MEMOIRS OF CARWIN THE BILOQUIST ＇A fragment＇
acceptance of my services。 The next week was appointed for my
introduction。
With such an object in view； I had little leisure to attend to any
indifferent object。 My thoughts were continually bent upon the expected
introduction； and my impatience and curiosity drew strength； not merely
from the character of Mrs。 Benington； but from the nature of my new
employment。 Ludloe had truly observed； that I was infected with
somewhat of this antiquarian mania myself； and I now remembered that
Benington had frequently alluded to this collection in possession of his
wife。 My curiosity had then been more than once excited by his
representations； and I had formed a
