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！
place。 But Rawdon flung open boxes and wardrobes；
throwing the multifarious trumpery of their contents here
and there； and at last he found the desk。 The woman was
forced to open it。 It contained papers； love…letters many
years oldall sorts of small trinkets and woman's
memoranda。 And it contained a pocket…book with bank…notes。
Some of these were dated ten years back； too； and one
was quite a fresh onea note for a thousand pounds
which Lord Steyne had given her。
〃Did he give you this？〃 Rawdon said。
〃Yes；〃 Rebecca answered。
〃I'll send it to him to…day；〃 Rawdon said （for day had
dawned again； and many hours had passed in this search）；
〃and I will pay Briggs； who was kind to the boy； and
some of the debts。 You will let me know where I shall
send the rest to you。 You might have spared me a
hundred pounds； Becky； out of all thisI have always
shared with you。〃
〃I am innocent；〃 said Becky。 And he left her without
another word。
What were her thoughts when he left her？ She
remained for hours after he was gone； the sunshine
pouring into the room； and Rebecca sitting alone on the
bed's edge。 The drawers were all opened and their contents
scattered aboutdresses and feathers； scarfs and trinkets；
a heap of tumbled vanities lying in a wreck。 Her hair
was falling over her shoulders； her gown was torn where
Rawdon had wrenched the brilliants out of it。 She heard
him go downstairs a few minutes after he left her； and
the door slamming and closing on him。 She knew he
would never come back。 He was gone forever。 Would
he kill himself？she thoughtnot until after he had
met Lord Steyne。 She thought of her long past life； and
all the dismal incidents of it。 Ah； how dreary it seemed；
how miserable； lonely and profitless！ Should she take
laudanum； and end it； to have done with all hopes；
schemes； debts； and triumphs？ The French maid found
her in this positionsitting in the midst of her miserable
ruins with clasped hands and dry eyes。 The woman was
her accomplice and in Steyne's pay。 〃Mon Dieu；
madame； what has happened？〃 she asked。
What had happened？ Was she guilty or not？ She said
not； but who could tell what was truth which came from
those lips； or if that corrupt heart was in this case pure？
All her lies and her schemes； an her selfishness and her
wiles； all her wit and genius had come to this
bankruptcy。 The woman closed the curtains and； with some
entreaty and show of kindness； persuaded her mistress
to lie down on the bed。 Then she went below and
gathered up the trinkets which had been lying on the floor
since Rebecca dropped them there at her husband's
orders； and Lord Steyne went away。
CHAPTER LIV
Sunday After the Battle
The mansion of Sir Pitt Crawley； in Great Gaunt Street；
was just beginning to dress itself for the day； as Rawdon；
in his evening costume； which he had now worn
two days； passed by the scared female who was scouring
the steps and entered into his brother's study。 Lady
Jane； in her morning…gown； was up and above stairs in
the nursery superintending the toilettes of her children
and listening to the morning prayers which the little
creatures performed at her knee。 Every morning she and
they performed this duty privately； and before the public
ceremonial at which Sir Pitt presided and at which all the
people of the household were expected to assemble。
Rawdon sat down in the study before the Baronet's table；
set out with the orderly blue books and the letters； the
neatly docketed bills and symmetrical pamphlets； the
locked account…books； desks； and dispatch boxes； the
Bible； the Quarterly Review； and the Court Guide； which
all stood as if on parade awaiting the inspection of their
chief。
A book of family sermons； one of which Sir Pitt was
in the habit of administering to his family on Sunday
mornings； lay ready on the study table； and awaiting his
judicious selection。 And by the sermon…book was the
Observer newspaper； damp and neatly folded； and for
Sir Pitt's own private use。 His gentleman alone took the
opportunity of perusing the newspaper before he laid it
by his master's desk。 Before he had brought it into the
study that morning； he had read in the journal a flaming
account of 〃Festivities at Gaunt House；〃 with the names
of all the distinguished personages invited by tho Marquis
of Steyne to meet his Royal Highness。 Having made
comments upon this entertainment to the housekeeper
and her niece as they were taking early tea and hot
buttered toast in the former lady's apartment； and
wondered how the Rawding Crawleys could git on； the valet
had damped and folded the paper once more； so that it
looked quite fresh and innocent against the arrival of
the master of the house。
Poor Rawdon took up the paper and began to try and
read it until his brother should arrive。 But the print fell
blank upon his eyes； and he did not know in the least
what he was reading。 The Government news and
appointments （which Sir Pitt as a public man was bound
to peruse； otherwise he would by no means permit the
introduction of Sunday papers into his household）； the
theatrical criticisms； the fight for a hundred pounds
a side between the Barking Butcher and the Tutbury
Pet； the Gaunt House chronicle itself； which contained a
most complimentary though guarded account of the
famous charades of which Mrs。 Becky had been the
heroineall these passed as in a haze before Rawdon； as he
sat waiting the arrival of the chief of the family。
Punctually； as the shrill…toned bell of the black marble
study clock began to chime nine； Sir Pitt made his
appearance； fresh； neat； smugly shaved； with a waxy clean
face； and stiff shirt collar； his scanty hair combed and
oiled； trimming his nails as he descended the stairs
majestically； in a starched cravat and a grey flannel
dressing…gowna real old English gentleman； in a word
a model of neatness and every propriety。 He started when
he saw poor Rawdon in his study in tumbled clothes； with
blood…shot eyes； and his hair over his face。 He thought
his brother was not sober； and had been out all night on
some orgy。 〃Good gracious； Rawdon；〃 he said； with a
blank face； 〃what brings you here at this time of the
morning？ Why ain't you at home？〃
〃Home；〃 said Rawdon with a wild laugh。 〃Don't be
frightened； Pitt。 I'm not drunk。 Shut the door； I want to
speak to you。〃
Pitt closed the door and came up to the table； where
he sat down in the other arm…chairthat one placed for
the reception of the steward； agent； or confidential
visitor who came to transact business with the Baronet
and trimmed his nails more vehemently than ever。
〃Pitt； it's all over with me；〃 the Colonel said after a
pause。 〃I'm done。〃
〃I always said it would come to this；〃 the Baronet
cried peevishly； and beating a tune with his clean…
trimmed nails。 〃I warned you a thousand times。 I can't
help you any more。 Every shilling of my money is tied
up。 Even the hundred pounds that Jane took you last
night were promised to my lawyer to…morrow morning；
and the want of it will put me to great inconvenience。
I don't mean to say that I won't assist you ultimately。
But as for paying your creditors in full； I might as w