第 7 节
作者:白寒      更新:2021-04-30 15:47      字数:9320
  The   following   morning   I   called   to inquire;   and   received   for   answer   that
  〃her ladyship was very much indisposed。〃 It was not until a week later that
  I   saw   Lady   Holberton   herself;   taking   the   air   in   Hyde   Park。   She   looked
  wretchedlythin and pale。 I inquired from the English friend with whom I
  was   riding;   if   there   was   any   probability   of   a   change   of   ministry?   He
  looked surprised; and then catching the direction of my eye; he observed;
  〃You ask on Lady Holberton's account; but Sir A… B… tells me
  her illness was caused by the loss of the Lumley Autograph。〃
  This unexpected intelligence proved only too true。 On returning to my
  lodgings; I found a note from Lady Holberton; requesting to see me; and;
  of course; immediately obeyed the summons。
  〃Lost!lost!lost! Mr。 Howard!〃 said the lady; endeavoring to conceal
  her emotion; as she gave me the details of her affliction。
  〃It must have been stolenbasely stolenon the evening of my party。
  Oh! why did I so foolishly exhibit it among so many people; and collectors
  among them; too! Never again will I admit more than one collector at a
  time into the room with my album!〃 she exclaimed with energy。
  I was shocked; surely Lady Holberton did not conceive it possible that
  any of her guests could be guilty of such base conduct?
  〃How   little   you   know   them!   But   it   is   that;   Mr。   Howard;   which   has
  interested me in your favoryou have so much naivete; and ignorance of
  the moral turpitude of the old world; that I feel convinced you never could
  be guilty of such an action yourself。〃
  I assured Lady Holberton that in this respect she only did me justice;
  and;   in   fact;   a   theft   of   the   kind   she   alluded   to   appeared   to   me   all   but
  incredible。
  〃Remember that it was only the other day that … lost his invaluable
  album;   remember   that   last   winter   Madame   de   …   had   all   her   notes   on
  botanical   subjects   stolen   from  her   own   portfolioand   I   could   mention   a
  dozen instances of the same wickedness。〃
  These   facts   were   already   known   to   me;   but   I   had   forgotten   them。   I
  remarked with a glow of national pride; that we certainly were much more
  22
  … Page 23…
  THE LUMLEY AUTOGRAPH
  virtuous in these matters across the ocean; in America we are much above
  pilfering autographs; when we do steal; it is by the volumewe seize all an
  author's   stock   in   trade   at   one   swoop;   and   without   condescending   to   say
  even; thank ye; for it。
  {author's stock in trade = though ostensibly referring to the stealing of
  autographs;      Susan    Fenimore     Cooper     is  also   clearly   referring     to  the
  widespread       pirating    of  British    and   other   foreign    literary   works     by
  American       publishers;    in  the  absence    of  international     copyright    laws
  which not only cheated the authors; but made life difficult for American
  authors expecting to be paid for their creations}
  〃So I have always understood; Mr。 Howardand I felt that my album
  was safe with you;〃 observed Lady Holberton; with tears in her eyes。
  Wishing   to   relieve   this   distress;   I   proposed   advertising   for   the   lost
  treasureapplying to the police。
  Lady Holberton smiled through her tears; as she assured me that the
  police;   old   and   new;   had   been   enlisted   in   her   service   an   hour   after   the
  discovery   of   her   loss;   while   communications   had   been   opened   with   the
  municipal      governments       of  Brussels;    Paris;   and   Vienna;    on   the  same
  subject。
  {police; old and new = the first modern English police force had been
  established in 1829 by Sir Robert Peel  from which the British nickname
  of 〃bobby〃 for policeman。}
  〃And have you no clue; no suspicions?your servantsyour maid?〃
  The aspersion on her household was indignantly repelled。
  〃You will readily believe; Mr。 Howard; that a collector; the owner of
  such an album as I have the honor of possessing; is particularly careful as
  to whom she admits into her family。 I will vouch for all about me; still I
  have suspicionsbut〃
  I begged her to speak; if she thought I could be of the least assistance。
  〃Yes; I will trust my son's friend。 Mr。 Howard; I here solemnly accuse
  Theodosia Rowley of having stolen the Lumley Autograph!〃
  The   dignity   of   manner;   the   concentrated   passion   of   expression;   the
  strength of emphasis with which Lady Holberton spoke; would have done
  honor to a Siddons。 The natural start of horror and amazement on my part;
  23
  … Page 24…
  THE LUMLEY AUTOGRAPH
  was also; no doubt; very expressivefor I was speechless with surprise。
  〃I see you do not credit this;〃 continued the lady。
  But    thought;    like  a  flash   of  lightning;    had   already    recalled    some
  circumstances   of   the   last   evening   at   Holberton…House。   I   did   credit   the
  accusation;      and   immediately      informed     Lady    Holberton     of  what    I  had
  observed; but forgotten; until reminded of the facts by her own remarks。 I
  had   seen   Miss   Rowley;   bending   low   over   the   album  at   a   moment   when
  some one was telling an exceedingly humorous story which engrossed the
  attention of the rest of the company。
  〃Could   she   have   had   an   accomplice?〃   cried   the   lady;   with   dashing
  eyes。
  I  knew     nothing    on   that  point。   But;   I  added;   that  soon    after  Miss
  Rowley   had   left   the   room   very   quietly;   and   as   I   followed   her   to   fulfill
  another     engagement;      she   had   started;   turned   pale;   and   betrayed    much
  nervousness; scarcely allowing me to assist her to her carriage; although
  we left the house at the same instant。
  Lady Holberton's suspicions were now confirmed beyond a doubt。
  〃And   yet   it   seems   incredible   that   any   lady   should   be   guilty   of   such
  conduct!〃      I  exclaimed;     almost    repenting    having     allowed    the   previous
  remarks      to  pass   my   lips。  〃Miss    Rowley      is  undoubtedly      a  woman      of
  principleor good moral standing。〃
  〃Moral standing!principle!〃 exclaimed Lady Holberton; bitterly。 〃Yes;
  where an autograph is concerned; Theodosia Rowley has all the principle
  of a Magpie 〃
  {Magpie = European bird known for stealing and hiding small bright
  objects。}
  Whatever   might   have   been   the   fact;   it   was   clear   at   least   that   Lady
  Holberton's opinion was now unalterably made up。                   〃Remember; she is a
  Butlerite!〃 added the lady; thus putting the last touch to the circumstantial
  evidence against Miss Rowley。
  Weeks      passed    by。  The    advertisements      remained      unanswered。      The
  police   could   give   no   information。   Lady   Holberton   was   in   despair;   the
  physicians   declared   that   her   health   must   eventually   give   way   under   the
  anxiety and disappointment consequent upon this melancholy affair。 Much
  24
  … Page 25…
  THE LUMLEY AUTOGRAPH
  sympathy was felt for the afflicted lady; even Miss Rowley called often to
  condole; but she was never admitted。
  〃I   could    not  see   the  crocodile!〃     exclaimed      Lady    Holberton;     quite
  thrown off her guard one day; by the sight of Miss Rowley's card which
  she threw into the fire。
  Some consolation; however; appeared to be derived from the assiduous
  attentions of Mr。 T…; who personally admired Lady Holberton; at least
  he   professed   to   do   so;   though   some   persons   accused   him   of   interested
  views;   and     aiming    at   her  album   rather    than   herself。  But    although    his
  attentions   were   received;   yet   nothing   could   afford   full   consolation。   At
  length; all other means failing; at the end of a month; it was proposed that
  two persons; mutual friends of Lady Holberton and Miss Rowley; should
  call on the latter lady; and appeal privately to her sense of honor; to restore
  the autograph if it were actually in her possession。 This plan was finally
  agreed   on;   but   the   very   day   it   was   to   have   been   carried   into   execution;
  Miss Rowley left town for an excursion in Finland。
  As for myself; I was also on the wing; and left London about the same
  time。   The   parting   with   Lady   Holberton   was   melancholy;   she   was   much