第100章

noBecky。Mr。Moss’stably-dy-hotywasservedattheappointedhourofhalf-pastfive，whensuchofthegentlemenlodginginthehouseascouldaffordtopayforthebanquetcameandpartookofitinthesplendidfrontparlourbeforedescribed，andwithwhichMr。Crawley’stemporarylodgingcommunicated，whenMissM。(MissHem，asherpapacalledher)appearedwithoutthecurl-

papersofthemorning，andMrs。Hemdidthehonoursofaprimeboiledlegofmuttonandturnips，ofwhichtheColonelatewithaveryfaintappetite。Askedwhetherhewould“stand“abottleofchampagneforthecompany，heconsented，andtheladiesdranktohis’ealth，andMr。Moss，inthemostpolitemanner，“lookedtowardshim。”

Inthemidstofthisrepast，however，thedoorbellwasheard——youngMossoftheruddyhairroseupwiththekeysandansweredthesummons，andcomingback，toldtheColonelthatthemessengerhadreturnedwithabag，adeskandaletter，whichhegavehim。”Noceramony，Colonel，Ibeg。”saidMrs。Mosswithawaveofherhand，andheopenedtheletterrathertremulously。Itwasabeautifulletter，highlyscented，onapinkpaper，andwithalightgreenseal。

MONPAUVRECHERPETIT，(Mrs。Crawleywrote)

IcouldnotsleepONEWINKforthinkingofwhathadbecomeofmyodiousoldmonstre，andonlygottorestinthemorningaftersendingforMr。Blench(forIwasinafever)，whogavemeacomposingdraughtandleftorderswithFinettethatIshouldbedisturbedONNO

ACCOUNT。Sothatmypooroldman’smessenger，whohadbienmauvaisemineFinettesays，andsentoitleGenievre，remainedinthehallforsomehourswaitingmybell。

YoumayfancymystatewhenIreadyourpoordearoldill-speltletter。

IllasIwas，Iinstantlycalledforthecarriage，andassoonasIwasdressed(thoughIcouldn’tdrinkadropofchocolate——IassureyouIcouldn’twithoutmymonstretobringittome)，IdroveventreaterretoNathan’s。Isawhim——Iwept——Icried——Ifellathi~

odiousknees。Nothingwouldmollifythehorridman。

Hewouldhaveallthemoney，hesaid，orkeepmypoormonstreinprison。Idrovehomewiththeintentionofpayingthattristevisitechezmononcle(wheneverytrinketIhaveshouldbeatyourdisposalthoughtheywouldnotfetchahundredpounds，forsome，youknow，arewithcecheronclealready)，andfoundMilortherewiththeBulgarianoldsheep-facedmonster，whohadcometocomplimentmeuponlastnight’sperformances。

Paddingtoncamein，too，drawlingandlispingandtwiddlinghishair；sodidChampignac，andhischef——

everybodywithfoisonofcomplimentsandprettyspeeches——plaguingpoorme，wholongedtoberidofthem，andwasthinkingeverymomentofthetimeofmonpauvreprisonnier。

Whentheyweregone，IwentdownonmykneestoMilor；toldhimweweregoingtopawneverything，andbeggedandprayedhimtogivemetwohundredpounds。

Hepish’dandpsha’dinafury——toldmenottobesuchafoolastopawn——andsaidhewouldseewhetherhecouldlendmethemoney。Atlasthewentaway，promisingthathewouldsenditmeinthemorning：whenIwillbringittomypooroldmonsterwithakissfrohisaffectionateBECKY

Iamwritinginbed。OhIhavesuchaheadacheandsuchaheartache！

WhenRawdonreadoverthisletter，heturnedsoredandlookedsosavagethatthecompanyatthetabled’hoteeasilyperceivedthatbadnewshadreachedhim。Allhissuspicions，whichhehadbeentryingtobanish，returneduponhim。Shecouldnotevengooutandsellhertrinketstofreehim。Shecouldlaughandtalkaboutcomplimentspaidtoher，whilsthewasinprison。Whohadputhimthere？Wenhamhadwalkedwithhim。Wasthere……Hecouldhardlybeartothinkofwhathesuspected。Leavingtheroomhurriedly，heranintohisown——openedhisdesk，wrotetwohurriedlines，whichhedirectedtoSirPittorLadyCrawley，andbadethemessengercarrythematoncetoGauntStreet，biddinghimtotakeacab，andpromisinghimaguineaifhewasbackinanhour。

Inthenotehebesoughthisdearbrotherandsister，forthesakeofGod，forthesakeofhisdearchildandhishonour，tocometohimandrelievehimfromhisdifficulty。Hewasinprison，hewantedahundredpoundstosethimfree——heentreatedthemtocometohim。

Hewentbacktothedining-roomafterdispatchinghismessengerandcalledformorewine。Helaughedandtalkedwithastrangeboisterousness，asthepeoplethought。Sometimes