第 99 节
作者:青涩春天      更新:2024-04-09 19:51      字数:9322
  feet。  Dear Jemimarann was in white; her hair braided with pearls。
  Madame de Flicflac appeared as Queen Elizabeth; and Lady Blanche
  Bluenose as a Turkish princess。  An alderman of London and his
  lady; two magistrates of the county; and the very pink of Croydon;
  several Polish noblemen; two Italian counts (besides our Count);
  one hundred and ten young officers; from Addiscombe College; in
  full uniform; commanded by Major…General Sir Miles Mulligatawney;
  K。C。B。; and his lady; the Misses Pimminy's Finishing Establishment;
  and fourteen young ladies; all in white: the Reverend Doctor
  Wapshot; and forty…nine young gentlemen; of the first families;
  under his chargewere SOME only of the company。  I leave you to
  fancy that; if my Jemmy did seek for fashion; she had enough of it
  on this occasion。  They wanted me to have mounted again; but my
  hunting…day had been sufficient; besides; I ain't big enough
  for a real knight: so; as Mrs。 Coxe insisted on my opening the
  Tournamentand I knew it was in vain to resistthe Baron and
  Tagrag had undertaken to arrange so that I might come off with
  safety; if I came off at all。  They had procured from the Strand
  Theatre a famous stud of hobby…horses; which they told me had been
  trained for the use of the great Lord Bateman。  I did not know
  exactly what they were till they arrived; but as they had belonged
  to a lord; I thought it was all right; and consented; and I found
  it the best sort of riding; after all; to appear to be on horseback
  and walk safely a…foot at the same time; and it was impossible to
  come down as long as I kept on my own legs: besides; I could cuff
  and pull my steed about as much as I liked; without fear of his
  biting or kicking in return。  As Lord of the Tournament; they
  placed in my hands a lance; ornamented spirally; in blue and gold:
  I thought of the pole over my old shop door; and almost wished
  myself there again; as I capered up to the battle in my helmet and
  breastplate; with all the trumpets blowing and drums beating at the
  time。  Captain Tagrag was my opponent; and preciously we poked each
  other; till; prancing about; I put my foot on my horse's petticoat
  behind; and down I came; getting a thrust from the Captain; at the
  same time; that almost broke my shoulder…bone。  〃This was
  sufficient;〃 they said; 〃for the laws of chivalry;〃 and I was glad
  to get off so。
  After that the gentlemen riders; of whom there were no less than
  seven; in complete armor; and the professionals; now ran at the
  ring; and the Baron was far; far the most skilful。
  〃How sweetly the dear Baron rides;〃 said my wife; who was always
  ogling at him; smirking; smiling; and waving her handkerchief to
  him。  〃I say; Sam;〃 says a professional to one of his friends; as;
  after their course; they came cantering up; and ranged under
  Jemmy's bower; as she called it:〃I say; Sam; I'm blowed if that
  chap in harmer mustn't have been one of hus。〃  And this only made
  Jemmy the more pleased; for the fact is; the Baron had chosen the
  best way of winning Jemimarann by courting her mother。
  The Baron was declared conqueror at the ring; and Jemmy awarded him
  the prize; a wreath of white roses; which she placed on his lance;
  he receiving it gracefully; and bowing; until the plumes of his
  helmet mingled with the mane of his charger; which backed to the
  other end of the lists; then galloping back to the place where
  Jemimarann was seated; he begged her to place it on his helmet。
  The poor girl blushed very much; and did so。  As all the people
  were applauding; Tagrag rushed up; and; laying his hand on the
  Baron's shoulder; whispered something in his ear; which made the
  other very angry; I suppose; for he shook him off violently。
  〃Chacun pour soi;〃 says he; 〃Monsieur de Taguerague;〃which means;
  I am told; 〃Every man for himself。〃  And then he rode away;
  throwing his lance in the air; catching it; and making his horse
  caper and prance; to the admiration of all beholders。
  After this came the 〃Passage of Arms。〃  Tagrag and the Baron ran
  courses against the other champions; ay; and unhorsed two apiece;
  whereupon the other three refused to turn out; and preciously we
  laughed at them; to be sure!
  〃Now; it's OUR turn; Mr。 CHICOT;〃 says Tagrag; shaking his fist at
  the Baron: 〃look to yourself; you infernal mountebank; for; by
  Jupiter; I'll do my best!〃  And before Jemmy and the rest of us;
  who were quite bewildered; could say a word; these two friends were
  charging away; spears in hand; ready to kill each other。  In vain
  Jemmy screamed; in vain I threw down my truncheon: they had broken
  two poles before I could say 〃Jack Robinson;〃 and were driving at
  each other with the two new ones。  The Baron had the worst of the
  first course; for he had almost been carried out of his saddle。
  〃Hark you; Chicot!〃 screamed out Tagrag; 〃next time look to your
  head!〃  And next time; sure enough; each aimed at the head of the
  other。
  Tagrag's spear hit the right place; for it carried off the Baron's
  helmet; plume; rose…wreath and all; but his Excellency hit truer
  stillhis lance took Tagrag on the neck; and sent him to the
  ground like a stone。
  〃He's won! he's won!〃 says Jemmy; waving her handkerchief;
  Jemimarann fainted; Lady Blanche screamed; and I felt so sick that
  I thought I should drop。  All the company were in an uproar: only
  the Baron looked calm; and bowed very gracefully; and kissed his
  hand to Jemmy; when; all of a sudden; a Jewish…looking man
  springing over the barrier; and followed by three more; rushed
  towards the Baron。  〃Keep the gate; Bob!〃 he holloas out。  〃Baron;
  I arrest you; at the suit of Samuel Levison; for〃
  But he never said for what; shouting out; 〃Aha!〃 and 〃Sapprrrristie!〃
  and I don't know what; his Excellency drew his sword; dug his spurs
  into his horse; and was over the poor bailiff; and off before
  another word。  He had threatened to run through one of the bailiff's
  followers; Mr。 Stubbs; only that gentleman made way for him; and
  when we took up the bailiff; and brought him round by the aid of a
  little brandy…and…water; he told us all。  〃I had a writ againsht
  him; Mishter Coxsh; but I didn't vant to shpoil shport; and;
  beshidesh; I didn't know him until dey knocked off his shteel cap!〃
  。        。        。        。        。        。
  Here was a pretty business!
  OVER…BOARDED AND UNDER…LODGED。
  We had no great reason to brag of our tournament at Tuggeridgeville:
  but; after all; it was better than the turn…out at Kilblazes; where
  poor Lord Heydownderry went about in a black velvet dressing…gown;
  and the Emperor Napoleon Bonypart appeared in a suit of armor and
  silk stockings; like Mr。 Pell's friend in Pickwick; we; having
  employed the gentlemen from Astley's Antitheatre; had some decent
  sport for our money。
  We never heard a word from the Baron; who had so distinguished
  himself by his horsemanship; and had knocked down (and very justly)
  Mr。 Nabb; the bailiff; and Mr。 Stubbs; his man; who came to lay
  hands upon him。  My sweet Jemmy seemed to be very low in spirits
  after his departure; and a sad thing it is to see her in low
  spirits: on days of illness she no more minds giving Jemimarann a
  box on the ear; or sending a plate of muffins across a table at
  poor me; than she does taking her tea。
  Jemmy; I say; was very low in spirits; but; one day (I remember it
  was the day after Captain Higgins called; and said he had seen the
  Baron at Boulogne); she vowed that nothing but change of air would
  do her good; and declared that she should die unless she went to
  the seaside in France。  I knew what this meant; and that I might as
  well attempt to resist her as to resist her Gracious Majesty in
  Parliament assembled; so I told the people to pack up the things;
  and took four places on board the 〃Grand Turk〃 steamer for Boulogne。
  The travelling…carriage; which; with Jemmy's thirty…seven boxes and
  my carpet…bag; was pretty well loaded; was sent on board the night
  before; and we; after breakfasting in Portland Place (little did I
  think it was thebut; poh! never mind); went down to the Custom
  House in the other carriage; followed by a hackney…coach and a cab;
  with the servants; and fourteen bandboxes and trunks more; which
  were to be wanted by my dear girl in the journey。
  The road down Cheapside and Thames Street need not be described: we
  saw the Monument; a memento of the wicked Popish massacre of St。
  Bartholomew;why erected here I can't think; as St。 Bartholomew is
  in Smithfield;we had a glimpse of Billingsgate; and of the
  Mansion House; where we saw the two…and…twenty…shilling…coal smoke
  coming out of the chimneys; and were landed at the Custom House in
  safety。  I felt melancholy; for we were going among a people of
  swindlers; as all Frenchmen are thought to be; and; besides not
  being able to speak the language; leaving our own dear country and
  honest countrymen。
  Fourteen port