barnaby rudge(巴纳比·卢杰)-第37章
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if we were surprised would perhaps do my part with the best of ye。
If it’s my humour to be left to myself； let me have it。 Otherwise；’—
and here he swore a tremendous oath—‘there’ll be mischief done
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in this place； though there are odds of a score against me。’
A low murmur； having its origin perhaps in a dread of the man
and the mystery that surrounded him； or perhaps in a sincere
opinion on the part of some of those present； that it would be an
inconvenient precedent to meddle too curiously with a
gentleman’s private affairs if he saw reason to conceal them；
warned the fellow who had occasioned this discussion that he had
best pursue it no further。 After a short time the strange man lay
down upon a bench to sleep； and when they thought of him again；
they found he was gone。
Next night； as soon as it was dark； he was abroad again and
traversing the streets； he was before the locksmith’s house more
than once； but the family were out； and it was close shut。 This
night he crossed London Bridge and passed into Southwark。 As he
glided down a bye street； a woman with a little basket on her arm；
turned into it at the other end。 Directly he observed her； he sought
the shelter of an archway； and stood aside until she had passed。
Then he emerged cautiously from his hiding…place； and followed。
She went into several shops to purchase various kinds of
household necessaries； and round every place at which she
stopped he hovered like her evil spirit； following her when she
reappeared。 It was nigh eleven o’clock； and the passengers in the
streets were thinning fast； when she turned； doubtless to go home。
The phantom still followed her。
She turned into the same bye street in which he had seen her
first； which； being free from shops； and narrow； was extremely
dark。 She quickened her pace here； as though distrustful of being
stopped； and robbed of such trifling property as she carried with
her。 He crept along on the other side of the road。 Had she been
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gifted with the speed of wind； it seemed as if his terrible shadow
would have tracked her down。
At length the widow—for she it was—reached her own door；
and； panting for breath； paused to take the key from her basket。 In
a flush and glow； with the haste she had made； and the pleasure of
being safe at home； she stooped to draw it out； when； raising her
head； she saw him standing silently beside her： the apparition of a
dream。
His hand was on her mouth； but that was needless； for her
tongue clove to its roof； and her power of utterance was gone。 ‘I
have been looking for you many nights。 Is the house empty？
Answer me。 Is any one inside？’
She could only answer by a rattle in her throat。
‘Make me a sign。’
She seemed to indicate that there was no one there。 He took the
key； unlocked the door； carried her in； and secured it carefully
behind them。
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Chapter 17
t was a chilly night； and the fire in the widow’s parlour had
burnt low。 Her strange companion placed her in a chair； and
Istooping down before the half…extinguished ashes； raked them
together and fanned them with his hat。 From time to time he
glanced at her over his shoulder； as though to assure himself of
her remaining quiet and making no effort to depart； and that done；
busied himself about the fire again。
It was not without reason that he took these pains； for his dress
was dank and drenched with wet； his jaws rattled with cold； and
he shivered from head to foot。 It had rained hard during the
previous night and for some hours in the morning； but since noon
it had been fine。 Wheresoever he had passed the hours of
darkness； his condition sufficiently betokened that many of them
had been spent beneath the open sky。 Besmeared with mire； his
saturated clothes clinging with a damp embrace about his limbs；
his beard unshaven； his face unwashed； his meagre cheeks worn
into deep hollows；—a more miserable wretch could hardly be；
than this man who now cowered down upon the widow’s hearth；
and watched the struggling flame with bloodshot eyes。
She had covered her face with her hands； fearing； as it seemed；
to look towards him。 So they remained for some short time in
silence。 Glancing round again； he asked at length：
‘Is this your house？’
‘It is。 Why； in the name of Heaven； do you darken it？’
‘Give me meat and drink；’ he answered sullenly； ‘or I dare do
more than that。 The very marrow in my bones is cold； with wet
and hunger。 I must have warmth and food； and I will have them
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here。’
‘You were the robber on the Chigwell road。’
‘I was。’
‘And nearly a murderer then。’
‘The will was not wanting。 There was one came upon me and
raised the hue…and…cry’； that it would have gone hard with； but for
his nimbleness。 I made a thrust at him。’
‘You thrust your sword at him！’ cried the widow； looking
upwards。 ‘You hear this man！ you hear and saw！’
He looked at her； as； with her head thrown back； and her hands
tight clenched together； she uttered these words in an agony of
appeal。 Then； starting to his feet as she had done； he advanced
towards her。
‘Beware！’ she cried in a suppressed voice； whose firmness
stopped him midway。 ‘Do not so much as touch me with a finger；
or you are lost； body and soul； you are lost。’
‘Hear me；’ he replied； menacing her with his hand。 ‘I； that in
the form of a man live the life of a hunted beast； that in the body
am a spirit； a ghost upon the earth； a thing from which all
creatures shrink； save those curst beings of another world； who
will not leave me；—I am； in my desperation of this night； past all
fear but that of the hell in which I exist from day to day。 Give the
alarm； cry out； refuse to shelter me。 I will not hurt you。 But I will
not be taken alive； and so surely as you threaten me above your
breath； I fall a dead man on this floor。 The blood with which I
sprinkle it； be on you and yours； in the name of the Evil Spirit that
tempts men to their ruin！’
As he spoke； he took a pistol from his breast； and firmly
clutched it in his hand。
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‘Remove this man from me； good Heaven！’ cried the widow。 ‘In
thy grace and mercy； give him one minute’s penitence； and strike
him dead！’
‘It has no such purpose；’ he said； confronting her。 ‘It is deaf。
Give me to eat and drink； lest I do that it cannot help my doing；
and will not do for you。’
‘Will you leave me； if I do thus much？ Will you leave me and
return no more？’
‘I will promise nothing；’ he rejoined； seating himself at the
table； ‘nothing but this—I will execute my threat if you betray me。’
She rose at length； and going to a closet or pantry in the room；
brought out some fragments of cold meat and bread and put them
on the table。 He asked for brandy； and for water。 These she
produced likewise； and he ate and drank with the voracity of a
famished hound。 All the time he was so engaged she kept at the
uttermost distance of the chamber； and sat there shuddering； but
with her face towards him。 She never turned her back upon him
once； and although when she passed him （as she was obliged to do
in going to and from the cupboard） she gathered the skirts of her
garment about her； as if even its touching his by chance were
horrible to think of； still； in the midst of all this dread and terror；
she kept her face towards his own； and watched his every
movement。
His repast ended—if that can be called one； which was a mere
ravenous satisfying of the calls of hunger—he moved his chair
towards the fire again； and warming himself before the blaze
which had now sprung brightly up； accosted her once more。
‘I am an outcast； to whom a roof above his head is often an
uncommon luxury； and the food a beggar would reject is delicate
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fare。 You live here at your ease。 Do you live alone？’
‘I do not；’ she made answer with an effort。
‘Who dwells here besides？’
‘One—it is no matter who。 You had best begone； or he may find
you here。 Why do you linger？’
‘For warmth；’ he replied； spreading out his hands before the
fire。 ‘For warmth。 You are rich； perhaps？’
‘Very；’ she said faintly。 ‘Very rich。 No doubt I am very rich。’
‘At least you are not penniless。 You have some money。 You
were making purchases to…night。’
‘I have a little left。 It is but a few
