vanity fair(名利场)-第98章

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arrival　of　the　great　body　of　the　British　army　from
Brussels　changed　the　aspect　of　the　combat　of　Quatre　Bras；
the　squadrons　among　which　Regulus　rode　showed　the
greatest　activity　in　retreating　before　the　French；　and　were
dislodged　from　one　post　and　another　which　they　occupied
with　perfect　alacrity　on　their　part。　　Their　movements
were　only　checked　by　the　advance　of　the　British　in　their
rear。　　Thus　forced　to　halt；　the　enemy's　cavalry　（whose
bloodthirsty　obstinacy　cannot　be　too　severely
reprehended）　had　at　length　an　opportunity　of　coming　to　close
quarters　with　the　brave　Belgians　before　them；　who
preferred　to　encounter　the　British　rather　than　the　French；
and　at　once　turning　tail　rode　through　the　English
regiments　that　were　behind　them；　and　scattered　in　all
directions。　　The　regiment　in　fact　did　not　exist　any　more。　　It　was
nowhere。　　It　had　no　head…quarters。　　Regulus　found　himself
galloping　many　miles　from　the　field　of　action；　entirely
alone；　and　whither　should　he　fly　for　refuge　so　naturally
as　to　that　kitchen　and　those　faithful　arms　in　which
Pauline　had　so　often　welcomed　him？
At　some　ten　o'clock　the　clinking　of　a　sabre　might　have
been　heard　up　the　stair　of　the　house　where　the　Osbornes
occupied　a　story　in　the　continental　fashion。　　A　knock
might　have　been　heard　at　the　kitchen　door；　and　poor
Pauline；　come　back　from　church；　fainted　almost　with
terror　as　she　opened　it　and　saw　before　her　her　haggard
hussar。　　He　looked　as　pale　as　the　midnight　dragoon　who
came　to　disturb　Leonora。　　Pauline　would　have　screamed；
but　that　her　cry　would　have　called　her　masters；　and
discovered　her　friend。　　She　stifled　her　scream；　then；　and
leading　her　hero　into　the　kitchen；　gave　him　beer；　and
the　choice　bits　from　the　dinner；　which　Jos　had　not　had
the　heart　to　taste。　　The　hussar　showed　he　was　no　ghost　by
the　prodigious　quantity　of　flesh　and　beer　which　he
devouredand　during　the　mouthfuls　he　told　his　tale　of
disaster。
His　regiment　had　performed　prodigies　of　courage；　and
had　withstood　for　a　while　the　onset　of　the　whole　French
army。　　But　they　were　overwhelmed　at　last；　as　was　the
whole　British　army　by　this　time。　　Ney　destroyed　each
regiment　as　it　came　up。　　The　Belgians　in　vain　interposed　to
prevent　the　butchery　of　the　English。　　The　Brunswickers
were　routed　and　had　fledtheir　Duke　was　killed。　　It　was
a　general　debacle。　　He　sought　to　drown　his　sorrow　for
the　defeat　in　floods　of　beer。
Isidor；　who　had　come　into　the　kitchen；　heard　the
conversation　and　rushed　out　to　inform　his　master。　　〃It　is
all　over；〃　he　shrieked　to　Jos。　　〃Milor　Duke　is　a　prisoner；
the　Duke　of　Brunswick　is　killed；　the　British　army　is　in
full　flight；　there　is　only　one　man　escaped；　and　he　is　in　the
kitchen　nowcome　and　hear　him。〃　So　Jos　tottered　into
that　apartment　where　Regulus　still　sate　on　the　kitchen
table；　and　clung　fast　to　his　flagon　of　beer。　　In　the　best
French　which　he　could　muster；　and　which　was　in　sooth
of　a　very　ungrammatical　sort；　Jos　besought　the　hussar　to
tell　his　tale。　　The　disasters　deepened　as　Regulus　spoke。　　He
was　the　only　man　of　his　regiment　not　slain　on　the　field。
He　had　seen　the　Duke　of　Brunswick　fall；　the　black
hussars　fly；　the　Ecossais　pounded　down　by　the　cannon。
〃And　the　th？〃　gasped　Jos。
〃Cut　in　pieces；〃　said　the　hussarupon　which　Pauline
cried　out；　〃O　my　mistress；　ma　bonne　petite　dame；〃　went
off　fairly　into　hysterics；　and　filled　the　house　with　her
screams。
Wild　with　terror；　Mr。　Sedley　knew　not　how　or　where
to　seek　for　safety。　　He　rushed　from　the　kitchen　back　to
the　sitting…room；　and　cast　an　appealing　look　at　Amelia's
door；　which　Mrs。　O'Dowd　had　closed　and　locked　in　his
face；　but　he　remembered　how　scornfully　the　latter　had
received　him；　and　after　pausing　and　listening　for　a　brief
space　at　the　door；　he　left　it；　and　resolved　to　go　into　the
street；　for　the　first　time　that　day。　　So；　seizing　a　candle；　he
looked　about　for　his　gold…laced　cap；　and　found　it　lying　in　its
usual　place；　on　a　console…table；　in　the　anteroom；　placed
before　a　mirror　at　which　Jos　used　to　coquet；　always
giving　his　side…locks　a　twirl；　and　his　cap　the　proper　cock
over　his　eye；　before　he　went　forth　to　make　appearance　in
public。　　Such　is　the　force　of　habit；　that　even　in　the　midst
of　his　terror　he　began　mechanically　to　twiddle　with　his
hair；　and　arrange　the　cock　of　his　hat。　　Then　he　looked
amazed　at　the　pale　face　in　the　glass　before　him；　and
especially　at　his　mustachios；　which　had　attained　a　rich
growth　in　the　course　of　near　seven　weeks；　since　they　had
come　into　the　world。　　They　WILL　mistake　me　for　a　military
man；　thought　he；　remembering　Isidor's　warning　as
to　the　massacre　with　which　all　the　defeated　British　army
was　threatened；　and　staggering　back　to　his　bedchamber；
he　began　wildly　pulling　the　bell　which　summoned　his
valet。
Isidor　answered　that　summons。　　Jos　had　sunk　in　a　chair
he　had　torn　off　his　neckcloths；　and　turned　down　his
collars；　and　was　sitting　with　both　his　hands　lifted　to　his
throat。
〃Coupez…moi；　Isidor；〃　shouted　he；　〃vite！　　Coupez…moi！〃
Isidor　thought　for　a　moment　he　had　gone　mad；　and
that　he　wished　his　valet　to　cut　his　throat。
〃Les　moustaches；〃　gasped　Joe；　〃les　moustaches
coupy；　rasy；　vite！〃his　French　was　of　this　sortvoluble；
as　we　have　said；　but　not　remarkable　for　grammar。
Isidor　swept　off　the　mustachios　in　no　time　with　the
razor；　and　heard　with　inexpressible　delight　his　master's
orders　that　he　should　fetch　a　hat　and　a　plain　coat。　　〃Ne
porty　ploohabit　militairbonnbonny　a　voo；　prenny
dehors〃were　Jos's　wordsthe　coat　and　cap　were　at
last　his　property。
This　gift　being　made；　Jos　selected　a　plain　black　coat
and　waistcoat　from　his　stock；　and　put　on　a　large　white
neckcloth；　and　a　plain　beaver。　　If　he　could　have　got　a
shovel　hat　he　would　have　worn　it。　　As　it　was；　you　would
have　fancied　he　was　a　flourishing；　large　parson　of　the
Church　of　England。
〃Venny　maintenong；〃　he　continued；　〃sweevyally
partydong　la　roo。〃　And　so　having　said；　he　plunged
swiftly　down　the　stairs　of　the　house；　and　passed　into　the
street。
Although　Regulus　had　vowed　that　he　was　the　only
man　of　his　regiment　or　of　the　allied　army；　almost；　who
had　escaped　being　cut　to　pieces　by　Ney；　it　appeared
that　his　statement　was　incorrect；　and　that　a　good　number
more　of　the　supposed　victims　had　survived　the　massacre。
Many　scores　of　Regulus's　comrades　had　found　their　way
back　to　Brussels；　and　all　agreeing　that　they　had　run
awayfilled　the　whole　town　with　an　idea　of　the　defeat
of　the　allies。　　The　arrival　of　the　French　was　expected
hourly；　the　panic　continued；　and　preparations　for　flight
went　on　everywhere。　　No　horses！　　thought　Jos；　in　terror。
He　made　Isidor　inquire　of　scores　of　persons；　whether
they　had　any　to　lend　or　sell；　and　his　heart　sank　within
him；　at　the　negative　answers　returned　everywhere。　　Should
he　take　the　journey　on　foot？　　Even　fear　could　not　render
that　ponderous　body　so　active。
Almost　all　the　hotels　occupied　by　the　English　in　Brussels
face　the　Parc；　and　Jos　wandered　irresolutely　about
in　this　quarter；　with　crowds　of　other　people；　oppressed　as
he　was　by　fear　and　curiosity。　　Some　families　he　saw　more
happy　than　himself；　having　discovered　a　team　of　horses；
and　rattling　through　the　streets　in　retreat；　others　again
there　were　whose　case　was　like　his　own；　and　who
could　not　for　any　bribes　or　entreaties　procure　the
necessary　means　of　flight。　　Amongst　these　would…be　fugitives；
Jos　remarked　the　Lady　Bareacres　and　her　daughter；　who
sate　in　their　carriage　in　the　porte…cochere　of　their　hotel；
all　their　imperials　packed；　and　the　only　drawback　to
whose　flight　was　the　same　want　of　motive　power　which
kept　Jos　stationary。
Rebecca　Crawley　occupied　apartments　in　this　hotel；
and　had　before　this　period　had　sundry　hostile　meetings
with　the　ladies　of　the　Bareacres　family。　　My　Lady
Bareacres　cut　Mrs。　Crawley　on　the　stairs　when　they　met
by　chance；　and　in　all　places　where　the　latter's　name　was
mentioned；　spoke　perseveringly　ill　of　her　neighbour。　　The
Countess　was　shocked　at　the　familiarity　of　General　Tufto
with　the　aide…de…camp's　wife。　　The　Lady　Blanche　avoided
her　as　if　she　had　been　an　infectious　disease。　　Only　the
Earl　himself　kept　up　a　sly　occasional　acquaintance　with
her；　when　out　of　the　jurisdiction　of　his　ladies。
Rebecca　had　her　revenge