barnaby rudge(巴纳比·卢杰)-第157章
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Hugh； who had dragged away the chair； and aimed a blow at him
with it； checked himself； and bade him get up。
‘I’ll get up certainly； brother；’ cried Dennis； anxious to
propitiate him by any means in his power。 ‘I’ll comply with any
request of yours； I’m sure。 There—I’m up now。 What can I do for
you？ Only say the word； and I’ll do it。’
‘What can you do for me！’ cried Hugh； clutching him by the
collar with both hands； and shaking him as though he were bent
on stopping his breath by that means。 ‘What have you done for
me？’
‘The best。 The best that could be done；’ returned the hangman。
Hugh made him no answer； but shaking him in his strong grip
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until his teeth chattered in his head； cast him down upon the floor；
and flung himself on the bench again。
‘If it wasn’t for the comfort it is to me； to see you here；’ he
muttered； ‘I’d have crushed your head against it； I would。’
It was some time before Dennis had breath enough to speak；
but as soon as he could resume his propitiatory strain； he did so。
‘I did the best that could be done； brother；’ he whined； ‘I did
indeed。 I was forced with two bayonets and I don’t know how
many bullets on each side of me； to point you out。 If you hadn’t
been taken； you’d have been shot； and what a sight that would
have been—a fine young man like you！’
‘Will it be a better sight now？’ asked Hugh； raising his head；
with such a fierce expression； that the other durst not answer him
just then。
‘A deal better；’ said Dennis meekly； after a pause。 ‘First； there’s
all the chances of the law； and they’re five hundred strong。 We
may get off scot…free。 Unlikelier things than that have come to
pass。 Even if we shouldn’t； and the chances fail； we can but be
worked off once： and when it’s well done； it’s so neat； so skilful； so
captiwating； if that don’t seem too strong a word； that you’d hardly
believe it could be brought to sich perfection。 Kill one’s fellow…
creeturs off； with muskets！—Pah！’ and his nature so revolted at
the bare idea； that he spat upon the dungeon pavement。
His warming on this topic； which to one unacquainted with his
pursuits and tastes appeared like courage； together with his artful
suppression of his own secret hopes； and mention of himself as
being in the same condition with Hugh； did more to soothe that
ruffian than the most elaborate arguments could have done； or the
most abject submission。 He rested his arms upon his knees； and
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stooping forward； looked from beneath his shaggy hair at Dennis；
with something of a smile upon his face。
‘The fact is； brother；’ said the hangman； in a tone of greater
confidence； ‘that you got into bad company。 The man that was
with you was looked after more than you； and it was him I wanted。
As to me； what have I got by it？ Here we are； in one and the same
plight。’
‘Lookee； rascal；’ said Hugh； contracting his brows； ‘I’m not
altogether such a shallow blade but I know you expected to get
something by it； or you wouldn’t have done it。 But it’s done； and
you’re here； and it will soon be all over with you and me； and I’d as
soon die as live； or live as die。 Why should I trouble myself to have
revenge on you？ To eat； and drink； and go to sleep； as long as I
stay here； is all I care for。 If there was but a little more sun to bask
in； than can find its way into this cursed place； I’d lie in it all day；
and not trouble myself to sit or stand up once。 That’s all the care I
have for myself。 Why should I care for you？’
Finishing this speech with a growl like the yawn of a wild beast；
he stretched himself upon the bench again； and closed his eyes
once more。
After looking at him in silence for some moments； Dennis； who
was greatly relieved to find him in this mood； drew the chair
towards his rough couch and sat down near him—taking the
precaution； however； to keep out of the range of his brawny arm。
‘Well said； brother； nothing could be better said；’ he ventured to
observe。 ‘We’ll eat and drink of the best； and sleep our best； and
make the best of it every way。 Anything can be got for money。
Let’s spend it merrily。’
‘Ay；’ said Hugh； coiling himself into a new position。—‘Where is
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it？’
‘Why； they took mine from me at the lodge；’ said Mr Dennis；
‘but mine’s a peculiar case。’
‘Is it？ They took mine too。’
‘Why then； I tell you what； brother；’ Dennis began。 ‘You must
look up your friends—’
‘My friends！’ cried Hugh； starting up and resting on his hands。
‘Where are my friends？’
‘Your relations then；’ said Dennis。
‘Ha ha ha！’ laughed Hugh； waving one arm above his head。 ‘He
talks of friends to me—talks of relations to a man whose mother
died the death in store for her son； and left him； a hungry brat；
without a face he knew in all the world！ He talks of this to me！’
‘Brother；’ cried the hangman； whose features underwent a
sudden change； ‘you don’t mean to say—’
‘I mean to say；’ Hugh interposed； ‘that they hung her up at
Tyburn。 What was good enough for her； is good enough for me。
Let them do the like by me as soon as they please—the sooner the
better。 Say no more to me。 I’m going to sleep。’
‘But I want to speak to you； I want to hear more about that；’
said Dennis； changing colour。
‘If you’re a wise man；’ growled Hugh； raising his head to look at
him with a frown； ‘you’ll hold your tongue。 I tell you I’m going to
sleep。’
Dennis venturing to say something more in spite of this caution；
the desperate fellow struck at him with all his force； and missing
him； lay down again with many muttered oaths and imprecations；
and turned his face towards the wall。 After two or three ineffectual
twitches at his dress； which he was hardy enough to venture upon；
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notwithstanding his dangerous humour； Mr Dennis； who burnt；
for reasons of his own； to pursue the conversation； had no
alternative but to sit as patiently as he could： waiting his further
pleasure。
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Chapter 75
month has elapsed；—and we stand in the bedchamber of
ASir John Chester。 Through the half…opened window； the
Temple Garden looks green and pleasant； the placid river；
gay with boat and barge； and dimpled with the plash of many an
oar； sparkles in the distance； the sky is blue and clear； and the
summer air steals gently in； filling the room with perfume。 The
very town； the smoky town； is radiant。 High roofs and steeple…tops；
wont to look black and sullen； smile a cheerful grey； every old
gilded vane； and ball； and cross； glitters anew in the bright
morning sun； and； high among them all； St Paul’s towers up；
showing its lofty crest in burnished gold。
Sir John was breakfasting in bed。 His chocolate and toast stood
upon a little table at his elbow； books and newspapers lay ready to
his hand； upon the coverlet； and； sometimes pausing to glance
with an air of tranquil satisfaction round the well…ordered room；
and sometimes to gaze indolently at the summer sky； he ate； and
drank； and read the news luxuriously。
The cheerful influence of the morning seemed to have some
effect； even upon his equable temper。 His manner was unusually
gay； his smile more placid and agreeable than usual； his voice
more clear and pleasant。 He laid down the newspaper he had been
reading； leaned back upon his pillow with the air of one who
resigned himself to a train of charming recollections； and after a
pause； soliloquised as follows：
‘And my friend the centaur； goes the way of his mamma！ I am
not surprised。 And his mysterious friend Mr Dennis； likewise！ I am
not surprised。 And my old postman； the exceedingly free…and…easy
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young madman of Chigwell！ I am quite rejoiced。 It’s the very best
thing that could possibly happen to him。’
After delivering himself of these remarks； he fell again into his
smiling train of reflection； from which he roused himself at length
to finish his chocolate； which was getting cold； and ring the bell for
more。
The new supply arriving； he took the cup from his servant’s
hand； and saying； with a charming affability； ‘I am obliged to you；
Peak；’ dismissed him。
‘It is a remarkable circumstance；’ he mused； dallying lazily with
the teaspoon； ‘that my friend the madman should have been
within an ace of escaping； on his trial； and it was a good stroke of
c
