burlesques-第4章

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expect　me。　　Will　it　please　you　to　enter？　this　is　Friday；　and　we

close　at　sunset。　　It　rejoices　my　heart　to　welcome　you　home。〃　　So

saying　Rafael　laid　his　hand　on　his　breast；　and　bowed；　an　oriental

reverence。　　All　traces　of　the　accent　with　which　he　first　addressed

Lord　Codlingsby　had　vanished：　it　was　disguise；　half　the　Hebrew's

life　is　a　disguise。　　He　shields　himself　in　craft；　since　the　Norman

boors　persecuted　him。



They　passed　under　an　awning　of　old　clothes；　tawdry　fripperies；

greasy　spangles；　and　battered　masks；　into　a　shop　as　black　and

hideous　as　the　entrance　was　foul。　　〃THIS　your　home；　Rafael？〃　said

Lord　Codlingsby。



〃Why　not？〃　Rafael　answered。　　〃I　am　tired　of　Schloss　Schinkenstein；

the　Rhine　bores　me　after　a　while。　　It　is　too　hot　for　Florence；

besides　they　have　not　completed　the　picture…gallery；　and　my　place

smells　of　putty。　　You　wouldn't　have　a　man；　mon　cher；　bury　himself

in　his　chateau　in　Normandy；　out　of　the　hunting　season？　　The

Rugantino　Palace　stupefies　me。　　Those　Titians　are　so　gloomy；　I

shall　have　my　Hobbimas　and　Tenierses；　I　think；　from　my　house　at　the

Hague　hung　over　them。〃



〃How　many　castles；　palaces；　houses；　warehouses；　shops；　have　you；

Rafael？〃　Lord　Codlingsby　asked；　laughing。



〃This　is　one；〃　Rafael　answered。　　〃Come　in。〃





II。





The　noise　in　the　old　town　was　terrific；　Great　Tom　was　booming

sullenly　over　the　uproar；　the　bell　of　Saint　Mary's　was　clanging

with　alarm；　St。　Giles's　tocsin　chimed　furiously；　howls；　curses；

flights　of　brickbats；　stones　shivering　windows；　groans　of　wounded

men；　cries　of　frightened　females；　cheers　of　either　contending　party

as　it　charged　the　enemy　from　Carfax　to　Trumpington　Street；

proclaimed　that　the　battle　was　at　its　height。



In　Berlin　they　would　have　said　it　was　a　revolution；　and　the

cuirassiers　would　have　been　charging；　sabre　in　hand；　amidst　that

infuriate　mob。　　In　France　they　would　have　brought　down　artillery；

and　played　on　it　with　twenty…four　pounders。　　In　Cambridge　nobody

heeded　the　disturbanceit　was　a　Town　and　Gown　row。



The　row　arose　at　a　boat…race。　　The　Town　boat　（manned　by　eight　stout

Bargees；　with　the　redoubted　Rullock　for　stroke）　had　bumped　the

Brazenose　light　oar；　usually　at　the　head　of　the　river。　　High　words

arose　regarding　the　dispute。　　After　returning　from　Granchester；

when　the　boats　pulled　back　to　Christchurch　meadows；　the　disturbance

between　the　Townsmen　and　the　University　youthstheir　invariable

opponentsgrew　louder　and　more　violent；　until　it　broke　out　in　open

battle。　　Sparring　and　skirmishing　took　place　along　the　pleasant

fields　that　lead　from　the　University　gate　down　to　the　broad　and

shining　waters　of　the　Cam；　and　under　the　walls　of　Balliol　and

Sidney　Sussex。　　The　Duke　of　Bellamont　（then　a　dashing　young　sizar

at　Exeter）　had　a　couple　of　rounds　with　Billy　Butt；　the　bow…oar　of

the　Bargee　boat。　　Vavasour　of　Brazenose　was　engaged　with　a　powerful

butcher；　a　well…known　champion　of　the　Town　party；　when；　the　great

University　bells　ringing　to　dinner；　truce　was　called　between　the

combatants；　and　they　retired　to　their　several　colleges　for　refection。



During　the　boat…race；　a　gentleman　pulling　in　a　canoe；　and　smoking　a

narghilly；　had　attracted　no　ordinary　attention。　　He　rowed　about　a

hundred　yards　ahead　of　the　boats　in　the　race；　so　that　he　could　have

a　good　view　of　that　curious　pastime。　　If　the　eight…oars　neared　him；

with　a　few　rapid　strokes　of　his　flashing　paddles　his　boat　shot　a

furlong　ahead；　then　he　would　wait；　surveying　the　race；　and　sending

up　volumes　of　odor　from　his　cool　narghilly。



〃Who　is　he？〃　asked　the　crowds　who　panted　along　the　shore；

encouraging；　according　to　Cambridge　wont；　the　efforts　of　the

oarsmen　in　the　race。　　Town　and　Gown　alike　asked　who　it　was；　who；

with　an　ease　so　provoking；　in　a　barque　so　singular；　with　a　form

seemingly　so　slight；　but　a　skill　so　prodigious；　beat　their　best

men。　　No　answer　could　be　given　to　the　query；　save　that　a　gentleman

in　a　dark　travelling…chariot；　preceded　by　six　fourgons　and　a

courier；　had　arrived　the　day　before　at　the　〃Hoop　Inn；〃　opposite

Brazenose；　and　that　the　stranger　of　the　canoe　seemed　to　be　the

individual　in　question。



No　wonder　the　boat；　that　all　admired　so；　could　compete　with　any

that　ever　was　wrought　by　Cambridge　artificer　or　Putney　workman。

That　boatslim；　shining；　and　shooting　through　the　water　like　a

pike　after　a　small　fishwas　a　caique　from　Tophana；　it　had

distanced　the　Sultan's　oarsmen　and　the　best　crews　of　the　Capitan

Pasha　in　the　Bosphorus；　it　was　the　workmanship　of　Togrul…Beg；

Caikjee　Bashee　of　his　Highness。　　The　Bashee　had　refused　fifty

thousand　tomauns　from　Count　Boutenieff；　the　Russian　Ambassador；　for

that　little　marvel。　　When　his　head　was　taken　off；　the　Father　of

Believers　presented　the　boat　to　Rafael　Mendoza。



It　was　Rafael　Mendoza　that　saved　the　Turkish　monarchy　after　the

battle　of　Nezeeb。　　By　sending　three　millions　of　piastres　to　the

Seraskier；　by　bribing　Colonel　de　St。　Cornichon；　the　French　envoy　in

the　camp　of　the　victorious　Ibrahim；　the　march　of　the　Egyptian　army

was　stoppedthe　menaced　empire　of　the　Ottomans　was　saved　from

ruin；　the　Marchioness　of　Stokepogis；　our　ambassador's　lady；

appeared　in　a　suite　of　diamonds　which　outblazed　even　the　Romanoff

jewels；　and　Rafael　Mendoza　obtained　the　little　caique。　　He　never

travelled　without　it。　　It　was　scarcely　heavier　than　an　arm…chair。

Baroni；　the　courier；　had　carried　it　down　to　the　Cam　that　morning；

and　Rafael　had　seen　the　singular　sport　which　we　have　mentioned。



The　dinner　over；　the　young　men　rushed　from　their　colleges；　flushed；

full…fed；　and　eager　for　battle。　　If　the　Gown　was　angry；　the　Town；

too；　was　on　the　alert。　　From　Iffly　and　Barnwell；　from　factory　and

mill；　from　wharf　and　warehouse；　the　Town　poured　out　to　meet　the

enemy；　and　their　battle　was　soon　general。　　From　the　Addenbrook's

hospital　to　the　Blenheim　turnpike；　all　Cambridge　was　in　an　uproar

the　college　gates　closedthe　shops　barricadedthe　shop…boys　away

in　support　of　their　brother　townsmenthe　battle　raged；　and　the

Gown　had　the　worst　of　the　fight。



A　luncheon　of　many　courses　had　been　provided　for　Rafael　Mendoza　at

his　inn；　but　he　smiled　at　the　clumsy　efforts　of　the　university

cooks　to　entertain　him；　and　a　couple　of　dates　and　a　glass　of　water

formed　his　meal。　　In　vain　the　discomfited　landlord　pressed　him　to

partake　of　the　slighted　banquet。　　〃A　breakfast！　psha！〃　said　he。

〃My　good　man；　I　have　nineteen　cooks；　at　salaries　rising　from　four

hundred　a　year。　　I　can　have　a　dinner　at　any　hour；　but　a　Town　and

Gown　row〃　（a　brickbat　here　flying　through　the　window　crashed　the

caraffe　of　water　in　Mendoza's　hand）〃a　Town　and　Gown　row　is　a

novelty　to　me。　　The　Town　has　the　best　of　it；　clearly；　though：　the

men　outnumber　the　lads。　　Ha；　a　good　blow！　　How　that　tall　townsman

went　down　before　yonder　slim　young　fellow　in　the　scarlet　trencher

cap。〃



〃That　is　the　Lord　Codlingsby；〃　the　landlord　said。



〃A　light　weight；　but　a　pretty　fighter；〃　Mendoza　remarked。　　〃Well

hit　with　your　left；　Lord　Codlingsby；　well　parried；　Lord　Codlingsby；

claret　drawn；　by　Jupiter！〃



〃Ours　is　werry　fine；〃　the　landlord　said。　　〃Will　your　Highness　have

Chateau　Margaux　or　Lafitte？〃



〃He　never　can　be　going　to　match　himself　against　that　bargeman！〃

Rafael　exclaimed；　as　an　enormous　boatmanno　other　than　Rullock

indeed；　the　most　famous　bruiser　of　Cambridge；　and　before　whose

fists　the　Gownsmen　went　down　like　ninepinsfought　his　way　up　to

the　spot　where；　with　admirable　spirit　and　resolution；　Lord

Codlingsby　and　one　or　two　of　his　friends　were　making　head　against　a

number　of　the　town。



The　young　noble　faced　the　huge　champion　with　the　gallantry　of　his

race；　but　was　no　match　for　the　enemy's　strength　and　weight　and

sinew；　and　went　down　at　every　round。　　The　brutal　fellow　had　no

mercy　on　the　lad。　　His　savage　treatment　chafed　Mendoza　as　he　viewed

the　unequal　combat　from　the　inn…window。　　〃Hold　your　hand！〃　he　cried

to　this　Goliath；　〃don't　you　see　he's　but　a　boy？〃



〃Down　he　goes　again！〃　the　bargeman　cried；　not　heeding　the

interruption。　　〃Down　he　goes　again：　I　likes　wapping　a　lord！〃



〃Coward！〃　shouted　Mendoza；　and　to　fling　open　the　window　amidst　a

shower　of　brickbats；　to　vault　over　the　balcony；　to　slide　down　one

of　the　pillars　to　the　ground；　was　an　instant's　work。



At　the　next　he　stood　before　the　enormous　bargeman。



　　　　　　　。　　　　　　　。　　　　　　　。　　　　　　　。　　　　　　　。　　　　　　　。　　　　　　　。　　　　　　。



After　the　coroner's　inquest；　Mendoza　gave　ten　thousand　pounds　to

each　of　the　bargeman's　ten　children；　and　it　was　thus　his　first

acquaintance　was　formed　with　Lord　Codlingsby。



But　we　are　lingering　on　the　threshold　of　the　house　in　Holywell

Street。　　Let　us　go　in。





III。





Godfrey　and　Rafael　passed　from　the　street　into　the　outer　shop　of

the　old　mansion　in　Holywell　Street。　　It　was　a　masquerade　warehouse

to　all　appearance。　　A　dark…eyed　damsel　of　the　nation　was　standing

at　the　dark　and　grimy　counter；　strewed　with　old　feathers；　old

yellow　hoots；　old　stage　mantles；　painted　masks；　blind　and　yet

gazing　at　you　with　a　look　of　sad　death…like　intelligence　from　the

vacancy　behind　their　sockets。



A　medical　student　was　trying　one　of　the　doublets　of　orange…tawny

and　silver；　slashed　with　dirty　light　blue。　　He　was　going　to　a

masquerade　that　night。　　He　thought　Polly　Pattens　would　admire　him

in　the　dressPolly　Pattens；　the　fairest　of　maids…of…all…workthe

Borough　Venus；　adored　by　half　the　youth　of　Guy's。



〃You　look　like　a　prince　in　it；　Mr。　Lint；〃　pretty　Rachel　said；

coaxing　him　with　her　beady　black　eyes。



〃It　IS　the　cheese；〃　replied　Mr。　Lint；　〃it　ain't　the　dress　that

don't　suit；　my　rose　of　Sharon；　it's　the　FIGURE。　　Hullo；　Rafael；　is

that　you；　my　lad　of　sealing…wax？　　Come　and　intercede　for　me　with

this　wild　gazelle；　she　says　I　can't　have　it　under　fifteen　bob　for

the　night。　　And　it's　too　much：　cuss　me　if　it's　not　too　much；　unless

you'll　take　my　little　bill　at　two　months；　Rafael。〃



〃There's　a　sweet　pretty　brigand's　dress　you　may　have　for　half　de

monish；〃　Rafael　replied；　〃there's　a　splendid　clown　for　eight　bob；

but　for　dat　Spanish　dress；　selp　ma　Moshesh；　Mistraer　Lint；　ve'd　ask

a　guinea　of　any　but　you。　　Here's　a　gentlemansh　just　come　to　look　at

it。　　Look　'ear；　Mr。　Brownsh；　did　you　ever　shee　a　nisher　ting　dan

dat？〃　　So　saying；　Rafael　turned　to　Lord　Codlingsby　with　the　utmost

gravity；　and　displayed　to　him　the　garment　about　which　the　young

medicus　was　haggling。



〃Cheap　at　the　money；〃　Codlingsby　replied；　〃if　you　won't　make　up

your　mind；　sir；　I　should　like　to　engage　it　myself。〃　　But　the

thought　that　another　should　appear　before　Polly　Pattens　in　that

costume　was　too　much　for　Mr。　Lint；　he　agreed　to　pay　the　fifteen

shillings　for　the　garment。　　And　Rafael；　pocketing　the　money　with

perfect　simplicity；　said；　〃Dis　vay；　Mr。　Brownsh：　dere's　someting

vill　shoot　you　in　the　next　shop。〃



Lord　Codlingsby　followed　him；　wondering。



〃You　are　surpri