barnaby rudge(巴纳比·卢杰)-第40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！
houseless rejected creature。 To pace the echoing stones from hour
to hour； counting the dull chimes of the clocks； to watch the lights
twinkling in chamber windows； to think what happy forgetfulness
each house shuts in； that here are children coiled together in their
beds； here youth； here age； here poverty； here wealth； all equal in
their sleep； and all at rest； to have nothing in common with the
slumbering world around； not even sleep； Heaven’s gift to all its
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
… Page 202…
Barnaby Rudge 203
creatures； and be akin to nothing but despair； to feel； by the
wretched contrast with everything on every hand； more utterly
alone and cast away than in a trackless desert； this is a kind of
suffering； on which the rivers of great cities close full many a time；
and which the solitude in crowds alone awakens。
The miserable man paced up and down the streets—so long； so
wearisome； so like each other—and often cast a wistful look
towards the east； hoping to see the first faint streaks of day。 But
obdurate night had yet possession of the sky； and his disturbed
and restless walk found no relief。
One house in a back street was bright with the cheerful glare of
lights； there was the sound of music in it too； and the tread of
dancers； and there were cheerful voices； and many a burst of
laughter。 To this place—to be near something that was awake and
glad—he returned again and again； and more than one of those
who left it when the merriment was at its height； felt it a check
upon their mirthful mood to see him flitting to and fro like an
uneasy ghost。 At last the guests departed； one and all； and then
the house was close shut up； and became as dull and silent as the
rest。
His wanderings brought him at one time to the city jail。 Instead
of hastening from it as a place of ill omen； and one he had cause to
shun； he sat down on some steps hard by； and resting his chin
upon his hand； gazed upon its rough and frowning walls as though
even they became a refuge in his jaded eyes。 He paced it round
and round； came back to the same spot； and sat down again。 He
did this often； and once； with a hasty movement； crossed to where
some men were watching in the prison lodge； and had his foot
upon the steps as though determined to accost them。 But looking
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
… Page 203…
Barnaby Rudge 204
round； he saw that the day began to break； and failing in his
purpose； turned and fled。
He was soon in the quarter he had lately traversed； and pacing
to and fro again as he had done before。 He was passing down a
mean street； when from an alley close at hand some shouts of
revelry arose； and there came straggling forth a dozen madcaps；
whooping and calling to each other； who； parting noisily； took
different ways and dispersed in smaller groups。
Hoping that some low place of entertainment which would
afford him a safe refuge might be near at hand； he turned into this
court when they were all gone； and looked about for a half…opened
door； or lighted window； or other indication of the place whence
they had come。 It was so profoundly dark； however； and so ill…
favoured； that he concluded they had but turned up there； missing
their way； and were pouring out again when he observed them。
With this impression； and finding there was no outlet but that by
which he had entered； he was about to turn； when from a grating
near his feet a sudden stream of light appeared； and the sound of
talking came。 He retreated into a doorway to see who these talkers
were； and to listen to them。
The light came to the level of the pavement as he did this； and a
man ascended； bearing in his hand a torch。 This figure unlocked
and held open the grating as for the passage of another； who
presently appeared； in the form of a young man of small stature
and uncommon self…importance； dressed in an obsolete and very
gaudy fashion。
‘Good night； noble captain；’ said he with the torch。 ‘Farewell；
commander。 Good luck； illustrious general！’
In return to these compliments the other bade him hold his
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
… Page 204…
Barnaby Rudge 205
tongue； and keep his noise to himself； and laid upon him many
similar injunctions； with great fluency of speech and sternness of
manner。
‘Commend me； captain； to the stricken Miggs；’ returned the
torch…bearer in a lower voice。 ‘My captain flies at higher game
than Miggses。 Ha； ha； ha！ My captain is an eagle； both as respects
his eye and soaring wings。 My captain breaketh hearts as other
bachelors break eggs at breakfast。’
‘What a fool you are； Stagg！’ said Mr Tappertit； stepping on the
pavement of the court； and brushing from his legs the dust he had
contracted in his passage upward。
‘His precious limbs！’ cried Stagg； clasping one of his ankles。
‘Shall a Miggs aspire to these proportions！ No； no； my captain。 We
will inveigle ladies fair； and wed them in our secret cavern。 We will
unite ourselves with blooming beauties； captain。’
‘I’ll tell you what； my buck；’ said Mr Tappertit； releasing his leg；
‘I’ll trouble you not to take liberties； and not to broach certain
questions unless certain questions are broached to you。 Speak
when you’re spoke to on particular subjects； and not otherways。
Hold the torch up till I’ve got to the end of the court； and then
kennel yourself； do you hear？’
‘I hear you； noble captain。’
‘Obey then；’ said Mr Tappertit haughtily。 ‘Gentlemen； lead on！’
With which word of command （addressed to an imaginary staff or
retinue） he folded his arms； and walked with surpassing dignity
down the court。
His obsequious follower stood holding the torch above his head；
and then the observer saw for the first time； from his place of
concealment； that he was blind。 Some involuntary motion on his
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
… Page 205…
Barnaby Rudge 206
part caught the quick ear of the blind man； before he was
conscious of having moved an inch towards him； for he turned
suddenly and cried； ‘Who’s there？’
‘A man；’ said the other； advancing。 ‘A friend。’
‘A stranger！’ rejoined the blind man。 ‘Strangers are not my
friends。 What do you do there？’
‘I saw your company come out； and waited here till they were
gone。 I want a lodging。’
‘A lodging at this time！’ returned Stagg； pointing towards the
dawn as though he saw it。 ‘Do you know the day is breaking？’
‘I know it；’ rejoined the other； ‘to my cost。 I have been
traversing this iron…hearted town all night。’
‘You had better traverse it again；’ said the blind man； preparing
to descend； ‘till you find some lodgings suitable to your taste。 I
don’t let any。’
‘Stay！’ cried the other； holding him by the arm。
‘I’ll beat this light about that hangdog face of yours （for
hangdog it is； if it answers to your voice）； and rouse the
neighbourhood besides； if you detain me；’ said the blind man。 ‘Let
me go。 Do you hear？’
‘Do you hear！’ returned the other； chinking a few shillings
together； and hurriedly pressing them into his hand。 ‘I beg nothing
of you。 I will pay for the shelter you give me。 Death！ Is it much to
ask of such as you！ I have come from the country； and desire to
rest where there are none to question me。 I am faint； exhausted；
worn out； almost dead。 Let me lie down； like a dog； before your
fire。 I ask no more than that。 If you would be rid of me； I will
depart to…morrow。’
‘If a gentleman has been unfortunate on the road；’ muttered
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
… Page 206…
Barnaby Rudge 207
Stagg； yielding to the other； who； pressing on him； had already
gained a footing on the steps—‘and can pay for his
accommodation—’
‘I will pay you with all I have。 I am just now past the want of
food； God knows； and wish but to purchase shelter。 What
companion have you below？’
‘None。’
‘Then fasten your grate there； and show me the way。 Quick！’
The blind man complied after a moment’s hesitation； and they
descended together。 The dialogue had passed as hurriedly as the
words could be spoken； and they stood in his wretched room
before he had had time to recover from his first surprise。
‘May I see where that door leads to； and what is beyond？’ said
the man； glancing keenly round。 ‘You will not mind that？’
‘I will show you myself。 Follow me； or go before。 Take your
choice。’
He bade him lead the way； and； by the light of the torch which
his conductor held up for the purpose； inspected all three cellars
narrowly。 Assured that the blind man had spoken truth； and that
he lived there alone； the visitor returned with him to the fir
