the lumley autograph-第4部分

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must　be　blind　as　a　bat；　not　to　see　that　it　was　written　by　the　author
of　Venice　Preserved；　and　this　in　spite　of　other　celebrated　collectors；
who　find　in　the　same　sheet　so　much　that　is　comical　and　Hudibrastic。
Strange　that　any　man　in　his　senses　should　hold　such　an　opinionyet
the　Butlerites　number　strong；　some　of　them　are　respectable　people；
too；　more's　the　pity　that　such　should　be　the　case。

As　we　have　already　observed；　the　controversy　began　in　the　library　of
Sir　John　Blank；　and　it　continued　throughout　the　life…time　of　that
excellent　and　well…known　collector。　At　his　death；　a　few　years　since；　it
passed　into　the　hands　of　his　daughter；　the　widow　of　Colonel　H…；
and　it　will　be　readily　imagined　that　although　the　main　question　is
still　as　much　undecided　as　ever；　yet　the　value　of　the　document　itself
has　been　immeasurably　increased　by　a　controversy　of　twenty　years
standing；　on　its　merits。　I　wish　I　could　add　that　the　fortune　of　Colonel
H…　had　augmented　in　the　same　proportion；　but；　unhappily　for　his
widow；　the　reverse　was　the　case；　and　it　was　owing　to　this
combination　of　circumstances　that　Lady　Holberton　at　length　obtained
possession　of　the　Lumley　Autograph。　Mrs。　H…　became　very
desirous　of　procuring　for　her　eldest　son　a　cornetcy　in　the　regiment
once　commanded　by　his　father；　as　she　was　now　too　poor　to
purchase；　the　matter　required　management　and　negotiation。　How　it
was　brought　about　I　cannot　exactly　say。　Suffice　it　to　declare　that　the
young　man　received　his　commission；　through　the　influence　of　Lady
Holberton；　in　a　high　military　quarter；　while　the　Lumley　Autograph
was　placed　on　a　distinguished　leaf　of　that　lady's　velvet…bound；
jewel…clasped　album。

It　so　happened　that　I　dined　at　Holberton…House　on　the　eventful　day
upon　which　the　Lumley　letter　changed　owners。　I　saw　immediately；　on
entering　the　drawing…room；　that　Lady　Holberton　was　in　excellent
spirits；　she　received　me　very　graciously；　and　spoke　of　her　son；　with
whom　I　had　just　traveled　between　Paris　and　Algiers。

〃Wish　me　joy；　Mr。　Howard！〃　exclaimed　the　lady　after　a　short
conversation。

Of　course　I　was　very　happy　to　do　so；　and　replied　by　some　remarks　on
the　recent　success　of　her　friends　in　a　parliamentary　measure；　just
then　decidedLady　Holberton　being　a　distinguished　politician。　But　I
soon　found　it　was　to　some　matter　of　still　higher　moment　she　then
alluded。

〃I　never　had　a　doubt　as　to　our　success　in　the　house；　last　nightno；
rather　wish　me　joy　that　I　have　at　last　triumphed　in　a　negotiation　of
two　years　standing。　The　Lumley　Autograph　is　mine；　Mr。　Howard！　The
letter　of　poor　Otway；　actually　written　in　the　first　stages　of
starvationonly　conceive　its　value！〃

Other　guests　arriving　I　was　obliged　to　make　way；　not　however；
before　Lady　Holberton　had　promised　me　a　sight　of　her　recent
acquisition；　in　the　evening。　In　the　mean　time　I　fully　entered　into　her
satisfaction；　for　I　had　already　seen　her　album　in　Paris；　and　heard　her
sigh　for　this　very　addition　to　its　treasures。　During　dinner　the
important　intelligence　that　the　Lumley　letter　was　her　own；　was
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。