without payingthey have duels with French and German
officersthey cheat Mr。 Spooney at ecartethey get
the money and drive off to Baden in magnificent britzkas
they try their infallible martingale and lurk about the
tables with empty pockets； shabby bullies； penniless
bucks； until they can swindle a Jew banker with a sham
bill of exchange； or find another Mr。 Spooney to rob。
The alternations of splendour and misery which these
people undergo are very queer to view。 Their life must
be one of great excitement。 Beckymust it be owned？
took to this life； and took to it not unkindly。 She went
about from town to town among these Bohemians。 The
lucky Mrs。 Rawdon was known at every play…table in
Germany。 She and Madame de Cruchecassee kept house at
Florence together。 It is said she was ordered out of
Munich； and my friend Mr。 Frederick Pigeon avers that it
was at her house at Lausanne that he was hocussed at
supper and lost eight hundred pounds to Major Loder
and the Honourable Mr。 Deuceace。 We are bound； you
see； to give some account of Becky's biography； but of
this part； the less； perhaps； that is said the better。
They say that； when Mrs。 Crawley was particularly
down on her luck； she gave concerts and lessons in music
here and there。 There was a Madame de Raudon； who
certainly had a matinee musicale at Wildbad；
accompanied by Herr Spoff； premier pianist to the Hospodar of
Wallachia； and my little friend Mr。 Eaves； who knew
everybody and had travelled everywhere； always used to
declare that he was at Strasburg in the year 1830； when a
certain Madame Rebecque made her appearance in the
opera of the Dame Blanche； giving occasion to a furious
row in the theatre there。 She was hissed off the stage by
the audience； partly from her own incompetency； but
chiefly from the ill…advised sympathy of some persons in
the parquet； （where the officers of the garrison had their
admissions）； and Eaves was certain that the unfortunate
debutante in question was no other than Mrs。
Rawdon Crawley。
She was； in fact； no better than a vagabond upon this
earth。 When she got her money she gambled； when she
had gambled it she was put to shifts to live； who knows
how or by what means she succeeded？ It is said that she
was once seen at St。 Petersburg； but was summarily
dismissed from that capital by the police； so that there
cannot be any possibility of truth in the report that she was
a Russian spy at Toplitz and Vienna afterwards。 I have
even been informed that at Paris she discovered a
relation of her own； no less a person than her maternal
grandmother； who was not by any means a
Montmorenci； but a hideous old box…opener at a theatre on
the Boulevards。 The meeting between them； of which
other persons； as it is hinted elsewhere； seem to have
been acquainted； must have been a very affecting
interview。 The present historian can give no certain details
regarding the event。
It happened at Rome once that Mrs。 de Rawdon's half…
year's salary had just been paid into the principal
banker's there； and； as everybody who had a balance of
above five hundred scudi was invited to the balls which
this prince of merchants gave during the winter； Becky
had the honour of a card； and appeared at one of the
Prince and Princess Polonia's splendid evening entertainments。
The Princess was of the family of Pompili； lineally
descended from the second king of Rome； and Egeria
of the house of Olympus； while the Prince's grandfather；
Alessandro Polonia； sold wash…balls； essences；
tobacco； and pocket…handkerchiefs； ran errands for
gentlemen； and lent money in a small way。 All the great
company in Rome thronged to his saloonsPrinces；
Dukes； Ambassadors； artists； fiddlers； monsignori； young
bears with their leadersevery rank and condition of
man。 His halls blazed with light and magnificence； were
resplendent with gilt frames （containing pictures）； and
dubious antiques； and the enormous gilt crown and arms
of the princely owner； a gold mushroom on a crimson
field （the colour of the pocket…handkerchiefs which he
sold）； and the silver fountain of the Pompili family shone
all over the roof； doors； and panels of the house； and
over the grand velvet baldaquins prepared to receive
Popes and Emperors。
So Becky； who had arrived in the diligence from
Florence； and was lodged at an inn in a very modest way；
got a card for Prince Polonia's entertainment； and her
maid dressed her with unusual care； and she went to this
fine ball leaning on the arm of Major Loder； with whom
she happened to be travelling at the time（the same
man who shot Prince Ravoli at Naples the next year； and
was caned by Sir John Buckskin for carrying four kings
in his hat besides those which he used in playing at
ecarte ）and this pair went into the rooms together；
and Becky saw a number of old faces which she
remembered in happier days； when she was not innocent；
but not found out。 Major Loder knew a great number
of foreigners； keen…looking whiskered men with dirty
striped ribbons in their buttonholes； and a very small
display of linen； but his own countrymen； it might be
remarked； eschewed the Major。 Becky； too； knew some
ladies here and thereFrench widows； dubious Italian
countesses； whose husbands had treated them illfaugh
what shall we say； we who have moved among
some of the finest company of Vanity Fair； of this refuse
and sediment of rascals？ If we play； let it be with clean
cards； and not with this dirty pack。 But every man who
has formed one of the innumerable army of travellers
has seen these marauding irregulars hanging on； like
Nym and Pistol； to the main force； wearing the king's
colours and boasting of his commission； but pillaging
for themselves； and occasionally gibbeted by the roadside。
Well； she was hanging on the arm of Major Loder；
and they went through the rooms together； and drank a
great quantity of champagne at the buffet； where the
people； and especially the Major's irregular corps；
struggled furiously for refreshments； of which when the
pair had had enough； they pushed on until they reached
the Duchess's own pink velvet saloon； at the end of the
suite of apartments （where the statue of the Venus is；
and the great Venice looking…glasses； framed in silver）；
and where the princely family were entertaining their
most distinguished guests at a round table at supper。 It
was just such a little select banquet as that of which
Becky recollected that she had partaken at Lord Steyne's
and there he sat at Polonia's table； and she saw him。
The scar cut by the diamond on his white； bald；
shining forehead made a burning red mark； his red whiskers
were dyed of a purple hue； which made his pale face
look still paler。 He wore his collar and orders； his blue
ribbon and garter。 He was a greater Prince than any
there； though there was a reigning Duke and a Royal
Highness； with their princesses； and near his Lordship
was seated the beautiful Countess of Belladonna； nee
de Glandier； whose husband （the Count Paolo della
Belladonna）； so well known for his brilliant entomological
collections； had been long absent on a mission to the
Emperor of Morocco。
When Becky beheld that familiar and illustrious face；
how vulgar all of a sudden did Major Loder appear to
her； and how that odious Captain Rook did smell of
tobacco！ In one instant she reassumed her fine…ladyship
and tried to look and feel as if she were in May Fair
once more。 〃That woman looks stupid and ill…humoured；〃
she thought； 〃I am sure she can't amuse him。 No； he must
be bored by herhe never was by me。〃 A hundred such
touching hopes； fears； and memories palpitated in her
little heart； as she looked with her brightest eyes （the
rouge which she wore up to her eyelids made them
twinkle） towards the great nobleman。 Of a Star and Garter
night Lord Steyne used also to put on his grandest
manner and to look and speak like a great prince； as he was。
Becky admired him smiling sumptuously； easy； lofty； and
stately。 Ah； bon Dieu； what a pleasant companion he
was； what a brilliant wit； what a rich fund of talk； what
a grand manner！and she had exchanged this for Major
Loder； reeking of cigars and brandy…and…water； and
Captain Rook with his horsejockey jokes and prize…ring
slang； and their like。 〃I wonder whether he will know
me；〃 she thought。 Lord Steyne was talking and laughing
with a great and illustrious lady at his side； when he
looked up and saw Becky。
She was all over in a flutter as their eyes met； and she
put on the very best smile she could muster； and dropped
him a little； timid； imploring curtsey。 He stared aghast
at her for a minute； as Macbeth might on beholding
Banquo's sudden appearance at his ball…supper； and remained
looking at her with open mouth； when that horrid Major
Loder pulled her away。
〃Come away into the supper…room； Mrs。 R。；〃 was that
gentleman's remark： 〃seeing these nobs grubbing away
has made me peckish too。 Let's go and try the old
governor's champagne。〃 Becky thought the Major had had
a great deal too much already。
The day after she went to walk on the Pincian Hill
the Hyde Park of the Roman idlerspossibly in hopes to
have another sight of Lord Steyne。 But she met another
acquaintance there： it was Mr。 Fiche； his lordship's
confidential man； who came up nodding to her rather
familiarly and putting a finger to his hat。 〃I knew that Madame
was here；〃 he said； 〃I followed her from her hotel。 I have
some advice to give Madame。〃
〃From the Marquis of Steyne？〃 Becky asked； resuming
as much of her dignity as she could muster； and not
a little agitated by hope and expectation。
〃No；〃 said the valet； 〃it is from me。 Rome is very
unwholesome。〃
〃Not at this season； Monsieur Fichenot till after
Easter。〃
〃I tell Madame it is unwholesome now。 There is always
malaria for some people。 That cursed marsh wind kills
many at all seasons。 Look； Madame Crawley； you were
always bon enfant； and I have an interest in you； parole
d'honneur。 Be warned。 Go away from Rome； I tell you
or you will be ill and die。〃
Becky laughed； though in rage and fury。 〃What！
assassinate poor little me？〃 she said。 〃How romantic！ Does
my lord carry bravos for couriers； and stilettos in the