barnaby rudge(巴纳比·卢杰)-第12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！
little carbuncle on his nose。 Having now completed his toilet； he
placed the fragment of mirror on a low bench； and looked over his
shoulder at so much of his legs as could be reflected in that small
compass； with the greatest possible complacency and satisfaction。
Sim； as he was called in the locksmith’s family； or Mr Simon
Tappertit； as he called himself； and required all men to style him
out of doors； on holidays； and Sundays out；—was an old…fashioned；
thin…faced； sleek…haired； sharp…nosed； small…eyed little fellow； very
little more than five feet high； and thoroughly convinced in his
own mind that he was above the middle size； rather tall； in fact；
than otherwise。 Of his figure； which was well enough formed；
though somewhat of the leanest； he entertained the highest
admiration； and with his legs； which； in knee…breeches； were
perfect curiosities of littleness； he was enraptured to a degree
amounting to enthusiasm。 He also had some majestic； shadowy
ideas； which had never been quite fathomed by his intimate
friends； concerning the power of his eye。 Indeed he had been
known to go so far as to boast that he could utterly quell and
subdue the haughtiest beauty by a simple process； which he
termed ‘eyeing her over；’ but it must be added； that neither of this
faculty； nor of the power he claimed to have； through the same
gift； of vanquishing and heaving down dumb animals； even in a
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
… Page 59…
Barnaby Rudge 60
rabid state； had he ever furnished evidence which could be
deemed quite satisfactory and conclusive。
It may be inferred from these premises； that in the small body
of Mr Tappertit there was locked up an ambitious and aspiring
soul。 As certain liquors； confined in casks too cramped in their
dimensions； will ferment； and fret； and chafe in their
imprisonment； so the spiritual essence or soul of Mr Tappertit
would sometimes fume within that precious cask； his body； until；
with great foam and froth and splutter； it would force a vent； and
carry all before it。 It was his custom to remark； in reference to any
one of these occasions； that his soul had got into his head； and in
this novel kind of intoxication many scrapes and mishaps befell
him； which he had frequently concealed with no small difficulty
from his worthy master。
Sim Tappertit； among the other fancies upon which his before…
mentioned soul was for ever feasting and regaling itself （and
which fancies； like the liver of Prometheus； grew as they were fed
upon）； had a mighty notion of his order； and had been heard by
the servant…maid openly expressing his regret that the ’prentices
no longer carried clubs wherewith to mace the citizens： that was
his strong expression。 He was likewise reported to have said that
in former times a stigma had been cast upon the body by the
execution of George Barnwell； to which they should not have
basely submitted； but should have demanded him of the
legislature—temperately at first； then by an appeal to arms； if
necessary—to be dealt with as they in their wisdom might think
fit。 These thoughts always led him to consider what a glorious
engine the ’prentices might yet become if they had but a master
spirit at their head； and then he would darkly； and to the terror of
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
… Page 60…
Barnaby Rudge 61
his hearers； hint at certain reckless fellows that he knew of； and at
a certain Lion Heart ready to become their captain； who； once
afoot； would make the Lord Mayor tremble on his throne。
In respect of dress and personal decoration； Sim Tappertit was
no less of an adventurous and enterprising character。 He had been
seen； beyond dispute； to pull off ruffles of the finest quality at the
corner of the street on Sunday nights； and to put them carefully in
his pocket before returning home； and it was quite notorious that
on all great holiday occasions it was his habit to exchange his plain
steel knee…buckles for a pair of glittering paste； under cover of a
friendly post； planted most conveniently in that same spot。 Add to
this that he was in years just twenty； in his looks much older； and
in conceit at least two hundred； that he had no objection to be
jested with； touching his admiration of his master’s daughter； and
had even； when called upon at a certain obscure tavern to pledge
the lady whom he honoured with his love； toasted； with many
winks and leers； a fair creature whose Christian name； he said；
began with a D—；—and as much is known of Sim Tappertit； who
has by this time followed the locksmith in to breakfast； as is
necessary to be known in making his acquaintance。
It was a substantial meal； for； over and above the ordinary tea
equipage； the board creaked beneath the weight of a jolly round of
beef； a ham of the first magnitude； and sundry towers of buttered
Yorkshire cake； piled slice upon slice in most alluring order。 There
was also a goodly jug of well…browned clay； fashioned into the form
of an old gentleman； not by any means unlike the locksmith； atop
of whose bald head was a fine white froth answering to his wig；
indicative； beyond dispute； of sparkling home…brewed ale。 But；
better far than fair home…brewed； or Yorkshire cake； or ham； or
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
… Page 61…
Barnaby Rudge 62
beef； or anything to eat or drink that earth or air or water can
supply； there sat； presiding over all； the locksmith’s rosy daughter；
before whose dark eyes even beef grew insignificant； and malt
became as nothing。
Fathers should never kiss their daughters when young men are
by。 It’s too much。 There are bounds to human endurance。 So
thought Sim Tappertit when Gabriel drew those rosy lips to his—
those lips within Sim’s reach from day to day； and yet so far off。 He
had a respect for his master； but he wished the Yorkshire cake
might choke him。
‘Father；’ said the locksmith’s daughter； when this salute was
over； and they took their seats at table； ‘what is this I hear about
last night？’
‘All true； my dear； true as the Gospel； Doll。’
‘Young Mr Chester robbed； and lying wounded in the road；
when you came up！’
‘Ay—Mr Edward。 And beside him； Barnaby； calling for help
with all his might。 It was well it happened as it did； for the road’s a
lonely one； the hour was late； and； the night being cold； and poor
Barnaby even less sensible than usual from surprise and fright；
the young gentleman might have met his death in a very short
time。’
‘I dread to think of it！’ cried his daughter with a shudder。 ‘How
did you know him？’
‘Know him！’ returned the locksmith。 ‘I didn’t know him—how
could I？ I had never seen him； often as I had heard and spoken of
him。 I took him to Mrs Rudge’s； and she no sooner saw him than
the truth came out。’
‘Miss Emma； father—If this news should reach her； enlarged
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
… Page 62…
Barnaby Rudge 63
upon as it is sure to be； she will go distracted。’
‘Why； lookye there again； how a man suffers for being good…
natured；’ said the locksmith。 ‘Miss Emma was with her uncle at
the masquerade at Carlisle House； where she had gone； as the
people at the Warren told me； sorely against her will。 What does
your blockhead father when he and Mrs Rudge have laid their
heads together； but goes there when he ought to be abed； makes
interest with his friend the doorkeeper； slips him on a mask and
domino； and mixes with the masquers。’
‘And like himself to do so！’ cried the girl； putting her fair arm
round his neck； and giving him a most enthusiastic kiss。
‘Like himself！’ repeated Gabriel； affecting to grumble； but
evidently delighted with the part he had taken； and with her
praise。 ‘Very like himself—so your mother said。 However； he
mingled with the crowd； and prettily worried and badgered he
was； I warrant you； with people squeaking； “Don’t you know me？”
and “I’ve found you out；” and all that kind of nonsense in his ears。
He might have wandered on till now； but in a little room there was
a young lady who had taken off her mask； on account of the place
being very warm； and was sitting there alone。’
‘And that was she？’ said his daughter hastily。
‘And that was she；’ replied the locksmith； ‘and I no sooner
whispered to her what the matter was—as softly； Doll； and with
nearly as much art as you could have used yourself—than she
gives a kind of scream and faints away。’
‘What did you do—what happened next？’ asked his daughter。
‘Why； the masks came flocking round； with a general noise and
hubbub； and I thought myself in luck to get clear off； that’s all；’
rejoined the locksmith。 ‘What happened when I reached home you
Charles Dickens
