the lumley autograph-第5章

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moment　the　collecting　instincts　of　Lady　Holberton　and　Mr。　T…；
drew　their　attention　to　the　corner　where　Miss　Rowley　and　myself
were　conversing；　as　they　moved　toward　us；　Miss　Rowley　pocketed
her　list；　throwing　herself　upon　my　honor　not　to　betray　the
deficiencies　in　her　role　d'equipage；　or　the　collecting　negociations　just
opened　between　us。　Lady　Holberton；　as　she　advanced；　invited　Miss
Rowley；　with　an　ill…concealed　air　of　triumph；　to　feast　her　eyes　once
more　on　the　Lumley　autograph；　and　not　long　after　the　party　broke
up。

｛role　d'equipage　=　muster　roll　（French）；　here；　Miss　Rowley's　list　of
her　autographs｝

The　next　day；　in　passing　Holberton…House；　I　observed　the　chariot　of
a　fashionable　physician　before　the　door；　and　at　Miss　Rowley's　party
in　the　evening　learned　from　Mr。　T…　that　Lady　Holberton　was　quite
unwell。　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　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；　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　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　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　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　aut