barnaby rudge(巴纳比·卢杰)-第78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！
imprisonment denounced against those who educated children in
that persuasion； and the disqualification of all members of the
Romish church to inherit real property in the United Kingdom by
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
… Page 396…
Barnaby Rudge 397
right of purchase or descent；—matters so far removed from the
business and bosoms of the mass； might perhaps have called
together a hundred people。 But when vague rumours got abroad；
that in this Protestant association a secret power was mustering
against the government for undefined and mighty purposes； when
the air was filled with whispers of a confederacy among the Popish
powers to degrade and enslave England； establish an inquisition
in London； and turn the pens of Smithfield market into stakes and
cauldrons； when terrors and alarms which no man understood
were perpetually broached； both in and out of Parliament； by one
enthusiast who did not understand himself； and bygone bugbears
which had lain quietly in their graves for centuries； were raised
again to haunt the ignorant and credulous； when all this was done；
as it were； in the dark； and secret invitations to join the Great
Protestant Association in defence of religion； life； and liberty； were
dropped in the public ways； thrust under the house…doors； tossed
in at windows； and pressed into the hands of those who trod the
streets by night； when they glared from every wall； and shone on
every post and pillar； so that stocks and stones appeared infected
with the common fear； urging all men to join together blindfold in
resistance of they knew not what； they knew not why；—then the
mania spread indeed； and the body； still increasing every day；
grew forty thousand strong。
So said； at least； in this month of March； 1780； Lord George
Gordon； the Association’s president。 Whether it was the fact or
otherwise； few men knew or cared to ascertain。 It had never made
any public demonstration； had scarcely ever been heard of； save
through him； had never been seen； and was supposed by many to
be the mere creature of his disordered brain。 He was accustomed
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
… Page 397…
Barnaby Rudge 398
to talk largely about numbers of men—stimulated； as it was
inferred； by certain successful disturbances； arising out of the
same subject； which had occurred in Scotland in the previous
year； was looked upon as a cracked…brained member of the lower
house； who attacked all parties and sided with none； and was very
little regarded。 It was known that there was discontent abroad—
there always is； he had been accustomed to address the people by
placard； speech； and pamphlet； upon other questions； nothing had
come； in England； of his past exertions； and nothing was
apprehended from his present。 Just as he has come upon the
reader； he had come； from time to time； upon the public； and been
forgotten in a day； as suddenly as he appears in these pages； after
a blank of five long years； did he and his proceedings begin to
force themselves； about this period； upon the notice of thousands
of people； who had mingled in active life during the whole interval；
and who； without being deaf or blind to passing events； had
scarcely ever thought of him before。
‘My lord；’ said Gashford in his ear； as he drew the curtains of
his bed betimes； ‘my lord！’
‘Yes—who’s that？ What is it？’
‘The clock has struck nine；’ returned the secretary； with meekly
folded hands。 ‘You have slept well？ I hope you have slept well？ If
my prayers are heard； you are refreshed indeed。’
‘To say the truth； I have slept so soundly；’ said Lord George；
rubbing his eyes and looking round the room； ‘that I don’t
remember quite—what place is this？’
‘My lord！’ cried Gashford； with a smile。
‘Oh！’ returned his superior。 ‘Yes。 You’re not a Jew then？’
‘A Jew！’ exclaimed the pious secretary； recoiling。
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
… Page 398…
Barnaby Rudge 399
‘I dreamed that we were Jews； Gashford。 You and I—both of
us—Jews with long beards。’
‘Heaven forbid； my lord！ We might as well be Papists。’
‘I suppose we might；’ returned the other； very quickly。 ‘Eh？ You
really think so； Gashford？’
‘Surely I do；’ the secretary cried； with looks of great surprise。
‘Humph！’ he muttered。 ‘Yes； that seems reasonable。’
‘I hope my lord—’ the secretary began。
‘Hope！’ he echoed； interrupting him。 ‘Why do you say； you
hope？ There’s no harm in thinking of such things。’
‘Not in dreams；’ returned the Secretary。
‘In dreams！ No； nor waking either。’
—‘“Called； and chosen； and faithful；”’ said Gashford； taking up
Lord George’s watch which lay upon a chair； and seeming to read
the inscription on the seal； abstractedly。
It was the slightest action possible； not obtruded on his notice；
and apparently the result of a moment’s absence of mind； not
worth remark。 But as the words were uttered； Lord George； who
had been going on impetuously； stopped short； reddened； and was
silent。 Apparently quite unconscious of this change in his
demeanour； the wily Secretary stepped a little apart； under
pretence of pulling up the window…blind； and returning when the
other had had time to recover； said：
‘The holy cause goes bravely on； my lord。 I was not idle； even
last night。 I dropped two of the handbills before I went to bed； and
both are gone this morning。 Nobody in the house has mentioned
the circumstance of finding them； though I have been downstairs
full half…an…hour。 One or two recruits will be their first fruit； I
predict； and who shall say how many more； with Heaven’s blessing
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
… Page 399…
Barnaby Rudge 400
on your inspired exertions！’
‘It was a famous device in the beginning；’ replied Lord George；
‘an excellent device； and did good service in Scotland。 It was quite
worthy of you。 You remind me not to be a sluggard； Gashford；
when the vineyard is menaced with destruction； and may be
trodden down by Papist feet。 Let the horses be saddled in half…an…
hour。 We must be up and doing！’
He said this with a heightened colour； and in a tone of such
enthusiasm； that the secretary deemed all further prompting
needless； and withdrew。
—‘Dreamed he was a Jew；’ he said thoughtfully； as he closed
the bedroom door。 ‘He may come to that before he dies。 It’s like
enough。 Well！ After a time； and provided I lost nothing by it； I
don’t see why that religion shouldn’t suit me as well as any other。
There are rich men among the Jews； shaving is very
troublesome；—yes； it would suit me well enough。 For the present；
though； we must be Christian to the core。 Our prophetic motto will
suit all creeds in their turn； that’s a comfort。’ Reflecting on this
source of consolation； he reached the sitting…room； and rang the
bell for breakfast。
Lord George was quickly dressed （for his plain toilet was easily
made）； and as he was no less frugal in his repasts than in his
Puritan attire； his share of the meal was soon dispatched。 The
secretary； however； more devoted to the good things of this world；
or more intent on sustaining his strength and spirits for the sake of
the Protestant cause； ate and drank to the last minute； and
required indeed some three or four reminders from John Grueby；
before he could resolve to tear himself away from Mr Willet’s
plentiful providing。
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
… Page 400…
Barnaby Rudge 401
At length he came downstairs； wiping his greasy mouth； and
having paid John Willet’s bill； climbed into his saddle。 Lord
George； who had been walking up and down before the house
talking to himself with earnest gestures； mounted his horse； and
returning old John Willet’s stately bow； as well as the parting
salutation of a dozen idlers whom the rumour of a live lord being
about to leave the Maypole had gathered round the porch； they
rode away； with stout John Grueby in the rear。
If Lord George Gordon had appeared in the eyes of Mr Willet；
overnight； a nobleman of somewhat quaint and odd exterior； the
impression was confirmed this morning； and increased a
hundredfold。 Sitting bolt upright upon his bony steed； with his
long； straight hair； dangling about his face and fluttering in the
wind； his limbs all angular and rigid； his elbows stuck out on
either side ungracefully； and his whole frame jogged and shaken
at every motion of his horse’s feet； a more grotesque or more
ungainly figure can hardly be conceived。 In lieu of whip； he
carried in his hand a great gold…headed cane； as large as any
footman carries in these days； and his various modes of holding
this unwieldy weapon—now upright before his face like the sabre
of a horse…soldier； now over his shoulder like a musket； now
be
