第 6 节
作者:
白寒 更新:2021-04-30 15:47 字数:9322
{Black Hawk = Black Hawk (1767…1838); an American Indian (Sac)
chieftain; defeated by the U。S。 Army in 1832; whose 〃Autobiography〃
(1833) became an American classic。}
〃How charming!〃 exclaimed Miss Rowley; clasping her hands。 〃How
very obliging of you; Mr。 Howard。 Are you fond of shooting? My brother's
preserves are in fine orderor perhaps you are partial to yachting〃
Bowing my thanks for these amiable hints; I carelessly observed that
the letter of the Cherokee editor was no sacrifice at all; for the chief and
myself were regular correspondents; I had a dozen of his letters; and had
just given one to Mr。 T…。 This intelligence evidently lessened Miss
Rowley's excessive gratitude。 She continued her applications; however;
casting an eye on her list。
〃Perhaps you correspond also with some rowdies; Mr。 Howard? Could
you oblige me with a rowdy letter?〃
{rowdies = in the mid…nineteenth century; an American slang term for
backwoodsmen or other rough and disorderly types}
I drew up a little at this request; my correspondents; I assured the lady;
were generally men of respectability; though one of them was of a savage
race。
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〃No doubt; but in the way of autographs; you know; one would
correspond with〃
The sentence remained unfinished; for the lady added;
〃I wrote myself to Madame Laffarge; not long since。 I am sorry to say
Lady Holberton has two of hers; but although an excellent person in most
respects; yet it cannot be denied that as regards autographs; Lady
Holberton is very illiberal。 I offered her Grizzel Baillie; two Cardinals;
William Pitt; and Grace Darling; for one of her Laffarges; but she would
not part with it。 Yet the exchange was very fair; especially as Madame
Laffarge is still living。〃
{Madame Laffarge = Marie Lafarge (1816…1853); French woman
convicted in 1840 for poisoning her husband; later pardoned。 Grizzel
Baillie = Lady Grizel Baillie (1665…1746); Scottish poet。 William Pitt =
either William Pitt 〃the Elder〃 (1708…1778) or William Pitt 〃the Younger〃
(1759…1806); both British Prime Ministers。 Grace Darling = Grace Darling
(1815…1842); English heroine and lighthouse keeper's daughter; famous for
her rescue of castaways in 1838。}
I bowed an assent to the remark。
〃And then she herself actually once made proposals for
Schinderhannes; to a friend of mine; offering Howard; the philanthropist;
Talma; William Penn; and Fenelon for himall commonplace enough; you
knowand Schinderhannes quite unique。 My friend was indignant!〃
{Schinderhannes = German bandit chief; executed in 1803。 Howard =
John Howard (1726…1790); English philanthropist and prison reformer。
Talma = Francois Talma (1763…1826); popular French playwright。 William
Penn (1644…1718); Quaker founder of Pennsylvania。 Fenelon = Francois
Fenelon (1651…1715); French Archbishop and writer}
I ventured to excuse Lady Holberton by suggesting that probably at the
time her stock of notabilities was low。
Miss Rowley shook her head; and curled her lip; as if she fancied the
lady had only been seeking to drive a hard bargain。
〃On one point; however; I have carried the day; Mr。 Howard。 Lady
Holberton is not a little proud of her Vidocq; but I have obtained one far
superior to hers; one addressed to myself so piquant and gallant too。 I
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called on the dear old burglar on purpose to coax him into writing me a
note。〃
{Vidocq = Francois Vidocq (1775…1857); French police detective who
turned robber; and was exposed in 1832。}
I wondered; in petto; whether I should meet any illustrious convicts at
Miss Rowley's party the next evening; but remembering to have heard her
called an exclusive; it did not seem very probable。
{in petto = silently; to oneself (Latin)}
After running her eye over the list again; Miss Rowley made another
inquiry。
〃Mr。 Howard; could you get me something from an American
Colonel?〃
I assured the lady we had colonels of all sorts; and begged to know
what particular variety she had placed on her cataloguewas it an officer
of the regular service; or one of no service at all?
〃Oh; the last; certainlyofficers who have seen service are so
commonplace!〃
My own pen was immediately placed at Miss Rowley's disposal; as my
sword would have been; had I owned one。 As I had been called colonel a
hundred times without having commanded a regiment once; my own name
was as good as any other on the present occasion。
〃You are very obliging。 Since you are so good; may I also trouble you
to procure me a line from a very remarkable personage of your countrya
very distinguished manhe has been President; or Speaker of the Senate;
or something of that sort。〃
To which of our head men did Miss Rowley allude?
〃He is called Uncle Sam; I believe。〃
{Uncle Sam = 〃Uncle Sam〃 became a popular personification of the
United States during the War of 1812; replacing Brother Jonathan; and was
often used in contradistinction to the British 〃John Bull〃}
This was not so easy a task; for though we have thousands of colonels;
there is but one Uncle Sam in the world。 On hearing that such was the case;
Miss Rowley's anxiety on the subject increased immeasurably; but I
assured her the old gentleman only put his name to treaties; and tariffs;
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and although his sons were wonderfully gallant; yet he himself had never
condescended to notice any woman but a queen regnant: and I further
endeavored to give some idea of his identity。 Miss Rowley stopped me
short; however。
〃Only procure me one line from him; Mr。 Howard; and I shall be
indebted to you for life。 It will be time enough to find out all about him
when I once have his namethat is the essential thing。〃
I shrunk from committing myself; however; declaring that I would as
soon engage to procure a billet…doux from Prester John。
{Prester John = Mythical ruler believed in the Middle Ages to head a
powerful Christian Kingdom somewhere in Asia; later identified with the
Christian Kings of Ethiopia in Africa}
〃Prester John! That would; indeed; be quite invaluable!〃
This Asiatic diversion was a happy one; and came very apropos; for it
carried Miss Rowley into China; she inquired if I had any Chinese
connections。
〃Though altogether; I am pretty well satisfied with my Chinese
negotiations; as soon as the Celestial Empire was opened to the civilized
world; I engaged an agent there to collect for me。 But; could you put me
on the track of a Confucius?〃
{opened to the civilized world = following the so…called Opium War;
Britain had in 1842 forced China to open trade with her}
I was obliged to admit my inability to do so; and at the same moment
the collecting instincts of Lady Holberton and Mr。 T…; drew their
attention to the corner where Miss Rowley and myself were conversing; as
they moved toward us; Miss Rowley pocketed her list; throwing herself
upon my honor not to betray the deficiencies in her role d'equipage; or the
collecting negociations just opened between us。 Lady Holberton; as she
advanced; invited Miss Rowley; with an ill…concealed air of triumph; to
feast her eyes once more on the Lumley autograph; and not long after the
party broke up。
{role d'equipage = muster roll (French); here; Miss Rowley's list of her
autographs}
The next day; in passing Holberton…House; I observed the chariot of a
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fashionable physician before the door; and at Miss Rowley's party in the
evening learned from Mr。 T… that Lady Holberton was quite unwell。
The following morning I called to inquire; and received for answer that
〃her ladyship w