the lumley autograph(卢母雷手迹)-第4章
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however； shared the young soldier's wandering life； it carried the cornet's
uniform to America； it was besieged in Boston； and it made part of the
besieging baggage at Charleston。 It was not destined； however； to remain
in the new world； but followed its owner to the East Indies； carrying on
this second voyage； a lieutenant's commission。 At length； after passing
five…and…twenty years in Bengal； the trunk returned again to Southampton；
as one among some dozen others which made up the baggage of the
gallant Colonel H…； now rich in laurels and rupees。 The old trunk had
even the honorable duty assigned it of carrying its master's trophies；
doubtless the most precious portion of the colonel's possessions； though at
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THE LUMLEY AUTOGRAPH
the same time the lightest； as for the rupees； the old worn…out box would
have proved quite unequal to transporting a single bag of them； for it was
now sadly unfit for service； thanks to the ravages of time and the white
ants； and； indeed； owed its preservation and return to its native soil solely
to the letter pasted in the lid； which； in the eyes of Colonel H…； was a
memento of home； and the eccentric character of a deceased parent。
｛cornet = the lowest officer rank in a British cavalry regiment； below
that of Lieutenant； now obsolete｝
The time had now come； however； when the Lumley autograph was
about to emerge forever from obscurity； and receive the full homage of
collectors； the hour of triumph was at hand； the neglect of a century was to
be fully repaid by the highest honors of fame。 The eye of beauty was about
to kindle as it rested on the Lumley autograph； jeweled fingers were to be
raised； eager to snatch the treasure from each other； busy literati stood
ready armed for a war of controversy in its behalf。
It happened that Colonel H… was invited to a fancy ball； and it also
happened that the lady whom he particularly admired； was to be present
on the occasion。 Such being the case； the most becoming costume was to
be selected for the evening。 What if the locks of the gallant colonel were
slightly sprinkled with gray？ He was still a handsome man； and knew very
well that the dress of an eastern aymeer was particularly well suited to his
face and figure。 This dress； preserved in a certain old trunk in the garret；
was accordingly produced。 The trunk was brought down to the dressing…
room； the costume examined piece by piece； pronounced in good
condition by the valet； and declared very becoming by the military friend
called in as counsellor。
｛aymeer = Emir； a Muslim title signifying commander in Arabic｝
〃But what a queer old box this is； H…；〃 said Major D…； eyeing the
trunk through his glass。
〃It's one I've had these hundred years；〃 replied the colonel。 〃So you
think this trumpery will do； D…？〃
〃Do？ To be sure it will； my dear fellowit gives your Milesian skin the
true Nawaub dye。 But I was just trying to make out an old letter pasted in
the lid of your trunk； under my nose here。 Is this the way you preserve
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THE LUMLEY AUTOGRAPH
your family archives？〃
｛Milesian = slang term for Irish； from Milesius； mythical Spanish
conqueror of Ireland； Nawaub = from Nabob； Anglo…Indian slang for one
who has returned home from India with a large fortune｝
〃That letter is really a curiosity in its way；〃 said the colonel； turning
from the glass and relating its history； so far at least as it was known to
himself。
His friend spelt it through。
〃My dear fellow； why don't you give this letter to the father of your
fair Louisa； he's quite rabid on such points； you'll make him a friend for
life by it！〃
The advice was followed。 The letter was cut from its old position in
the lid of the trunk； and presented to Sir John Blank； the father of the
lovely Louisa； who； in his turn； soon placed the hand of his daughter in
that of Colonel H…。
Sir John； a noted follower in the steps of Horace Walpole； had no
sooner become the owner of this interesting letter； than he set to work to
find out its origin； and to fill up its history。 Unfortunately； the sheet had
received some wounds in the wars； as well as the gallant colonel。 One
corner had been carried away by an unlucky thrust from a razornot a
sword； while the date and signature had also been half eaten out by the
white ants of Bengal。 But such difficulties as these were only pleasing
obstacles in the way of antiquarian activity。 Sir John had soon formed an
hypothesis perfectly satisfactory to himself。 His mother's name was Butler；
and he claimed some sort of affinity with the author of Hudibras； as the
Christian name of the poor poet had been almost entirely devoured by the
ants； while the surname had also suffered here and there； Sir John
ingeniously pursuaded ｛sic｝ himself that what remained had clearly
belonged to the signature of the great satirist； as for the date； the
abbreviation of 〃Nov。 20th。〃 and the figures 16 marking the century；
were really tolerably distinct。 Accordingly； Sir John wrote a brief notice of
Butler's Life； dwelling much upon his well…known poverty； and quoting
his epitaph； with the allusion to his indigence underscored； 〃lest he who
living wanted all things； should； when dead； want a tomb；〃 and placed
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these remarks opposite the letter of our starving poet； which was registered
in the volume in conspicuous characters as an 〃Autograph of Samuel
Butler； author of Hudibras； showing to what distress he was at one time
reduced。〃
｛Samuel Butler （1612…1680）； another English author popularly
believed to have died in great poverty； he is best known for his long satiric
mock…epic poem； 〃Hudibras〃 （1663…1678）｝
Here the sheet remained several years； until at length it chanced that
Sir John's volume of autographs was placed in the hands of a gentleman
who had recently read Mr。 Lumley's MS。 Life of Otway。 The identity of
this letter； with that copied by Mr。 Lumley； immediately suggested itself；
and now the first sparks of controversy between the Otwaysians and the
Butlerites were struck in Sir John's library。 》From thence they soon spread
to the four winds of heaven； falling on combustible materials wherever
they lighted on a literary head； or collecting hands。
By the bye； the rapidity with which this collecting class has increased
of late years is really alarming； who can foresee the state of things likely
to exist in the next century； should matters go on at the same rate？ Reflect
for a moment on the probable condition of distinguished authors； lions of
the loudest roar； if the number of autograph…hunters were to increase
beyond what it is at present。 Is it not to be feared that they will yet
exterminate the whole race； that the great lion literary； like the mastodon；
will become extinct？ Or； perhaps； by taming him down to a mere producer
of autographs； his habits will change so enti
