A Maggot - John Fowles (39 page)

Q. Did you tell his Lordship of this great boil upon
thy ever-open thighs?

A. No.

Q. Very well. Enough of thy tender soul. What
pretexts advanced he for this journey?

A. First, that which he had already proposed,
concerning Dick, and the greater commodity to it if we were removed
from the bagnio. Then that he wished to take new waters supposed good
for his condition, and so try two remedies for it at the

same time.

Q. Did he name these waters?

A. No. Then told that his family and father thought
the worst of him for having so far refused to marry, and spied upon
him, and he greatly feared we should be followed if we did not hit
upon some disguise for the journey. Which he said he had thought upon
and found an answer to.

Q. To wit?

A. A scheme of a false elopement, where I should play
lady's maid brought to serve his false intended.

Q. This was not told Claiborne?

A. No, for her 'twas said that his Lordship was upon
a folly in Oxfordshire, to which he should bring me. All who attended
were to bring one such as I.

Q. For which he fee'd her handsomely, did he not? And
to thee did he promise more?

A. He did promise I should not regret the deceiving,
that I took to mean I should not be the poorer for it. Heaven knows I
was not, I mistook then the fee he intended.

Q. You thought he spake of money?

A. Yes.

Q. Of what did he speak in truth?

A. What I now am.

Q. Am I to understand this - that you are now what
you are because of his Lordship?

A. I will tell.

Q. Very well. First let us be clear - he made no
promise of a fixed reward for your pains?

A. No.

Q. Did you not press for such?

A. No, for by him I hoped to escape, that was more
than reward enough, and I did not care for the wages of sin.

Q. Were you not suspicious of so much deception?

A. I might have been, had I thought hard upon it. All
I did see then was my own advantage. And e'en the same later, despite
I must do as I was bid, and was mistreated, as I thought: that it was
the price I must pay, to change my condition, and purge my fouled
soul.

Q. Had you any suspicion, before you came to
Amesbury, that his Lordship deceived you also as to the real purpose
of this journey?

A. No, not none.

Q. Was he pressing that you should resolve yourself
to this western journey? In all this did he rather solicit, or did he
dragoon?

A. He pressed, but did not force. I told him the time
of my courses was near. He accepted it must pass first, as happened.

Q. You say, the time of your going depended no more
than upon the season of your menison?

A. Yes.

Q. It was not so appointed, that you should be in
Devon on the first of May?

A. Not that I know.

Q. Now this, mistress. Is it not most often the case
with such as you, that tops the licentious town in her trade, that
her hope lies in leaving the stews and becoming kept woman of some
nobleman, who may establish her for his use alone?

A. It was proposed me. I would have none of it.

Q. Why?

A. Such we called the militia, not trained soldiers
like us. We might never desert, Claiborne would never allow.

Q. Were none that proposed this to you great enough
to protect?

A. Thee were never in that world of Antichrist. She
said she should find us in Hell, should we run off; and so she would,
the devil.

Q. But she let you go with his Lordship?

A. Gold will melt iron.

Q. He offered more than she might refuse?

A. I doubt not more than she told me.

Q. What was that?

A Two hundred guineas.

Q. Had you in your house, to Claiborne or some
fellow-whore, made mention whatsoever of his Lordship's fault?

A. No, not a word.

Q. And where were you taken, when first you left the
stews?

A. To St Giles i' the Fields, to Monmouth Street,
that I might buy clothes at the second-hand, suited to a country
maid. Which I did.

Q. His Lordship fetched you to this?

A. No, Dick his servant, with a closed carriage, as
was arranged. It bore no arms, 'twas hired. Then out of the town to
Chiswick, where his Lordship waited, within a cottage.

Q. At what time of day was this?

A. 'Twas all after dinner. Past six of the clock,
when we came.

Q. What made you of Dick, now you had met?

A. Nothing. He did not ride with me, but with the
coachman.

Q. How were you welcomed at Chiswick?

A. His Lordship seemed pleased I was come. A supper
was prepared.

Q. Was any other person there?

A. An old woman, who served us. She spake not, I
think left when we were served. I did not see her again, in the
morning when we set forth.

Q. And what else passed, that evening?

A. What was agreed, with Dick.

Q. His Lordship was present?

A. Yes.

Q. Throughout all?

A. Yes.

Q. Where was this?

A. In a chamber above.

Q. Did it have the hoped-for effect upon him?

A. I know not.

Q. Did he not speak?

A. No. Not a word. And left us so soon it was done.

Q. He was not aroused by it?

A. I have told thee. I do not know.

Q. Saw you no sign?

A. No.

Q. Had you done such an act before spectators before?

A. On occasion, may I be forgiven. Q. What then?

A. 'Tis not thy business.

Q. I insist. Was there no lechery in his Lordship's
conduct on this occasion?

A. No.

Q. Very well. And Dick?

A. What of Dick?

Q. Come, Mistress Lee. You are no innocent in this.
Did he play his part sufficient well? Why answer you not?

A. He played his part.

Q. Sufficient well?

A. I doubt he had lain with woman before.

Q. Did not his Lordship complain on a later occasion
- that you had failed to rein him back?

A. Yes.

Q. What answered you?

A. That he was green as a radish. No sooner in than
out, if thee'd hear more bagnio wit.

Q. Yet later you chose to lie with him for pleasure,
was it not so?

A. I felt pity of him.

Q. Those who were with you say more.

A. They may say what they list. It shames me not that
I was kind to him, who suffered so by lack of natural parts. Given
for my sins I was harlot still.

Q. He knew what you were?

A. He did not treat me so.

Q. Then how?

A. Why, not as a body bought for his lust, as I was
used to feel, far more as one he loved, his sweetheart.

Q. How knew you this, since he could neither speak
nor hear?

A. There are more ways of speaking than with words.
He would not brook me speaking with Jones, he would watch me with
that in his eyes no woman mistakes, he would do all in his power to
serve me.

Q. And served you also in his Lordship's presence, is
it not so? Saw you no resentment there? Do not true sweethearts abhor
such a base value put upon the act of love?

A. I say he was not as other men, more one that knew
so little of this world he might have lived in the moon, and must
take his Lordship as his guide in all down here below. If his
Lordship bade him, he must follow. I told thee, there was such
closeness between them they needed no words, they were as one person,
tho' two in body. I might almost believe his Lordship did enjoy me,
though he would not bear my touch, yet through Dick's enjoying.

Q. Now, had you warning that morning you set forth
from Chiswick that you had other companions on your journey?

A. His Lordship told me that evening previous we
should meet them, and they would come with us, Mr Brown and his man.
And told me who he should pretend to be, a City merchant, tho' in
truth he was the doctor he had spoke of; yet I must pretend I did not
know such a thing, and take him for what he seemed. Which I did, yet
so it happened I had seen him before, two months before in a
playhouse where I was, though I could not mind me his name,
notwithstanding his person and voice well enough. And that day as we
rode Jones came up, and I knew by some gross hints he made that he
likewise suspected I was not what I seemed, and I was much afraid.
And when next I had opportunity, I told his Lordship I feared I was
recognized.

Q. What answered he?

A. That I was to keep mum, and brave it out.

Q. Seemed he set back, alarmed, I know not?

A. No, not one whit. And he said that none of us were
what we seemed. That I was to tell him if Jones was importunate I
again.

Q. Did you not likewise tell him you knew Mr Brown
for what he really was?

A. No, for I must tell thee every step we took from
London still lightened my heart. 'Twas to me as if I left the City of
the Plains and Bristol was my Sion. And I thought, if his Lordship
deceives me, I may the easier deceive him, when my time comes, and so
it is better now to keep my counsel.

Q. Very well. Now let us come to Basingstoke. His
Lordship demanded what you had done before?

A. Yes.

Q. And where was it done?

A. Within his chamber.

Q. He watched?

A. He found it too quick done, and he blamed me,
after.

Q. Was Dick present, when this was spoken?

A. No, he was sent away.

Q. His Lordship was angry?

A. More as one who thought himself cheated.

Q. He was disdainful of your supposed skills?

A. Like one a practised rake, for all he could not
be.

Q. Did you remonstrate?

A. No, beyond what I said. That Dick was too green to
be managed.

Q. What said his Lordship to that?

A. That I was his now, and I should find he was worse
than Claiborne if he did not get his money's worth.

Q. You are certain - he spake thus?

A. Certain.

Q. What answered you?

A. Why, nothing, I looked meek. Yet I did not feel
it, and felt him much changed, and not just, for he had seen how Dick
came to it, like a poor beast with only one thought, and I could not
stop him. I tell thee as I then thought. I know now he would be my
good friend, but I saw it not.

Q How your good friend?

A, I will tell in its place.

Q. I will know now.

A. Not by my mouth. 'Tis like the Book. We say, One
threshing will not yield its grain. Thee must wait till thee's heard
all, and as it was set down.

Q. Came Dick to you privily in the night there?

A. Yes.

Q. And you allowed it?

A. Yes.

Q. Although he was no better than a poor beast?

A. Because he was. And had enough wit to know he had
no right to ask. Shall I tell thee how many lords and dukes I have
served, master Ayscough? Why, even a royal prince beside. I'll tell
thee not one of them who came to my bed, yet knelt there as he did,
like a child with his head pressed down on the coverlet, and waited
to know my will, not force his own upon me. Thee'll say for the first
I was bought, I had no will, no liberty, no harlot has.

Q. I'll say thou art a most damned doctoress.

A. No, I am not. Thee hast thy alphabet, and I mine,
that is all. And I must speak mine. I tell thee why I took pity for
Dick. 'Twas neither love nor lechery.

Q. You lay together all that night?

A. Till we slept. And when I woke, he was gone.

Q. And every night the same?

A. Not the next. After, yes.

Q. I would hear of that next night, at Amesbury. Had
you warning of what would take place there?

A. Not until we were arrived, no, more late still, we
had supped, it was eight or more of the clock, and I waited in my
chamber, when Dick came to fetch me to his Lordship's, and I must
bring my riding-cloak. Which did alarm me, I could not think why that
should be. And there his Lordship said we must ride out later, in
great secret, which alarmed me the more, for when I asked why, he
would not say, and told me sharp I was hired to do as he commanded,
as the night before.