barnaby rudge(巴纳比·卢杰)-第92章
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extricated himself from the press； and stepped up to Gashford’s
side。 Both he and Sir John being well known to the populace； they
fell back a little； and left the four standing together。
‘Mr Haredale； Lord George；’ said Sir John Chester； seeing that
the nobleman regarded him with an inquisitive look。 ‘A Catholic
gentleman unfortunately—most unhappily a Catholic—but an
esteemed acquaintance of mine； and once of Mr Gashford’s。 My
dear Haredale； this is Lord George Gordon。’
‘I should have known that； had I been ignorant of his lordship’s
person；’ said Mr Haredale。 ‘I hope there is but one gentleman in
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England who； addressing an ignorant and excited throng； would
speak of a large body of his fellow…subjects in such injurious
language as I heard this moment。 For shame； my lord； for shame！’
‘I cannot talk to you； sir；’ replied Lord George in a loud voice；
and waving his hand in a disturbed and agitated manner； ‘we have
nothing in common。’
‘We have much in common—many things—all that the
Almighty gave us；’ said Mr Haredale； ‘and common charity； not to
say common sense and common decency； should teach you to
refrain from these proceedings。 If every one of those men had
arms in their hands at this moment； as they have them in their
heads； I would not leave this place without telling you that you
disgrace your station。’
‘I don’t hear you； sir；’ he replied in the same manner as before；
‘I can’t hear you。 It is indifferent to me what you say。 Don’t retort；
Gashford；’ for the secretary had made a show of wishing to do so；
‘I can hold no communion with the worshippers of idols。’
As he said this； he glanced at Sir John； who lifted his hands and
eyebrows； as if deploring the intemperate conduct of Mr Haredale；
and smiled in admiration of the crowd and of their leader。
‘He retort！’ cried Haredale。 ‘Look you here； my lord。 Do you
know this man？’
Lord George replied by laying his hand upon the shoulder of
his cringing secretary； and viewing him with a smile of confidence。
‘This man；’ said Mr Haredale； eyeing him from top to toe； ‘who
in his boyhood was a thief； and has been from that time to this； a
servile； false； and truckling knave： this man； who has crawled and
crept through life； wounding the hands he licked； and biting those
he fawned upon： this sycophant； who never knew what honour；
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truth； or courage meant； who robbed his benefactor’s daughter of
her virtue； and married her to break her heart； and did it； with
stripes and cruelty： this creature； who has whined at kitchen
windows for the broken food； and begged for halfpence at our
chapel doors： this apostle of the faith； whose tender conscience
cannot bear the altars where his vicious life was publicly
denounced—Do you know this man？’
‘Oh； really—you are very； very hard upon our friend！’ exclaimed
Sir John。
‘Let Mr Haredale go on；’ said Gashford； upon whose
unwholesome face the perspiration had broken out during this
speech； in blotches of wet； ‘I don’t mind him； Sir John； it’s quite as
indifferent to me what he says； as it is to my lord。 If he reviles my
lord； as you have heard； Sir John； how can I hope to escape？’
‘Is it not enough； my lord；’ Mr Haredale continued； ‘that I； as
good a gentleman as you； must hold my property； such as it is； by a
trick at which the state connives because of these hard laws； and
that we may not teach our youth in schools the common principles
of right and wrong； but must we be denounced and ridden by such
men as this！ Here is a man to head your No…Popery cry！ For
shame。 For shame！’
The infatuated nobleman had glanced more than once at Sir
John Chester； as if to inquire whether there was any truth in these
statements concerning Gashford； and Sir John had as often plainly
answered by a shrug or look； ‘Oh dear me！ no。’ He now said； in the
same loud key； and in the same strange manner as before：
‘I have nothing to say； sir； in reply； and no desire to hear
anything more。 I beg you won’t obtrude your conversation； or
these personal attacks； upon me。 I shall not be deterred from
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doing my duty to my country and my countrymen； by any such
attempts； whether they proceed from emissaries of the Pope or
not； I assure you。 Come； Gashford！’
They had walked on a few paces while speaking； and were now
at the Hall…door； through which they passed together。 Mr
Haredale； without any leave…taking； turned away to the river
stairs； which were close at hand； and hailed the only boatman who
remained there。
But the throng of people—the foremost of whom had heard
every word that Lord George Gordon said； and among all of whom
the rumour had been rapidly dispersed that the stranger was a
Papist who was bearding him for his advocacy of the popular
cause—came pouring out pell…mell； and； forcing the nobleman； his
secretary； and Sir John Chester on before them； so that they
appeared to be at their head； crowded to the top of the stairs
where Mr Haredale waited until the boat was ready； and there
stood still； leaving him on a little clear space by himself。
They were not silent； however； though inactive。 At first some
indistinct mutterings arose among them； which were followed by a
hiss or two； and these swelled by degrees into a perfect storm。
Then one voice said； ‘Down with the Papists！’ and there was a
pretty general cheer； but nothing more。 After a lull of a few
moments； one man cried out； ‘Stone him；’ another； ‘Duck him；’
another； in a stentorian voice； ‘No Popery！’ This favourite cry the
rest re…echoed； and the mob； which might have been two hundred
strong； joined in a general shout。
Mr Haredale had stood calmly on the brink of the steps； until
they made this demonstration； when he looked round
contemptuously； and walked at a slow pace down the stairs。 He
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was pretty near the boat； when Gashford； as if without intention；
turned about； and directly afterwards a great stone was thrown by
some hand； in the crowd； which struck him on the head； and made
him stagger like a drunken man。
The blood sprung freely from the wound； and trickled down his
coat。 He turned directly； and rushing up the steps with a boldness
and passion which made them all fall back； demanded：
‘Who did that？ Show me the man who hit me。’
Not a soul moved； except some in the rear who slunk off； and；
escaping to the other side of the way； looked on like indifferent
spectators。
‘Who did that？’ he repeated。 ‘Show me the man who did it。 Dog；
was it you？ It was your deed； if not your hand—I know you。’
He threw himself on Gashford as he said the words； and hurled
him to the ground。 There was a sudden motion in the crowd； and
some laid hands upon him； but his sword was out； and they fell off
again。
‘My lord—Sir John；’—he cried； ‘draw； one of you—you are
responsible for this outrage； and I look to you。 Draw； if you are
gentlemen。’ With that he struck Sir John upon the breast with the
flat of his weapon； and with a burning face and flashing eyes stood
upon his guard； alone； before them all。
For an instant； for the briefest space of time the mind can
readily conceive； there was a change in Sir John’s smooth face；
such as no man ever saw there。 The next moment； he stepped
forward； and laid one hand on Mr Haredale’s arm； while with the
other he endeavoured to appease the crowd。
‘My dear friend； my good Haredale； you are blinded with
passion—it’s very natural； extremely natural—but you don’t know
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friends from foes。’
‘I know them all； sir； I can distinguish well—’ he retorted；
almost mad with rage。 ‘Sir John； Lord George—do you hear me？
Are you cowards？’
‘Never mind； sir；’ said a man； forcing his way between and
pushing him towards the stairs with friendly violence； ‘never mind
asking that。 For God’s sake； get away。 What can you do against
this number？ And there are as many more in the next street；
who’ll be round directly；’—indeed they began to pour in as he said
the words—‘you’d be giddy from that cut； in the first heat of a
scuffle。 Now do retire； sir； or take my word for it you’ll be worse
used than you would be if every man in the crowd was a woman；
and that woman Bloody Mary。 Come； sir； make haste—as quick as
you can。’
Mr Haredale； who began to turn faint and sick； felt how sensible
this advice was； and descended the steps with his unknown
friend’s assistance。 John Grueby （for John it was） hel
