barnaby rudge(巴纳比·卢杰)-第52章
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courage to resist； how； in short； he was one of those who are
received and cherished in society （as the phrase is） by scores who
individually would shrink from and be repelled by the object of
their lavish regard； are things of course； which will suggest
themselves。 Matter so commonplace needs but a passing glance；
and there an end。
The despisers of mankind—apart from the mere fools and
mimics； of that creed—are of two sorts。 They who believe their
merit neglected and unappreciated； make up one class； they who
receive adulation and flattery； knowing their own worthlessness；
compose the other。 Be sure that the coldest…hearted misanthropes
are ever of this last order。
Mr Chester sat up in bed next morning； sipping his coffee； and
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remembering with a kind of contemptuous satisfaction how he
had shone last night； and how he had been caressed and courted；
when his servant brought in a very small scrap of dirty paper；
tightly sealed in two places； on the inside whereof was inscribed in
pretty large text these words： ‘A friend。 Desiring of a conference。
Immediate。 Private。 Burn it when you’ve read it。’
‘Where in the name of the Gunpowder Plot did you pick up
this？’ said his master。
It was given him by a person then waiting at the door； the man
replied。
‘With a cloak and dagger？’ said Mr Chester。
With nothing more threatening about him； it appeared； than a
leather apron and a dirty face。 ‘Let him come in。’ In he came—Mr
Tappertit； with his hair still on end； and a great lock in his hand；
which he put down on the floor in the middle of the chamber as if
he were about to go through some performances in which it was a
necessary agent。
‘Sir；’ said Mr Tappertit with a low bow； ‘I thank you for this
condescension； and am glad to see you。 Pardon the menial office
in which I am engaged； sir； and extend your sympathies to one；
who； humble as his appearance is； has inn’ard workings far above
his station。’
Mr Chester held the bed…curtain farther back； and looked at
him with a vague impression that he was some maniac； who had
not only broken open the door of his place of confinement； but had
brought away the lock。 Mr Tappertit bowed again； and displayed
his legs to the best advantage。
‘You have heard； sir；’ said Mr Tappertit； laying his hand upon
his breast； ‘of G。 Varden Locksmith and bell…hanger and repairs
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neatly executed in town and country； Clerkenwell； London？’
‘What then？’ asked Mr Chester。
‘I’m his ’prentice； sir。’
‘What then？’
‘Ahem！’ said Mr Tappertit。 ‘Would you permit me to shut the
door； sir； and will you further； sir； give me your honour bright； that
what passes between us is in the strictest confidence？’
Mr Chester laid himself calmly down in bed again； and turning
a perfectly undisturbed face towards the strange apparition； which
had by this time closed the door； begged him to speak out； and to
be as rational as he could； without putting himself to any very
great personal inconvenience。
‘In the first place； sir；’ said Mr Tappertit； producing a small
pocket…handkerchief and shaking it out of the folds； ‘as I have not
a card about me （for the envy of masters debases us below that
level） allow me to offer the best substitute that circumstances will
admit of。 If you will take that in your own hand； sir； and cast your
eye on the right…hand corner；’ said Mr Tappertit； offering it with a
graceful air； ‘you will meet with my credentials。’
‘Thank you；’ answered Mr Chester； politely accepting it； and
turning to some blood…red characters at one end。 ‘“Four。 Simon
Tappertit。 One。” Is that the—’
‘Without the numbers； sir； that is my name；’ replied the
’prentice。 ‘They are merely intended as directions to the
washerwoman； and have no connection with myself or family。
Your name； sir；’ said Mr Tappertit； looking very hard at his
nightcap； ‘is Chester； I suppose？ You needn’t pull it off； sir； thank
you。 I observe E。 C。 from here。 We will take the rest for granted。’
‘Pray； Mr Tappertit；’ said Mr Chester； ‘has that complicated
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piece of ironmongery which you have done me the favour to bring
with you； any immediate connection with the business we are to
discuss？’
‘It has not； sir；’ rejoined the ’prentice。 ‘It’s going to be fitted on a
ware’us…door in Thames Street。’
‘Perhaps； as that is the case；’ said Mr Chester； ‘and as it has a
stronger flavour of oil than I usually refresh my bedroom with； you
will oblige me so far as to put it outside the door？’
‘By all means； sir；’ said Mr Tappertit； suiting the action to the
word。
‘You’ll excuse my mentioning it； I hope？’
‘Don’t apologise； sir； I beg。 And now； if you please； to business。’
During the whole of this dialogue； Mr Chester had suffered
nothing but his smile of unvarying serenity and politeness to
appear upon his face。 Sim Tappertit； who had far too good an
opinion of himself to suspect that anybody could be playing upon
him； thought within himself that this was something like the
respect to which he was entitled； and drew a comparison from this
courteous demeanour of a stranger； by no means favourable to the
worthy locksmith。
‘From what passes in our house；’ said Mr Tappertit； ‘I am
aware； sir； that your son keeps company with a young lady against
your inclinations。 Sir； your son has not used me well。’
‘Mr Tappertit；’ said the other； ‘you grieve me beyond
description。’
‘Thank you； sir；’ replied the ’prentice。 ‘I’m glad to hear you say
so。 He’s very proud； sir； is your son； very haughty。’
‘I am afraid he is haughty；’ said Mr Chester。 ‘Do you know I was
really afraid of that before； and you confirm me？’
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‘To recount the menial offices I’ve had to do for your son； sir；’
said Mr Tappertit； ‘the chairs I’ve had to hand him； the coaches
I’ve had to call for him； the numerous degrading duties； wholly
unconnected with my indenters； that I’ve had to do for him； would
fill a family Bible。 Besides which； sir； he is but a young man
himself and I do not consider “thank’ee Sim；” a proper form of
address on those occasions。’
‘Mr Tappertit； your wisdom is beyond your years。 Pray go on。’
‘I thank you for your good opinion； sir；’ said Sim； much
gratified； ‘and will endeavour so to do。 Now sir； on this account
（and perhaps for another reason or two which I needn’t go into） I
am on your side。 And what I tell you is this—that as long as our
people go backwards and forwards； to and fro； up and down； to
that there jolly old Maypole； lettering； and messaging； and fetching
and carrying； you couldn’t help your son keeping company with
that young lady by deputy；—not if he was minded night and day
by all the Horse Guards； and every man of ’em in the very fullest
uniform。’
Mr Tappertit stopped to take breath after this； and then started
fresh again。
‘Now； sir； I am a coming to the point。 You will inquire of me；
“how is this to he prevented？” I’ll tell you how。 If an honest； civil；
smiling gentleman like you—’
‘Mr Tappertit—really—’
‘No； no； I’m serious；’ rejoined the ’prentice； ‘I am； upon my soul。
If an honest； civil； smiling gentleman like you； was to talk but ten
minutes to our old woman—that’s Mrs Varden—and flatter her up
a bit； you’d gain her over for ever。 Then there’s this point got—
that her daughter Dolly；’—here a flush came over Mr Tappertit’s
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face—‘wouldn’t be allowed to be a go…between from that time
forward； and till that point’s got； there’s nothing ever will prevent
her。 Mind that。’
‘Mr Tappertit； your knowledge of human nature—’
‘Wait a minute；’ said Sim； folding his arms with a dreadful
calmness。 ‘Now I come to the point。 Sir； there is a villain at that
Maypole； a monster in human shape； a vagabond of the deepest
dye； that unless you get rid of and have kidnapped and carried off
at the very least—nothing less will do—will marry your son to that
young woman； as certainly and as surely as if he was the
Archbishop of Canterbury himself。 He will； sir； for the hatred and
malice that he bears to you； let alone the pleasure of doing a bad
action； which to him is its own reward。 If you knew how this chap；
this Joseph Willet—that’s his name—comes backwards and
forwards to our house； libelling； and denouncing； and threatening
you； and how I shudder when I hear him； you’d hate him worse
than I do；—worse than I do； sir；’ said Mr Tappertit wildly； putting
his hair up straighter； and making a crunching noise with his
teeth； ‘
