第82章

"M。Queriniamusedmeextremely，"saidthequeen；"hecalledmealittledevil。"

"Hemeanttosaythatyourhighnessisaswittyasanangel。"

IlongedforthequeentoaskmewhyIhadnotbeenpresentedbyM。

Zuccatto，forIhadareplyonthetipofmytonguethatwouldhavedeprivedtheambassadorofhissleepforaweek，whileIshouldhavesleptsoundly，forvengeanceisadivinepleasure，especiallywhenitistakenontheproudandfoolish；butthewholeconversationwasacompoundofnothings，asisusualincourts。

AftermyinterviewwasoverIgotintomysedan—chairandwenttoSohoSquare。AmanincourtdresscannotwalkthestreetsofLondonwithoutbeingpeltedwithmudbythemob，whilethegentlemanlookonandlaugh。Allcustomsmustberespected；theyareallatonceworthyandabsurd。

WhenIgottothehouseofMadameCornelis，IandmyNegroJarbewereshewnupstairs，andconductedthroughasuiteofgorgeousapartmentstoaroomwheretheladyofthehousewassittingwithtwoEnglishladiesandtwoEnglishgentlemen。Shereceivedmewithfamiliarpoliteness，mademesitdowninanarmchairbesideher，andthencontinuedtheconversationinEnglishwithoutintroducingme。Whenherstewardtoldherthatdinnerwasready，shegaveordersforthechildrentobebroughtdown。

Ihadlongdesiredthismeeting，andwhenIsawSophieIrantomeether；butshe，whohadprofitedbyhermother’sinstructions，drewbackwithprofoundcourtesyandacomplimentlearntbyheart。IdidnotsayanythingforfearIshouldembarrassher，butIfeltgrievedtotheheart。

MadameCornelisthenbroughtforwardherson，tellingthecompanythatIhadbroughthimtoEnglandaftersuperintendinghiseducationforsixyears。ShespokeinFrench，soIwasgladtoseethatherfriendsunderstoodthatlanguage。

Wesatdowntotable；MadameCornelisbetweenhertwochildren，andI

betweenthetwoEnglishwomen，oneofwhomdelightedmebyherpleasantwit。IattachedmyselftoherassoonasInoticedthatthemistressofthehouseonlyspoketomebychance，andthatSophiedidnotlookatme。Shewassolikemethatnomistakewaspossible。I

couldseethatshehadbeencarefullytutoredbyhermothertobehaveinthismanner，andIfeltthistreatmenttobebothabsurdandimpertinent。

IdidnotwanttoletanyoneseethatIwasangry，soIbegantodiscourseinapleasantstrainonthepeculiaritiesofEnglishmanners，takingcare，however，nottosayanythingwhichmightwoundtheinsularprideoftheEnglishguests。Myideawastomakethemlaughandtomakemyselfagreeable，andIsucceeded，butnotaworddidIspeaktoMadameCornelis；Ididnotsomuchaslookather。

Theladynexttome，afteradmiringthebeautyofmylace，askedmewhatwasthenewsatCourt。

"Itwasallnewstome，"saidI，"forIwentthereto—dayforthefirsttime。"

"Haveyouseentheking？"saidSirJosephCornelis。

"Mydear，youshouldnotasksuchquestions，"saidhismother。

"Whynot？"

"Becausethegentlemanmaynotwishtoanswerthem。"

"Onthecontrary，madam，Ilikebeingquestioned。Ihavebeenteachingyoursonforthelastsixyearstobealwaysaskingsomething，forthatisthewaytoacquireknowledge。Hewhoasksnothingknowsnothing。"

Ihadtouchedhertothequick，andshefellintoasulkysilence。

"Youhavenottoldmeyet，"saidthelad，"whetheryousawtheking。"

"Yes，myman，Isawthekingandthequeen，andboththeirmajestiesdidmethehonourtospeaktome。"

"Whointroducedyou？"

"TheFrenchambassador。"

"Ithinkyouwillagreewithme，"saidthemother，"thatlastquestionwasalittletoomuch。"

"Certainlyitwouldbeifitwereaddressedtoastranger，butnottomewhoamhisfriend。Youwillnoticethatthereplyheextractedfrommedidmehonour。IfIhadnotwishedittobeknownthatIhadbeenatCourt，Ishouldnothavecomehereinthisdress。"

"Verygood；butasyouliketobequestioned，mayIaskyouwhyyouwerenotpresentedbyyourownambassador？"

"BecausetheVenetianambassadorwouldnotpresentme，knowingthathisGovernmenthaveabonetopickwithme。"

Bythistimewehadcometothedessert，andpoorSophiehadnotutteredasyllable。

"SaysomethingtoM。deSeingalt，"saidhermother。

"Idon’tknowwhattosay，"sheanswered。"TellM。deSeingalttoaskmesomequestions，andIwillanswertothebestofmyability。"

"Well，Sophie，tellmeinwhatstudiesyouareengagedatthepresenttime。"

"Iamlearningdrawing；ifyoulikeIwillshewyousomeofmywork。"

"Iwilllookatitwithpleasure；buttellmehowyouthinkyouhaveoffendedme；youhaveaguiltyair。"

"I，sir？IdonotthinkIhavedoneanythingamiss。"

"NordoI，mydear；butasyoudonotlookatmewhenyouspeakI

thoughtyoumustbeashamedofsomething。Areyouashamedofyourfineeyes？Youblush。Whathaveyoudone？"

"Youareembarrassingher，"saidthemother。"Tellhim，mydear，thatyouhavedonenothing，butthatafeelingofmodestyandrespectpreventsyoufromgazingatthepersonsyouaddress。"

"Yes，"saidI；"butifmodestybidsyoungladieslowertheireyes，politenessshouldmakethemraisethemnowandagain。"

Noonerepliedtothisobjection，whichwasasharpcutfortheabsurdwoman；butafteranintervalofsilencewerosefromthetable，andSophiewenttofetchherdrawings。

"Iwon’tlookatanything，Sophie，unlessyouwilllookatme。"

"Come，"saidhermother，"lookatthegentleman。"

Sheobeyedasquicklyaslightning，andIsawtheprettiesteyesimaginable。

"Now，"saidI，"Iknowyouagain，andperhapsyoumayrememberhavingseenme。"

"Yes，althoughitissixyearsagosincewemet，Irecognizedyoudirectly。"

"Andyetyoudidnotlookmeintheface！Ifyouknewhowimpoliteitwastoloweryoureyeswhenyouareaddressinganyone，youwouldnotdoit。Whocanhavegivenyousuchabadlesson？"

Thechildglancedtowardshermother，whowasstandingbyawindow，andIsawwhowasherpreceptress。

IfeltthatIhadtakensufficientvengeance，andbegantoexamineherdrawings，topraisethemindetail，andtocongratulateheronhertalents。Itoldherthatsheoughttobethankfultohaveamotherwhohadgivenhersogoodaneducation。ThisindirectcomplimentpleasedMadameCornelis，andSophie，nowfreefromallrestraint，gazedatmewithanexpressionofchild—likeaffectionwhichravishedme。Herfeaturesboretheimprintofanoblesoulwithin，andIpitiedherforhavingtogrowupundertheauthorityofafoolishmother。Sophiewenttothepiano，playedwithfeeling，andthensangsomeItalianairs，totheaccompanimentoftheguitar，toowellforherage。Shewastooprecocious，andwantedmuchmorediscretioninhereducationthanMadameCorneliswasabletogiveher。

Whenhersinginghadbeenapplaudedbythecompany，hermothertoldhertodanceaminuetwithherbrother，whohadlearntinParis，butdancedbadlyforwantofagoodcarriage。Hissistertoldhimsowithakiss，andthenaskedmetodancewithher，whichIdidveryreadily。Hermother，whothoughtshehaddancedexquisitely，aswasindeedthecase，toldherthatshemustgivemeakiss。Shecameuptome，anddrawingheronmykneeIcoveredherfacewithkisses，whichshereturnedwiththegreatestaffection。Hermotherlaughedwithallherheart，andthenSophie，beginningtobedoubtfulagain，wentuptoherandaskedifshewereangry。Hermothercomfortedherwithakiss。

Afterwehadtakencoffee，whichwasservedintheFrenchfashion，MadameCornelisshewedmeamagnificenthallwhichshehadbuilt，inwhichshecouldgivesuppertofourhundredpersonsseatedatonetable。Shetoldme，andIcouldeasilybelieveher，thattherewasnotsuchanotherinallLondon。

ThelastassemblywasgivenbeforetheprorogationofParliament；itwastotakeplaceinfourorfivedays。Shehadascoreofprettygirlsinherservice，andadozenfootmenallinfulllivery。

"Theyallrobme，"saidshe，"butIhavetoputupwithit。WhatI

wantisasharpmantohelpmeandwatchovermyinterests；ifIhadsuchanoneIshouldmakeanimmensefortuneinacomparativelyshorttime；forwhenitisaquestionofpleasure，theEnglishdonotcarewhattheyspend。"

ItoldherIhopedshewouldfindsuchmanandmakethefortune，andthenIlefther，admiringherenterprise。

WhenIleftSohoSquareIwenttoSt。James’sParktoseeLadyHarringtonforwhomIborealetter，asIhavementioned。ThisladylivedintheprecinctsoftheCourt，andreceivedcompanyeverySunday。Itwasallowabletoplayinherhouse，astheparkisunderthejurisdictionoftheCrown。InanyotherplacethereisnoplayingcardsorsingingonSundays。Thetownaboundsinspies，andiftheyhavereasontosupposethatthereisanygamingormusicgoingon，theywatchfortheiropportunity，slipintothehouse，andarrestallthebadChristians，whoaredivertingthemselvesinamannerwhichisthoughtinnocentenoughinanyothercountry。ButtomakeupforthisseveritytheEnglishmanmaygoinperfectlibertytothetavernorthebrothel，andsanctifytheSabbathashepleases。

IcalledonLadyHarrington，andhavingsentupmylettershesummonedmeintoherpresence。Ifoundherinthemidstofaboutthirtypersons，butthehostesswaseasilydistinguishedbytheairofwelcomeshehadforme。

AfterIhadmademybowshetoldmeshehadseenmeatCourtinthemorning，andthatwithoutknowingwhoIwasshehadbeendesirousofmakingmyacquaintance。Ourconversationlastedthree—quartersofanhour，andwascomposedofthosefrivolousobservationsandidlequestionswhicharecommonlyaddressedtoatraveller。

Theladywasforty，butshewasstillhandsome。ShewaswellknownforhergallantriesandherinfluenceatCourt。Sheintroducedmetoherhusbandandherfourdaughters，charminggirlsofamarriageableage。SheaskedmewhyIhadcometoLondonwheneverybodywasonthepointofgoingoutoftown。ItoldherthatasIalwaysobeyedtheimpulseofthemoment，Ishouldfinditdifficulttoanswerherquestion；besides，Iintendedstayingforayear，sothatthepleasurewouldbedeferredbutnotlost。

MyreplyseemedtopleaseherbyitscharacterofEnglishindependence，andsheofferedwithexquisitegracetodoallinherpowerforme。

"Inthemeanwhile，"saidshe，"wewillbeginbylettingyouseeallthenobilityatMadameCornelis’sonThursdaynext。Icangiveyouatickettoadmittoballandsupper。Itistwoguineas。"

Igaveherthemoney，andshetooktheticketagain，writingonit，"Paid。——Harrington。"

"Isthisformalitynecessary，mylady？"

"Yes；orelsetheywouldaskyouforthemoneyatthedoors。"

IdidnotthinkitnecessarytosayanythingaboutmyconnectionwiththeladyofSohoSquare。

WhileLadyHarringtonwasmakinguparubberatwhist，sheaskedmeifIhadanyotherlettersforladies。

"Yes，"saidI，"IhaveonewhichIintendtopresentto—morrow。Itisasingularletter，beingmerelyaportrait。"

"Haveyougotitaboutyou？"

"Yes，mylady。"

"MayIseeit？"

"Certainly。Hereitis。"

"ItistheDuchessofNorthumberland。Wewillgoandgiveither。"

"Withpleasure！"

"Justwaittilltheyhavemarkedthegame。"

LordPercyhadgivenmethisportraitasaletterofintroductiontohismother。

"Mydearduchess，"saidLadyHarrington，"hereisaletterofintroductionwhichthisgentlemanbegstopresenttoyou。"

"Iknow，itisM。deSeingalt。Mysonhaswrittentomeabouthim。

Iamdelightedtoseeyou，Chevalier，andIhopeyouwillcomeandseeme。Ireceivethriceaweek。"

"Willyourladyshipallowmetopresentmyvaluableletterinperson？"

"Certainly。Youareright。"

Iplayedarubberofwhistforverysmallstakes，andlostfifteenguineas，whichIpaidonthespot。DirectlyafterwardsLadyHarringtontookmeapart，andgavemealessonwhichIdeemworthyofrecord。

"Youpaidingold，"saidshe；"Isupposeyouhadnobanknotesaboutyou？"

"Yes，mylady，Ihavenotesforfiftyandahundredpounds。"

"Thenyoumustchangeoneofthemorwaittillanothertimetoplay，forinEnglandtopayingoldisasolecismonlypardonableinastranger。Perhapsyounoticedthattheladysmiled？"

"Yes；whoisshe？"

"LadyCoventry，sisteroftheDuchessofHamilton。"

"OughtItoapologize？"

"Notatall，theoffenceisnotoneofthosewhichrequireanapology。Shemusthavebeenmoresurprisedthanoffended，forshemadefifteenshillingsbyyourpayingheringold。"

Iwasvexedbythissmallmischance，forLadyCoventrywasanexquisitelybeautifulbrunette。Icomfortedmyself，however，withoutmuchtrouble。

ThesamedayImadetheacquaintanceofLordHervey，thenoblemanwhoconqueredHavana，apleasantanintelligentperson。HehadmarriedMissChudleigh，butthemarriagewasannulled。ThiscelebratedMissChudleighwasmaidofhonourtothePrincessDowagerofWales，andafterwardsbecameDuchessofKingston。AsherhistoryiswellknownIshallsaysomethingmoreofherinduecourse。Iwenthomewellenoughpleasedwithmyday’swork。

ThenextdayIbegandiningathome，andfoundmycookverysatisfactory；for，besidestheusualEnglishdishes，hewasacquaintedwiththeFrenchsystemofcooking，anddidfricandeaus，cutlets，ragouts，andaboveall，theexcellentFrenchsoup，whichisoneoftheprincipalgloriesofFrance。

Mytableandmyhousewerenotenoughformyhappiness。Iwasalone，andthereaderwillunderstandbythisthatNaturehadnotmeantmeforahermit。Ihadneitheramistressnorafriend，andatLondononemayinviteamantodinneratatavernwherehepaysforhimself，butnottoone’sowntable。OnedayIwasinvitedbyayoungersonoftheDukeofBedfordtoeatoystersanddrinkabottleofchampagne。Iacceptedtheinvitation，andheorderedtheoystersandthechampagne，butwedranktwobottles，andhemademepayhalfthepriceofthesecondbottle。SucharemannersontheothersideoftheChannel。PeoplelaughedinmyfacewhenIsaidthatIdidnotcaretodineatatavernasIcouldnotgetanysoup。

"Areyouill？"theysaid，"soupisonlyfitforinvalids。"

TheEnglishmanisentirelycarnivorous。Heeatsverylittlebread，andcallshimselfeconomicalbecausehespareshimselftheexpenseofsoupanddessert，whichcircumstancemademeremarkthatanEnglishdinnerislikeeternity:ithasnobeginningandnoend。Soupisconsideredveryextravagant，astheveryservantsrefusetoeatthemeatfromwhichithasbeenmade。Theysayitisonlyfittogivetodogs。Thesaltbeefwhichtheyuseiscertainlyexcellent。Icannotsaythesamefortheirbeer，whichwassobitterthatIcouldnotdrinkit。However，IcouldnotbeexpectedtolikebeeraftertheexcellentFrenchwineswithwhichthewinemerchantsuppliedme，certainlyataveryheavycost。

IhadbeenaweekinmynewhomewithoutseeingMartinelli。HecameonaMondaymorning，andIaskedhimtodinewithme。HetoldmethathehadtogototheMuseum，andmycuriositytoseethefamouscollectionwhichissuchanhonourtoEnglandmademeaccompanyhim。

ItwastherethatImadetheacquaintanceofDr。Mati，ofwhomI

shallspeakinduecourse。

AtdinnerMartinellimadehimselfextremelypleasant。HehadaprofoundknowledgeoftheEnglishmannersandcustomswhichitbehovedmetoknowifIwishedtogeton。IhappenedtospeakoftheimpolitenessofwhichIhadbeenguiltyinpayingagamingdebtingoldinsteadofpaper，andonthistexthepreachedmeasermononthenationalprosperity，demonstratingthatthepreferencegiventopapershewstheconfidencewhichisfeltintheBank，whichmayormaynotbemisplaced，butwhichiscertainlyasourceofwealth。

Thisconfidencemightbedestroyedbyatoolargeissueofpapermoney，andifthatevertookplacebyreasonofaprotractedorunfortunatewar，bankruptcywouldbeinevitable，andnoonecouldcalculatethefinalresults。

Afteralongdiscussiononpolitics，nationalmanners，literature，inwhichsubjectsMartinellishone，wewenttoDruryLaneTheatre，whereIhadaspecimenoftheroughinsularmanners。Bysomeaccidentorotherthecompanycouldnotgivethepiecethathadbeenannounced，andtheaudiencewereinatumult。Garrick，thecelebratedactorwhowasburiedtwentyyearslaterinWestminsterAbbey，cameforwardandtriedinvaintorestoreorder。Hewasobligedtoretirebehindthecurtain。Thentheking，thequeen，andallthefashionablesleftthetheatre，andinlessthananhourthetheatrewasgutted，tillnothingbutthebarewallswereleft。

Afterthisdestruction，whichwentonwithoutanyauthorityinterposing，themadpopulacerushedtothetavernstoconsumeginandbeer。Inafortnightthetheatrewasrefittedandthepieceannouncedagain，andwhenGarrickappearedbeforethecurtaintoimploretheindulgenceofthehouse，avoicefromthepitshouted，"Onyourknees。"Athousandvoicestookupthecry"Onyourknees，"

andtheEnglishRosciuswasobligedtokneeldownandbegforgiveness。Thencameathunderofapplause，andeverythingwasover。SucharetheEnglish，andaboveall，theLondoners。Theyhootthekingandtheroyalfamilywhentheyappearinpublic，andtheconsequenceis，thattheyareneverseen，saveongreatoccasions，whenorderiskeptbyhundredsofconstables。

Oneday，asIwaswalkingbymyself，IsawSirAugustusHervey，whoseacquaintanceIhadmade，speakingtoagentleman，whomhelefttocometome。Iaskedhimwhomhehadbeenspeakingto。

"That’sthebrotherofEarlFerrers，"saidhe，"whowashangedacoupleofmonthsagoformurderingoneofhispeople。"

"Andyouspeaktohisbrother？"

"Whyshouldn’tI？"

"Ishenotdishonouredbytheexecutionofhisrelative？"

"Dishonoured！Certainlynot；evenhisbrotherwasnotdishonoured。

Hebrokethelaw，buthepaidforitwithhislife，andowedsocietynothingmore。He’samanofhonour，whoplayedhighandlost；that’sall。Idon’tknowthatthereisanypenaltyinthestatutebookwhichdishonourstheculprit；thatwouldbetyrannical，andwewouldnotbearit。ImaybreakanylawIlike，solongasIamwillingtopaythepenalty。Itisonlyadishonourwhenthecriminaltriestoescapepunishmentbybaseorcowardlyactions。"

"Howdoyoumean？"

"Toaskfortheroyalmercy，tobegforgivenessofthepeople，andthelike。"

"Howaboutescapingfromjustice？"

"Thatisnodishonour，fortoflyisanactofcourage；itcontinuesthedefianceofthelaw，andifthelawcannotexactobedience，somuchtheworseforit。Itisanhonourforyoutohaveescapedfromthetyrannyofyourmagistrates；yourflightfromTheLeadswasavirtuousaction。Insuchcasesmanfightswithdeathandfleesfromit。’Virfugiensdenuopugnabit’。"

"Whatdoyouthinkofhighwayrobbers，then？"

"Idetestthemaswret