第 84 节
作者:左思右想      更新:2021-02-19 19:47      字数:9322
  cutlery and the large ruby pin for himself。  It would
  look very smart upon one of the fine frilled shirts; which;
  with the gold…laced cap and the frogged frock coat; that
  might easily be cut down to suit his shape; and the Captain's
  gold…headed cane; and the great double ring with
  the rubies; which he would have made into a pair of
  beautiful earrings; he calculated would make a perfect
  Adonis of himself; and render Mademoiselle Reine an
  easy prey。  〃How those sleeve…buttons will suit me!〃
  thought he; as he fixed a pair on the fat pudgy wrists of
  Mr。 Sedley。  〃I long for sleeve…buttons; and the Captain's
  boots with brass spurs; in the next room; corbleu!  what
  an effect they will make in the Allee Verte!〃 So while
  Monsieur Isidor with bodily fingers was holding on to his
  master's nose; and shaving the lower part of Jos's face;
  his imagination was rambling along the Green Avenue;
  dressed out in a frogged coat and lace; and in company
  with Mademoiselle Reine; he was loitering in spirit on
  the banks; and examining the barges sailing slowly under
  the cool shadows of the trees by the canal; or refreshing
  himself with a mug of Faro at the bench of a beer…house
  on the road to Laeken。
  But Mr。 Joseph Sedley; luckily for his own peace; no
  more knew what was passing in his domestic's mind than
  the respected reader; and I suspect what John or Mary;
  whose wages we pay; think of ourselves。  What our
  servants think of us!Did we know what our intimates and
  dear relations thought of us; we should live in a world
  that we should be glad to quit; and in a frame of mind
  and a constant terror; that would be perfectly unbearable。
  So Jos's man was marking his victim down; as you
  see one of Mr。 Paynter's assistants in Leadenhall Street
  ornament an unconscious turtle with a placard on which
  is written; 〃Soup to…morrow。〃
  Amelia's attendant was much less selfishly disposed。
  Few dependents could come near that kind and gentle
  creature without paying their usual tribute of loyalty
  and affection to her sweet and affectionate nature。  And
  it is a fact that Pauline; the cook; consoled her mistress
  more than anybody whom she saw on this wretched
  morning; for when she found how Amelia remained for hours;
  silent; motionless; and haggard; by the windows in which
  she had placed herself to watch the last bayonets of the
  column as it marched away; the honest girl took the
  lady's hand; and said; Tenez; Madame; est…ce qu'il n'est
  pas aussi a l'armee; mon homme a moi?  with which
  she burst into tears; and Amelia falling into her arms;
  did likewise; and so each pitied and soothed the other。
  Several times during the forenoon Mr。 Jos's Isidor
  went from his lodgings into the town; and to the gates
  of the hotels and lodging…houses round about the Parc;
  where the English were congregated; and there mingled
  with other valets; couriers; and lackeys; gathered such
  news as was abroad; and brought back bulletins for his
  master's information。  Almost all these gentlemen were in
  heart partisans of the Emperor; and had their opinions
  about the speedy end of the campaign。  The Emperor's
  proclamation from Avesnes had been distributed
  everywhere plentifully in Brussels。  〃Soldiers!〃  it said; 〃this
  is the anniversary of Marengo and Friedland; by which the
  destinies of Europe were twice decided。  Then; as after
  Austerlitz; as after Wagram; we were too generous。  We
  believed in the oaths and promises of princes whom we
  suffered to remain upon their thrones。  Let us march once
  more to meet them。  We and they; are we not still the
  same men?  Soldiers!  these same Prussians who are so
  arrogant to…day; were three to one against you at Jena;
  and six to one at Montmirail。  Those among you who
  were prisoners in England can tell their comrades what
  frightful torments they suffered on board the English
  hulks。  Madmen!  a moment of prosperity has blinded
  them; and if they enter into France it will be to find a
  grave there!〃  But the partisans of the French prophesied
  a more speedy extermination of the Emperor's enemies
  than this; and it was agreed on all hands that Prussians
  and British would never return except as prisoners in the
  rear of the conquering army。
  These opinions in the course of the day were brought
  to operate upon Mr。 Sedley。  He was told that the Duke
  of Wellington had gone to try and rally his army; the
  advance of which had been utterly crushed the night
  before。
  〃Crushed; psha!〃 said Jos; whose heart was pretty
  stout at breakfast…time。  〃The Duke has gone to beat the
  Emperor as he has beaten all his generals before。〃
  〃His papers are burned; his effects are removed; and his
  quarters are being got ready for the Duke of Dalmatia;〃
  Jos's informant replied。  〃I had it from his own maitre
  d'hotel。  Milor Duc de Richemont's people are packing
  up everything。  His Grace has fled already; and the
  Duchess is only waiting to see the plate packed to join the
  King of France at Ostend。〃
  〃The King of France is at Ghent; fellow;〃 replied Jos;
  affecting incredulity。
  〃He fled last night to Bruges; and embarks today from
  Ostend。  The Duc de Berri is taken prisoner。  Those who
  wish to be safe had better go soon; for the dykes will
  be opened to…morrow; and who can fly when the whole
  country is under water?〃
  〃Nonsense; sir; we are three to one; sir; against any
  force Boney can bring into the field;〃 Mr。 Sedley
  objected; 〃the Austrians and the Russians are on their
  march。  He must; he shall be crushed;〃 Jos said; slapping
  his hand on the table。
  〃The Prussians were three to one at Jena; and he
  took their army and kingdom in a week。  They were
  six to one at Montmirail; and he scattered them like sheep。
  The Austrian army is coming; but with the Empress and
  the King of Rome at its head; and the Russians; bah!
  the Russians will withdraw。  No quarter is to be given
  to the English; on account of their cruelty to our braves
  on board the infamous pontoons。  Look here; here it is
  in black and white。  Here's the proclamation of his
  Majesty the Emperor and King;〃 said the now declared
  partisan of Napoleon; and taking the document from his
  pocket; Isidor sternly thrust it into his master's face;
  and already looked upon the frogged coat and valuables
  as his own spoil。
  Jos was; if not seriously alarmed as yet; at least
  considerably disturbed in mind。  〃Give me my coat and cap;
  sir; said he; 〃and follow me。  I will go myself and learn
  the truth of these reports。〃 Isidor was furious as Jos put
  on the braided frock。  〃Milor had better。not wear that
  military coat;〃 said he; 〃the Frenchmen have sworn not
  to give quarter to a single British soldier。〃
  〃Silence; sirrah!〃 said Jos; with a resolute countenance
  still; and thrust his arm into the sleeve with indomitable
  resolution; in the performance of which heroic act he
  was found by Mrs。 Rawdon Crawley; who at this juncture
  came up to visit Amelia; and entered without ringing
  at the antechamber door。
  Rebecca was dressed very neatly and smartly; as usual:
  her quiet sleep after Rawdon's departure had refreshed
  her; and her pink smiling cheeks were quite pleasant to
  look at; in a town and on a day when everybody else's
  countenance wore the appearance of the deepest anxiety
  and gloom。  She laughed at the attitude in which Jos was
  discovered; and the struggles and convulsions with which
  the stout gentleman thrust himself into the braided coat。
  〃Are you preparing to join the army; Mr。 Joseph?〃
  she said。  〃Is there to be nobody left in Brussels to
  protect us poor women?〃  Jos succeeded in plunging into
  the coat; and came forward blushing and stuttering out
  excuses to his fair visitor。  〃How was she after the events
  of the morningafter the fatigues of the ball the night
  before?〃  Monsieur Isidor disappeared into his master's
  adjacent bedroom; bearing off the flowered dressing…gown。
  〃How good of you to ask;〃 said she; pressing one of
  his hands in both her own。  〃How cool and collected you
  look when everybody else is frightened!  How is our dear
  little Emmy?  It must have been an awful; awful parting。〃
  〃Tremendous;〃 Jos said。
  〃You men can bear anything;〃 replied the lady。  〃Parting
  or danger are nothing to you。  Own now that you
  were going to join the army and leave us to our fate。
  I know you weresomething tells me you were。  I was
  so frightened; when the thought came into my head (for
  I do sometimes think of you when I am alone; Mr。
  Joseph); that I ran off immediately to beg and entreat
  you not to fly from us。〃
  This speech might be interpreted; 〃My dear sir; should
  an accident befall the army; and a retreat be necessary;
  you have a very comfortable carriage; in which I
  propose to take a seat。〃 I don't know whether Jos
  understood the words in this sense。  But he was profoundly
  mortified by the lady's inattention to him during their
  stay at Brussels。  He had never been presented to any
  of Rawdon Crawley's great acquaintances:  he had scarcely
  been invited to Rebecca's parties; for he was too timid
  to play much; and his presence bored George and Rawdon
  equally; who neither of them; perhaps; liked to have a
  witness of the amusements in which the pair chose to
  indulge。  〃Ah!〃 thought Jos; 〃now she wants me she
  comes to me。  When the