barnaby rudge(巴纳比·卢杰)-第106章
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
done； that you should talk to us like this！’
‘Nothing；’ returned Gashford with a sneer。 ‘If you are cast into
prison； if the young man—’ here he looked hard at Barnaby’s
attentive face—‘is dragged from us and from his friends； perhaps
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
… Page 539…
Barnaby Rudge 540
from people whom he loves； and whom his death would kill； is
thrown into jail； brought out and hanged before their eyes； still； do
nothing。 You’ll find it your best policy； I have no doubt。’
‘Come on！’ cried Hugh； striding towards the door。 ‘Dennis—
Barnaby—come on！’
‘Where？ To do what？’ said Gashford； slipping past him； and
standing with his back against it。
‘Anywhere！ Anything！’ cried Hugh。 ‘Stand aside； master； or the
window will serve our turn as well。 Let us out！’
‘Ha ha ha！ You are of such—of such an impetuous nature；’ said
Gashford； changing his manner for one of the utmost good
fellowship and the pleasantest raillery； ‘you are such an excitable
creature—but you’ll drink with me before you go？’
‘Oh； yes—certainly；’ growled Dennis； drawing his sleeve across
his thirsty lips。 ‘No malice； brother。 Drink with Muster Gashford！’
Hugh wiped his heated brow； and relaxed into a smile。 The
artful secretary laughed outright。
‘Some liquor here！ Be quick； or he’ll not stop； even for that。 He
is a man of such desperate ardour！’ said the smooth secretary；
whom Mr Dennis corroborated with sundry nods and muttered
oaths—‘Once roused； he is a fellow of such fierce determination！’
Hugh poised his sturdy arm aloft； and clapping Barnaby on the
back； bade him fear nothing。 They shook hands together—poor
Barnaby evidently possessed with the idea that he was among the
most virtuous and disinterested heroes in the world—and
Gashford laughed again。
‘I hear；’ he said smoothly； as he stood among them with a great
measure of liquor in his hand； and filled their glasses as quickly
and as often as they chose； ‘I hear—but I cannot say whether it be
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
… Page 540…
Barnaby Rudge 541
true or false—that the men who are loitering in the streets to…night
are half disposed to pull down a Romish chapel or two； and that
they only want leaders。 I even heard mention of those in Duke
Street； Lincoln’s Inn Fields； and in Warwick Street； Golden
Square； but common report； you know—You are not going？’
—‘To do nothing； master； eh？’ cried Hugh。 ‘No jails and halter
for Barnaby and me。 They must be frightened out of that。 Leaders
are wanted； are they？ Now boys！’
‘A most impetuous fellow！’ cried the secretary。 ‘Ha ha！ A
courageous； boisterous； most vehement fellow！ A man who—’
There was no need to finish the sentence； for they had rushed
out of the house； and were far beyond hearing。 He stopped in the
middle of a laugh； listened； drew on his gloves； and； clasping his
hands behind him； paced the deserted room for a long time； then
bent his steps towards the busy town； and walked into the streets。
They were filled with people； for the rumour of that day’s
proceedings had made a great noise。 Those persons who did not
care to leave home； were at their doors or windows； and one topic
of discourse prevailed on every side。 Some reported that the riots
were effectually put down； others that they had broken out again：
some said that Lord George Gordon had been sent under a strong
guard to the Tower； others that an attempt had been made upon
the King’s life； that the soldiers had been again called out； and that
the noise of musketry in a distant part of the town had been
plainly heard within an hour。 As it grew darker； these stories
became more direful and mysterious； and often； when some
frightened passenger ran past with tidings that the rioters were
not far off； and were coming up； the doors were shut and barred；
lower windows made secure； and as much consternation
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
… Page 541…
Barnaby Rudge 542
engendered； as if the city were invaded by a foreign army。
Gashford walked stealthily about； listening to all he heard； and
diffusing or confirming； whenever he had an opportunity； such
false intelligence as suited his own purpose； and； busily occupied
in this way； turned into Holborn for the twentieth time； when a
great many women and children came flying along the street—
often panting and looking back—and the confused murmur of
numerous voices struck upon his ear。 Assured by these tokens；
and by the red light which began to flash upon the houses on
either side； that some of his friends were indeed approaching； he
begged a moment’s shelter at a door which opened as he passed；
and running with some other persons to an upper window； looked
out upon the crowd。
They had torches among them； and the chief faces were
distinctly visible。 That they had been engaged in the destruction of
some building was sufficiently apparent； and that it was a Catholic
place of worship was evident from the spoils they bore as trophies；
which were easily recognisable for the vestments of priests； and
rich fragments of altar furniture。 Covered with soot； and dirt； and
dust； and lime； their garments torn to rags； their hair hanging
wildly about them； their hands and faces jagged and bleeding with
the wounds of rusty nails； Barnaby； Hugh； and Dennis hurried on
before them all； like hideous madmen。 After them； the dense
throng came fighting on： some singing； some shouting in triumph；
some quarrelling among themselves； some menacing the
spectators as they passed； some with great wooden fragments； on
which they spent their rage as if they had been alive； rending them
limb from limb； and hurling the scattered morsels high into the
air； some in a drunken state； unconscious of the hurts they had
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
… Page 542…
Barnaby Rudge 543
received from falling bricks； and stones； and beams； one borne
upon a shutter； in the very midst； covered with a dingy cloth； a
senseless； ghastly heap。 Thus—a vision of coarse faces； with here
and there a blot of flaring； smoky light； a dream of demon heads
and savage eyes； and sticks and iron bars uplifted in the air； and
whirled about； a bewildering horror； in which so much was seen；
and yet so little； which seemed so long； and yet so short； in which
there were so many phantoms； not to be forgotten all through life；
and yet so many things that could not be observed in one
distracting glimpse—it flitted onward； and was gone。
As it passed away upon its work of wrath and ruin； a piercing
scream was heard。 A knot of persons ran towards the spot；
Gashford； who just then emerged into the street； among them。 He
was on the outskirts of the little concourse； and could not see or
hear what passed within； but one who had a better place； informed
him that a widow woman had descried her son among the rioters。
‘Is that all？’ said the secretary； turning his face homewards。
‘Well！ I think this looks a little more like business！’
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
… Page 543…
Barnaby Rudge 544
Chapter 51
romising as these outrages were to Gashford’s view； and
Pmuch like business as they looked； they extended that
night no farther。 The soldiers were again called out； again
they took half…a…dozen prisoners； and again the crowd dispersed
after a short and bloodless scuffle。 Hot and drunken though they
were； they had not yet broken all bounds and set all law and
government at defiance。 Something of their habitual deference to
the authority erected by society for its own preservation yet
remained among them； and had its majesty been vindicated in
time； the secretary would have had to digest a bitter
disappointment。
By midnight； the streets were clear and quiet； and； save that
there stood in two parts of the town a heap of nodding walls and
pile of rubbish； where there had been at sunset a rich and
handsome building； everything wore its usual aspect。 Even the
Catholic gentry and tradesmen； of whom there were many
resident in different parts of the City and its suburbs； had no fear
for their lives or property； and but little indignation for the wrong
they had already sustained in the plunder and destruction of their
temples of worship。 An honest confidence in the government
under whose protection they had lived for many years； and a well…
founded reliance on the good feeling and right thinking of the
great mass of the community； with whom； notwithstanding their
religious differences； they were every day in habits of confidential；
affectionate； and friendly intercourse； reassured them； even under
the excesses that had been committed； and convinced them that
they who were Protestants in anything but the name； were no
Charles Dickens
