the bedford-row conspiracy-第13章

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rmined　to　have　his　revenge。　〃That's　right；　Uncle！　　SHALL　I　call　Gorgon　out？〃　said　the　impetuous　young　Perkins；　who　was　all　for　blood。　〃John；　you　are　a　fool；〃　said　his　uncle。　　〃You　shall　have　a　better　revenge：　　you　shall　be　married　from　Sir　George　Gorgon's　house；　and　you　shall　see　Mr。　William　Pitt　Scully　sold　for　nothing。〃　　This　to　the　veteran　diplomatist　seemed　to　be　the　highest　triumph　which　man　could　possibly　enjoy。　It　was　very　soon　to　take　place：　　and；　as　has　been　the　case　ever　since　the　world　began；　woman；　lovely　woman　was　to　be　the　cause　of　Scully's　fall。　　The　tender　scene　at　Lord　Mantrap's　was　followed　by　many　others　equally　sentimental。　　Sir　George　Gorgon　called　upon　his　colleague　the　very　next　day；　and　brought　with　him　a　card　from　Lady　Gorgon　inviting　Mr。　Scully　to　dinner。　　The　attorney　eagerly　accepted　the　invitation；　was　received　in　Baker　Street　by　the　whole　amiable　family　with　much　respectful　cordiality；　and　was　pressed　to　repeat　his　visits　as　country　neighbours　should。　　More　than　once　did　he　call；　and　somehow　always　at　the　hour　when　Sir　George　was　away　at　his　club；　or　riding　in　the　Park；　or　elsewhere　engaged。　　Sir　George　Gorgon　was　very　old；　very　feeble；　very　much　shattered　in　constitution。　　Lady　Gorgon　used　to　impart　her　fears　to　Mr。　Scully　every　time　he　called　there；　and　the　sympathising　attorney　used　to　console　her　as　best　he　might。　　Sir　George's　country　agent　neglected　the　propertyhis　lady　consulted　Mr。　Scully　concerning　it。　　He　knew　to　a　fraction　how　large　her　jointure　was；　how　she　was　to　have　Gorgon　Castle　for　her　life；　and　how；　in　the　event　of　the　young　baronet's　death　（he；　too；　was　a　sickly　poor　boy）；　the　chief　part　of　the　estates；　bought　by　her　money；　would　be　at　her　absolute　disposal。　〃What　a　pity　these　odious　politics　prevent　me　from　having　you　for　our　agent；〃　would　Lady　Gorgon　say；　and　indeed　Scully　thought　it　was　a　pity　too。　　Ambitious　Scully！　what　wild　notions　filled　his　brain。　He　used　to　take　leave　of　Lady　Gorgon　and　ruminate　upon　these　things；　and　when　he　was　gone；　Sir　George　and　her　Ladyship　used　to　laugh。　〃If　we　can　but　commit　himif　we　can　but　make　him　vote　for　Pincher；〃　said　the　General；　〃my　peerage　is　secure。　　Hawksby　and　Crampton　as　good　as　told　me　so。〃　The　point　had　been　urged　upon　Mr。　Scully　repeatedly　and　adroitly。　〃Is　not　Pincher　a　more　experienced　man　than　Macabaw？〃　would　Sir　George　say　to　his　guest　over　their　wine。　　Scully　allowed　it。　　〃Can't　you　vote　for　him　on　personal　grounds；　and　say　so　in　the　House？〃　Scully　wished　he　couldhow　he　wished　he　could！　　Every　time　the　General　coughed；　Scully　saw　his　friend's　desperate　situation　more　and　more；　and　thought　how　pleasant　it　would　be　to　be　lord　of　Gorgon　Castle。　　〃Knowing　my　property；〃　cried　Sir　George；　〃as　you　do；　and　with　your　talents　and　integrity；　what　a　comfort　it　would　be　could　I　leave　you　as　guardian　to　my　boy！　　But　these　cursed　politics　prevent　it；　my　dear　fellow。　　Why　WILL　you　be　a　Radical？〃　　And　Scully　cursed　politics　too。　　〃Hang　the　low…bred　rogue；〃　added　Sir　George；　when　William　Pitt　Scully　left　the　house：　　〃he　will　do　everything　but　promise。〃　〃My　dear　General；〃　said　Lady　Gorgon；　sidling　up　to　him　and　patting　him　on　his　old　yellow　cheek〃My　dear　Georgy；　tell　me　one　thing；are　you　jealous？〃　〃Jealous；　my　dear！　and　jealous　of　THAT　fellowpshaw！〃　〃Well；　then；　give　me　leave；　and　you　shall　have　the　promise　to…morrow。〃　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　*　　　　　　　　　　*　　　　　　　　　　*　To…morrow　arrived。　　It　was　a　remarkably　fine　day；　and　in　the　forenoon　Mr。　Perkins　gave　his　accustomed　knock　at　Scully's　study；　which　was　only　separated　from　his　own　sitting…room　by　a　double　door。　John　had　wisely　followed　his　uncle's　advice；　and　was　on　the　best　terms　with　the　honourable　Member。　〃Here　are　a　few　sentences；〃　said　he；　〃which　I　think　may　suit　your　purpose。　　Great　public　servicesundeniable　merityears　of　integritycause　of　reform；　and　Macabaw　for　ever！〃　　He　put　down　the　paper。　　It　was；　in　fact；　a　speech　in　favour　of　Mr。　Macabaw。　〃Hush；〃　said　Scully；　rather　surlily；　for　he　was　thinking　how　disagreeable　it　was　to　support　Macabaw；　and　besides；　there　were　clerks　in　the　room；　whom　the　thoughtless　Perkins　had　not　at　first　perceived。　　As　soon　as　that　gentleman　saw　them；　〃You　are　busy；　I　see；〃　continued　he　in　a　lower　tone。　　〃I　came　to　say　that　I　must　be　off　duty　to…day；　for　I　am　engaged　to　take　a　walk　with　some　ladies　of　my　acquaintance。〃　So　saying；　the　light…hearted　young　man　placed　his　hat　unceremoniously　on　his　head；　and　went　off　through　his　own　door；　humming　a　song。　　He　was　in　such　high　spirits　that　he　did　not　even　think　of　closing　the　doors　of　communication；　and　Scully　looked　after　him　with　a　sneer。　〃Ladies；　forsooth；〃　thought　he；　〃I　know　who　they　are。　　This　precious　girl　that　he　is　fooling　with；　for　one；　I　suppose。〃　　He　was　right：　Perkins　was　off　on　the　wings　of　love；　to　see　Miss　Lucy；　and　she　and　Aunt　Biggs　and　Uncle　Crampton　had　promised　this　very　day　to　come　and　look　at　the　apartments　which　Mrs。　John　Perkins　was　to　occupy　with　her　happy　husband。　〃Poor　devil；〃　so　continued　Mr。　Scully's　meditations；　〃it　is　almost　too　bad　to　do　him　out　of　his　place；　but　my　Bob　wants　it；　and　John's　girl　has；　I　hear；　seven　thousand　pounds。　　His　uncle　will　get　him　another　place　before　all　that　money　is　spent。〃　　And　herewith　Mr。　Scully　began　conning　the　speech　which　Perkins　had　made　for　him。　He　had　not　read　it　more　than　six　times；in　truth；　he　was　getting　it　by　heart；when　his　head　clerk　came　to　him　from　the　front　room；　bearing　a　card：　　a　footman　had　brought　it；　who　said　his　lady　was　waiting　below。　　Lady　Gorgon's　name　was　on　the　card！　　To　seize　his　hat　and　rush　downstairs　was；　with　Mr。　Scully；　the　work　of　an　infinitesimal　portion　of　time。　It　was　indeed　Lady　Gorgon　in　her　Gorgonian　chariot。　〃Mr。　Scully；〃　said　she；　popping　her　head　out　of　window　and　smiling　in　a　most　engaging　way；　〃I　want　to　speak　to　you；　on　something　very　particular　INDEED〃and　she　held　him　out　her　hand。　　Scully　pressed　it　most　tenderly：　　he　hoped　all　heads　in　Bedford　Row　were　at　the　windows　to　see　him。　　〃I　can't　ask　you　into　the　carriage；　for　you　see　the　governess　is　with　me；　and　I　want　to　talk　secrets　to　you。〃　〃Shall　I　go　and　make　a　little　promenade？〃　said　mademoiselle；　innocently。　　And　her　mistress　hated　her　for　that　speech。　〃No。　　Mr。　Scully；　I　am　sure；　will　let　me　come　in　for　five　minutes？〃　Mr。　Scully　was　only　too　happy。　　My　Lady　descended　and　walked　upstairs；　leaning　on　the　happy　solicitor's　arm。　　But　how　should　he　manage？　　The　front　room　was　consecrated　to　clerks；　there　were　clerks　too；　as　ill…luck　would　have　it；　in　his　private　room。　　〃Perkins　is　out　for　the　day；〃　thought　Scully；　〃I　will　take　her　into　his　room。〃　And　into　Perkins's　room　he　took　heray；　and　he　shut　the　double　doors　after　him　too；　and　trembled　as　he　thought　of　his　own　happiness。　〃What　a　charming　little　study；〃　said　Lady　Gorgon；　seating　herself。　And　indeed　it　was　very　pretty：　　for　Perkins　had　furnished　it　beautifully；　and　laid　out　a　neat　tray　with　cakes；　a　cold　fowl；　and　sherry；　to　entertain　his　party　withal。　　〃And　do　you　bachelors　always　live　so　well？〃　continued　she；　pointing　to　the　little　cold　collation。　Mr。　Scully　looked　rather　blank　when　he　saw　it；　and　a　dreadful　suspicion　crossed　his　soul；　but　there　was　no　need　to　trouble　Lady　Gorgon　with　explanations：　　therefore；　at　o