第116章

AmRheinTheaboveeverydayeventshadoccurred，andafewweekshadpassed，whenononefinemorning，Parliamentbeingover，thesummeradvanced，andallthegoodcompanyinLondonabouttoquitthatcityfortheirannualtourinsearchofpleasureorhealth，theBataviersteamboatlefttheTower-stairsladenwithagoodlycompanyofEnglishfugitives。Thequarter-deckawningswereup，andthebenchesandgangwayscrowdedwithscoresofrosychildren，bustlingnursemaids；ladiesintheprettiestpinkbonnetsandsummerdresses；gentlemenintravellingcapsandlinen-jackets，whosemustachioshadjustbeguntosproutfortheensuingtour；andstouttrimoldveteranswithstarchedneckclothsandneat-brushedhats，suchashaveinvadedEuropeanytimesincetheconclusionofthewar，andcarrythenationalGoddemintoeverycityoftheContinent。Thecongregationofhat-boxes，andBramahdesks，anddressing-caseswasprodigious。TherewerejauntyyoungCambridge-mentravellingwiththeirtutor，andgoingforareadingexcursiontoNonnenwerthorKonigswinter；therewereIrishgentlemen，withthemostdashingwhiskersandjewellery，talkingabouthorsesincessantly，andprodigiouslypolitetotheyoungladiesonboard，whom，onthecontrary，theCambridgeladsandtheirpale-facedtutoravoidedwithmaidencoyness；therewereoldPallMallloungersboundforEmsandWiesbadenandacourseofwaterstoclearoffthedinnersoftheseason，andalittlerouletteandtrente-

et-quarantetokeeptheexcitementgoing；therewasoldMethuselah，whohadmarriedhisyoungwife，withCaptainPapillonoftheGuardsholdingherparasolandguide-books；therewasyoungMaywhowascarryingoffhisbrideonapleasuretour(Mrs。Winterthatwas，andwhohadbeenatschoolwithMay’sgrandmother)；therewasSirJohnandmyLadywithadozenchildren，andcorrespondingnursemaids；andthegreatgrandeeBareacresfamilythatsatbythemselvesnearthewheel，staredateverybody，andspoketonoone。Theircarriages，emblazonedwithcoronetsandheapedwithshiningimperials，wereontheforedeck，lockedinwithadozenmoresuchvehicles：itwasdifficulttopassinandoutamongstthem；andthepoorinmatesofthefore-cabinhadscarcelyanyspaceforlocomotion。TheseconsistedofafewmagnificentlyattiredgentlemenfromHoundsditch，whobroughttheirownprovisions，andcouldhaveboughthalfthegaypeopleinthegrandsaloon；afewhonestfellowswithmustachiosandportfolios，whosettosketchingbeforetheyhadbeenhalfanhouronboard；oneortwoFrenchfemmesdechambrewhobegantobedreadfullyillbythetimetheboathadpassedGreenwich；agroomortwowholoungedintheneighbourhoodofthehorse-boxesundertheircharge，orleanedoverthesidebythepaddle-wheels，andtalkedaboutwhowasgoodfortheLeger，andwhattheystoodtowinorlosefortheGoodwoodcup。

Allthecouriers，whentheyhaddoneplungingabouttheshipandhadsettledtheirvariousmastersinthecabinsoronthedeck，congregatedtogetherandbegantochatterandsmoke；theHebrewgentlemenjoiningthemandlookingatthecarriages。TherewasSirJohn’sgreatcarriagethatwouldholdthirteenpeople；myLordMethuselah’scarriage，myLordBareacres’chariot，britzska，andfourgon，thatanybodymightpayforwholiked。

ItwasawonderhowmyLordgotthereadymoneytopayfortheexpensesofthejourney。TheHebrewgentlemenknewhowhegotit。TheyknewwhatmoneyhisLordshiphadinhispocketatthatinstant，andwhatinteresthepaidforit，andwhogaveithim。Finallytherewasaveryneat，handsometravellingcarriage，aboutwhichthegentlemenspeculated。

“Aquicettevoiturela？”saidonegentleman-courierwithalargemoroccomoney-bagandear-ringstoanotherwithear-ringsandalargemoroccomoney-bag。

“C’estaKirschjebense——jel’aivutouteal’heure——

quibrenoitdessangvichesdanslavoiture。”saidthecourierinafineGermanFrench。

Kirschemergingpresentlyfromtheneighbourhoodofthehold，wherehehadbeenbellowinginstructionsintermingledwithpolyglotoathstotheship’smenengagedinsecretingthepassengers’luggage，cametogiveanaccountofhimselftohisbrotherinterpreters。HeinformedthemthatthecarriagebelongedtoaNabobfromCalcuttaandJamaicaenormouslyrich，andwithwhomhewasengagedtotravel；andatthismomentayounggentlemanwhohadbeenwarnedoffthebridgebetweenthepaddle-boxes，andwhohaddroppedthenceontotheroofofLordMethuselah’scarriage，fromwhichhemadehiswayoverothercarriagesandimperialsuntilhehadclamberedontohisown，descendedthenceandthroughthewindowintothebodyofthecarriage，totheapplauseofthecourierslookingon。

“Nousallonsavoirunebelletraversee，MonsieurGeorge。”saidth