barnaby rudge(巴纳比·卢杰)-第129章
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brother； I succeeded to his inheritance； there were not wanting
slanderous tongues at that time； to whisper that the guilt of this
most foul and cruel deed was mine—mine； who loved him； as he
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knows； in Heaven； dearly。 The time has come； after all these years
of gloom and misery； for avenging him； and bringing to light a
crime so artful and so devilish that it has no parallel。 Every
second’s delay on your part loosens this man’s bloody hands again；
and leads to his escape。 My lord； I charge you hear me； and
despatch this matter on the instant。’
‘Oh dear me！’ cried the chief magistrate； ‘these an’t business
hours； you know—I wonder at you—how ungentlemanly it is of
you—you mustn’t—you really mustn’t。—And I suppose you are a
Catholic too？’
‘I am；’ said Mr Haredale。
‘God bless my soul； I believe people turn Catholics a’purpose to
vex and worrit me；’ cried the Lord Mayor。 ‘I wish you wouldn’t
come here； they’ll be setting the Mansion House afire next； and we
shall have you to thank for it。 You must lock your prisoner up；
sir—give him to a watchman—and—call again at a proper time。
Then we’ll see about it！’
Before Mr Haredale could answer； the sharp closing of a door
and drawing of its bolts； gave notice that the Lord Mayor had
retreated to his bedroom； and that further remonstrance would be
unavailing。 The two clients retreated likewise； and the porter shut
them out into the street。
‘That’s the way he puts me off；’ said the old gentleman； ‘I can
get no redress and no help。 What are you going to do； sir？’
‘To try elsewhere；’ answered Mr Haredale； who was by this
time on horseback。
‘I feel for you； I assure you—and well I may； for we are in a
common cause；’ said the old gentleman。 ‘I may not have a house to
offer you to…night； let me tender it while I can。 On second thoughts
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though；’ he added； putting up a pocket…book he had produced
while speaking； ‘I’ll not give you a card； for if it was found upon
you； it might get you into trouble。 Langdale—that’s my name—
vintner and distiller—Holborn Hill—you’re heartily welcome； if
you’ll come。’
Mr Haredale bowed； and rode off； close beside the chaise as
before； determining to repair to the house of Sir John Fielding；
who had the reputation of being a bold and active magistrate； and
fully resolved； in case the rioters should come upon them； to do
execution on the murderer with his own hands； rather than suffer
him to be released。
They arrived at the magistrate’s dwelling； however； without
molestation （for the mob； as we have seen； were then intent on
deeper schemes）； and knocked at the door。 As it had been pretty
generally rumoured that Sir John was proscribed by the rioters； a
body of thief…takers had been keeping watch in the house all night。
To one of them Mr Haredale stated his business； which appearing
to the man of sufficient moment to warrant his arousing the
justice； procured him an immediate audience。
No time was lost in committing the murderer to Newgate； then
a new building； recently completed at a vast expense； and
considered to be of enormous strength。 The warrant being made
out； three of the thief…takers bound him afresh （he had been
struggling； it seemed； in the chaise； and had loosened his
manacles）； gagged him lest they should meet with any of the mob；
and he should call to them for help； and seated themselves； along
with him； in the carriage。 These men being all well armed； made a
formidable escort； but they drew up the blinds again； as though
the carriage were empty； and directed Mr Haredale to ride
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forward； that he might not attract attention by seeming to belong
to it。
The wisdom of this proceeding was sufficiently obvious； for as
they hurried through the city they passed among several groups of
men； who； if they had not supposed the chaise to be quite empty；
would certainly have stopped it。 But those within keeping quite
close； and the driver tarrying to be asked no questions； they
reached the prison without interruption； and； once there； had him
out； and safe within its gloomy walls； in a twinkling。
With eager eyes and strained attention； Mr Haredale saw him
chained； and locked and barred up in his cell。 Nay； when he had
left the jail； and stood in the free street； without； he felt the iron
plates upon the doors； with his hands； and drew them over the
stone wall； to assure himself that it was real； and to exult in its
being so strong； and rough； and cold。 It was not until he turned his
back upon the jail； and glanced along the empty streets； so lifeless
and quiet in the bright morning； that he felt the weight upon his
heart； that he knew he was tortured by anxiety for those he had
left at home； and that home itself was but another bead in the long
rosary of his regrets。
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Chapter 62
he prisoner； left to himself； sat down upon his bedstead：
and resting his elbows on his knees； and his chin upon his
T
hands； remained in that attitude for hours。 It would be
hard to say； of what nature his reflections were。 They had no
distinctness； and； saving for some flashes now and then； no
reference to his condition or the train of circumstances by which it
had been brought about。 The cracks in the pavement of his cell；
the chinks in the wall where stone was joined to stone； the bars in
the window； the iron ring upon the floor；—such things as these；
subsiding strangely into one another； and awakening an
indescribable kind of interest and amusement； engrossed his
whole mind； and although at the bottom of his every thought there
was an uneasy sense of guilt； and dread of death； he felt no more
than that vague consciousness of it； which a sleeper has of pain。 It
pursues him through his dreams； gnaws at the heart of all his
fancied pleasures； robs the banquet of its taste； music of its
sweetness； makes happiness itself unhappy； and yet is no bodily
sensation； but a phantom without shape； or form； or visible
presence； pervading everything； but having no existence；
recognisable everywhere； but nowhere seen； or touched； or met
with face to face； until the sleep is past； and waking agony returns。
After a long time the door of his cell opened。 He looked up； saw
the blind man enter； and relapsed into his former position。
Guided by his breathing； the visitor advanced to where he sat；
and stopping beside him； and stretching out his hand to assure
himself that he was right； remained； for a good space； silent。
‘This is bad； Rudge。 This is bad；’ he said at length。
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The prisoner shuffled with his feet upon the ground in turning
his body from him； but made no other answer。
‘How were you taken？’ he asked。 ‘And where？ You never told
me more than half your secret。 No matter； I know it now。 How was
it； and where； eh？’ he asked again； coming still nearer to him。
‘At Chigwell；’ said the other。
‘At Chigwell！ How came you there？’
‘Because I went there to avoid the man I stumbled on；’ he
answered。 ‘Because I was chased and driven there； by him and
Fate。 Because I was urged to go there； by something stronger than
my own will。 When I found him watching in the house she used to
live in； night after night； I knew I never could escape him—never！
and when I heard the Bell—’
He shivered； muttered that it was very cold； paced quickly up
and down the narrow cell； and sitting down again； fell into his old
posture。
‘You were saying；’ said the blind man； after another pause； ‘that
when you heard the Bell—’
‘Let it be； will you？’ he retorted in a hurried voice。 ‘It hangs
there yet。’
The blind man turned a wistful and inquisitive face towards
him； but he continued to speak； without noticing him。
‘I went to Chigwell； in search of the mob。 I have been so hunted
and beset by this man； that I knew my only hope of safety lay in
joining them。 They had gone on before； I followed them when it
left off。’
‘When what left off？’
‘The Bell。 They had quitted the place。 I hoped that some of
them might be still lingering among the ruins； and was searching
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for them when I heard—’ he drew a long breath； and wiped his
forehead with his sleeve—‘his voice。’
‘Sayin
