barnaby rudge(巴纳比·卢杰)-第160章
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pattern on the stick； he had carved some letters； and when the
hangman asked it； he bade him； especially if he should ever meet
with her son in after life； remember that place well。’
‘What place？’
‘Chester。’
The knight finished his cup of chocolate with an appearance of
infinite relish； and carefully wiped his lips upon his handkerchief。
‘Sir John；’ said the locksmith； ‘this is all that has been told to
me； but since these two men have been left for death； they have
conferred together closely。 See them； and hear what they can add。
See this Dennis； and learn from him what he has not trusted to
me。 If you； who hold the clue to all； want corroboration （which you
do not）； the means are easy。’
‘And to what；’ said Sir John Chester； rising on his elbow； after
smoothing the pillow for its reception； ‘my dear； good…natured；
estimable Mr Varden—with whom I cannot be angry if I would—to
what does all this tend？’
‘I take you for a man； Sir John； and I suppose it tends to some
pleading of natural affection in your breast；’ returned the
locksmith。 ‘I suppose to the straining of every nerve； and the
exertion of all the influence you have； or can make； in behalf of
your miserable son； and the man who has disclosed his existence
to you。 At the worst； I suppose to your seeing your son； and
awakening him to a sense of his crime and danger。 He has no such
sense now。 Think what his life must have been； when he said in
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my hearing； that if I moved you to anything； it would be to
hastening his death； and ensuring his silence； if you had it in your
power！’
‘And have you； my good Mr Varden；’ said Sir John in a tone of
mild reproof； ‘have you really lived to your present age； and
remained so very simple and credulous； as to approach a
gentleman of established character with such credentials as these；
from desperate men in their last extremity； catching at any straw？
Oh dear！ Oh fie； fie！’
The locksmith was going to interpose； but he stopped him：
‘On any other subject； Mr Varden； I shall be delighted—I shall
be charmed—to converse with you； but I owe it to my own
character not to pursue this topic for another moment。’
‘Think better of it； sir； when I am gone；’ returned the locksmith；
‘think better of it； sir。 Although you have； thrice within as many
weeks； turned your lawful son； Mr Edward； from your door； you
may have time； you may have years to make your peace with him；
Sir John： but that twelve o’clock will soon be here； and soon be
past for ever。’
‘I thank you very much；’ returned the knight； kissing his
delicate hand to the locksmith； ‘for your guileless advice； and I
only wish； my good soul； although your simplicity is quite
captivating； that you had a little more worldly wisdom。 I never so
much regretted the arrival of my hairdresser as I do at this
moment。 God bless you！ Good morning！ You’ll not forget my
message to the ladies； Mr Varden？ Peak； show Mr Varden to the
door。’
Gabriel said no more； but gave the knight a parting look； and
left him。 As he quitted the room； Sir John’s face changed； and the
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smile gave place to a haggard and anxious expression； like that of
a weary actor jaded by the performance of a difficult part。 He rose
from his bed with a heavy sigh； and wrapped himself in his
morning…gown。
‘So she kept her word；’ he said； ‘and was constant to her threat！
I would I had never seen that dark face of hers；—I might have
read these consequences in it； from the first。 This affair would
make a noise abroad； if it rested on better evidence； but； as it is；
and by not joining the scattered links of the chain； I can afford to
slight it。—Extremely distressing to be the parent of such an
uncouth creature！ Still； I gave him very good advice。 I told him he
would certainly be hanged。 I could have done no more if I had
known of our relationship； and there are a great many fathers who
have never done as much for their natural children。—The
hairdresser may come in； Peak！’
The hairdresser came in； and saw in Sir John Chester （whose
accommodating conscience was soon quieted by the numerous
precedents that occurred to him in support of his last observation）；
the same imperturbable； fascinating； elegant gentleman he had
seen yesterday； and many yesterdays before。
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Chapter 76
s the locksmith walked slowly away from Sir John
AChester’s chambers； he lingered under the trees which
shaded the path； almost hoping that he might be
summoned to return。 He had turned back thrice； and still loitered
at the corner； when the clock struck twelve。
It was a solemn sound； and not merely for its reference to to…
morrow； for he knew that in that chime the murderer’s knell was
rung。 He had seen him pass along the crowded street； amidst the
execration of the throng； and marked his quivering lip； and
trembling limbs； the ashy hue upon his face； his clammy brow； the
wild distraction of his eye—the fear of death that swallowed up all
other thoughts； and gnawed without cessation at his heart and
brain。 He had marked the wandering look； seeking for hope； and
finding； turn where it would； despair。 He had seen the remorseful；
pitiful； desolate creature； riding； with his coffin by his side； to the
gibbet。 He knew that； to the last； he had been an unyielding；
obdurate man； that in the savage terror of his condition he had
hardened； rather than relented； to his wife and child； and that the
last words which had passed his white lips were curses on them as
his enemies。
Mr Haredale had determined to be there； and see it done。
Nothing but the evidence of his own senses could satisfy that
gloomy thirst for retribution which had been gathering upon him
for so many years。 The locksmith knew this； and when the chimes
had ceased to vibrate； hurried away to meet him。
‘For these two men；’ he said； as he went； ‘I can do no more。
Heaven have mercy on them！—Alas！ I say I can do no more for
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them； but whom can I help？ Mary Rudge will have a home； and a
firm friend when she most wants one； but Barnaby—poor
Barnaby—willing Barnaby—what aid can I render him？ There are
many； many men of sense； God forgive me；’ cried the honest
locksmith； stopping in a narrow count to pass his hand across his
eyes； ‘I could better afford to lose than Barnaby。 We have always
been good friends； but I never knew； till now； how much I loved
the lad。’
There were not many in the great city who thought of Barnaby
that day； otherwise than as an actor in a show which was to take
place to…morrow。 But if the whole population had had him in their
minds； and had wished his life to be spared； not one among them
could have done so with a purer zeal or greater singleness of heart
than the good locksmith。
Barnaby was to die。 There was no hope。 It is not the least evil
attendant upon the frequent exhibition of this last dread
punishment； of Death； that it hardens the minds of those who deal
it out； and makes them； though they be amiable men in other
respects； indifferent to； or unconscious of； their great
responsibility。 The word had gone forth that Barnaby was to die。 It
went forth； every month； for lighter crimes。 It was a thing so
common； that very few were startled by the awful sentence； or
cared to question its propriety。 Just then； too； when the law had
been so flagrantly outraged； its dignity must be asserted。 The
symbol of its dignity；—stamped upon every page of the criminal
statute…book；—was the gallows； and Barnaby was to die。
They had tried to save him。 The locksmith had carried petitions
and memorials to the fountain…head； with his own hands。 But the
well was not one of mercy； and Barnaby was to die。
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From the first his mother had never left him； save at night； and
with her beside him； he was as usual contented。 On this last day；
he was more elated and more proud than he had been yet； and
when she dropped the book she had been reading to him aloud；
and fell upon his neck； he stopped in his busy task of folding a
piece of crape about his hat； and wondered at her anguish。 Grip
uttered a feeble croak； half in encouragement； it seemed； and half
in remonstrance； but he wanted heart to sustain it； and lapsed
abruptly into silence。
With them who stood upon the brink of the great gulf which
none can see beyond； Time； so soon to lose itself in vast
