thought—
not
until
after
he
had
met
Lord
Steyne
.
She
thought
of
her
long
past
life
,
and
all
the
dismal
incidents
of
it
.
Ah
,
how
dreary
it
seemed
,
how
miserable
,
lonely
and
profitless
!
Should
she
take
laudanum
,
and
end
it
,
too
—
have
done
with
all
hopes
,
schemes
,
debts
,
and
triumphs
?
The
French
maid
found
her
in
this
position
—
sitting
in
the
midst
of
her
miserable
ruins
with
clasped
hands
and
dry
eyes
.
The
woman
was
her
accomplice
and
in
Steyne’s
pay
.
“
Mon
Dieu
,
Madame
,
what
has
happened
?
”
she
asked
.
What
had
happened
?
Was
she
guilty
or
not
?
She
said
not
;
but
who
could
tell
what
was
truth
which
came
from
those
lips
;
or
if
that
corrupt
heart
was
in
this
case
pure
?
All
her
lies
and
her
schemes
,
all
her
selfishness
and
her
wiles
,
all
her
wit
and
genius
had
come
to
this
bankruptcy
.
The
woman
closed
the
curtains
,
and
with
some
entreaty
and
show
of
kindness
,
persuaded
her
mistress
to
lie
down
on
the
bed
.
Then
she
went
below
and
gathered
up
the
trinkets
which
had
been
lying
on
the
floor
since
Rebecca
dropped
them
there
at
her
husband’s
orders
,
and
Lord
Steyne
went
away
.
XIX
.
Sunday
after
the
Battle
THE
MANSION
of
Sir
Pitt
Crawly
,
in
Great
Gaunt
Street
,
was
just
beginning
to
dress
itself
for
the
day
,
as
Rawdon
,
in
his
evening
costume
,
which
he
had
now
worn
two
days
,
passed
by
the
scared
female
who
was
scouring
the
steps
,
and
entered
into
his
brother’s
study
.
Lady
Jane
,
in
her
morning-gown
,
was
up
and
above
stairs
in
the
nursery
superintending
the
toilettes
of
her
children
,
and
listening
to
the
morning
prayers
which
the
little
creatures
performed
at
her
knee
.
Every
morning
she
and
they
performed
this
duty
privately
,
and
before
the
public
ceremonial
at
which
Sir
Pitt
presided
,
and
at
which
all
the
people
of
the
household
were
expected
to
assemble
.
Rawdon
sate
down
in
the
study
before
the
Baronet’s
table
,
set
out
with
the
orderly
blue
books
and
the
letters
,
the
neatly
docketed
bills
and
symmetrical
pamphlets
;
the
locked
account-books
,
desks
,
and
dispatch
boxes
,
the
Bible
,
the
Quarterly
Review
,
and
the
Court
Guide
,
which
all
stood
as
if
on
parade
awaiting
the
inspection
of
their
chief
.
A
book
of
family
sermons
,
one
of
which
Sir
Pitt
was
in
the
habit
of
administering
to
his
family
on
Sunday
mornings
,
lay
ready
on
the
study
table
,
and
awaiting
his
judicious
selection
.
And
by
the
sermon-book
was
the
Observer
newspaper
,
damp
and
neatly
folded
,
and
for
Sir
Pitt’s
own
private
use
.
His
gentleman
alone
took
the
opportunity
of
perusing
the
newspaper
before
he
laid
it
by
his
master’s
desk
.
Before
he
had
brought
it
into
the
study
that
morning
,
he
had
read
in
the
journal
a
flaming
account
of
“
Festivities
at
Gaunt
House
,
”
with
the
names
of
all
the
distinguished
personages
invited
by
the
Marquis
of
Steyne
to
meet
his
Royal
Highness
.
Having
made
comments
upon
this
entertainment
to
the
housekeeper
and
her
niece
as
they
were
taking
early
tea
and
hot
buttered
toast
in
the
former
lady’s
apartment
,
and
wondered
how
the
Rawding
Crawleys
could
git
on
,
the
valet
had
damped
and
folded
the
paper
once
more
,
so
that
it
looked
quite
fresh
and
innocent
against
the
arrival
of
the
master
of
the
house
.
Poor
Rawdon
took
up
the
paper
and
began
to
try
and
read
it
until
his
brother
should
arrive
.
But
the
print
fell
blank
upon
his
eyes
;
and
he
did
not
know
in
the
least
what
he
was
reading
.
The
Government
news
and
appointments
(
which
Sir
Pitt
as
a
public
man
was
bound
to
peruse
,
otherwise
he
would
by
no
means
permit
the
introduction
of
Sunday
papers
into
his
household
)
,
the
theatrical
criticisms
,
the
fight
for
a
hundred
pounds
a-side
between
the
Barking
Butcher
and
the
Tutbury
Pet
,
the
Gaunt
House
chronicle
itself
,
which
contained
a
most
complimentary
though
guarded
account
of
the
famous
charades
of
which
Mrs.
Becky
had
been
the
heroine
—
all
these
passed
as
in
a
haze
before
Rawdon
,
as
he
sate
waiting
the
arrival
of
the
chief
of
the
family
.
Punctually
,
as
the
shrill-toned
bell
of
the
black
marble
study
clock
began
to
chime
nine
,
Sir
Pitt
made
his
appearance
,
fresh
,
neat
,
smugly
shaved
,
with
a
waxy
clean
face
,
and
stiff
shirt
collar
,
his
scanty
hair
combed
and
oiled
,
trimming
his
nails
as
he
descended
the
stairs
majestically
,
in
a
starched
cravat
and
a
grey
flannel
dressing-gown
,
—
a
real
old
English
gentleman
,
in
a
word
,
—
a
model
of
neatness
and
every
propriety
.
He
started
when
he
saw
poor
Rawdon
in
his
study
in
tumbled
clothes
,
with
blood-shot
eyes
,
and
his
hair
over
his
face
.
He
thought
his
brother
was
not
sober
,
and
had
been
out
all
night
on
some
orgy
.
“
Good
gracious
,
Rawdon
,
”
he
said
,
with
a
blank
face
,
“
what
brings
you
here
at
this
time
of
the
morning
?
Why
ain’t
you
at
home
?
”
“
Home
,
”
said
Rawdon
,
with
a
wild
laugh
.
“
Don’t
be
frightened
,
Pitt
.
I’m
not
drunk
.
Shut
the
door
;
I
want
to
speak
to
you
.
”
Pitt
closed
the
door
and
came
up
to
the
table
,
where
he
sate
down
in
the
other
arm-chair
,
—
that
one
placed
for
the
reception
of
the
steward
,
agent
,
or
confidential
visitor
who
came
to
transact
business
with
the
Baronet
,
—
and
trimmed
his
nails
more
vehemently
than
ever
.
“
Pitt
,
it’s
all
over
with
me
,
”
the
Colonel
said
,
after
a
pause
.
“
I’m
done
.
”
“
I
always
said
it
would
come
to
this
,
”
the
Baronet
cried
.
peevishly
,
and
beating
a
tune
with
his
clean-trimmed
nails
.
“
I
warned
you
a
thousand
times
.
I
can’t
help
you
any
more
.
Every
shilling
of
my
money
is
tied
up
.
Even
the
hundred
pounds
that
Jane
took
you
last
night
were
promised
to
my
lawyer
to-morrow
morning
;
and
the
want
of
it
will
put
me
to
great
inconvenience
.
I
don’t
mean
to
say
that
I
won’t
assist
you
ultimately
.
But
as
for
paying
your
creditors
in
full
,
I
might
as
well
hope
to
pay
the
National
Debt
.
It
is
madness
,
sheer
madness
,
to
think
of
such
a
thing
.
You
must
come
to
a
compromise
.
It’s
a
painful
thing
for
the
family
;
but
everybody
does
it
.
There
was
George
Kitely
,
Lord
Ragland’s
son
,
went
through
the
Court
last
week
,
and
was
what
they
call
white-washed
,
I
believe
.
Lord
Ragland
would
not
pay
a
shilling
for
him
,
and
—
—
”
“
It’s
not
money
I
want
,
”
Rawdon
broke
in
.
“
I’m
not
come
to
you
about
myself
.
Never
mind
what
happens
to
me
—
—
”
“
What
is
the
matter
,
then
?
”
said
Pitt
,
somewhat
relieved
.
“
It’s
the
boy
,
”
said
Rawdon
,
in
a
husky
voice
.
“
I
want
you
to
promise
me
that
you
will
take
charge
of
him
when
I’m
gone
.
That
dear
good
wife
of
yours
has
always
been
good
to
him
;
and
he’s
fonder
of
her
than
he
is
of
his
...
—
Damn
it
.
Look
here
,
Pitt
—
you
know
that
I
was
to
have
had
Miss
Crawley’s
money
.
I
wasn’t
brought
up
like
a
younger
brother
:
but
was
always
encouraged
to
be
extravagant
and
kep
idle
.
But
for
this
I
might
have
been
quite
a
different
man
.
I
didn’t
do
my
duty
with
the
regiment
so
bad
.
You
know
how
I
was
thrown
over
about
the
money
,
and
who
got
it
.
”
“
After
the
sacrifices
I
have
made
,
and
the
manner
in
which
I
have
stood
by
you
,
I
think
this
sort
of
reproach
is
useless
,
”
Sir
Pitt
said
.
“
Your
marriage
was
your
own
doing
,
not
mine
.
”
“
That’s
over
now
,
”
said
Rawdon
.
—
“
That’s
over
now
.
”
And
the
words
were
wrenched
from
him
with
a
groan
,
which
made
his
brother
start
.
“
Good
God
!
is
she
dead
?
”
Sir
Pitt
said
,
with
a
voice
of
genuine
alarm
and
commiseration
.
“
I
wish
I
was
,
”
Rawdon
replied
.
“
If
it
wasn’t
for
little
Rawdon
I’d
have
cut
my
throat
this
morning
—
and
that
damned
villain’s
too
.
”
Sir
Pitt
instantly
guessed
the
truth
,
and
surmised
that
Lord
Steyne
was
the
person
whose
life
Rawdon
wished
to
take
.
The
Colonel
told
his
senior
briefly
,
and
in
broken
accents
,
the
circumstances
of
the
case
.
“
It
was
a
regular
plan
between
that
scoundrel
and
her
,
”
he
said
.
“
The
bailiffs
were
put
upon
me
:
I
was
taken
as
I
was
going
out
of
his
house
:
when
I
wrote
to
her
for
money
,
she
said
she
was
ill
in
bed
,
and
put
me
off
to
another
day
.
And
when
I
got
home
I
found
her
in
diamonds
and
sitting
with
that
villain
alone
.
”
He
then
went
on
to
describe
hurriedly
the
personal
conflict
with
Lord
Steyne
.
To
an
affair
of
that
nature
,
of
course
,
he
said
,
there
was
but
one
issue
;
and
after
his
conference
with
his
brother
,
he
was
going
away
to
make
the
necessary
arrangements
for
the
meeting
which
must
ensue
.
“
And
as
it
may
end
fatally
with
me
,
”
Rawdon
said
with
a
broken
voice
,
“
and
as
the
boy
has
no
mother
,
I
must
leave
him
to
you
and
Jane
,
Pitt
—
only
it
will
be
a
comfort
to
me
if
you
will
promise
me
to
be
his
friend
.
”
The
elder
brother
was
much
affected
,
and
shook
Rawdons
hand
with
a
cordiality
seldom
exhibited
by
him
.
Rawdon
passed
his
hand
over
his
shaggy
eyebrows
.
“
Thank
you
,
brother
,
”
said
he
.
“
I
know
I
can
trust
your
word
.
”
“
I
will
,
upon
my
honour
,
”
the
Baronet
said
.
And
thus
,
and
almost
mutely
,
this
bargain
was
struck
between
them
.
Then
Rawdon
took
out
of
his
pocket
the
little
pocketbook
which
he
had
discovered
in
Becky’s
desk
:
and
from
which
he
drew
a
bundle
of
notes
which
it
contained
.
“
Here’s
six
hundred
,
”
he
said
—
“
you
didn’t
know
I
was
so
rich
.
I
want
you
to
give
the
money
to
Briggs
,
who
lent
it
to
us
—
and
who
was
kind
to
the
boy
—
and
I’ve
always
felt
ashamed
of
having
taken
the
poor
old
woman’s
money
.
And
here’s
some
more
—
I’ve
only
kept
back
a
few
pounds
—
which
Becky
may
as
well
have
,
to
get
on
with
.
”
As
he
spoke
he
took
hold
of
the
other
notes
to
give
to
his
brother
,
but
his
hands
shook
,
and
he
was
so
agitated
that
the
pocket-book
fell
from
him
,
and
out
of
it
the
thousand-pound
note
which
had
been
the
last
of
the
unlucky
Becky’s
winnings
.
Pitt
stooped
and
picked
them
up
,
amazed
at
so
much
wealth
.
“
Not
that
,
”
Rawdon
said
—
“
I
hoped
to
put
a
bullet
into
the
man
whom
that
belongs
to
.
”
He
had
thought
to
himself
,
it
would
be
a
fine
revenge
to
wrap
a
ball
in
the
note
,
and
kill
Steyne
with
it
.
After
this
colloquy
the
brothers
once
more
shook
hands
and
parted
.
Lady
Jane
had
heard
of
the
Colonel’s
arrival
and
was
waiting
for
her
husband
in
the
adjoining
dining-room
,
with
female
instinct
,
auguring
evil
.
The
door
of
the
dining-room
happened
to
be
left
open
,
and
the
lady
of
course
was
issuing
from
it
as
the
two
brothers
passed
out
of
the
study
.
She
held
out
her
hand
to
Rawdon
,
and
said
she
was
glad
he
was
come
to
breakfast
;
though
she
could
perceive
,
by
his
haggard
unshorn
face
,
and
the
dark
looks
of
her
husband
,
that
there
was
very
little
question
of
breakfast
between
them
.
Rawdon
muttered
some
excuses
about
an
engagement
,
squeezing
hard
the
timid
little
hand
which
his
sister-in-law
reached
out
to
him
.
Her
imploring
eyes
could
read
nothing
but
calamity
in
his
face
;
but
he
went
away
without
another
word
.
Nor
did
Sir
Pitt
vouchsafe
her
any
explanation
.
The
children
came
up
to
salute
him
,
and
he
kissed
them
in
his
usual
frigid
manner
.
The
mother
took
both
of
them
close
to
herself
,
and
held
a
hand
of
each
of
them
as
they
knelt
down
to
prayers
,
which
Sir
Pitt
read
to
them
,
and
to
the
servants
in
their
Sunday
suits
or
liveries
,
ranged
upon
chairs
on
the
other
side
of
the
hissing
tea-urn
.
Breakfast
was
so
late
that
day
,
in
consequence
of
the
delays
which
had
occurred
,
that
the
church-bells
began
to
ring
whilst
they
were
sitting
over
their
meal
:
and
Lady
Jane
was
too
ill
,
she
said
,
to
go
church
,
though
her
thoughts
had
been
entirely
astray
during
the
period
of
family
devotion
.
Rawdon
Crawly
meanwhile
hurried
on
from
Great
Gaunt
Street
,
and
knocking
at
the
great
bronze
Medusa’s
head
which
stands
on
the
portal
of
Gaunt
House
,
brought
out
the
purple
Silenus
in
a
red
and
silver
waistcoat
,
who
acts
as
porter
of
that
palace
.
The
man
was
scared
also
by
the
Colonel’s
dishevelled
appearance
,
and
barred
the
way
as
if
afraid
that
the
other
was
going
to
force
it
.
But
Colonel
Crawly
only
took
out
a
card
and
enjoined
him
particularly
to
send
it
in
to
Lord
Steyne
,
and
to
mark
the
address
written
on
it
,
and
say
that
Colonel
Crawly
would
be
all
day
after
one
o’clock
at
the
Regent
Club
in
St.
James’s
Street
—
not
at
home
.
The
fat
red-faced
man
looked
after
him
with
astonishment
as
he
strode
away
;
so
did
the
people
in
their
Sunday
clothes
who
were
out
so
early
;
the
charity
boys
with
shining
faces
,
the
greengrocer
lolling
at
his
door
,
and
the
publican
shutting
his
shutters
in
the
sunshine
,
against
service
commenced
.
The
people
joked
at
the
cab-stand
about
his
appearance
,
as
he
took
a
carriage
there
,
and
told
the
driver
to
drive
him
to
Knightsbridge
Barracks
.
All
the
bells
were
jangling
and
tolling
as
he
reached
that
place
.
He
might
have
seen
his
old
acquaintance
Amelia
on
her
way
from
Brompton
to
Russell
Square
had
he
been
looking
out
.
Troops
of
schools
were
on
their
march
to
church
,
the
shiny
pavement
and
outsides
of
coaches
in
the
suburbs
were
thronged
with
people
out
upon
their
Sunday
pleasure
;
but
the
Colonel
was
much
too
busy
to
take
any
heed
of
these
phenomena
,
and
,
arriving
at
Knightsbridge
,
speedily
made
his
way
up
to
the
room
of
his
old
friend
and
comrade
Captain
Macmurdo
,
who
Crawly
found
,
to
his
satisfaction
,
was
in
barracks
.
Captain
Macmurdo
,
a
veteran
officer
and
Waterloo
man
,
greatly
liked
by
his
regiment
,
in
which
want
of
money
alone
prevented
him
from
attaining
the
highest
ranks
,
was
enjoying
the
forenoon
calmly
in
bed
.
He
had
been
at
a
fast
supper-party
,
given
the
night
before
by
Captain
the
Honourable
George
Cinqbars
,
at
his
house
in
Brompton
Square
,
to
several
young
men
of
the
regiment
,
and
a
number
of
ladies
of
the
corps
de
ballet
,
and
old
Mac
,
who
was
at
home
with
people
of
all
ages
and
ranks
,
and
consorted
with
generals
,
dog-fanciers
,
opera-dancers
,
bruisers
,
and
every
kind
of
person
,
in
a
word
,
was
resting
himself
after
the
night’s
labours
,
and
,
not
being
on
duty
,
was
in
bed
.
His
room
was
hung
round
with
boxing
,
sporting
,
and
dancing
pictures
,
presented
to
him
by
comrades
as
they
retired
from
the
regiment
,
and
married
and
settled
into
quiet
life
.
And
as
he
was
now
nearly
fifty
years
of
age
,
twenty-four
of
which
he
had
passed
in
the
corps
,
he
had
a
singular
museum
.
He
was
one
of
the
best
shots
in
England
,
and
,
for
a
heavy
man
,
one
of
the
best
riders
;
indeed
,
he
and
Crawly
had
been
rivals
when
the
latter
was
in
the
army
.
To
be
brief
,
Mr.
Macmurdo
was
lying
in
bed
,
reading
in
Bell’s
Life
an
account
of
that
very
fight
between
the
Tutbury
Pet
and
the
Barking
Butcher
,
which
has
been
before
mentioned
—
a
venerable
bristly
warrior
,
with
a
little
close-shaved
grey
head
,
with
a
silk
nightcap
,
a
red
face
and
nose
,
and
a
great
dyed
moustache
.
When
Rawdon
told
the
Captain
he
wanted
a
friend
,
the
latter
knew
perfectly
well
on
what
duty
of
friendship
he
was
called
to
act
,
and
indeed
had
conducted
scores
of
affairs
for
his
acquaintances
with
the
greatest
prudence
and
skill
.
His
Royal
Highness
the
late
lamented
Commander-in-Chief
had
had
the
greatest
regard
for
Macmurdo
on
this
account
;
and
he
was
the
common
refuge
of
gentlemen
in
trouble
.
“
What’s
the
row
about
,
Crawly
,
my
boy
?
”
said
the
old
warrior
.
“
No
more
gambling
business
,
hay
,
like
that
when
we
shot
Captain
Marker
?
”
“
It’s
about
—
about
my
wife
,
”
Crawly
answered
,
casting
down
his
eyes
and
turning
very
red
.
The
other
gave
a
whistle
.
“
I
always
said
she’d
throw
you
over
,
”
he
began
:
—
indeed
there
were
bets
in
the
regiment
and
at
the
clubs
regarding
the
probable
fate
of
Colonel
Crawly
,
so
lightly
was
his
wife’s
character
esteemed
by
his
comrades
and
the
world
;
but
seeing
the
savage
look
with
which
Rawdon
answered
the
expression
of
this
opinion
,
Macmurdo
did
not
think
fit
to
enlarge
upon
it
further
.
“
Is
there
no
way
out
of
it
,
old
boy
?
”
the
Captain
continued
in
a
grave
tone
.
“
Is
it
only
suspicion
,
you
know
,
or
—
or
what
is
it
?
Any
letters
?
Can’t
you
keep
it
quiet
?
Best
not
make
any
noise
about
a
thing
of
that
sort
if
you
can
help
it
.
”
“
Think
of
his
only
finding
her
out
now
,
”
the
Captain
thought
to
himself
,
and
remembered
a
hundred
particular
conversations
at
the
mess-table
,
in
which
Mrs.
Crawley’s
reputation
had
been
torn
to
shreds
.
“
There’s
no
way
but
one
out
of
it
,
”
Rawdon
replied
—
“
and
there’s
only
a
way
out
of
it
for
one
of
us
,
Mac
—
do
you
understand
?
I
was
put
out
of
the
way
:
arrested
:
I
found
’em
alone
together
.
I
told
him
he
was
a
liar
and
a
coward
,
and
knocked
him
down
and
thrashed
him
.
”
“
Serve
him
right
,
”
Macmurdo
said
.
“
Who
is
it
?
”
Rawdon
answered
it
was
Lord
Steyne
.
“
The
deuce
!
a
Marquis
!
they
said
he
—
that
is
,
they
said
you
—
—
”
“
What
the
devil
do
you
mean
?
”
roared
out
Rawdon
;
“
do
you
mean
that
you
ever
heard
a
fellow
doubt
about
my
wife
,
and
didn’t
tell
me
,
Mac
?
”
“
The
world’s
very
censorious
,
old
boy
,
”
the
other
replied
.
“
What
the
deuce
was
the
good
of
my
telling
you
what
any
tom-fools
talked
about
?
”
“
It
was
damned
unfriendly
,
Mac
,
”
said
Rawdon
,
quite
overcome
;
and
,
covering
his
face
with
his
hands
,
he
gave
way
to
an
emotion
,
the
sight
of
which
caused
the
tough
old
campaigner
opposite
him
to
wince
with
sympathy
.
“
Hold
up
,
old
boy
,
”
he
said
;
“
great
man
or
not
,
we’ll
put
a
bullet
in
him
,
damn
him
.
As
for
women
,
they’re
all
so
.
”
“
You
don’t
know
how
fond
I
was
of
that
one
,
”
Rawdon
said
,
half
inarticulately
.
“
Damme
,
I
followed
her
like
a
footman
.
I
gave
up
everything
I
had
to
her
.
I’m
a
beggar
because
I
would
marry
her
.
By
Jove
,
Sir
,
I’ve
pawned
my
own
watch
in
order
to
get
her
anything
she
fancied
:
and
she
—
she’s
been
making
a
purse
for
herself
all
the
time
,
and
grudged
me
a
hundred
pound
to
get
me
out
of
quod
.
”
He
then
fiercely
and
incoherently
,
and
with
an
agitation
under
which
his
counsellor
had
never
before
seen
him
labour
,
told
Macmurdo
the
circumstances
of
the
story
.
His
adviser
caught
at
some
stray
hints
in
it
.
“
She
may
be
innocent
,
after
all
,
”
he
said
.
“
She
says
so
.
Steyne
has
been
a
hundred
times
alone
with
her
in
the
house
before
.
”
“
It
may
be
so
,
”
Rawdon
answered
sadly
;
“
but
this
don’t
look
very
innocent
;
”
and
he
showed
the
Captain
the
thousand-pound
note
which
he
had
found
in
Becky’s
pocket-book
.
“
This
is
what
he
gave
her
,
Mac
:
and
she
kep
it
unknown
to
me
:
and
with
this
money
in
the
house
,
she
refused
to
stand
by
me
when
I
was
locked
up
.
”
The
Captain
could
not
but
own
that
the
secreting
of
the
money
had
a
very
ugly
look
.
Whilst
they
were
engaged
in
their
conference
,
Rawdon
dispatched
Captain
Macmurdo’s
servant
to
Curzon
Street
with
an
order
to
the
domestic
there
to
give
up
a
bag
of
clothes
of
which
the
Colonel
had
great
need
.
And
during
the
man’s
absence
,
and
with
great
labour
and
a
Johnson’s
Dictionary
,
which
stood
them
in
much
stead
,
Rawdon
and
his
second
composed
a
letter
,
which
the
latter
was
to
send
to
Lord
Steyne
.
Captain
Macmurdo
had
the
honour
of
waiting
upon
the
Marquis
of
Steyne
,
on
the
part
of
Colonel
Rawdon
Crawly
,
and
begged
to
intimate
that
he
was
empowered
by
the
Colonel
to
make
any
arrangements
for
the
meeting
which
,
he
had
no
doubt
,
it
was
his
Lordship’s
intention
to
demand
,
and
which
the
circumstances
of
the
morning
had
rendered
inevitable
.
Captain
Macmurdo
begged
Lord
Steyne
,
in
the
most
polite
manner
,
to
appoint
a
friend
,
with
whom
he
(
Captain
M’M
.
)
might
communicate
,
and
desired
that
the
meeting
might
take
place
with
as
little
delay
as
possible
.
In
a
postscript
the
Captain
stated
that
he
had
in
his
possession
a
bank-note
for
a
large
amount
,
which
Colonel
Crawly
had
reason
to
suppose
was
the
property
of
the
Marquis
of
Steyne
.
And
he
was
anxious
,
on
the
Colonel’s
behalf
,
to
give
up
the
note
to
its
owner
.
By
the
time
this
note
was
composed
,
the
Captain’s
servant
returned
from
his
mission
to
Colonel
Crawley’s
house
in
Curzon
Street
,
but
without
the
carpet-bag
and
portmanteau
,
for
which
he
had
been
sent
:
and
with
a
very
puzzled
and
odd
face
.
“
They
won’t
give
’em
up
,
”
said
the
man
;
“
there’s
a
regular
shinty
in
the
house
;
and
everything
at
sixes
and
sevens
.
The
landlord’s
come
in
and
took
possession
.
The
servants
was
a
drinkin’
up
in
the
drawing-room
.
They
said
—
they
said
you
had
gone
off
with
the
plate
,
Colonel
”
—
the
man
added
after
a
pause
:
—
“
One
of
the
servants
is
off
already
.
And
Simpson
,
the
man
as
was
very
noisy
and
drunk
indeed
,
says
nothing
shall
go
out
of
the
house
until
his
wages
is
paid
up
.
”
The
account
of
this
little
revolution
in
May
Fair
astonished
and
gave
a
little
gaiety
to
an
otherwise
very
triste
conversation
.
The
two
officers
laughed
at
Rawdons
discomfiture
.
“
I’m
glad
the
little
’un
isn’t
at
home
,
”
Rawdon
said
,
biting
his
nails
.
“
You
remember
him
,
Mac
,
don’t
you
,
in
the
Riding
School
?
How
he
sat
the
kicker
to
be
sure
!
didn’t
he
?
”
“
That
he
did
,
old
boy
,
”
said
the
good-natured
Captain
.
“
Little
Rawdon
was
then
sitting
,
one
of
fifty
gown
boys
,
in
the
Chapel
of
Whitefriars
School
:
thinking
,
not
about
the
sermon
,
but
about
going
home
next
Saturday
,
when
his
father
would
certainly
tip
him
,
and
perhaps
would
take
him
to
the
play
.
”
“
He’s
a
regular
trump
,
that
boy
,
”
the
father
went
on
,
still
musing
about
his
son
.
“
I
say
,
Mac
,
if
anything
goes
wrong
—
if
I
drop
—
I
should
like
you
to
—
to
go
and
see
him
,
you
know
:
and
say
that
I
was
very
fond
of
him
,
and
that
.
And
—
dash
it
—
old
chap
,
give
him
these
gold
sleeve-buttons
:
it’s
all
I’ve
got
.
”
He
covered
his
face
with
his
black
hands
:
over
which
the
tears
rolled
and
made
furrows
of
white
.
Mr.
Macmurdo
had
also
occasion
to
take
off
his
silk
nightcap
and
rub
it
across
his
eyes
.
“
Go
down
and
order
some
breakfast
,
”
he
said
to
his
man
in
a
loud
cheerful
voice
—
“
What’ll
you
have
,
Crawly
?
Some
devilled
kidneys
and
a
herring
—
let’s
say
—
And
,
Clay
,
lay
out
some
dressing
things
for
the
Colonel
:
we
were
always
pretty
much
of
a
size
,
Rawdon
,
my
boy
,
and
neither
of
us
ride
so
light
as
we
did
when
we
first
entered
the
corps
.
”
With
which
,
and
leaving
the
Colonel
to
dress
himself
,
Macmurdo
turned
round
towards
the
wall
,
and
resumed
the
perusal
of
Bell’s
Life
,
until
such
time
as
his
friend’s
toilette
was
complete
,
and
he
was
at
liberty
to
commence
his
own
.
This
,
as
he
was
about
to
meet
a
lord
,
Captain
Macmurdo
performed
with
particular
care
.
He
waxed
his
mustachios
into
a
state
of
brilliant
polish
,
and
put
on
a
tight
cravat
and
a
trim
buff
waistcoat
;
so
that
all
the
young
officers
in
the
mess-room
,
whither
Crawly
had
preceded
his
friend
,
complimented
Mac
on
his
appearance
at
breakfast
,
and
asked
if
he
was
going
to
be
married
that
Sunday
?
XX
.
In
Which
the
Same
Subject
Is
Pursued
BECKY
did
not
rally
from
the
state
of
stupor
and
confusion
in
which
the
events
of
the
previous
night
had
plunged
her
intrepid
spirit
,
until
the
bells
of
the
Curzon
Street
Chapels
were
ringing
for
afternoon
service
,
and
rising
from
her
bed
she
began
to
ply
her
own
bell
,
in
order
to
summon
the
French
maid
who
had
left
her
some
hours
before
.
Mrs.
Rawdon
Crawley
rang
many
times
in
vain
;
and
though
,
on
the
last
occasion
,
she
rang
with
such
vehemence
as
to
pull
down
the
bell-rope
,
Mademoiselle
Fifine
did
not
make
her
appearance
,
—
no
,
not
though
her
mistress
,
in
a
great
pet
,
and
with
the
bell-rope
in
her
hand
,
came
out
to
the
landing-place
with
her
hair
over
her
shoulders
,
and
screamed
out
repeatedly
for
her
attendant
.
The
truth
is
,
she
had
quitted
the
premises
for
many
hours
,
and
upon
that
permission
which
is
called
French
leave
among
us
.
After
picking
up
the
trinkets
in
the
drawing-room
,
Mademoiselle
had
ascended
to
her
own
apartments
,
packed
and
corded
her
own
boxes
there
,
tripped
out
and
called
a
cab
for
herself
,
brought
down
her
trunks
with
her
own
hand
,
and
without
ever
so
much
as
asking
the
aid
of
any
of
the
other
servants
,
who
would
probably
have
refused
it
,
as
they
hated
her
cordially
,
and
without
wishing
any
one
of
them
good-bye
,
had
made
her
exit
from
Curzon
Street
.
The
game
,
in
her
opinion
,
was
over
in
that
little
domestic
establishment
.
Fifine
went
off
in
a
cab
,
as
we
have
known
more
exalted
persons
of
her
nation
to
do
under
similar
circumstances
:
but
,
more
provident
or
lucky
than
these
,
she
secured
not
only
her
own
property
,
but
some
of
her
mistress’s
(
if
indeed
that
lady
could
be
said
to
have
any
property
at
all
)
—
and
not
only
carried
off
the
trinkets
before
alluded
to
,
and
some
favourite
dresses
on
which
she
had
long
kept
her
eye
,
but
four
richly
gilt
Louis
Quatorze
candlesticks
,
six
gilt
Albums
,
Keepsakes
,
and
Books
of
Beauty
,
a
gold
enamelled
snuff-box
which
had
once
belonged
to
Madame
du
Barry
,
and
the
sweetest
little
ink-stand
and
mother-of-pearl
blotting
book
,
which
Becky
used
when
she
composed
her
charming
little
pink
notes
,
had
vanished
from
the
premises
in
Curzon
Street
together
with
Mademoiselle
Fifine
,
and
all
the
silver
laid
on
the
table
for
the
little
festin
which
Rawdon
interrupted
.
The
plated
ware
Mademoiselle
left
behind
her
was
too
cumbrous
,
probably
for
which
reason
,
no
doubt
,
she
also
left
the
fire
irons
,
the
chimney-glasses
,
and
the
rosewood
cottage
piano
.
A
lady
very
like
her
subsequently
kept
a
milliner’s
shop
in
the
Rue
du
Helder
at
Paris
,
where
she
lived
with
great
credit
and
enjoyed
the
patronage
of
my
Lord
Steyne
.
This
person
always
spoke
of
England
as
of
the
most
treacherous
country
in
the
world
,
and
stated
to
her
young
pupils
that
she
had
been
affreusement
volé
by
natives
of
that
island
.
It
was
no
doubt
compassion
for
her
misfortunes
which
induced
the
Marquis
of
Steyne
to
be
so
kind
to
Madame
de
Saint-Amaranthe
.
May
she
flourish
as
she
deserves
,
—
she
appears
no
more
in
our
quarter
of
Vanity
Fair
.
Hearing
a
buzz
and
a
stir
below
,
and
indignant
at
the
impudence
of
those
servants
who
would
not
answer
her
summons
,
Mrs.
Crawley
flung
her
morning
robe
round
her
,
and
descended
majestically
to
the
drawing-room
,
whence
the
noise
proceeded
.
The
cook
was
there
with
blackened
face
,
seated
on
the
beautiful
chintz
sofa
by
the
side
of
Mrs.
Raggles
,
to
whom
she
was
administering
Maraschino
.
The
page
with
the
sugar-loaf
buttons
,
who
carried
about
Becky’s
pink
notes
,
and
jumped
about
her
little
carriage
with
such
alacrity
,
was
now
engaged
putting
his
fingers
into
a
cream
dish
;
the
footman
was
talking
to
Raggles
,
who
had
a
face
full
of
perplexity
and
woe
—
and
yet
,
though
the
door
was
open
,
and
Becky
had
been
screaming
a
half
dozen
of
times
a
few
feet
off
,
not
one
of
her
attendants
had
obeyed
her
call
.
“
Have
a
little
drop
,
do’ee
now
,
Mrs.
Raggles
,
”
the
cook
was
saying
as
Becky
entered
,
the
white
cashmere
dressing-gown
flouncing
around
her
.
“
Simpson
!
Trotter
!
”
the
mistress
of
the
house
cried
in
great
wrath
.
“
How
dare
you
stay
here
when
you
heard
me
call
?
How
dare
you
sit
down
in
my
presence
?
Where’s
my
maid
?
”
The
page
withdrew
his
fingers
from
his
mouth
with
a
momentary
terror
:
but
the
cook
took
off
a
glass
of
Maraschino
,
of
which
Mrs.
Raggles
had
had
enough
,
staring
at
Becky
over
the
little
gilt
glass
as
she
drained
its
contents
.
The
liquor
appeared
to
give
the
odious
rebel
courage
.
“
Your
sofy
,
indeed
!
”
Mrs.
Cook
said
.
“
I’m
a
settin’
on
Mrs.
Raggles’s
sofy
.
Don’t
you
stir
,
Mrs.
Raggles
,
Mum
.
I’m
a
settin’
on
Mr.
and
Mrs.
Raggles’s
sofy
,
which
they
bought
with
honest
money
,
and
very
dear
it
cost
’em
,
too
.
And
I’m
thinkin’
if
I
set
here
until
I’m
paid
my
wages
,
I
shall
set
a
precious
long
time
,
Mrs.
Raggles
;
and
set
I
will
,
too-ha
!
ha
!
”
and
with
this
she
filled
herself
another
glass
of
the
liquor
,
and
drank
it
with
a
more
hideously
satirical
air
.
“
Trotter
!
Simpson
!
turn
that
drunken
wretch
out
,
”
screamed
Mrs.
Crawley
.
“
I
shawn’t
,
”
said
Trotter
the
footman
;
“
turn
out
yourself
.
Pay
our
selleries
,
and
turn
me
out
too
.
We’ll
go
fast
enough
.
”
“
Are
you
all
here
to
insult
me
?
”
cried
Becky
in
a
fury
;
“
when
Colonel
Crawley
comes
home
I’ll
—
”
At
this
the
servants
burst
into
a
hoarse
haw-haw
,
in
which
,
however
,
Raggles
,
who
still
kept
a
most
melancholy
countenance
,
did
not
join
.
“
He
ain’t
a
comin’
back
,
”
Mr.
Trotter
resumed
.
“
He
sent
for
his
things
,
and
I
wouldn’t
let
’em
go
,
although
Mr.
Raggles
would
:
and
I
don’t
b’lieve
he’s
no
more
a
Colonel
than
I
am
.
He’s
hoff
:
and
I
suppose
you’re
a
goin’
after
him
.
You’re
no
better
than
swindlers
,
both
on
you
.
Don’t
be
a
bullyin’
me
.
I
won’t
stand
it
.
Pay
us
our
selleries
,
I
say
.
Pay
us
our
selleries
.
”
It
was
evident
,
from
Mr.
Trotter’s
flushed
countenance
and
defective
intonation
,
that
he
,
too
,
had
had
recourse
to
vinous
stimulus
.
“
Mr.
Raggles
,
”
said
Becky
,
in
a
passion
of
vexation
,
“
you
will
not
surely
let
me
be
insulted
by
that
drunken
man
?
”
“
Hold
your
noise
,
Trotter
;
do
now
,
”
said
Simpson
the
page
.
He
was
affected
by
his
mistress’s
deplorable
situation
,
and
succeeded
in
preventing
an
outrageous
denial
of
the
epithet
“
drunken
”
on
the
footman’s
part
.
“
O
Mam
,
”
said
Raggles
,
“
I
never
thought
to
live
to
see
this
year
day
.
I’ve
known
the
Crawley
family
ever
since
I
was
born
.
I
lived
butler
with
Miss
Crawley
for
thirty
years
;
and
I
little
thought
one
of
that
family
was
a
goin’
to
ruin
me
—
yes
,
ruin
me
”
—
said
the
poor
fellow
with
tears
in
his
eyes
.
“
Har
you
a
goin’
to
pay
me
?
You’ve
lived
in
this
’ouse
four
year
.
You’ve
’ad
my
substance
:
my
plate
and
linning
.
You
ho
me
a
milk
and
butter
bill
of
two
’undred
pound
,
you
must
’ave
noo
laid
hegs
for
your
homlets
,
and
cream
for
your
spanil
dog
.
”
“
She
didn’t
care
what
her
own
flesh
and
blood
had
,
”
interposed
the
cook
.
“
Many’s
the
time
,
he’d
have
starved
but
for
me
.
”
“
He’s
a
charity
boy
now
,
Cooky
,
”
said
Mr.
Trotter
,
with
a
drunken
“
ha
!
ha
!
”
—
and
honest
Raggles
continued
,
in
a
lamentable
tone
,
an
enumeration
of
his
griefs
.
All
he
said
was
true
.
Becky
and
her
husband
had
ruined
him
.
He
had
bills
coming
due
next
week
and
no
means
to
meet
them
.
He
would
be
sold
up
and
turned
out
of
his
shop
and
his
house
,
because
he
had
trusted
to
the
Crawley
family
.
His
tears
and
lamentations
made
Becky
more
peevish
than
ever
.
“
You
all
seem
to
be
against
me
,
”
she
said
,
bitterly
.
“
What
do
you
want
?
I
can’t
pay
you
on
Sunday
.
Come
back
to-morrow
and
I’ll
pay
you
everything
.
I
thought
Colonel
Crawley
had
settled
with
you
.
He
will
to-morrow
.
I
declare
to
you
upon
my
honour
that
he
left
home
this
morning
with
fifteen
hundred
pounds
in
his
pocket-book
.
He
has
left
me
nothing
.
Apply
to
him
.
Give
me
a
bonnet
and
shawl
and
let
me
go
out
and
find
him
.
There
was
a
difference
between
us
this
morning
.
You
all
seem
to
know
it
.
I
promise
you
upon
my
word
that
you
shall
all
be
paid
.
He
has
got
a
good
appointment
.
Let
me
go
out
and
find
him
.
”
This
audacious
statement
caused
Raggles
and
the
other
personages
present
to
look
at
one
another
with
a
wild
surprise
,
and
with
it
Rebecca
left
them
.
She
went
upstairs
and
dressed
herself
this
time
without
the
aid
of
her
French
maid
.
She
went
into
Rawdon’s
room
,
and
there
saw
that
a
trunk
and
bag
were
packed
ready
for
removal
,
with
a
pencil
direction
that
they
should
be
given
when
called
for
;
then
she
went
into
the
Frenchwoman’s
garret
;
everything
was
clean
,
and
all
the
drawers
emptied
there
.
She
bethought
herself
of
the
trinkets
which
had
been
left
on
the
ground
,
and
felt
certain
that
the
woman
had
fled
.
“
Good
Heavens
!
was
ever
such
ill
luck
as
mine
?
”
she
said
;
“
to
be
so
near
,
and
to
lose
all
.
Is
it
all
too
late
?
”
No
;
there
was
one
chance
more
.
She
dressed
herself
,
and
went
away
unmolested
this
time
,
but
alone
.
It
was
four
o’clock
.
She
went
swiftly
down
the
streets
(
she
had
no
money
to
pay
for
a
carriage
)
,
and
never
stopped
until
she
came
to
Sir
Pitt
Crawley’s
door
,
in
Great
Gaunt
Street
.
Where
was
Lady
Jane
Crawley
?
She
was
at
church
.
Becky
was
not
sorry
.
Sir
Pitt
was
in
his
study
,
and
had
given
orders
not
to
be
disturbed
—
she
must
see
him
—
she
slipped
by
the
sentinel
in
livery
at
once
,
and
was
in
Sir
Pitt’s
room
before
the
astonished
Baronet
had
even
laid
down
the
paper
.
He
turned
red
and
started
back
from
her
with
a
look
of
great
alarm
and
horror
.
“
Do
not
look
so
,
”
she
said
.
“
I
am
not
guilty
,
Pitt
,
dear
Pitt
;
you
were
my
friend
once
.
Before
God
,
I
am
not
guilty
.
I
seem
so
.
Everything
is
against
me
.
And
O
!
at
such
a
moment
!
just
when
all
my
hopes
were
about
to
be
realized
:
just
when
happiness
was
in
store
for
us
.
”
“
Is
this
true
,
what
I
see
in
the
paper
then
?
”
Sir
Pitt
said
—
a
paragraph
in
which
had
greatly
surprised
him
.
“
It
was
true
.
Lord
Steyne
told
me
on
Friday
night
,
the
night
of
that
fatal
ball
.
He
has
been
promised
an
appointment
any
time
these
six
months
.
Mr.
Martyr
,
the
Colonial
Secretary
,
told
him
yesterday
that
it
was
made
out
.
That
unlucky
arrest
ensued
;
that
horrible
meeting
.
I
was
only
guilty
of
too
much
devotedness
to
Rawdon’s
service
.
I
have
received
Lord
Steyne
alone
a
hundred
times
before
.
I
confess
I
had
money
of
which
Rawdon
knew
nothing
.
Don’t
you
know
how
careless
he
is
of
it
,
and
could
I
dare
to
confide
it
to
him
?
”
And
so
she
went
on
with
a
perfectly
connected
story
,
which
she
poured
into
the
ears
of
her
perplexed
kinsman
.
It
was
to
the
following
effect
.
Becky
owned
,
and
with
perfect
frankness
,
but
deep
contrition
,
that
having
remarked
Lord
Steyne’s
partiality
for
her
(
at
the
mention
of
which
Pitt
blushed
)
,
and
being
secure
of
her
own
virtue
,
she
had
determined
to
turn
the
great
peer’s
attachment
to
the
advantage
of
herself
and
her
family
.
“
I
looked
for
a
peerage
for
you
,
Pitt
,
”
she
said
(
the
brother-in-law
again
turned
red
)
.
“
We
have
talked
about
it
.
Your
genius
and
Lord
Steyne’s
interest
made
it
more
than
probable
,
had
not
this
dreadful
calamity
come
to
put
an
end
to
all
our
hopes
.
But
,
first
,
I
own
that
it
was
my
object
to
rescue
my
dear
husband
,
—
him
whom
I
love
in
spite
of
all
his
ill
usage
and
suspicions
of
me
,
—
to
remove
him
from
the
poverty
and
ruin
which
was
impending
over
us
.
I
saw
Lord
Steyne’s
partiality
for
me
,
”
she
said
,
casting
down
her
eyes
.
“
I
own
that
I
did
everything
in
my
power
to
make
myself
pleasing
to
him
,
and
as
far
as
an
honest
woman
may
,
to
secure
his
—
his
esteem
.
It
was
only
on
Friday
morning
that
the
news
arrived
of
the
death
of
the
Governor
of
Coventry
Island
,
and
my
Lord
instantly
secured
the
appointment
for
my
dear
husband
.
It
was
intended
as
a
surprise
for
him
,
—
he
was
to
see
it
in
the
papers
to-day
.
Even
after
that
horrid
arrest
took
place
(
the
expenses
of
which
Lord
Steyne
generously
said
he
would
settle
,
so
that
I
was
in
a
manner
prevented
from
coming
to
my
husband’s
assistance
)
,
my
Lord
was
laughing
with
me
,
and
saying
that
my
dearest
Rawdon
would
be
consoled
when
he
read
of
his
appointment
in
the
paper
,
in
that
shocking
spun
—
bailiff’s
house
.
And
then
—
then
he
came
home
.
His
suspicions
were
excited
,
—
the
dreadful
scene
took
place
between
my
Lord
and
my
cruel
,
cruel
Rawdon
—
and
,
O
my
God
,
what
will
happen
next
?
Pitt
,
dear
Pitt
!
pity
me
,
and
reconcile
us
!
”
And
as
she
spoke
she
flung
herself
down
on
her
knees
,
and
bursting
into
tears
,
seized
hold
of
Pitt’s
hand
,
which
she
kissed
passionately
.
It
was
in
this
very
attitude
that
Lady
Jane
,
who
,
returning
from
church
,
ran
to
her
husband’s
room
directly
she
heard
Mrs.
Rawdon
Crawley
was
closeted
there
,
found
the
Baronet
and
his
sister-in-law
.
“
I
am
surprised
that
woman
has
the
audacity
to
enter
this
house
,
”
Lady
Jane
said
,
trembling
in
every
limb
,
and
turning
quite
pale
.
(
Her
ladyship
had
sent
out
her
maid
directly
after
breakfast
,
who
had
communicated
with
Raggles
and
Rawdon
Crawley’s
household
,
who
had
told
her
all
,
and
a
great
deal
more
than
they
knew
,
of
that
story
,
and
many
others
besides
.
)
“
How
dare
Mrs.
Crawley
to
enter
the
house
of
—
of
an
honest
family
?
”
Sir
Pitt
started
back
,
amazed
at
his
wife’s
display
of
vigour
.
Becky
still
kept
her
kneeling
posture
,
and
clung
to
Sir
Pitt’s
hand
.
“
Tell
her
that
she
does
not
know
all
.
Tell
her
that
I
am
innocent
,
dear
Pitt
,
”
she
whimpered
out
.
“
Upon
my
word
,
my
love
,
I
think
you
do
Mrs.
Crawley
injustice
,
”
Sir
Pitt
said
;
at
which
speech
Rebecca
was
vastly
relieved
.
“
Indeed
I
believe
her
to
be
—
—
”
“
To
be
what
?
”
cried
out
Lady
Jane
,
her
clear
voice
thrilling
,
and
her
heart
beating
violently
as
she
spoke
.
“
To
be
a
wicked
woman
—
a
heartless
mother
,
a
false
wife
?
She
never
loved
her
dear
little
boy
,
who
used
to
fly
here
and
tell
me
of
her
cruelty
to
him
.
She
never
came
into
a
family
but
she
strove
to
bring
misery
with
her
,
and
to
weaken
the
most
sacred
affections
with
her
wicked
flattery
and
falsehood
.
She
has
deceived
her
husband
,
as
she
has
deceived
everybody
;
her
soul
is
black
with
vanity
,
worldliness
,
and
all
sorts
of
crime
.
I
tremble
when
I
touch
her
.
I
keep
my
children
out
of
her
sight
.
I
—
—
”
“
Lady
Jane
!
”
cried
Sir
Pitt
,
starting
up
.
“
This
is
really
language
—
—
”
“
I
have
been
a
true
and
faithful
wife
to
you
,
Sir
Pitt
,
”
Lady
Jane
continued
,
intrepidly
;
“
I
have
kept
my
marriage
vow
as
I
made
it
to
God
,
and
have
been
obedient
and
gentle
as
a
wife
should
.
But
righteous
obedience
has
its
limits
,
and
I
declare
that
I
will
not
bear
that
—
that
woman
again
under
my
roof
:
if
she
enters
it
,
I
and
my
children
will
leave
it
.
She
is
not
worthy
to
sit
down
with
Christian
,
people
.
You
—
you
must
choose
,
sir
,
between
her
and
me
;
”
and
with
this
my
Lady
swept
out
of
the
room
,
fluttering
with
her
own
audacity
,
and
leaving
Rebecca
and
Sir
Pitt
not
a
little
astonished
at
it
.
As
for
Becky
,
she
was
not
hurt
;
nay
,
she
was
pleased
.
“
It
was
the
diamond-clasp
you
gave
me
,
”
she
said
to
Sir
Pitt
,
reaching
him
out
her
hand
;
and
before
she
left
him
(
for
which
event
you
may
be
sure
my
Lady
Jane
was
looking
out
from
her
dressing-room
window
in
the
upper
story
)
the
Baronet
had
promised
to
go
and
seek
out
his
brother
,
and
endeavour
to
bring
about
a
reconciliation
.
Rawdon
found
some
of
the
young
fellows
of
the
regiment
seated
in
the
mess-room
at
breakfast
,
and
was
induced
without
much
difficulty
to
partake
of
that
meal
,
and
of
the
devilled
legs
of
fowls
and
soda-water
with
which
these
young
gentlemen
fortified
themselves
.
Then
they
had
a
conversation
befitting
the
day
and
their
time
of
life
:
about
the
next
pigeon-match
at
Battersea
,
with
relative
bets
upon
Ross
and
Osbaldiston
:
about
Mademoiselle
Ariane
of
the
French
Opera
,
and
who
had
left
her
,
and
how
she
was
consoled
by
Panther
Carr
;
and
about
the
fight
between
the
Butcher
and
the
Pet
,
and
the
probabilities
that
it
was
a
cross
.
Young
Tandyman
,
a
hero
of
seventeen
,
laboriously
endeavouring
to
get
up
a
pair
of
mustachios
,
had
seen
the
fight
,
and
spoke
in
the
most
scientific
manner
about
the
battle
,
and
the
conditions
of
the
men
.
It
was
he
who
had
driven
the
Butcher
on
to
the
ground
in
his
drag
,
and
passed
the
whole
of
the
previous
night
with
him
.
Had
there
not
been
foul
play
he
must
have
won
it
.
All
the
old
files
of
the
Ring
were
in
it
:
and
Tandyman
wouldn’t
pay
;
no
,
dammy
,
he
wouldn’t
pay
.
—
It
was
but
a
year
since
the
young
Cornet
,
now
so
knowing
a
hand
in
Cribb’s
parlour
,
had
a
still
lingering
liking
for
toffy
,
and
used
to
be
birched
at
Eton
.
So
they
went
on
talking
about
dancers
,
fights
,
drinking
,
demireps
,
until
Macmurdo
came
down
and
joined
the
boys
and
the
conversation
.
He
did
not
appear
to
think
that
any
especial
reverence
was
due
to
their
boyhood
;
the
old
fellow
cut
in
with
stories
,
to
the
full
as
choice
as
any
the
youngest
rake
present
had
to
tell
;
—
nor
did
his
own
grey
hairs
nor
their
smooth
faces
detain
them
.
Old
Mac
was
famous
for
his
good
stories
.
He
was
not
exactly
a
lady’s
man
;
that
is
,
men
asked
him
to
dine
rather
at
the
houses
of
their
mistresses
than
of
their
mothers
.
There
can
scarcely
be
a
life
lower
,
perhaps
,
than
his
;
but
he
was
quite
contented
with
it
,
such
as
it
was
,
and
led
it
in
perfect
good
nature
,
simplicity
,
and
modesty
of
demeanour
.
By
the
time
Mac
had
finished
a
copious
breakfast
,
most
of
the
others
had
concluded
their
meal
.
Young
Lord
Varinas
was
smoking
an
immense
Meerschaum
pipe
,
while
Captain
Hugues
was
employed
with
a
cigar
:
that
violent
little
devil
Tandyman
,
with
his
little
bull-terrier
between
his
legs
,
was
tossing
for
shillings
with
all
his
might
(
that
fellow
was
always
at
some
game
or
other
)
against
Captain
Deuceace
;
and
Mac
and
Rawdon
walked
off
to
the
Club
,
neither
,
of
course
,
having
given
any
hint
of
the
business
which
was
occupying
their
minds
.
Both
,
on
the
other
hand
,
had
joined
pretty
gaily
in
the
conversation
;
for
why
should
they
interrupt
it
?
Feasting
,
drinking
,
ribaldry
,
laughter
,
go
on
alongside
of
all
sorts
of
other
occupations
in
Vanity
Fair
,
—
the
crowds
were
pouring
out
of
church
as
Rawdon
and
his
friend
passed
down
St.
James’s
Street
and
entered
into
their
Club
.
The
old
bucks
and
habitués
,
who
ordinarily
stand
gaping
and
grinning
out
of
the
great
front
window
of
the
Club
,
had
not
arrived
at
their
posts
as
yet
,
—
the
newspaper-room
was
almost
empty
.
One
man
was
present
whom
Rawdon
did
not
know
;
another
to
whom
he
owed
a
little
score
for
whist
,
and
whom
,
in
consequence
,
he
did
not
care
to
meet
;
a
third
was
reading
the
Royalist
(
a
periodical
famous
for
its
scandal
and
its
attachment
to
Church
and
King
)
Sunday
paper
at
the
table
,
and
,
looking
up
at
Crawley
with
some
interest
,
said
,
“
Crawley
,
I
congratulate
you
.
”
“
What
do
you
mean
?
”
said
the
Colonel
.
“
It’s
in
the
Observer
and
the
Royalist
too
,
”
said
Mr.
Smith
.
“
What
?
”
Rawdon
cried
,
turning
very
red
.
He
thought
that
the
affair
with
Lord
Steyne
was
already
in
the
public
prints
.
Smith
looked
up
wonderingly
and
smiling
at
the
agitation
which
the
Colonel
exhibited
as
he
took
up
the
paper
,
and
trembling
,
began
to
read
.
Mr.
Smith
and
Mr.
Brown
(
the
gentleman
with
whom
Rawdon
had
the
outstanding
whist
account
)
had
been
talking
about
the
Colonel
just
before
he
came
in
.
“
It
is
come
just
in
the
nick
of
time
,
”
said
Smith
.
“
I
suppose
Crawley
had
not
a
shilling
in
the
world
.
”
“
It’s
a
wind
that
blows
everybody
good
,
”
Mr.
Brown
said
.
“
He
can’t
go
away
without
paying
me
a
pony
he
owes
me
.
”
“
What’s
the
salary
?
”
asked
Smith
.
“
Two
or
three
thousand
,
”
answered
the
other
.
“
But
the
climate’s
so
infernal
,
they
don’t
enjoy
it
long
.
Liverseege
died
after
eighteen
months
of
it
:
and
the
man
before
went
off
in
six
weeks
,
I
hear
.
”
“
Some
people
say
his
brother
is
a
very
clever
man
.
I
always
found
him
and
—
bore
,
”
Smith
ejaculated
.
“
He
must
have
good
interest
,
though
.
He
must
have
got
the
Colonel
the
place
.
”
“
He
!
”
said
Brown
,
with
a
sneer
—
“
Pooh
.
—
It
was
Lord
Steyne
got
it
.
”
“
How
do
you
mean
?
”
“
A
virtuous
woman
is
a
crown
to
her
husband
,
”
answered
the
other
,
enigmatically
,
and
went
to
read
his
papers
.
Rawdon
,
for
his
part
,
read
in
the
Royalist
the
following
astonishing
paragraph
:
—
“
GOVERNORSHIP
OF
COVENTRY
ISLAND
.
—
H.M.S.
Yellowjack
,
Commander
Jaunders
,
has
brought
letters
and
papers
from
Coventry
Island
.
H
.
E
.
Sir
Thomas
Liverseege
had
fallen
a
victim
to
the
prevailing
fever
at
Swampton
.
His
loss
is
deeply
felt
in
the
flourishing
colony
.
We
hear
that
the
Governorship
has
been
offered
to
Colonel
Rawdon
Crawley
,
C.B.
,
a
distinguished
Waterloo
officer
.
We
need
not
only
men
of
acknowledged
bravery
,
but
men
of
administrative
talents
to
superintend
the
affairs
of
our
colonies
;
and
we
have
no
doubt
that
the
gentleman
selected
by
the
Colonial
Office
to
fill
the
lamented
vacancy
which
has
occurred
at
Coventry
Island
is
admirably
calculated
for
the
post
which
he
is
about
to
occupy
.
”
“
Coventry
Island
!
where
was
it
?
who
had
appointed
him
to
the
government
?
You
must
take
me
out
as
your
secretary
,
old
boy
,
”
Captain
Macmurdo
said
laughing
;
and
as
Crawley
and
his
friend
sat
wondering
and
perplexed
over
the
announcement
,
the
Club
waiter
brought
in
to
the
Colonel
a
card
,
on
which
the
name
of
Mr.
Wenham
was
engraved
,
who
begged
to
see
Colonel
Crawley
.
The
Colonel
and
his
aide-de-camp
went
out
to
meet
the
gentleman
,
rightly
conjecturing
that
he
was
an
emissary
of
Lord
Steyne
.
“
How
d’ye
do
,
Crawley
?
I
am
glad
to
see
you
,
”
said
Mr.
Wenham
,
with
a
bland
smile
,
and
grasping
Crawley’s
hand
with
great
cordiality
.
“
You
come
,
I
suppose
,
from
—
—
”
“
Exactly
,
”
said
Mr.
Wenham
.
“
Then
this
is
my
friend
Captain
Macmurdo
,
of
the
Life
Guards
Green
.
”
“
Delighted
to
know
Captain
Macmurdo
,
I’m
sure
,
”
Mr.
Wenham
said
,
and
tendered
another
smile
and
shake
of
the
hand
to
the
second
,
as
he
had
done
to
the
principal
.
Mac
put
out
one
finger
,
armed
with
a
buckskin
glove
,
and
made
a
very
frigid
bow
to
Mr.
Wenham
over
his
tight
cravat
.
He
was
,
perhaps
,
discontented
at
being
put
in
communication
with
a
pékin
,
and
thought
that
Lord
Steyne
should
have
sent
him
a
Colonel
at
the
very
least
.
“
As
Macmurdo
acts
for
me
,
and
knows
what
I
mean
,
”
Crawley
said
;
“
I
had
better
retire
and
leave
you
together
.
”
“
Of
course
,
”
said
Macmurdo
.
“
By
no
means
,
my
dear
Colonel
,
”
Mr.
Wenham
said
;
“
the
interview
which
I
had
the
honour
of
requesting
was
with
you
personally
,
though
the
company
of
Captain
Macmurdo
cannot
fail
to
be
also
most
pleasing
.
In
fact
,
Captain
,
I
hope
that
our
conversation
will
lead
to
none
but
the
most
agreeable
results
,
very
different
from
those
which
my
friend
Colonel
Crawley
appears
to
anticipate
.
”
“
Humph
!
”
said
Captain
Macmurdo
.
—
Be
hanged
to
these
civilians
,
he
thought
to
himself
,
they
are
always
for
arranging
and
speechifying
.
Mr.
Wenham
took
a
chair
which
was
not
offered
to
him
—
took
a
paper
from
his
pocket
,
and
resumed
—
“
You
have
seen
this
gratifying
announcement
in
the
papers
this
morning
,
Colonel
?
Government
has
secured
a
most
valuable
servant
,
and
you
,
if
you
accept
office
,
as
I
presume
you
will
,
an
excellent
appointment
.
Three
thousand
a
year
,
delightful
climate
,
excellent
government-house
,
all
your
own
way
in
the
Colony
,
and
a
certain
promotion
.
I
congratulate
you
with
all
my
heart
.
I
presume
you
know
,
gentlemen
,
to
whom
my
friend
is
indebted
for
this
piece
of
patronage
?
”
“
Hanged
if
I
know
,
”
the
Captain
said
:
his
principal
turned
very
red
.
“
To
one
of
the
most
generous
and
kindest
men
in
the
world
,
as
he
is
one
of
the
greatest
—
to
my
excellent
friend
,
the
Marquis
of
Steyne
.
”
“
I’ll
see
him
d
—
—
before
I
take
his
place
,
”
growled
out
Rawdon
.
“
You
are
irritated
against
my
noble
friend
,
”
Mr.
Wenham
calmly
resumed
:
“
and
now
,
in
the
name
of
common
sense
and
justice
,
tell
me
why
?
”
“
Why
?
”
cried
Rawdon
in
surprise
.
“
Why
?
Dammy
!
”
said
the
Captain
,
ringing
his
stick
on
the
ground
.
“
Dammy
,
indeed
,
”
said
Mr.
Wenham
,
with
the
most
agreeable
smile
;
“
still
,
look
at
the
matter
as
a
man
of
the
world
—
as
an
honest
man
,
and
see
if
you
have
not
been
in
the
wrong
.
You
come
home
from
a
journey
,
and
find
—
what
?
—
my
Lord
Steyne
supping
at
your
house
in
Curzon
Street
with
Mrs.
Crawley
.
Is
the
circumstance
strange
or
novel
?
Has
he
not
been
a
hundred
times
before
in
the
same
position
?
Upon
my
honour
and
word
as
a
gentleman
,
”
(
Mr.
Wenham
here
put
his
hand
on
his
waistcoat
with
a
parliamentary
air
,
)
“
I
declare
I
think
that
your
suspicions
are
monstrous
and
utterly
unfounded
,
and
that
they
injure
an
honourable
gentleman
who
has
proved
his
good
will
toward
you
by
a
thousand
benefactions
—
and
a
most
spotless
and
innocent
lady
.
”
“
You
don’t
mean
to
say
that
—
that
Crawley’s
mistaken
?
”
said
Mr.
Macmurdo
.
“
I
believe
that
Mrs.
Crawley
is
an
innocent
as
my
wife
,
Mrs.
Wenham
,
”
Mr.
Wenham
said
,
with
great
energy
.
“
I
believe
that
,
misled
by
an
infernal
jealousy
,
my
friend
here
strikes
a
blow
against
not
only
an
infirm
and
old
man
of
high
station
,
his
constant
friend
and
benefactor
,
but
against
his
wife
,
his
