第 8 节
作者:白寒      更新:2021-04-30 15:47      字数:9321
  time。   The   parting   with   Lady   Holberton   was   melancholy;   she   was   much
  depressed; and the physicians had recommended the waters of Wiesbaden。
  Mr。 T…   was   also   preparing   for   an   excursion   to   Germany;   and   he   was
  suspected   of   vascillating   {sic}   in   his   Butlerite   views;   brought   over   by
  Lady Holberton's tears and logic。
  Returning   to   London;   some   three   months   later;   I   found   many   of   my
  former      acquaintainces      {sic}   were    absent;    but   Lady    Holberton;      Miss
  Rowley; and Mr。 T… were all in town again。 The day after I arrived… …it
  was Tuesday the 20th of Augustas I was walking along Piccadilly; about
  five o'clock in the afternoon; my eye fell on the windows of Mr。 Thorpe's
  great establishment。 I was thinking over his last catalogue of autographs;
  when I happened to observe a plain; modest…looking young girl casting a
  timid glance at the door。 There was something anxious and hesitating in
  her    manner;      which     attracted    my    attention。    Accustomed;        like   most
  Americans;   to   assist   a   woman   in   any   little   difficulty;   and   with   notions
  better suited perhaps to the meridian of Yankee…land than that of London; I
  asked if she were in any trouble。 How richly was I rewarded for the act of
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  THE LUMLEY AUTOGRAPH
  good… nature! She blushed and courtesied {sic}。
  {Tuesday;   20th   of   August   =   does   this   date   the   final   composition   of
  〃The Lumley Autograph〃 or of its setting? August 20 fell on a Tuesday in
  1844 and 1850}
  〃Please; sir; is it true that they pay money for old letters at this place?〃
  〃They dohave you any thing of the kind to dispose of?〃
  Judge   of   my   gratification;   my   amazement;   when   she   produced   the
  Lumley Autograph!
  Of course I instantly took it; at her own priceonly half a guinea and
  I   further   gave   her   Lady   Holberton's   address;   that   she   might   claim   the
  liberal reward promised   far the   precious letter。 Tears came   into the poor
  child's eyes when she found what awaited her; and I may as well observe
  at once that this young girl proved to be the daughter of a poor bed…ridden
  artisan of Clapham; who had seen better days; but was then in great want。
  It is an ill…wind that blows no good luck; and the contest for the Lumley
  Autograph was a great advantage to the poor artisan and his family。 The
  girl had picked up the paper early one morning; in a road near Clapham; as
  she was going to her work; Lady Holberton gave her a handful of guineas
  as the promised rewarda sum by the bye just double in amount what the
  poor poet had received for his best poemand she also continued to look
  after the family in their troubles。
  But to return to the important document itself。 Never can I forget the
  expressive      gratitude    that   beamed     on   the   fine   countenance      of  Lady
  Holberton   when   I   restored   it   once   more   to   her   possession。   She   rapidly
  recovered her health and spirits; and it was generally reported that seizing
  this favorable moment; Mr。 T… had offered himself and his collection;
  and that both had been graciously accepted。 Miss Rowley called and a sort
  of   paix   platree   was   made   up   between   the   ladies。   A   cargo   of   American
  autographs arrived containing the letter of the Cherokee editor; the sign…
  manual of governors and colonels without number; and I even succeeded
  in obtaining epistles from several noted rowdies; especially to gratify the
  ladies。   Lady   Holberton   made   her   selection;   and   the   rest   were   divided
  between Miss Rowley and Mr。 T…。 Joy at the recovery of the Lumley
  Autograph       seemed     to   diffuse   an   unusual     spirit  of  harmony      among
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  collectors;     many    desirable    exchanges      were    brought    about    and   things
  looked charmingly。 Alas; how little were we prepared for what ensued!
  {paix platree = patched…up peace (French)}
  On   the   occasion   of   the   presence   in   London   of   two   illustrious   royal
  travelers; Lady Holberton gave a large party。 So said the papers at least;
  but I knew better。 It was chiefly to celebrate the recovery of the Lumley
  Autograph; and its restoration   to   her celebrated Album  that the   fete   was
  given。 The Album was produced; in spite of a half… formed vow of Lady
  Holberton to the contrary; but then His Royal Highness Prince … …
  had particularly requested to see the letter of the poor poet; having heard it
  mentioned       at  dinner。    The    evening    passed     off  brilliantly;   their   royal
  highnesses; came; saw; and departed。 The crowd followed them to another
  house;   while   a   favored   few;   chiefly   collectors;   remained   lingering   about
  the   table   on   which   lay   the Album。   I   should   have   said   earlier;   that   Lady
  Holberton had appointed a new office in her household the very day after
  the   loss   of   the   Lumley Autograph;   this   was   no   other   than   a   pretty   little
  page; dressed in the old costume of a student of Padua; whose sole duty it
  was to watch over the Album whenever it was removed from the rich and
  heavy   case   in   which   it   usually   lay   enshrined。   He   was   the   guard   of   the
  Album; and was strictly enjoined never; for one instant; to remove his eyes
  from the precious volume from the moment he was placed on duty; until
  relieved。
  Well; there we were; some dozen of us; collected about the table; Lady
  Holberton looking triumphant; Mr。 T… very proud; and there stood the
  page of the Album; dressed in his Paduasoy gown; with eyes fastened on
  the book; according to orders; while he supported its gorgeous case in his
  arms。 Some remark was made as to the extraordinary manner in which the
  precious     Autograph      had   been    lost;  and   then   found    again。    My    blood
  actually   boiled;   as    one   of   the  company   turned      to   me   and  asked   in   a
  suspicious   tone;   if   I   did   not   know   more   of   its   history   than   I   chose   to
  confess? My  indignation   was boundless;   fortunately  I could   produce  the
  friend walking with me in Piccadilly; and the artisan's family at Clapham;
  as   witnesses     in  my   favor。   Miss    Rowley   was     standing    near   me   at  the
  moment。
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  {Paduasoy   =   a   strong   corded   or   gros…grain   silk   fabric;   traditionally
  associated with Padua; Italy}
  〃Still; Mr。 Howard;〃 observed that lady; 〃I really cannot see why you
  should resent the insinuation so warmly。 Now; do you know; I am not at all
  sorry to have it in my power to declare that I have some knowledge of the
  fate of that paper during its eclipse。〃
  All   eyes   were   instantly   fixed   on   the   speaker。   The   lady   smiled   and
  continued:
  〃Lady      Holberton      thinks    the   Lumley      Autograph       was    stolenI
  understand she even thought it was stolen by myself〃
  She here turned deliberately toward our hostess; who looked uneasy。
  〃If   such   were    your   suspicions;     Lady    Holberton;〃     continued     Miss
  Rowley; speaking   with great deliberation〃I am  happy to   say they  were
  quite correctyou only did me justiceI am proud to declare the deed was
  mine〃
  We were all speechless at hearing this sudden and bold avowal。
  〃It   was   I;   Theodosia   Rowley;   who   carried   offthe   word   is   of   little
  consequencewho          stole;  I  repeat;  that  precious    paper。   So   long   as  the
  treasure   was   mine;   the   consciousness   of   possessing   it   was   sufficient   in
  itselfbut    having    afterward    lost   it  from   my   pocket    by   unpardonable
  carelessness; I shall at least now glory in the daring deed which made it
  once my own。〃
  Conceive   the   amazement   which   these   remarksdelivered   with   calm
  enthusiasmproduced  among   the   listening   circle。 We   all   know   that   high
  crimes and misdemeanors enough are committed by men; and women too;
  but   somehow   or   other   the   delinquents   are   not   often   given   to   talking   of
  them; they would just as lief in general that the act should not be known。
  The effect of Miss Rowley's words was different on different individuals。
  As for myself; I involuntarily felt for the handkerchief in my pocket。 The
  page of the album drew nearer。 Lady Holberton looked aghast;