A Maggot - John Fowles (11 page)

A. Mr Beckford spake of himself, that I do remember.

Q. What of himself?

A. Of his family, sir. For he come from Wiltshire. I
heard he to tell of a lady his sister, who is new-married in
Salisbury city.

Q. And nothing else?

A. No, sir.

Q. Have you seen Mr Beckford converse thus with
strangers before?

A. Yes, sir. For where he lodges, 'tis close across
the square, no more than there where you may turn and see, sir. And
he may see all from his window.

Q. He enjoys genteel company?

A. None else, sir. Or so it be said.

Q. Now, Dorcas, what saw you in either gentleman's
bed chamber, among their belongings, that you thought strange?

A. Nothing, sir. Unless 'twas the chest and papers.

Q. what papers are these?

A. The younger gentleman, sir, in a chest he had
carried up. Some was spread upon the table there, where that
gentleman writes, when us brought him more light. The older gentle
man did ask for it to go up when he came down to Mr. Beckford.

Q. He was reading?

A. Yes, sir. He wished more light.

Q. What manner of papers?

A. I could not tell, sir. I has no alphabet.

Q. You would say letters? Had these papers
superscription - address?

A. Us can't read, sir.

Q. Yes, yes. But you have seen letters - saw you
seal, or folds, or close writing?

A. No, sir. 'Twas more like counting papers.

Q. What are they?

A. As Master writes in his bills of lodging, sir, for
those who want such.

Q. You mean there were numbers written thereon?

A. Yes, sir. Numbers and signs that were no alphabet
letters, for I knows their look.

Q. And fell these numbers in lines and columns, as
upon a bill or accompt?

A. No, sir. Among figures.

Q. What figures?

A. Us saw one, 'twas a great circle, and another with
three sides and marks like the moon.

Q. How, like the moon?

A. Like a cheese-rind, sir, or the black in the old
moon.

Q. Upon a curve?

A. Yes, sir.

Q. With counting numbers beside?

A. Yes, sir.

Q. Upon that table you saw how many papers such as
bore figures and numbers?

A. Many, sir. A dozen or more, like enough.

Q. And the size of each paper?

A. As the gentleman writes on now. And one twice as
large.

Q. Put folio and demi-folio. They were written in
ink, by hand? ';

A. Yes, sir.

Q. Not as letters are printed in a book - they were
not pages taken from a book?

A. No, sir.

Q. Did the gentleman write?

A. No, sir. Not that us saw.

Q. Saw you the means - an inkstand, pen or quill?

A. No, sir.

Q. And the chest was full of other such papers?

A. Some, sir. And books, and among them a great clock
of brass, without its case.

Q. A clock - you are sure?

A. 'Twas so big, sir, like unto the workings of
mistress Puddicombe's mantel-clock, when 'tis seen through its
back-gate.

Q. Saw you a dial, hands to mark the hour?

A. No, sir, for it lay the face down. But us saw a
mizmaze of wheels, as in our clock.

Q. And these books - where were they?

A. The chest was by the door, sir, with his lid
thrown back. 'Twas in shadow, but us peeped in as us went.

Q. You saw books therein?

A. Yes, sir. They say now 'twas all gold, 'tis why
they were murthered.

Q. But you know that was not true?

A. Yes, sir. But they will not believe I.

Q. No matter. I believe thee, Dorcas. Now I come to
Louise, the maid. I would hear what prattle passed between you.

A. Us spoke a little when I took her to her room,
sir. But that was all.

Q. Of what?

A. Of how far they had rid, sir. Of where they went.
Such things.

Q. And nothing of herself?

A. Yes, sir, for I asked. And she said she was
brought for maid to a lady to Bideford town, the gentlemens'
relation. And as how her old mistress to London was gone abroad, and
would not take her. Then she asked if us knew Bideford and I said us

had been there but once with my father, which is
truth, and it is a large town enough, and fine market.

Q, Did she give her past mistress's name?

A. She said a name, sir, but us don't mind it now.

Q. An English name?

A. Yes, sir.

Q. A lady of title?

A. No, sir, plain mistress. Us be forgot.

Q. Did you not ask this Louise whence she came, where
she was born?

A. She said of Bristow city, sir, by her birth. But
she had been long in London, maid all her grown life, for her parents
were dead. Could sew and dress hair, and how there were good wages
for such as she there.

Q. She asked you nothing of yourself?

A. Yes, sir. If I liked my mistress, and whether us
was happy at work.

Q. What else?

A. Us did not talk long, sir. I was called for. And
she said she knew us was busy, and would be no burden. That she was
very weary, and would sup alone, but us need not care, for he called
Dick should bring it above.

Q. She said nothing of the two gentlemen?

A. That she had not set eyes on them till ten days
before, but her past mistress had spake well of the older.

Q. What said she of the two menservants?

A. She said nothing of Farthing, sir. And of the
other, Dick, who was deaf and dumb, that he meant no harm and us was
not to be afear'd of his looks and ways.

Q. I would have thee search thy mind, my child.
Seemed she truly a lady's maid, as she would have the world believe,
or one for some purpose but feigning to be so?

A. She had London ways, sir. She was well-spoken, and
very comely, such eyes a man might die for.

Q. More like a lady than a maid? Too fair for her
station?

A. I cannot say, sir. But she did say her words
somewhat as they do from Bristow.

Q. You would say, without the airs and manners of a
lady? y

A. Yes, sir. And she did not go to bed after she
supped, as she said. For when I came to my own bed an hour or more
later, us passed by the younger gentleman's chamber. And she was
within.

Q. You heard her voice?

A. Yes, sir.

Q. Did you stop and listen?

A. Yes, sir, begging your pardon. A moment or two,
for us was a-wonder to hear her there, when us thought her asleep.

Q. Could you hear what was said?

A. The door is thick and they spake low, sir.

Q. Who spoke most?

A. The gentleman, sir.

Q. What made you of this?

A. That he gave her instructions to please her new
mistress, sir.

Q. You heard such? Thou must tell me what passed.

A. On my oath, sir. Us tried, but us couldn't.

Q. Why should he give such instructions at such an
hour?

A. I don't know, sir.

Q. I ask again. Did you not think: this is no lady's
maid?

A. Us thought it strange they should speak so long,
sir.

Q. How do you know it was long - did you not say you
tarried but a moment or two?

A. So us did, sir. But her chamber was next to I's
and Betty's, sir. And we heard her creep in and close the latch
before us slept, which was half an hour or more after.

Q. Did you not think her service might be more to the
young gentleman's pleasure than her new mistress at Bideford?

A. I dursn't say, sir.

Q. Come, Dorcas, thou art seventeen, brisk and
pretty. I'll wager thou hast ten sweethearts already.

A. yes, sir. I have one, that I shall marry.

Q. Then spare me thy blushes. Saw you no evidence the
next morning that the conversation had been carnal?

A. I don't know carnal, sir.

Q. That they had lain between the sheets.

A. No, sir. For the bed was not slept in.

Q. Not slept in - you are sure?

A. Yes, sir. It had been laid upon, but the clothes
not taken back, nor nothing.

Q. And heard you no other person enter this young
woman's chamber next to yours?

A. No, sir.

Q. Nor her leave in the night?

A. No, sir.

Q. Nor voice nor sound there?

A. No, sir. Us sleep deep, and Betty the same.

Q. Seemed she one of ill virtue, a trollop, a harlot?

A. No, sir.

Q. Did she not perchance tell you that with handsome
looks like yours she could find you a far better place and richer
vails in London?

A. No, sir.

Q. Or perchance a tale of woe, of being crossed in
love?

A. Nor that neither, sir.

Q. Seemed she sad or happy with her lot?

A. I don't know, sir. 'Twas like she had better
stayed where she was than come so far among strangers.

Q. She said as much?

A. 'Twas her look that said, sir.

Q. She smiled not?

A. But once or twice, sir. Then she seemed else.

Q. How else? You would say, more skittish and gay?

A. No, sir. Us don't know how to say.

Q. Come, girl. I shan't eat thee.

A. When they had gone, us found a flowered kerchief
upon her pillow, like 'twas there for I to find, to please I.

Q. Where is this cloth now?

A. My mother made us burn it, sir. When the murthers
were known, and the violet man. For she said 'twould bring us ill
luck.

Q. It was of costly stuff?

A. Yes, sir. Indian cotton, the like, close-worked
with blooms and strange small fowl.

Q. More than a maid might buy?

A. 'Twas such the Tiverton higgler showed last
fairtide, that he said new made in London town, and wouldn't sell
ever below three shilling; and said good as the Indian, tho' not, nor
against the king's law to wear.

Q. The next morning did you not ask her what she had
been about in the younger gentleman's chamber so long?

A. No, sir, for us spoke only to say goodbye. 'Twas
May Day, and much to do, work for three.

Q. I am told the man Farthing took liberties with
thee, Dorcas.

A. He would, but I would not 'bide 'em, not I.

Q. He took you aside?

A. He came after where I had need to go in the
still-room, sir, when us had supped, and tried to embrace I. But when
us would not suffer it, he said us should come later where he slept
above the stable, and promised I a shilling if I would, and suchlike.

Q. And you would have none of him?

A. No, sir. He was much in drink, and I did not care
for the mommet, and knew he be liar.

Q. How so?

A. That he did speak evil of the other man, called
Dick, at supper, that he was half beast and would have his wicked way
with us if he had his chance. When he was as bad, or worse. And when
us would not take his shilling, he then would come to where us sleep,
he said to protect I, but I believed him not.

Q. And he came not, in the night?

A. No, sir. Tho' I wish he mought, and had our Betty
kiss his head with her cudgel

Q. Did he tell you he should leave early, before
dawn, as I hear?

A. No, sir, not a word.

Q. I see thou art an honest maid, Dorcas.. Thou art
constant at church?

A. Yes, sir.

Q. Be always so. And here's the shilling for thee,
that thy honesty lost.
 

Jurat die et anno
supradicto
coram

Henry Ayscough

Historical
Chronicle June 1736

* * *

The Examination and Deposition of
Mr Sampson Beckford
the
which doth attest upon his sworn
oath, this
one and thirtieth day
of July in the tenth
year of the
reign of our sovereign Lord
George the
second, by the grace of God King
of Great
Britain and of England, &c.

* * *

My name is Sampson
Beckford. I am clerk, of Wadham College, Oxon., and curate of this
parish since Michaelmas two years past. My age is twenty-seven years,
I am not married.