barnaby rudge(巴纳比·卢杰)-第83章
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I’m your man。 I’ll do it。 Here’s my captain—here’s my leader。 Ha
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ha ha！ Let him give me the word of command； and I’ll fight the
whole Parliament House single…handed； or set a lighted torch to
the King’s Throne itself！’ With that； he smote Mr Tappertit on the
back； with such violence that his little body seemed to shrink into
a mere nothing； and roared again until the very foundlings near at
hand were startled in their beds。
In fact； a sense of something whimsical in their companionship
seemed to have taken entire possession of his rude brain。 The bare
fact of being patronised by a great man whom he could have
crushed with one hand； appeared in his eyes so eccentric and
humorous； that a kind of ferocious merriment gained the mastery
over him； and quite subdued his brutal nature。 He roared and
roared again； toasted Mr Tappertit a hundred times； declared
himself a Bulldog to the core； and vowed to be faithful to him to
the last drop of blood in his veins。
All these compliments Mr Tappertit received as matters of
course—flattering enough in their way； but entirely attributable to
his vast superiority。 His dignified self…possession only delighted
Hugh the more； and in a word； this giant and dwarf struck up a
friendship which bade fair to be of long continuance； as the one
held it to be his right to command； and the other considered it an
exquisite pleasantry to obey。 Nor was Hugh by any means a
passive follower； who scrupled to act without precise and definite
orders； for when Mr Tappertit mounted on an empty cask which
stood by way of rostrum in the room； and volunteered a speech
upon the alarming crisis then at hand； he placed himself beside
the orator； and though he grinned from ear to ear at every word he
said； threw out such expressive hints to scoffers in the
management of his cudgel； that those who were at first the most
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disposed to interrupt； became remarkably attentive； and were the
loudest in their approbation。
It was not all noise and jest； however； at The Boot； nor were the
whole party listeners to the speech。 There were some men at the
other end of the room （which was a long； low…roofed chamber） in
earnest conversation all the time； and when any of this group went
out； fresh people were sure to come in soon afterwards and sit
down in their places； as though the others had relieved them on
some watch or duty； which it was pretty clear they did； for these
changes took place by the clock； at intervals of half an hour。 These
persons whispered very much among themselves； and kept aloof；
and often looked round； as jealous of their speech being
overheard； some two or three among them entered in books what
seemed to be reports from the others； when they were not thus
employed） one of them would turn to the newspapers which were
strewn upon the table； and from the St James’s Chronicle； the
Herald； Chronicle； or Public Advertiser； would read to the rest in a
low voice some passage having reference to the topic in which
they were all so deeply interested。 But the great attraction was a
pamphlet called The Thunderer； which espoused their own
opinions； and was supposed at that time to emanate directly from
the Association。 This was always in request； and whether read
aloud； to an eager knot of listeners； or by some solitary man； was
certain to be followed by stormy talking and excited looks。
In the midst of all his merriment； and admiration of his captain；
Hugh was made sensible by these and other tokens； of the
presence of an air of mystery； akin to that which had so much
impressed him out of doors。 It was impossible to discard a sense
that something serious was going on； and that under the noisy
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revel of the public…house； there lurked unseen and dangerous
matter。 Little affected by this； however； he was perfectly satisfied
with his quarters and would have remained there till morning； but
that his conductor rose soon after midnight； to go home； Mr
Tappertit following his example； left him no excuse to stay。 So
they all three left the house together： roaring a No…Popery song
until the fields resounded with the dismal noise。
Cheer up； captain！’ cried Hugh； when they had roared
themselves out of breath。 ‘Another stave！’
Mr Tappertit； nothing loath； began again； and so the three went
staggering on； arm…in…arm； shouting like madmen； and defying the
watch with great valour。 Indeed this did not require any unusual
bravery or boldness； as the watchmen of that time； being selected
for the office on account of excessive age and extraordinary
infirmity； had a custom of shutting themselves up tight in their
boxes on the first symptoms of disturbance； and remaining there
until they disappeared。 In these proceedings； Mr Dennis； who had
a gruff voice and lungs of considerable power； distinguished
himself very much； and acquired great credit with his two
companions。
‘What a queer fellow you are！’ said Mr Tappertit。 ‘You’re so
precious sly and close。 Why don’t you ever tell what trade you’re
of？’
‘Answer the captain instantly；’ cried Hugh； beating his hat
down on his head； ‘why don’t you ever tell what trade you’re of？’
‘I’m of as gen…teel a calling； brother； as any man in England—as
light a business as any gentleman could desire。’
‘Was you ’prenticed to it？’ asked Mr Tappertit。
‘No。 Natural genius；’ said Mr Dennis。 ‘No ’prenticing。 It come
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by natur’。 Muster Gashford knows my calling。 Look at that hand of
mine—many and many a job that hand has done； with a neatness
and dex…terity； never known afore。 When I look at that hand；’ said
Mr Dennis； shaking it in the air； ‘and remember the helegant bits
of work it has turned off； I feel quite molloncholy to think it should
ever grow old and feeble。 But sich is life！’
He heaved a deep sigh as he indulged in these reflections； and
putting his fingers with an absent air on Hugh’s throat； and
particularly under his left ear； as if he were studying the
anatomical development of that part of his frame； shook his head
in a despondent manner and actually shed tears。
‘You’re a kind of artist； I suppose—eh！’ said Mr Tappertit。
‘Yes；’ rejoined Dennis； ‘yes—I may call myself a artist—a fancy
workman—art improves natur’—that’s my motto。’
‘And what do you call this？’ said Mr Tappertit taking his stick
out of his hand。
‘That’s my portrait atop；’ Dennis replied； ‘d’ye think it’s like？’
‘Why—it’s a little too handsome；’ said Mr Tappertit。 ‘Who did
it？ You？’
‘I！’ repeated Dennis； gazing fondly on his image。 ‘I wish I had
the talent。 That was carved by a friend of mine； as is now no more。
The very day afore he died； he cut that with his pocket…knife from
memory！ “I’ll die game；” says my friend； “and my last moments
shall be dewoted to making Dennis’s picter。” That’s it。’
‘That was a queer fancy； wasn’t it？’ said Mr Tappertit。
‘It was a queer fancy；’ rejoined the other； breathing on his
fictitious nose； and polishing it with the cuff of his coat； ‘but he
was a queer subject altogether—a kind of gipsy—one of the finest；
stand…up men； you ever see。 Ah！ He told me some things that
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would startle you a bit； did that friend of mine； on the morning
when he died。’
‘You were with him at the time； were you？’ said Mr Tappertit。
‘Yes；’ he answered with a curious look； ‘I was there。 Oh！ yes
certainly； I was there。 He wouldn’t have gone off half as
comfortable without me。 I had been with three or four of his family
under the same circumstances。 They were all fine fellows。’
‘They must have been fond of you；’ remarked Mr Tappertit；
looking at him sideways。
‘I don’t know that they was exactly fond of me；’ said Dennis；
with a little hesitation； ‘but they all had me near ’em when they
departed。 I come in for their wardrobes too。 This very handkecher
that you see round my neck； belonged to him that I’ve been
speaking of—him as did that likeness。’
Mr Tappertit glanced at the article referred to； and appeared to
think that the deceased’s ideas of dress were of a peculiar and by
no means an expensive kind。 He made no remark upon the point；
however； and suffered his mysterious companion to proceed
without interruption。
‘These smalls；’ said Dennis； rubbing his legs； ‘these very
smalls—they belonged to a friend of mine that’s left off sich
incumbrances for ever： this coat too—I’ve often walked behind
this coat； in the street； and wondered wh
