第36部分(第6/7 页)

“Then　on　me　be　the　onus　of　bringing　it　forward。　Signior　Eduardo；　are　you　in　voice　to…night？”

“Donna　Bianca；　if　you　mand　it；　I　will　be。”

“Then；　signior；　I　lay　on　you　my　sovereign　behest　to　furbish　up　your　lungs　and　other　vocal　organs；　as　they　will　be　wanted　on　my　royal　service。”

“Who　would　not　be　the　Rizzio　of　so　divine　a　Mary？”

“A　fig　for　Rizzio！”　cried　she；　tossing　her　head　with　all　its　curls；　as　she　moved　to　the　piano。　“It　is　my　opinion　the　fiddler　David　must　have　been　an　insipid　sort　of　fellow；　I　like　black　Bothwell　better：　to　my　mind　a　man　is　nothing　without　a　spice　of　the　devil　in　him；　and　history　may　say　what　it　will　of　James　Hepburn；　but　I　have　a　notion；　he　was　just　the　sort　of　wild；　fierce；　bandit　hero　whom　I　could　have　consented　to　gift　with　my　hand。”

“Gentlemen；　you　hear！　Now　which　of　you　most　resembles　Bothwell？”　cried　Mr。　Rochester。

“I　should　say　the　preference　lies　with　you；”　responded　Colonel　Dent。

“On　my　honour；　I　am　much　obliged　to　you；”　was　the　reply。

Miss　Ingram；　who　had　now　seated　herself　with　proud　grace　at　the　piano；　spreading　out　her　snomenced　a　brilliant　prelude；　talking　meantime。　She　appeared　to　be　on　her　high　horse　to…night；　both　her　words　and　her　air　seemed　intended　to　excite　not　only　the　admiration；　but　the　amazement　of　her　auditors：　she　was　evidently　bent　on　striking　them　as　something　very　dashing　and　daring　indeed。

“Oh；　I　am　so　sick　of　the　young　men　of　the　present　day！”　exclaimed　she；　rattling　away　at　the　instrument。　“Poor；　puny　things；　not　fit　to　stir　a　step　beyond　papa’s　park　gates：　nor　to　go　even　so　far　without　mama’s　permission　and　guardianship！　Creatures　so　absorbed　in　care　about　their　pretty　faces；　and　their　white　hands；　and　their　small　feet；　as　if　a　man　had　anything　to　d