lavengro-第65节
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'I don't know；' said the young man； thoughtfully laying down the
book on the counter； 'I don't know what you can do； I think you
will find some difficulty in this bartering job； the trade are
rather precise。' All at once he laughed louder than before；
suddenly stopping； however； he put on a very grave look。 'Take my
advice；' said he； 'there is a firm established in this
neighbourhood which scarcely sells any books but Bibles； they are
very rich； and pride themselves on selling their books at the
lowest possible price； apply to them； who knows but what they will
exchange with you？'
Thereupon I demanded with some eagerness of the young man the
direction to the place where he thought it possible that I might
effect the exchange … which direction the young fellow cheerfully
gave me； and； as I turned away； had the civility to wish me
success。
I had no difficulty in finding the house to which the young fellow
directed me； it was a very large house； situated in a square； and
upon the side of the house was written in large letters； 'Bibles；
and other religious books。'
At the door of the house were two or three tumbrils； in the act of
being loaded with chests； very much resembling tea…chests； one of
the chests falling down； burst； and out flew； not tea； but various
books； in a neat； small size； and in neat leather covers； Bibles；
said I； … Bibles； doubtless。 I was not quite right； nor quite
wrong； picking up one of the books； I looked at it for a moment；
and found it to be the New Testament。 'Come； young lad；' said a
man who stood by； in the dress of a porter； 'put that book down； it
is none of yours； if you want a book； go in and deal for one。'
Deal； thought I； deal； … the man seems to know what I am coming
about； … and going in； I presently found myself in a very large
room。 Behind a counter two men stood with their backs to a
splendid fire； warming themselves； for the weather was cold。
Of these men one was dressed in brown； and the other was dressed in
black； both were tall men … he who was dressed in brown was thin；
and had a particularly ill…natured countenance； the man dressed in
black was bulky； his features were noble； but they were those of a
lion。
'What is your business； young man？' said the precise personage； as
I stood staring at him and his companion。
'I want a Bible；' said I。
'What price； what size？' said the precise…looking man。
'As to size；' said I； 'I should like to have a large one … that is；
if you can afford me one … I do not come to buy。'
'Oh； friend；' said the precise…looking man； 'if you come here
expecting to have a Bible for nothing； you are mistaken … we … '
'I would scorn to have a Bible for nothing；' said I； 'or anything
else； I came not to beg； but to barter； there is no shame in that；
especially in a country like this； where all folks barter。'
'Oh； we don't barter；' said the precise man； 'at least Bibles； you
had better depart。'
'Stay； brother；' said the man with the countenance of a lion； 'let
us ask a few questions； this may be a very important case； perhaps
the young man has had convictions。'
'Not I；' I exclaimed； 'I am convinced of nothing； and with regard
to the Bible … I don't believe … '
'Hey！' said the man with the lion countenance； and there he
stopped。 But with that 'Hey' the walls of the house seemed to
shake； the windows rattled； and the porter whom I had seen in front
of the house came running up the steps； and looked into the
apartment through the glass of the door。
There was silence for about a minute … the same kind of silence
which succeeds a clap of thunder。
At last the man with the lion countenance； who had kept his eyes
fixed upon me； said calmly； 'Were you about to say that you don't
believe in the Bible； young man？'
'No more than in anything else；' said I； 'you were talking of
convictions … I have no convictions。 It is not easy to believe in
the Bible till one is convinced that there is a Bible。'
'He seems to be insane；' said the prim…looking man； 'we had better
order the porter to turn him out。'
'I am by no means certain；' said I； 'that the porter could turn me
out； always provided there is a porter； and this system of ours be
not a lie； and a dream。'
'Come；' said the lion…looking man； impatiently； 'a truce with this
nonsense。 If the porter cannot turn you out； perhaps some other
person can； but to the point … you want a Bible？'
'I do；' said I； 'but not for myself； I was sent by another person
to offer something in exchange for one。'
'And who is that person？'
'A poor old woman； who has had what you call convictions； … heard
voices； or thought she heard them … I forgot to ask her whether
they were loud ones。'
'What has she sent to offer in exchange？' said the man； without
taking any notice of the concluding part of my speech。
'A book；' said I。
'Let me see it。'
'Nay； brother；' said the precise man； 'this will never do； if we
once adopt the system of barter； we shall have all the holders of
useless rubbish in the town applying to us。'
'I wish to see what he has brought；' said the other； 'perhaps
Baxter； or Jewell's APOLOGY； either of which would make a valuable
addition to our collection。 Well； young man； what's the matter
with you？'
I stood like one petrified； I had put my hand into my pocket … the
book was gone。
'What's the matter？' repeated the man with the lion countenance； in
a voice very much resembling thunder。
'I have it not … I have lost it！'
'A pretty story； truly；' said the precise…looking man； 'lost it！
You had better retire；' said the other。
'How shall I appear before the party who intrusted me with the
book？ She will certainly think that I have purloined it；
notwithstanding all I can say； nor； indeed； can I blame her； …
appearances are certainly against me。'
'They are so … you had better retire。'
I moved towards the door。 'Stay； young man； one word more； there
is only one way of proceeding which would induce me to believe that
you are sincere。'
'What is that？' said I； stopping and looking at him anxiously。
'The purchase of a Bible。'
'Purchase！' said I； 'purchase！ I came not to purchase； but to
barter； such was my instruction； and how can I barter if I have
lost the book？'
The other made no answer； and turning away I made for the door； all
of a sudden I started； and turning round； 'Dear me；' said I； 'it
has just come into my head； that if the book was lost by my
negligence； as it must have been； I have clearly a right to make it
good。'
No answer。
'Yes；' I repeated； 'I have clearly a right to make it good； how
glad I am！ see the effect of a little reflection。 I will purchase
a Bible instantly； that is； if I have not lost … ' and with
considerable agitation I felt in my pocket。
The prim…looking man smiled： 'I suppose；' said he； 'that he has
lost his money as well as book。'
'No；' said I； 'I have not'； and pulling out my hand I displayed no
less a sum than three half…crowns。
'Oh； noble goddess of the Mint！' as Dame Charlotta Nordenflycht；
the Swede； said a hundred and fifty years ago； 'great is thy power；
how energetically the possession of thee speaks in favour of man's
character！'
'Only half…a…crown for this Bible？' said I； putting down the money；
'it is worth three'； and bowing to the man of the noble features； I
departed with my purchase。
'Queer customer；' said the prim…looking man； as I was about to
close the door … 'don't like him。'
'Why； as to that； I scarcely know what to say；' said he of the
countenance of a lion。
CHAPTER XLVI
The pickpocket … Strange rencounter … Drag him along … A great
service … Things of importance … Philological matters … Mother of
languages … Zhats！
A FEW days after the occurrence of what is recorded in the last
chapter； as I was wandering in the City； chance directed my
footsteps to an alley leading from one narrow street to another in
the neighbourhood of Cheapside。 Just before I reached the mouth of
the alley； a man in a greatcoat； closely followed by another；
passed it； and； at the moment in which they were passing； I
observed the man behind snatch something from the pocket of the
other； whereupon； darting into the street； I seized the hindermost
man by the collar； crying at the same time to the other； 'My good
friend； this person has just picked your pocket。'
The individual whom I addressed； turning round with a start；
glanced at me； and then at the person whom I held。 London is the
place for strange rencounters。 It appeared to me that I recognised
both individuals … the man whose pocket had been picked and the
other； the latter now began to struggl
