the lumley autograph-第4章

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imparted　to　the　company　generally。

〃I　knew　it！　I　was　sure　of　it　from　her　smile；　the　moment　I　entered　the
room！〃　exclaimed　Mr。　T…　the　distinguished　collector；　who　sat　next
me。

Another　guest；　Miss　Rowley；　also　a　collecting　celebrity；　was　sitting
opposite；　and　turned　so　pale　at　the　moment；　that　I　was　on　the　point
of　officiously　recommending　a　glass　of　water。

〃Have　you　albums　in　America；　Mr。　Howard？〃　inquired　a　charming
young　lady　on　my　right。

〃There　is　no　lack　of　them；　I　assure　you；〃I　replied。

〃Really！　Adela；　Mr。　Howard　tells　me　they　have　albums　in　America！〃
repeated　the　young　lady　to　a　charming　sister；　near　her；　while　on　my
left　I　had　the　satisfaction　of　hearing　some　gratifying　remarks　from
Mr。　T…；　as　to　the　state　of　civilization　in　my　native　country；　as
shown　by　such　a　fact。

〃And　what　are　your　albums　like？〃　again　inquired　my　lovely　neighbor。

〃Not　like　Lady　Holberton's；　perhapsbut　pretty　well　for　a　young
nation。〃

〃Oh　dearnot　like　Lady　Holberton's　of　coursehers　is　quite　unique
so　full　of　nice　odd　things。　But　are　your　albums　in　America　at　all　like
ours？〃

〃Why　yes！　we　get　most　of　them　from　Paris　and　London。〃

〃Oh　dear！　how　strangebut　don't　you　long　to　see　this　new　treasure
of　Lady　Holberton'sthat　dear　nice　letter　of　Otway's；　written　while
he　was　starving？〃　inquired　the　charming　Emily；　helping　herself　to　a
bit　of　pate　de　Perigord。

｛pate　de　Perigord　=　an　expensive　French　delicacy：　goose　liver　pate
with　truffles。｝

〃Yes；　I　am　exceedingly　curious　to　see　it。〃

〃You　don't　believe　it　was　written　by　that　coarse；　vulgar　Butler；　do
you？〃

〃No；　indeed；it　is　the　pathetic　Otway's；　beyond　a　doubt！〃

My　neighbor；　the　Butlerite；　gave　a　contemptuous　shrug；　but　I　paid
him　no　attention；　preferring　to　coincide　with　the　soft　eyes　on　my
right；　rather　than　dispute　with　the　learned　spectacles　to　the　left。

After　dinner　when　we　had　done　full　justice　to　the　bill　of　fare；
concluding　with　pines；　grapes；　and　Newtown　pippins；　we　were　all
gratified　with　a　sight　of　the　poor　poet's　letter；　by　way　of　bonne
bouche。　A　little　volume　written　by　Lady　Holbertonprinted　but　not
publishedrelating　its　past　history　from　the　date　of　its　discovery　in
the　library　of　Lord　G…；　her　grandfather；　to　the　present　day；　passed
from　hand　to　hand；　and　this　review　of　its　various　adventures　of
course　only　added　force　to　the　congratulations　offered　upon　the
acquisition　of　this　celebrated　autograph。

｛pine　=　pineapple。　Newtown　pippin　=　a　green；　tart；　tangy　American
apple；　originally　from　Long　Island；　a　favorite　of　George　Washington
and　Thomas　Jefferson；　bonne　bouche　=　a　tasty　morsel　（French）｝

While　the　company　were　succeeding　each　other　in　offering　their
homage　to　the　great　album；　my　attention　was　called　off　by　a　tap　on
the　shoulder　from　a　friend；　who　informed　me　that　Miss　Rowley；　a
very　clever；　handsome　woman　of　a　certain　age；　had　expressed　a　wish
to　make　my　acquaintance。　I　was　only　too　happy　to　be　presented。
After　a　very　gracious　reception；　and　an　invitation　to　a　party　for　the
following　evening；　Miss　Rowley　observed：

〃You　have　Autographs；　in　America；　I　understand；　Mr。　Howard。〃

〃Both　autographs　and　collectors；〃　I　replied。

〃Really！　Perhaps　you　are　a　collector　yourself？〃　continued　the　lady；
with　an　indescribable　expression；　half　interest；　half　disappointment。

〃Nomerely　a　humble　admirer　of　the　labors　of　others。〃

〃Then；〃　added　the　lady；　more　blandly；　〃perhaps　you　will　be　good…
natured　enough　to　assist　me。〃

And；　after　a　suspicious　glance　toward　the　spot　where　Lady　Holberton
and　Mr。　T…　were　conversing　together；　she　adroitly　placed　herself
in　a　position　to　give　to　our　conversation　the　privacy　of　a　diplomatic
tete…a…tete。

〃Could　you　possibly　procure　me　some　American　autographs　for　my
collection？　I　find　a　few　wanting　under　the　American　headperhaps　a
hundred　or　two。〃

I　professed　myself　ready　to　do　any　thing　in　my　power　in　so　good　a
cause。

〃Here　is　my　list；　I　generally　carry　it　about　me。　You　will　see　those
that　are　wanting；　and　very　possibly　may　suggest　others。〃

And　as　the　lady　spoke　she　drew　from　her　pocket　a　roll　of　paper　as
long；　and　as　well　covered　with　names　as　any　minority　petition　to
Congress。　However；　I　had　lived　too　much　among　collectors　of　late　to
be　easily　dismayed。　The　list　was　headed　by　Black　Hawk。　I　expressed
my　fears　that　the　gallant　warrior's　ignorance　of　letters　might　prove
an　obstacle　to　obtaining　any　thing　from　his　pen。　I　volunteered
however　to　procure　instead；　something　from　a　Cherokee　friend　of
mine；　the　editor　of　a　newspaper。

｛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。

〃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　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；　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