barnaby rudge(巴纳比·卢杰)-第131章
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‘Death！ does that matter now！’
‘—You are impatient；’ said the blind man； calmly； ‘it’s a good
sign； and looks like life—that your son Barnaby had been lured
away from her by one of his companions who knew him of old； at
Chigwell； and that he is now among the rioters。’
‘And what is that to me？ If father and son be hanged together；
what comfort shall I find in that？’
‘Stay—stay； my friend；’ returned the blind man； with a cunning
look； ‘you travel fast to journeys’ ends。 Suppose I track my lady
out； and say thus much： “You want your son； ma’am—good。 I；
knowing those who tempt him to remain among them； can restore
him to you； ma’am—good。 You must pay a price； ma’am； for his
restoration—good again。 The price is small； and easy to be paid—
dear ma’am； that’s best of all。”’
‘What mockery is this？’
‘Very likely； she may reply in those words。 “No mockery at all；”
I answer： “Madam； a person said to be your husband （identity is
difficult of proof after the lapse of many years） is in prison； his life
in peril—the charge against him； murder。 Now； ma’am； your
husband has been dead a long； long time。 The gentleman never
can be confounded with him； if you will have the goodness to say a
few words； on oath； as to when he died； and how； and that this
person （who I am told resembles him in some degree） is no more
he than I am。 Such testimony will set the question quite at rest。
Pledge yourself to me to give it； ma’ am； and I will undertake to
keep your son （a fine lad） out of harm’s way until you have done
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this trifling service； when he shall he delivered up to you； safe and
sound。 On the other hand； if you decline to do so； I fear he will be
betrayed； and handed over to the law； which will assuredly
sentence him to suffer death。 It is； in fact； a choice between his life
and death。 If you refuse； he swings。 If you comply； the timber is
not grown； nor the hemp sown； that shall do him any harm。”’
‘There is a gleam of hope in this！’ cried the prisoner。
‘A gleam！’ returned his friend； ‘a noon…blaze； a full and glorious
daylight。 Hush！ I hear the tread of distant feet。 Rely on me。’
‘When shall I hear more？’
‘As soon as I do。 I should hope； to…morrow。 They are coming to
say that our time for talk is over。 I hear the jingling of the keys。
Not another word of this just now； or they may overhear us。’
As he said these words； the lock was turned； and one of the
prison turnkeys appearing at the door； announced that it was time
for visitors to leave the jail。
‘So soon！’ said Stagg； meekly。 ‘But it can’t be helped。 Cheer up；
friend。 This mistake will soon be set at rest； and then you are a
man again！ If this charitable gentleman will lead a blind man （who
has nothing in return but prayers） to the prison…porch； and set him
with his face towards the west； he will do a worthy deed。 Thank
you； good sir。 I thank you very kindly。’
So saying； and pausing for an instant at the door to turn his
grinning face towards his friend； he departed。
When the officer had seen him to the porch； he returned； and
again unlocking and unbarring the door of the cell； set it wide
open； informing its inmate that he was at liberty to walk in the
adjacent yard； if he thought proper； for an hour。 The prisoner
answered with a sullen nod； and being left alone again； sat
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brooding over what he had heard； and pondering upon the hopes
the recent conversation had awakened； gazing abstractedly； the
while he did so； on the light without； and watching the shadows
thrown by one wall on another； and on the stone…paved ground。
It was a dull； square yard； made cold and gloomy by high walls；
and seeming to chill the very sunlight。 The stone； so bare； and
rough； and obdurate； filled even him with longing thoughts of
meadow…land and trees； and with a burning wish to be at liberty。
As he looked； he rose； and leaning against the door…post； gazed up
at the bright blue sky； smiling even on that dreary home of crime。
He seemed； for a moment； to remember lying on his back in some
sweet…scented place； and gazing at it through moving branches；
long ago。
His attention was suddenly attracted by a clanking sound—he
knew what it was； for he had startled himself by making the same
noise in walking to the door。 Presently a voice began to sing； and
he saw the shadow of a figure on the pavement。 It stopped—was
silent all at once； as though the person for a moment had forgotten
where he was； but soon remembered—and so； with the same
clanking noise； the shadow disappeared。
He walked out into the court and paced it to and fro； startling
the echoes； as he went； with the harsh jangling of his fetters。 There
was a door near his； which； like his； stood ajar。
He had not taken half…a…dozen turns up and down the yard；
when； standing still to observe this door； he heard the clanking
sound again。 A face looked out of the grated window—he saw it
very dimly； for the cell was dark and the bars were heavy—and
directly afterwards； a man appeared； and came towards him。
For the sense of loneliness he had； he might have been in jail a
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year。 Made eager by the hope of companionship； he quickened his
pace； and hastened to meet the man half way—
What was this！ His son！
They stood face to face； staring at each other。 He shrinking and
cowed； despite himself； Barnaby struggling with his imperfect
memory； and wondering where he had seen that face before。 He
was not uncertain long； for suddenly he laid hands upon him； and
striving to bear him to the ground； cried：
‘Ah！ I know！ You are the robber！’
He said nothing in reply at first； but held down his head； and
struggled with him silently。 Finding the younger man too strong
for him； he raised his face； looked close into his eyes； and said；
‘I am your father。’
God knows what magic the name had for his ears； but Barnaby
released his hold； fell back； and looked at him aghast。 Suddenly he
sprung towards him； put his arms about his neck； and pressed his
head against his cheek。
Yes； yes； he was； he was sure he was。 But where had he been so
long； and why had he left his mother by herself； or worse than by
herself； with her poor foolish boy？ And had she really been as
happy as they said？ And where was she？ Was she near there？ She
was not happy now； and he in jail？ Ah； no。
Not a word was said in answer； but Grip croaked loudly； and
hopped about them； round and round； as if enclosing them in a
magic circle； and invoking all the powers of mischief。
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Chapter 63
uring the whole of this day； every regiment in or near the
metropolis was on duty in one or other part of the town；
D
and the regulars and militia； in obedience to the orders
which were sent to every barrack and station within twenty…four
hours’ journey； began to pour in by all the roads。 But the
disturbance had attained to such a formidable height； and the
rioters had grown； with impunity； to be so audacious； that the
sight of this great force； continually augmented by new arrivals；
instead of operating as a check； stimulated them to outrages of
greater hardihood than any they had yet committed； and helped to
kindle a flame in London； the like of which had never been beheld；
even in its ancient and rebellious times。
All yesterday； and on this day likewise； the commander…in…chief
endeavoured to arouse the magistrates to a sense of their duty；
and in particular the Lord Mayor； who was the faintest…hearted
and most timid of them all。 With this object； large bodies of the
soldiery were several times despatched to the Mansion House to
await his orders： but as he could； by no threats or persuasions； be
induced to give any； and as the men remained in the open street；
fruitlessly for any good purpose； and thrivingly for a very bad one；
these laudable attempts did harm rather than good。 For the
crowd； becoming speedily acquainted with the Lord Mayor’s
temper； did not fail to take advantage of it by boasting that even
the civil authorities were opposed to the Papists； and could not
find it in their hearts to molest those who were guilty of no other
offence。 These vaunts they took care to make within the hearing of
the soldiers； and they； being naturally loth to quarrel with the
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people； received their advances kindly enough： answering； when
they were asked if they desired to fire upon their countrymen； ‘No；
they would be damned if they did；’ and showing much honest
simplicity and good nature。 The feeling that t
