barnaby rudge(巴纳比·卢杰)-第26章
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
clinging here and there； and mingling with his uncombed locks； he
had fallen asleep in a posture as careless as his dress。 The
negligence and disorder of the whole man； with something fierce
and sullen in his features； gave him a picturesque appearance；
that attracted the regards even of the Maypole customers who
knew him well； and caused Long Parkes to say that Hugh looked
more like a poaching rascal to…night than ever he had seen him
yet。
‘He’s waiting here； I suppose；’ said Solomon； ‘to take Mr
Haredale’s horse。’
‘That’s it； sir；’ replied John Willet。 ‘He’s not often in the house；
you know。 He’s more at his ease among horses than men。 I look
upon him as a animal himself。’
Following up this opinion with a shrug that seemed meant to
say； ‘we can’t expect everybody to be like us；’ John put his pipe
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
… Page 131…
Barnaby Rudge 132
into his mouth again； and smoked like one who felt his superiority
over the general run of mankind。
‘That chap； sir；’ said John； taking it out again after a time； and
pointing at him with the stem； ‘though he’s got all his faculties
about him—bottled up and corked down； if I may say so；
somewheres or another—’
‘Very good！’ said Parkes； nodding his head。 ‘A very good
expression； Johnny。 You’ll be a tackling somebody presently。
You’re in twig to…night； I see。’
‘Take care；’ said Mr Willet； not at all grateful for the
compliment； ‘that I don’t tackle you； sir； which I shall certainly
endeavour to do； if you interrupt me when I’m making
observations。—That chap； I was a saying； though he has all his
faculties about him； somewheres or another； bottled up and
corked down； has no more imagination than Barnaby has。 And
why hasn’t he？’
The three friends shook their heads at each other； saying by
that action； without the trouble of opening their lips； ‘Do you
observe what a philosophical mind our friend has？’
‘Why hasn’t he？’ said John； gently striking the table with his
open hand。 ‘Because they was never drawed out of him when he
was a boy。 That’s why。 What would any of us have been； if our
fathers hadn’t drawed our faculties out of us？ What would my boy
Joe have been； if I hadn’t drawed his faculties out of him？—Do
you mind what I’m a saying of； gentlemen？’
‘Ah！ we mind you；’ cried Parkes。 ‘Go on improving of us；
Johnny。’
‘Consequently； then；’ said Mr Willet； ‘that chap； whose mother
was hung when he was a little boy； along with six others； for
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
… Page 132…
Barnaby Rudge 133
passing bad notes—and it’s a blessed thing to think how many
people are hung in batches every six weeks for that； and such like
offences； as showing how wide awake our government is—that
chap that was then turned loose； and had to mind cows； and
frighten birds away； and what not； for a few pence to live on； and
so got on by degrees to mind horses； and to sleep in course of time
in lofts and litter； instead of under haystacks and hedges； till at last
he come to be hostler at the Maypole for his board and lodging
and a annual trifle—that chap that can’t read nor write； and has
never had much to do with anything but animals； and has never
lived in any way but like the animals he has lived among； is a
animal。 And；’ said Mr Willet； arriving at his logical conclusion； ‘is
to be treated accordingly。’
‘Willet；’ said Solomon Daisy； who had exhibited some
impatience at the intrusion of so unworthy a subject on their more
interesting theme； ‘when Mr Chester come this morning； did he
order the large room？’
‘He signified； sir；’ said John； ‘that he wanted a large apartment。
Yes。 Certainly。’
‘Why then； I’ll tell you what；’ said Solomon； speaking softly and
with an earnest look。 ‘He and Mr Haredale are going to fight a
duel in it。’
Everybody looked at Mr Willet； after this alarming suggestion。
Mr Willet looked at the fire； weighing in his own mind the effect
which such an occurrence would be likely to have on the
establishment。
‘Well；’ said John； ‘I don’t know—I am sure—I remember that
when I went up last； he had put the lights upon the mantel…shelf。’
‘It’s as plain；’ returned Solomon； ‘as the nose on Parkes’s
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
… Page 133…
Barnaby Rudge 134
face’—Mr Parkes； who had a large nose； rubbed it； and looked as if
he considered this a personal allusion—‘they’ll fight in that room。
You know by the newspapers what a common thing it is for
gentlemen to fight in coffee…houses without seconds。 One of ’em
will be wounded or perhaps killed in this house。’
‘That was a challenge that Barnaby took then； eh？’ said John。
‘—Inclosing a slip of paper with the measure of his sword upon
it； I’ll bet a guinea；’ answered the little man。 ‘We know what sort of
gentleman Mr Haredale is。 You have told us what Barnaby said
about his looks； when he came back。 Depend upon it； I’m right。
Now； mind。’
The flip had had no flavour till now。 The tobacco had been of
mere English growth； compared with its present taste。 A duel in
that great old rambling room upstairs； and the best bed ordered
already for the wounded man！
‘Would it be swords or pistols； now？’ said John。
‘Heaven knows。 Perhaps both；’ returned Solomon。 ‘The
gentlemen wear swords； and may easily have pistols in their
pockets—most likely have； indeed。 If they fire at each other
without effect； then they’ll draw； and go to work in earnest。’
A shade passed over Mr Willet’s face as he thought of broken
windows and disabled furniture； but bethinking himself that one
of the parties would probably be left alive to pay the damage； he
brightened up again。
‘And then；’ said Solomon； looking from face to face； ‘then we
shall have one of those stains upon the floor that never come out。
If Mr Haredale wins； depend upon it； it’ll be a deep one； or if he
loses； it will perhaps be deeper still； for he’ll never give in unless
he’s beaten down。 We know him better； eh？’
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
… Page 134…
Barnaby Rudge 135
‘Better indeed！’ they whispered all together。
‘As to its ever being got out again；’ said Solomon； ‘I tell you it
never will； or can be。 Why； do you know that it has been tried； at a
certain house we are acquainted with？’
‘The Warren！’ cried John。 ‘No； sure！’
‘Yes； sure—yes。 It’s only known by very few。 It has been
whispered about though； for all that。 They planed the board away；
but there it was。 They went deep； but it went deeper。 They put
new boards down； but there was one great spot that came through
still； and showed itself in the old place。 And—harkye—draw
nearer—Mr Geoffrey made that room his study； and sits there；
always； with his foot （as I have heard） upon it； and he believes；
through thinking of it long and very much； that it will never fade
until he finds the man who did the deed。’
As this recital ended； and they all drew closer round the fire；
the tramp of a horse was heard without。
‘The very man！’ cried John； starting up。 ‘Hugh！ Hugh！’
The sleeper staggered to his feet； and hurried after him。 John
quickly returned； ushering in with great attention and deference
（for Mr Haredale was his landlord） the long…expected visitor； who
strode into the room clanking his heavy boots upon the floor； and
looking keenly round upon the bowing group； raised his hat in
acknowledgment of their profound respect。
‘You have a stranger here； Willet； who sent to me；’ he said； in a
voice which sounded naturally stern and deep。 ‘Where is he？’
‘In the great room upstairs； sir；’ answered John。
‘Show the way。 Your staircase is dark； I know。 Gentlemen； good
night。’
With that； he signed to the landlord to go on before； and went
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
… Page 135…
Barnaby Rudge 136
clanking out； and up the stairs； old John； in his agitation；
ingeniously lighting everything but the way； and making a stumble
at every second step。
‘Stop！’ he said； when they reached the landing。 ‘I can announce
myself。 Don’t wait。’
He laid his hand upon the door； entered； and shut it heavily。 Mr
Willet was by no means disposed to stand there listening by
himself； especially as the walls were very thick； so descended； with
much greater alacrity than he had come up； and joined his friends
below。
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
… Page 136…
Barnaby Rudge 137
Chapter 12
here was a brief pause in the state…room of the May
