It is to console some of these dissatisfied beings that we are narrating our dear Becky's struggles, and triumphs, and disappointments, of all of which, indeed, as is the case with all persons of merit, she had her share.
At this time the amiable amusement of acting charades had come among us from France, and was considerably in vogue in this country, enabling the many ladies amongst us who had beauty to display their charms, and the fewer number who had cleverness to exhibit their wit.
My Lord Steyne was incited by Becky, who perhaps believed herself endowed with both the above qualifications, to give an entertainment at Gaunt House, which should include some of these little dramas--and we must take leave to introduce the reader to this brilliant reunion, and, with a melancholy welcome too, for it will be among the very last of the fashionable entertainments to which it will be our fortune to conduct him.
A portion of that splendid room, the picture gallery of Gaunt House, was arranged as the charade theatre.It had been so used when George III was king; and a picture of the Marquis of Gaunt is still extant, with his hair in powder and a pink ribbon, in a Roman shape, as it was called, enacting the part of Cato in Mr.Addison's tragedy of that name, performed before their Royal Highnesses the Prince of Wales, the Bishop of Osnaburgh, and Prince William Henry, then children like the actor.
One or two of the old properties were drawn out of the garrets, where they had lain ever since, and furbished up anew for the present festivities.
Young Bedwin Sands, then an elegant dandy and Eastern traveller, was manager of the revels.An Eastern traveller was somebody in those days, and the adventurous Bedwin, who had published his quarto and passed some months under the tents in the desert, was a personage of no small importance.In his volume there were several pictures of Sands in various oriental costumes; and he travelled about with a black attendant of most unprepossessing appearance, just like another Brian de Bois Guilbert.Bedwin, his costumes, and black man, were hailed at Gaunt House as very valuable acquisitions.
He led off the first charade.A Turkish officer with an immense plume of feathers (the Janizaries were supposed to be still in existence, and the tarboosh had not as yet displaced the ancient and majestic head-dress of the true believers) was seen couched on a divan, and making believe to puff at a narghile, in which, however, for the sake of the ladies, only a fragrant pastille was allowed to smoke.The Turkish dignitary yawns and expresses signs of weariness and idleness.He claps his hands and Mesrour the Nubian appears, with bare arms, bangles, yataghans, and every Eastern ornament--gaunt, tall, and hideous.He makes a salaam before my lord the Aga.
A thrill of terror and delight runs through the assembly.
The ladies whisper to one another.The black slave was given to Bedwin Sands by an Egyptian pasha in exchange for three dozen of Maraschino.He has sewn up ever so many odalisques in sacks and tilted them into the Nile.
"Bid the slave-merchant enter," says the Turkish voluptuary with a wave of his hand.Mesrour conducts the slave-merchant into my lord's presence; he brings a veiled female with him.He removes the veil.A thrill of applause bursts through the house.It is Mrs.Winkworth (she was a Miss Absolom) with the beautiful eyes and hair.She is in a gorgeous oriental costume; the black braided locks are twined with innumerable jewels; her dress is covered over with gold piastres.The odious Mahometan expresses himself charmed by her beauty.She falls down on her knees and entreats him to restore her to the mountains where she was born, and where her Circassian lover is still deploring the absence of his Zuleikah.
No entreaties will move the obdurate Hassan.He laughs at the notion of the Circassian bridegroom.
Zuleikah covers her face with her hands and drops down in an attitude of the most beautiful despair.There seems to be no hope for her, when--when the Kislar Aga appears.
The Kislar Aga brings a letter from the Sultan.Hassan receives and places on his head the dread firman.Aghastly terror seizes him, while on the Negro's face (it is Mesrour again in another costume) appears a ghastly joy."Mercy! mercy!" cries the Pasha: while the Kislar Aga, grinning horribly, pulls out--a bow-string.
The curtain draws just as he is going to use that awful weapon.Hassan from within bawls out, "First two syllables"--and Mrs.Rawdon Crawley, who is going to act in the charade, comes forward and compliments Mrs.
Winkworth on the admirable taste and beauty of her costume.
The second part of the charade takes place.It is still an Eastern scene.Hassan, in another dress, is in an attitude by Zuleikah, who is perfectly reconciled to him.
The Kislar Aga has become a peaceful black slave.It is sunrise on the desert, and the Turks turn their heads eastwards and bow to the sand.As there are no dromedaries at hand, the band facetiously plays "The Camels are coming." An enormous Egyptian head figures in the scene.It is a musical one--and, to the surprise of the oriental travellers, sings a comic song, composed by Mr.
Wagg.The Eastern voyagers go off dancing, like Papageno and the Moorish King in The Magic Flute."Last two syllables," roars the head.
The last act opens.It is a Grecian tent this time.Atall and stalwart man reposes on a couch there.Above him hang his helmet and shield.There is no need for them now.Ilium is down.Iphigenia is slain.Cassandra is a prisoner in his outer halls.The king of men (it is Colonel Crawley, who, indeed, has no notion about the sack of Ilium or the conquest of Cassandra), the anax andron is asleep in his chamber at Argos.A lamp casts the broad shadow of the sleeping warrior flickering on the wall--the sword and shield of Troy glitter in its light.
The band plays the awful music of Don Juan, before the statue enters.