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burlesques-第39章

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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
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