按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页,按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页,按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部!
————未阅读完?加入书签已便下次继续阅读!
arrived; and entered the cab with the box: what were the contents
of that box we have never been able to ascertain。 On asking her
Ladyship whether he should order the cab to drive in any particular
direction; he was told to drive to Madame Crinoline's; the eminent
milliner in Cavendish Square。 On requesting to know whether he
should accompany her Ladyship; Buttons was peremptorily ordered by
Miss Hoggins to go about his business。
〃Having now his clue; our reporter instantly went in search of cab
19;796; or rather the driver of that vehicle; who was discovered
with no small difficulty at his residence; Whetstone Park;
Lincoln's Inn Fields; where he lives with his family of nine
children。 Having received two sovereigns; instead doubtless of two
shillings (his regular fare; by the way; would have been only one…
and…eightpence); Macarty had not gone out with the cab for the two
last days; passing them in a state of almost ceaseless intoxication。
His replies were very incoherent in answer to the queries of our
reporter; and; had not that gentleman himself been a compatriot; it
is probable he would have refused altogether to satisfy the curiosity
of the public。
〃At Madame Crinoline's; Miss Hoggins quitted the carriage; and A
GENTLEMAN entered it。 Macarty describes him as a very CLEVER
gentleman (meaning tall) with black moustaches; Oxford…gray
trousers; and black hat and a pea…coat。 He drove the couple TO THE
EUSTON SQUARE STATION; and there left them。 How he employed his
time subsequently we have stated。
〃At the Euston Square Station; the gentleman of our establishment
learned from Frederick Corduroy; a porter there; that a gentleman
answering the above description had taken places to Derby。 We have
despatched a confidential gentleman thither; by a special train;
and shall give his report in a second edition。
〃SECOND EDITION。
〃(From our Reporter。)
〃NEWCASTLE; Monday。
〃I am just arrived at this ancient town; at the 'Elephant and
Cucumber Hotel。' A party travelling under the name of MR。 AND MRS。
JONES; the gentleman wearing moustaches; and having with them a
blue band…box; arrived by the train two hours before me; and have
posted onwards to SCOTLAND。 I have ordered four horses; and write
this on the hind boot; as they are putting to。
〃THIRD EDITION。
〃GRETNA GREEN; Monday Evening。
〃The mystery is at length solved。 This afternoon; at four o'clock;
the Hymeneal Blacksmith; of Gretna Green; celebrated the marriage
between George Granby Silvertop; Esq。; a Lieutenant in the 150th
Hussars; third son of General John Silvertop; of Silvertop Hall;
Yorkshire; and Lady Emily Silvertop; daughter of the late sister of
the present Earl of Bareacres; and the Lady Angelina Amelia
Arethusa Anaconda Alexandrina Alicompania Annemaria Antoinetta;
daughter of the last…named Earl Bareacres。
(Here follows a long extract from the Marriage Service in the Book
of Common Prayer; which was not read on the occasion; and need not
be repeated here。)
〃After the ceremony; the young couple partook of a slight
refreshment of sherry and waterthe former the Captain pronounced
to be execrable; and; having myself tasted some glasses from the
VERY SAME BOTTLE with which the young and noble pair were served; I
must say I think the Captain was rather hard upon mine host of the
'Bagpipes Hotel and Posting…House;' whence they instantly proceeded。
I follow them as soon as the horses have fed。
〃FOURTH EDITION。
〃SHAMEFUL TREATMENT OF OUR REPORTER。
〃WHISTLEBINKIE; N。 B。 Monday; Midnight。
〃I arrived at this romantic little villa about two hours after the
newly married couple; whose progress I have the honor to trace;
reached Whistlebinkie。 They have taken up their residence at the
'Cairngorm Arms'mine is at the other hostelry; the 'Clachan of
Whistlebinkie。'
〃On driving up to the 'Cairngorm Arms;' I found a gentleman of
military appearance standing at the doer; and occupied seemingly in
smoking a cigar。 It was very dark as I descended from my carriage;
and the gentleman in question exclaimed; 'Is it you; Southdown my
boy? You have come too late; unless you are come to have some
supper;' or words to that effect。 I explained that I was not the
Lord Viscount Southdown; and politely apprised Captain Silvertop
(for I justly concluded the individual before me could be no other)
of his mistake。
〃'Who the deuce' (the Captain used a stronger term) 'are you;
then?' said Mr。 Silvertop。 'Are you Baggs and Tapewell; my uncle's
attorneys? If you are; you have come too late for the fair。'
〃I briefly explained that I was not Baggs and Tapewell; but that my
name was Jms; and that I was a gentleman connected with the
establishment of the Morning Tatler newspaper。
〃'And what has brought you here; Mr。 Morning Tatler?' asked my
interlocutor; rather roughly。 My answer was frankthat the
disappearance of a noble lady from the house of her friends had
caused the greatest excitement in the metropolis; and that my
employers were anxious to give the public every particular
regarding an event so singular。
〃'And do you mean to say; sir; that you have dogged me all the way
from London; and that my family affairs are to be published for the
readers of the Morning Tatler newspaper? The Morning Tatter be
(the Captain here gave utterance to an oath which I shall not
repeat) and you too; sir; you unpudent meddling scoundrel。'
〃'Scoundrel; sir!' said I。 'Yes;' replied the irate gentleman;
seizing me rudely by the collarand he would have choked me; but
that my blue satin stock and false collar gave way; and were left
in the hands of this GENTLEMAN。 'Help; landlord!' I loudly
exclaimed; adding; I believe; 'murder;' and other exclamations of
alarm。 In vain I appealed to the crowd; which by this time was
pretty considerable; they and the unfeeling post…boys only burst
into laughter; and called out; 'Give it him; Captain。' A struggle
ensued; in which I have no doubt I should have had the better; but
that the Captain; joining suddenly in the general and indecent
hilarity; which was doubled when I fell down; stopped and said;
'Well; Jims; I won't fight on my marriage…day。 Go into the tap;
Jims; and order a glass of brandy…and…water at my expenseand mind
I don't see your face to…morrow morning; or I'll make it more ugly
than it is。'
〃With these gross expressions and a cheer from the crowd; Mr。
Silvertop entered the inn。 I need not say that I did not partake
of his hospitality; and that personally I despise his insults。 I
make them known that they may call down the indignation of the body
of which I am a member; and throw myself on the sympathy of the
public; as a gentleman shamefully assaulted and insulted in the
discharge of a public duty。〃
〃Thus you've sean how the flower of my affeckshns was tawn out of
my busm; and my art was left bleading