barnaby rudge(巴纳比·卢杰)-第146章
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way to have him lost； as soon as found？’
‘Would you have had me come myself？’ returned the other。
‘Humph！ Perhaps not。 I was before the jail on Tuesday night；
but missed you in the crowd。 I was out last night； too。 There was
good work last night—gay work—profitable work’—he added；
rattling the money in his pockets。
‘Have you—’
—‘Seen your good lady？ Yes。’
‘Do you mean to tell me more； or not？’
‘I’ll tell you all；’ returned the blind man； with a laugh。 ‘Excuse
me—but I love to see you so impatient。 There’s energy in it。’
‘Does she consent to say the word that may save me？’
‘No；’ returned the blind man emphatically； as he turned his face
towards him。 ‘No。 Thus it is。 She has been at death’s door since
she lost her darling—has been insensible； and I know not what。 I
tracked her to a hospital； and presented myself （with your leave） at
her bedside。 Our talk was not a long one； for she was weak； and
there being people near I was not quite easy。 But I told her all that
you and I agreed upon； and pointed out the young gentleman’s
position； in strong terms。 She tried to soften me； but that； of
course （as I told her）； was lost time。 She cried and moaned； you
may be sure； all women do。 Then； of a sudden； she found her voice
and strength； and said that Heaven would help her and her
innocent son； and that to Heaven she appealed against us—which
she did； in really very pretty language； I assure you。 I advised her；
as a friend； not to count too much on assistance from any such
distant quarter—recommended her to think of it—told her where I
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lived—said I knew she would send to me before noon； next day—
and left her； either in a faint or shamming。’
When he had concluded this narration； during which he had
made several pauses； for the convenience of cracking and eating
nuts； of which he seemed to have a pocketful； the blind man pulled
a flask from his pocket； took a draught himself； and offered it to
his companion。
‘You won’t； won’t you？’ he said； feeling that he pushed it from
him。 ‘Well！ Then the gallant gentleman who’s lodging with you；
will。 Hallo； bully！’
‘Death！’ said the other； holding him back。 ‘Will you tell me what
I am to do！’
‘Do！ Nothing easier。 Make a moonlight flitting in two hours’
time with the young gentleman （he’s quite ready to go； I have been
giving him good advice as we came along）； and get as far from
London as you can。 Let me know where you are； and leave the rest
to me。 She must come round； she can’t hold out long； and as to the
chances of your being retaken in the meanwhile； why it wasn’t one
man who got out of Newgate； but three hundred。 Think of that； for
your comfort。’
‘We must support life。 How？’
‘How！’ repeated the blind man。 ‘By eating and drinking。 And
how get meat and drink； but by paying for it！ Money！’ he cried；
slapping his pocket。 ‘Is money the word？ Why； the streets have
been running money。 Devil send that the sport’s not over yet； for
these are jolly times； golden； rare； roaring； scrambling times。
Hallo； bully！ Hallo！ Hallo！ Drink； bully； drink。 Where are ye there！
Hallo！’
With such vociferations； and with a boisterous manner which
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bespoke his perfect abandonment to the general licence and
disorder； he groped his way towards the shed； where Hugh and
Barnaby were sitting on the ground。
‘Put it about！’ he cried； handing his flask to Hugh。 ‘The kennels
run with wine and gold。 Guineas and strong water flow from the
very pumps。 About with it； don’t spare it！’
Exhausted； unwashed； unshorn； begrimed with smoke and
dust； his hair clotted with blood； his voice quite gone； so that he
spoke in whispers； his skin parched up by fever； his whole body
bruised and cut； and beaten about； Hugh still took the flask； and
raised it to his lips。 He was in the act of drinking； when the front of
the shed was suddenly darkened； and Dennis stood before them。
‘No offence； no offence；’ said that personage in a conciliatory
tone； as Hugh stopped in his draught； and eyed him； with no
pleasant look； from head to foot。 ‘No offence； brother。 Barnaby
here too； eh？ How are you； Barnaby？ And two other gentlemen！
Your humble servant； gentlemen。 No offence to you either； I hope。
Eh； brothers？’
Notwithstanding that he spoke in this very friendly and
confident manner； he seemed to have considerable hesitation
about entering； and remained outside the roof。 He was rather
better dressed than usual： wearing the same suit of threadbare
black； it is true； but having round his neck an unwholesome…
looking cravat of a yellowish white； and； on his hands； great
leather gloves； such as a gardener might wear in following his
trade。 His shoes were newly greased； and ornamented with a pair
of rusty iron buckles； the packthread at his knees had been
renewed； and where he wanted buttons； he wore pins。 Altogether；
he had something the look of a tipstaff； or a bailiff’s follower；
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desperately faded； but who had a notion of keeping up the
appearance of a professional character； and making the best of the
worst means。
‘You’re very snug here；’ said Mr Dennis； pulling out a mouldy
pocket…handkerchief； which looked like a decomposed halter； and
wiping his forehead in a nervous manner。
‘Not snug enough to prevent your finding us； it seems；’ Hugh
answered； sulkily。
‘Why I’ll tell you what； brother；’ said Dennis； with a friendly
smile； ‘when you don’t want me to know which way you’re riding；
you must wear another sort of bells on your horse。 Ah！ I know the
sound of them you wore last night； and have got quick ears for
’em； that’s the truth。 Well； but how are you； brother？’
He had by this time approached； and now ventured to sit down
by him。
‘How am I？’ answered Hugh。 ‘Where were you yesterday？
Where did you go when you left me in the jail？ Why did you leave
me？ And what did you mean by rolling your eyes and shaking
your fist at me； eh？’
‘I shake my fist！—at you； brother！’ said Dennis； gently checking
Hugh’s uplifted hand； which looked threatening。
‘Your stick； then； it’s all one。’
‘Lord love you； brother； I meant nothing。 You don’t understand
me by half。 I shouldn’t wonder now；’ he added； in the tone of a
desponding and an injured man； ‘but you thought； because I
wanted them chaps left in the prison； that I was a going to desert
the banners？’
Hugh told him； with an oath； that he had thought so。
‘Well！’ said Mr Dennis； mournfully； ‘if you an’t enough to make
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a man mistrust his feller…creeturs； I don’t know what is。 Desert the
banners！ Me！ Ned Dennis； as was so christened by his own
father！—Is this axe your’n； brother？’
Yes； it’s mine；’ said Hugh； in the same sullen manner as before；
‘it might have hurt you； if you had come in its way once or twice
last night。 Put it down。’
‘Might have hurt me！’ said Mr Dennis； still keeping it in his
hand； and feeling the edge with an air of abstraction。 ‘Might have
hurt me！ and me exerting myself all the time to the wery best
advantage。 Here’s a world！ And you’re not a…going to ask me to
take a sup out of that ’ere bottle； eh？’
Hugh passed it towards him。 As he raised it to his lips； Barnaby
jumped up； and motioning them to be silent； looked eagerly out。
‘What’s the matter； Barnaby？’ said Dennis； glancing at Hugh
and dropping the flask； but still holding the axe in his hand。
‘Hush！’ he answered softly。 ‘What do I see glittering behind the
hedge？’
‘What！’ cried the hangman； raising his voice to its highest pitch；
and laying hold of him and Hugh。 ‘Not soldiers； surely！’
That moment； the shed was filled with armed men； and a body
of horse； galloping into the field； drew up before it。
‘There！’ said Dennis； who remained untouched among them
when they had seized their prisoners； ‘it’s them two young ones；
gentlemen； that the proclamation puts a price on。 This other’s an
escaped felon。—I’m sorry for it； brother；’ he added； in a tone of
resignation； addressing himself to Hugh； ‘but you’ve brought it on
yourself； you forced me to do it； you wouldn’t respect the soundest
constitootional principles； you know； you went and wiolated the
wery framework of society。 I had sooner have given away a trifle in
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charity than done this； I would upon my soul。—If you’ll keep fast
hold on ’em； gentlemen； I think I can make a shift to tie ’em better
than you can。’
But this operation was postponed for a few moments by a new
occurrence。
