barnaby rudge(巴纳比·卢杰)-第133章
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glass and breaking in the frames。 After dealing a few stout blows
about him； he found himself defenceless； in the midst of a furious
crowd； which overflowed the room and softened off in a confused
heap of faces at the door and window。
They were very wrathful with him （for he had wounded two
men）； and even called out to those in front； to bring him forth and
hang him on a lamp…post。 But Gabriel was quite undaunted； and
looked from Hugh and Dennis； who held him by either arm； to
Simon Tappertit； who confronted him。
‘You have robbed me of my daughter；’ said the locksmith； ‘who
is far dearer to me than my life； and you may take my life； if you
will。 I bless God that I have been enabled to keep my wife free of
this scene； and that He has made me a man who will not ask
mercy at such hands as yours。’
‘And a wery game old gentleman you are；’ said Mr Dennis；
approvingly； ‘and you express yourself like a man。 What’s the
odds； brother； whether it’s a lamp…post to…night； or a feather…bed
ten year to come； eh？’
The locksmith glanced at him disdainfully； but returned no
other answer。
‘For my part；’ said the hangman； who particularly favoured the
lamp…post suggestion； ‘I honour your principles。 They’re mine
exactly。 In such sentiments as them；’ and here he emphasised his
discourse with an oath； ‘I’m ready to meet you or any man
halfway。—Have you got a bit of cord anywheres handy？ Don’t put
yourself out of the way； if you haven’t。 A handkecher will do。’
‘Don’t be a fool； master；’ whispered Hugh； seizing Varden
roughly by the shoulder； ‘but do as you’re bid。 You’ll soon hear
what you’re wanted for。 Do it！’
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‘I’ll do nothing at your request； or that of any scoundrel here；’
returned the locksmith。 ‘If you want any service from me； you may
spare yourselves the pains of telling me what it is。 I tell you；
beforehand； I’ll do nothing for you。’
Mr Dennis was so affected by this constancy on the part of the
staunch old man； that he protested—almost with tears in his
eyes—that to baulk his inclinations would be an act of cruelty and
hard dealing to which he； for one； never could reconcile his
conscience。 The gentleman； he said； had avowed in so many words
that he was ready for working off； such being the case； he
considered it their duty； as a civilised and enlightened crowd； to
work him off。 It was not often； he observed； that they had it in
their power to accommodate themselves to the wishes of those
from whom they had the misfortune to differ。 Having now found
an individual who expressed a desire which they could reasonably
indulge （and for himself he was free to confess that in his opinion
that desire did honour to his feelings）； he hoped they would decide
to accede to his proposition before going any further。 It was an
experiment which； skilfully and dexterously performed； would be
over in five minutes； with great comfort and satisfaction to all
parties； and though it did not become him （Mr Dennis） to speak
well of himself he trusted he might be allowed to say that he had
practical knowledge of the subject； and； being naturally of an
obliging and friendly disposition； would work the gentleman off
with a deal of pleasure。
These remarks； which were addressed in the midst of a frightful
din and turmoil to those immediately about him； were received
with great favour； not so much； perhaps； because of the
hangman’s eloquence； as on account of the locksmith’s obstinacy。
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Barnaby Rudge 678
Gabriel was in imminent peril； and he knew it； but he preserved a
steady silence； and would have done so； if they had been debating
whether they should roast him at a slow fire。
As the hangman spoke； there was some stir and confusion on
the ladder； and directly he was silent—so immediately upon his
holding his peace； that the crowd below had no time to learn what
he had been saying； or to shout in response—some one at the
window cried：
‘He has a grey head。 He is an old man： Don’t hurt him！’
The locksmith turned； with a start； towards the place from
which the words had come； and looked hurriedly at the people
who were hanging on the ladder and clinging to each other。
‘Pay no respect to my grey hair； young man；’ he said； answering
the voice and not any one he saw。 ‘I don’t ask it。 My heart is green
enough to scorn and despise every man among you； band of
robbers that you are！’
This incautious speech by no means tended to appease the
ferocity of the crowd。 They cried again to have him brought out；
and it would have gone hard with the honest locksmith； but that
Hugh reminded them； in answer； that they wanted his services；
and must have them。
‘So； tell him what we want；’ he said to Simon Tappertit； ‘and
quickly。 And open your ears； master； if you would ever use them
after to…night。’
Gabriel folded his arms； which were now at liberty； and eyed
his old ’prentice in silence。
‘Lookye； Varden；’ said Sim； ‘we’re bound for Newgate。’
‘I know you are；’ returned the locksmith。 ‘You never said a
truer word than that。’
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‘To burn it down； I mean；’ said Simon； ‘and force the gates； and
set the prisoners at liberty。 You helped to make the lock of the
great door。’
‘I did；’ said the locksmith。 ‘You owe me no thanks for that—as
you’ll find before long。’
‘Maybe；’ returned his journeyman； ‘but you must show us how
to force it。’
‘Must I！’
‘Yes； for you know； and I don’t。 You must come along with us；
and pick it with your own hands。’
‘When I do；’ said the locksmith quietly； ‘my hands shall drop off
at the wrists； and you shall wear them； Simon Tappertit； on your
shoulders for epaulettes。’
‘We’ll see that；’ cried Hugh； interposing； as the indignation of
the crowd again burst forth。 ‘You fill a basket with the tools he’ll
want； while I bring him downstairs。 Open the doors below； some of
you。 And light the great captain； others！ Is there no business afoot；
my lads； that you can do nothing but stand and grumble？’
They looked at one another； and quickly dispersing； swarmed
over the house； plundering and breaking； according to their
custom； and carrying off such articles of value as happened to
please their fancy。 They had no great length of time for these
proceedings； for the basket of tools was soon prepared and slung
over a man’s shoulders。 The preparations being now completed；
and everything ready for the attack； those who were pillaging and
destroying in the other rooms were called down to the workshop。
They were about to issue forth； when the man who had been last
upstairs； stepped forward； and asked if the young woman in the
garret （who was making a terrible noise； he said； and kept on
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screaming without the least cessation） was to be released？
For his own part； Simon Tappertit would certainly have replied
in the negative； but the mass of his companions； mindful of the
good service she had done in the matter of the gun； being of a
different opinion； he had nothing for it but to answer； Yes。 The
man； accordingly； went back again to the rescue； and presently
returned with Miss Miggs； limp and doubled up； and very damp
from much weeping。
As the young lady had given no tokens of consciousness on
their way downstairs； the bearer reported her either dead or
dying； and being at some loss what to do with her； was looking
round for a convenient bench or heap of ashes on which to place
her senseless form； when she suddenly came upon her feet by
some mysterious means； thrust back her hair； stared wildly at Mr
Tappertit； cried； ‘My Simmuns’s life is not a wictim！’ and dropped
into his arms with such promptitude that he staggered and reeled
some paces back； beneath his lovely burden。
‘Oh bother！’ said Mr Tappertit。 ‘Here。 Catch hold of her；
somebody。 Lock her up again； she never ought to have been let
out。’
‘My Simmun！’ cried Miss Miggs； in tears； and faintly。 ‘My for
ever； ever blessed Simmun！’
‘Hold up； will you；’ said Mr Tappertit； in a very unresponsive
tone； ‘I’ll let you fall if you don’t。 What are you sliding your feet off
the ground for？’
‘My angel Simmuns！’ murmured Miggs—‘he promised—’
‘Promised！ Well； and I’ll keep my promise；’ answered Simon；
testily。 ‘I mean to provide for you； don’t I？ Stand up！’
‘Where am I to go？ What is to become of me after my actions of
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