第 3 节
作者:
白寒 更新:2021-04-30 15:47 字数:9322
place; Mr。 Lumley received a visit from a stranger; requesting to see the
MS。 Life of Otway in his possession。 It was handed to him; he examined it;
and was very particular in his inquiries on the subject; giving the chaplain
to understand that he was the agent of a third person who wished to
purchase either the original letter if possible; or if that could not be found;
the MS。 containing the copy。 Mr。 Lumley always believed that the
employer of this applicant was no other than that arch…gatherer; Horace
Walpole; who gave such an impulse to the collecting mania; he declined
selling the work; however; for he had thoughts of printing it himself。 The
application was mentioned by him; and; of course; the manuscript gained
notoriety; while the original letter became a greater desideratum than ever。
The library at G… was searched most carefully by a couple of brother
book…worms; who crept over it from cornice to carpeting; but to no
purpose。
{Horace Walpole = Horace Walpole (1717…1797); a prolific writer;
connoisseur; and collector; best known for his extensive correspondence;
he established a taste for literary collecting by would…be cultured
gentlemen in England}
8
… Page 9…
THE LUMLEY AUTOGRAPH
Some ten years later stillabout the time; by the bye; when
Chatterton's career came to such a miserable close in London; and when
Gilbert was dying in a hospital at Parisit happened that a worthy
physician; well known in the town of Southampton for his benevolence
and eccentricity; was on a professional visit to the child of a poor
journeyman trunk…maker; in the same place。 A supply of old paper had just
been brought in for the purpose of lining trunks; according to the practice
of the day。 A workman was busy sorting these; rejecting some as refuse;
and preserving others; when the doctor stopped to answer an inquiry about
the sick child。
{Chatterton = Thomas Chatterton (1752…1770); British poet; who
created an imaginary Thomas Rowley; a supposed medieval monk; to
whom he ascribed some of his poems。 Chatterton committed suicide at the
age of 18 when a poem of his; allegedly by Rowley; was rejected; he was
buried in a pauper's grave。 Susan Fenimore Cooper no doubt has this in
mind in naming a character in this story Theodosia Rowley。
{Gilbert = Nicolas Gilbert (1751…1780); French poet; who died in
Paris at the age of 29。 The French writer Count Alfred de Vigny (1797…
1863); in his book of essays 〃Stello〃 (1832); popularized a legend that
Gilbert had died insane and in abject poverty at the charity hospital of the
Hotel Dieu in Paris; and compared his miserable end with that of
Chatteron; it seems likely that Vigny; whose book appeared while Susan
Fenimore Cooper was studying in Paris; was her source for this reference
to Gilbert。 In fact; Gilbert was not impoverished; and died of injuries after
falling from his horse}
〃Better; Hopkinsdoing well。 But what have you here? I never see old
papers but I have an inclination to look them over。 If a man has leisure; he
may often pick up something amusing among such rubbish。 Don't you
ever read the papers that pass through your hands?〃
〃No; sirI 'as no time for that; sir。 And then I was never taught to read
writing; and these 'ere papers is all written ones。 We puts them that's
written for one trunk; and them that's printed for another; as you see; sir;
one must have a heye to the looks of the work。〃
〃Why yesyou seem to manage the job very well; and I have a trunk;
9
… Page 10…
THE LUMLEY AUTOGRAPH
by the bye; that wants patching up before my boy carries it off with him;
I'll send it round to you; Hopkins。 But staywhat's this?〃 and the doctor
took up a soiled; yellow sheet of paper; from the heap rejected by the
workman; it contained a scrawl which proved to be the identical letter of
the poor poet; the Lumley autograph; though in what manner it became
mingled with that heap of rubbish has never been satisfactorily
ascertained。
〃Here's a poor fellow who had a hard fate; Hopkins;〃 said the
benevolent man; thoughtfully。 〃It is as good as a sermon on charity to read
that letter。〃
The trunk…maker begged to hear it。
〃Well; poor journeyman as I be; I was never yet in so bad a way as that;
sir。〃
〃And never will be; I hope; but this was a poet; Hopkinsand that's but
an indifferent trade to live by。 I'll tell you what; my good friend;〃 said the
doctor; suddenly; 〃that letter is worth keeping; and you may paste it in the
trunk I'll send round this afternoonput it in the lid; where it can be read。〃
The trunk was sent; and the letter actually pasted in it as part of the
new lining。 Dr。 H…; who; as we have observed; was rather eccentric in
his ways; had a son about to commence his career as a soldier; and the
worthy man thought the letter might teach the youth a useful lesson of
moderation and temperance; by showing him every time he opened his
trunk; the extreme of want to which his fellow beings were occasionally
reduced。 What success followed the plan we cannot say。 The trunk;
however; shared the young soldier's wandering life; it carried the cornet's
uniform to America; it was besieged in Boston; and it made part of the
besieging baggage at Charleston。 It was not destined; however; to remain
in the new world; but followed its owner to the East Indies; carrying on
this second voyage; a lieutenant's commission。 At length; after passing
five…and…twenty years in Bengal; the trunk returned again to Southampton;
as one among some dozen others which made up the baggage of the
gallant Colonel H…; now rich in laurels and rupees。 The old trunk had
even the honorable duty assigned it of carrying its master's trophies;
doubtless the most precious portion of the colonel's possessions; though at
10
… Page 11…
THE LUMLEY AUTOGRAPH
the same time the lightest; as for the rupees; the old worn…out box would
have proved quite unequal to transporting a single bag of them; for it was
now sadly unfit for service; thanks to the ravages of time and the white
ants; and; indeed; owed its preservation and return to its native soil solely
to the letter pasted in the lid; which; in the eyes of Colonel H…; was a
memento of home; and the eccentric character of a deceased parent。
{cornet = the lowest officer rank in a British cavalry regiment; below
that of Lieutenant; now obsolete}
The time had now come; however; when the Lumley autograph was
about to emerge forever from obscurity; and receive the full homage of
collectors; the hour of triumph was at hand; the neglect of a century was to
be fully repaid by the highest honors of fame。 The eye of beauty was about
to kindle as it rested on the Lumley autograph; jeweled fingers were to be
raised; eager to snatch the treasure from each other; busy literati stood
ready armed for a war of controversy in its behalf。
It happened that Colonel H… was invited to a fancy ball; and it also
happened that the lady whom he particularly admired; was to be present
on the occasion。 Such being the case; the most becoming costume was to
be selected for the evening。 What if the locks of the gallant colonel were
slightly sprinkled with gray? He was still a handsome man; and knew very
well that the dress of an eastern aymeer was particularly well suited to his
face and figure。 This dress; preserved in a certain old trunk in the garret;
was accordingly produced。 The trunk was brought down to the dressing…
room; the costume examined piece by piece; pronounced in good
condition by the valet; and declared very becoming by the military friend
called in as counsellor。
{aymeer = Emir; a Muslim title signifying commander in Arabic}
〃But what a queer old box this is; H…;〃 said Major D…; eyeing the
trunk thr