barnaby rudge(巴纳比·卢杰)-第51章
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smoothly as if he were discussing some pleasant chit…chat of the
town； his patron went on：
‘Robbery on the king’s highway； my young friend； is a very
dangerous and ticklish occupation。 It is pleasant； I have no doubt；
while it lasts； but like many other pleasures in this transitory
world； it seldom lasts long。 And really if in the ingenuousness of
youth； you open your heart so readily on the subject； I am afraid
your career will be an extremely short one。’
‘How’s this？’ said Hugh。 ‘What do you talk of master？ Who was
it set me on？’
‘Who？’ said Mr Chester； wheeling sharply round； and looking
full at him for the first time。 ‘I didn’t hear you。 Who was it？’
Hugh faltered； and muttered something which was not audible。
‘Who was it？ I am curious to know；’ said Mr Chester； with
surpassing affability。 ‘Some rustic beauty perhaps？ But be
cautious； my good friend。 They are not always to be trusted。 Do
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take my advice now； and be careful of yourself。’ With these words
he turned to the glass again； and went on with his toilet。
Hugh would have answered him that he； the questioner himself
had set him on； but the words stuck in his throat。 The
consummate art with which his patron had led him to this point；
and managed the whole conversation； perfectly baffled him。 He
did not doubt that if he had made the retort which was on his lips
when Mr Chester turned round and questioned him so keenly； he
would straightway have given him into custody and had him
dragged before a justice with the stolen property upon him； in
which case it was as certain he would have been hung as it was
that he had been born。 The ascendency which it was the purpose
of the man of the world to establish over this savage instrument；
was gained from that time。 Hugh’s submission was complete。 He
dreaded him beyond description； and felt that accident and
artifice had spun a web about him； which at a touch from such a
master…hand as his； would bind him to the gallows。
With these thoughts passing through his mind； and yet
wondering at the very same time how he who came there rioting
in the confidence of this man （as he thought）； should be so soon
and so thoroughly subdued； Hugh stood cowering before him；
regarding him uneasily from time to time； while he finished
dressing。 When he had done so； he took up the letter； broke the
seal； and throwing himself back in his chair； read it leisurely
through。
‘Very neatly worded upon my life！ Quite a woman’s letter； full of
what people call tenderness； and disinterestedness； and heart； and
all that sort of thing！’
As he spoke； he twisted it up； and glancing lazily round at Hugh
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as though he would say ‘You see this？’ held it in the flame of the
candle。 When it was in a full blaze； he tossed it into the grate； and
there it smouldered away。
‘It was directed to my son；’ he said； turning to Hugh； ‘and you
did quite right to bring it here。 I opened it on my own
responsibility； and you see what I have done with it。 Take this； for
your trouble。’
Hugh stepped forward to receive the piece of money he held out
to him。 As he put it in his hand； he added：
‘If you should happen to find anything else of this sort； or to
pick up any kind of information you may think I would like to
have； bring it here； will you； my good fellow？’
This was said with a smile which implied—or Hugh thought it
did—‘fail to do so at your peril！’ He answered that he would。
‘And don’t；’ said his patron； with an air of the very kindest
patronage； ‘don’t be at all downcast or uneasy respecting that little
rashness we have been speaking of。 Your neck is as safe in my
hands； my good fellow； as though a baby’s fingers clasped it； I
assure you。—Take another glass。 You are quieter now。’
Hugh accepted it from his hand； and looking stealthily at his
smiling face； drank the contents in silence。
‘Don’t you—ha； ha！—don’t you drink to the drink any more？’
said Mr Chester； in his most winning manner。
‘To you； sir；’ was the sullen answer； with something
approaching to a bow。 ‘I drink to you。’
‘Thank you。 God bless you。 By the bye； what is your name； my
good soul？ You are called Hugh； I know； of course—your other
name？’
‘I have no other name。’
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‘A very strange fellow！ Do you mean that you never knew one；
or that you don’t choose to tell it？ Which？’
‘I’d tell it if I could；’ said Hugh； quickly。 ‘I can’t。 I have been
always called Hugh； nothing more。 I never knew； nor saw； nor
thought about a father； and I was a boy of six—that’s not very
old—when they hung my mother up at Tyburn for a couple of
thousand men to stare at。 They might have let her live。 She was
poor enough。’
‘How very sad！’ exclaimed his patron； with a condescending
smile。 ‘I have no doubt she was an exceedingly fine woman。’
‘You see that dog of mine？’ said Hugh； abruptly。
‘Faithful； I dare say？’ rejoined his patron； looking at him
through his glass； ‘and immensely clever？ Virtuous and gifted
animals； whether man or beast； always are so very hideous。’
‘Such a dog as that； and one of the same breed； was the only
living thing except me that howled that day；’ said Hugh。 ‘Out of
the two thousand odd—there was a larger crowd for its being a
woman—the dog and I alone had any pity。 If he’d have been a
man； he’d have been glad to be quit of her； for she had been forced
to keep him lean and half…starved； but being a dog； and not having
a man’s sense； he was sorry。’
‘It was dull of the brute； certainly；’ said Mr Chester； ‘and very
like a brute。’
Hugh made no rejoinder； but whistling to his dog； who sprung
up at the sound and came jumping and sporting about him； bade
his sympathising friend good night。
‘Good night； he returned。 ‘Remember； you’re safe with me—
quite safe。 So long as you deserve it； my good fellow； as I hope you
always will； you have a friend in me； on whose silence you may
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rely。 Now do be careful of yourself； pray do； and consider what
jeopardy you might have stood in。 Good night！ bless you！’
Hugh truckled before the hidden meaning of these words as
much as such a being could； and crept out of the door so
submissively and subserviently—with an air； in short； so different
from that with which he had entered—that his patron on being left
alone； smiled more than ever。
‘And yet；’ he said； as he took a pinch of snuff； ‘I do not like their
having hanged his mother。 The fellow has a fine eye； and I am sure
she was handsome。 But very probably she was coarse—red…nosed
perhaps； and had clumsy feet。 Aye； it was all for the best； no
doubt。’
With this comforting reflection； he put on his coat； took a
farewell glance at the glass； and summoned his man； who
promptly attended； followed by a chair and its two bearers。
‘Foh！’ said Mr Chester。 ‘The very atmosphere that centaur has
breathed； seems tainted with the cart and ladder。 Here； Peak。
Bring some scent and sprinkle the floor； and take away the chair
he sat upon； and air it； and dash a little of that mixture upon me。 I
am stifled！’
The man obeyed； and the room and its master being both
purified； nothing remained for Mr Chester but to demand his hat；
to fold it jauntily under his arm； to take his seat in the chair and be
carried off； humming a fashionable tune。
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Chapter 24
ow the accomplished gentleman spent the evening in the
Hmidst of a dazzling and brilliant circle； how he enchanted
all those with whom he mingled by the grace of his
deportment； the politeness of his manner； the vivacity of his
conversation； and the sweetness of his voice； how it was observed
in every corner； that Chester was a man of that happy disposition
that nothing ruffled him； that he was one on whom the world’s
cares and errors sat lightly as his dress； and in whose smiling face
a calm and tranquil mind was constantly reflected； how honest
men； who by instinct knew him better； bowed down before him
nevertheless； deferred to his every word； and courted his
favourable notice； how people； who really had good in them； went
with the stream； and fawned and flattered； and approved； and
despised themselves while they did so； and yet had not the
courage to resist； how； in short； he was one of those who are
receive
