按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
unexpectedly arrived。 I believe he soon perceived that something
extraordinary had been going on in the family。 He was for some
time closeted with the governor； with whom； I believe； he had a
dispute； for my fellow…servant； the lady's maid； informed me that
she heard high words。
'Rather late at night the young gentleman sent for me into his
room； and asked me various questions with respect to what had been
going on； and my behaviour in the church； of which he had heard
something。 I told him all I knew with respect to the intrigues of
the two priests in the family； and gave him a circumstantial
account of all that had occurred in the church； adding that； under
similar circumstances； I was ready to play the same part over
again。 Instead of blaming me； he commended my behaviour； told me I
was a fine fellow； and said he hoped that； if he wanted my
assistance； I would stand by him： this I promised to do。 Before I
left him； he entreated me to inform him the very next time I saw
the priests entering the house。
'The next morning； as I was in the courtyard； where I had placed
myself to watch； I saw the two enter and make their way up a
private stair to the young ladies' apartment； they were attended by
a man dressed something like a priest； who bore a large box； I
instantly ran to relate what I had seen to my young master。 I
found him shaving。 〃I will just finish what I am about；〃 said he；
〃and then wait upon these gentlemen。〃 He finished what he was
about with great deliberation； then taking a horsewhip； and bidding
me follow him； he proceeded at once to the door of his sisters'
apartment： finding it fastened； he burst it open at once with his
foot and entered； followed by myself。 There we beheld the two
unfortunate young ladies down on their knees before a large female
doll； dressed up； as usual； in rags and tinsel； the two priests
were standing near； one on either side； with their hands uplifted；
whilst the fellow who brought the trumpery stood a little way down
the private stair； the door of which stood open； without a moment's
hesitation； my young master rushed forward； gave the image a cut or
two with his horsewhip … then flying at the priests； he gave them a
sound flogging； kicked them down the private stair； and spurned the
man； box and image after them … then locking the door； he gave his
sisters a fine sermon； in which he represented to them their folly
in worshipping a silly wooden graven image； which； though it had
eyes； could see not； though it had ears； could hear not； though it
had hands； could not help itself； and though it had feet； could not
move about unless it were carried。 Oh； it was a fine sermon that
my young master preached； and sorry I am that the Father of the
Fetish； old Mumbo； did not hear it。 The elder sister looked
ashamed； but the youngest； who was very weak； did nothing but wring
her hands； weep and bewail the injury which had been done to the
dear image。 The young man； however； without paying much regard to
either of them； went to his father； with whom he had a long
conversation； which terminated in the old governor giving orders
for preparations to be made for the family's leaving Rome and
returning to England。 I believe that the old governor was glad of
his son's arrival； and rejoiced at the idea of getting away from
Italy； where he had been so plundered and imposed upon。 The
priests； however； made another attempt upon the poor young ladies。
By the connivance of the female servant who was in their interest
they found their way once more into their apartment； bringing with
them the fetish image； whose body they partly stripped； exhibiting
upon it certain sanguine marks which they had daubed upon it with
red paint； but which they said were the result of the lashes which
it had received from the horsewhip。 The youngest girl believed all
they said； and kissed and embraced the dear image； but the eldest；
whose eyes had been opened by her brother； to whom she was much
attached； behaved with proper dignity； for； going to the door； she
called the female servant who had a respect for me； and in her
presence reproached the two deceivers for their various impudent
cheats； and especially for this their last attempt at imposition；
adding that if they did not forthwith withdraw and rid her sister
and herself of their presence； she would send word by her maid to
her brother； who would presently take effectual means to expel
them。 They took the hint and departed； and we saw no more of them。
'At the end of three days we departed from Rome； but the maid whom
the priests had cajoled remained behind； and it is probable that
the youngest of our ladies would have done the same thing if she
could have had her own will； for she was continually raving about
her image； and saying she should wish to live with it in a convent；
but we watched the poor thing； and got her on board ship。 Oh； glad
was I to leave that fetish country and old Mumbo behind me！
CHAPTER C
Nothing but gloom … Sporting character … Gouty Tory … Servants'
Club … Politics … Reformado footman … Peroration … Good…night。
'WE arrived in England； and went to our country seat； but the peace
and tranquillity of the family had been marred； and I no longer
found my place the pleasant one which it had formerly been； there
was nothing but gloom in the house； for the youngest daughter
exhibited signs of lunacy； and was obliged to be kept under
confinement。 The next season I attended my master； his son； and
eldest daughter to London； as I had previously done。 There I left
them； for hearing that a young baronet； an acquaintance of the
family； wanted a servant； I applied for the place； with the consent
of my masters； both of whom gave me a strong recommendation； and；
being approved of； I went to live with him。
'My new master was what is called a sporting character； very fond
of the turf； upon which he was not very fortunate。 He was
frequently very much in want of money； and my wages were anything
but regularly paid； nevertheless； I liked him very much； for he
treated me more like a friend than a domestic； continually
consulting me as to his affairs。 At length he was brought nearly
to his last shifts； by backing the favourite at the Derby； which
favourite turned out a regular brute； being found nowhere at the
rush。 Whereupon； he and I had a solemn consultation over fourteen
glasses of brandy and water； and as many cigars … I mean； between
us … as to what was to be done。 He wished to start a coach； in
which event he was to be driver； and I guard。 He was quite
competent to drive a coach； being a first…rate whip； and I daresay
I should have made a first…rate guard； but； to start a coach
requires money； and we neither of us believed that anybody would
trust us with vehicles and horses； so that idea was laid aside。 We
then debated as to whether or not he should go into the Church； but
to go into the Church … at any rate to become a dean or bishop；
which would have been our aim … it is necessary for a man to
possess some education； and my master； although he had been at the
best school in England； that is； the most expensive； and also at
College； was almost totally illiterate； so we let the Church scheme
follow that of the coach。 At last； bethinking me that he was
tolerably glib at the tongue； as most people are who are addicted
to the turf； also a great master of slang； remembering also that he
had a crabbed old uncle； who had some borough interest； I proposed
that he should get into the House； promising in one fortnight to
qualify him to make a figure in it； by certain lessons which I
would give him。 He consented； and during the next fortnight I did
little else than give him lessons in elocution； following to a
tittle the method of the great professor； which I had picked up；
listening behind the door。 At the end of that period we paid a
visit to his relation； an old gouty Tory； who at first received us
very coolly。 My master； however； by flattering a predilection of
his for Billy Pitt； soon won his affections so much that he
promised to bring him into Parliament； and in less than a month was
as good as his word。 My master； partly by his own qualifications；
and partly by the assistance which he had derived； and still
occasionally derived； from me； cut a wonderful figure in the House；
and was speedily considered one of the most promising speakers； he
was always a good hand at promising … he is at present； I believe；
a Cabinet minister。
'But as he got up in the world he began to look down on me。 I
believe he was ashamed of the obligation under which he lay to me；
and at last； requiring no further hints as to oratory from a poor
servant like me； he took an opportunity of quarrelling with