bleak house(凄凉的房子)-第116节
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heaved a sigh in my ear； and elbowed his own and Mrs Rachael’s
way through the confused little crowd of people coming in and
going out； which we were in the midst of； and which the change in
the business had brought together。 Richard and I were making
our way through it； and I was yet in the first chill of the late
unexpected recognition； when I saw； coming towards us； but not
seeing us； no less a person than Mr George。 He made nothing of
the people about him as he tramped on； staring over their heads
into the body of the Court。
“George！” said Richard； as I called his attention to him。
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“You are well met； sir；” he returned。 “And you； miss。 Could you
point a person out for me； I want？ I don’t understand these
places。”
Turning as he spoke； and making an easy way for us； he
stopped when we were out of the press； in a corner behind a great
red curtain。
“There’s a little cracked old woman；” he began； “that—”
I put up my finger； for Miss Flite was close by me； having kept
beside me all the time； and having called the attention of several of
her legal acquaintance to me （as I had overheard to my confusion）；
by whispering in their ears； “Hush！ Fitz…Jarndyce on my left！”
“Hem！” said Mr George。 “You remember； miss； that we passed
some conversation on a certain man this morning？—Gridley；” in a
low whisper behind his hand。
“Yes；” said I。
“He is hiding at my place。 I couldn’t mention it。 Hadn’t his
authority。 He is on his last march； miss； and has a whim to see her。
He says they can feel for one another； and she has been almost as
good as a friend to him here。 I came down to look for her； for when
I sat by Gridley this afternoon； I seemed to hear the roll of the
muffled drums。”
“Shall I tell her？” said I。
“Would you be so good？” he returned； with a glance of
something like apprehension at Miss Flite。 “It’s a Providence I met
you； miss； I doubt if I should have known how to get on with that
lady。” And he put one hand in his breast； and stood upright in a
martial attitude； as I informed little Miss Flite； in her ear； of the
purport of his kind errand。
“My angry friend from Shropshire！ Almost as celebrated as
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Bleak House 483
myself！” she exclaimed。 “Now really！ My dear； I will wait upon
him with the greatest pleasure。”
“He is living concealed at Mr George’s；” said I。 “Hush！ This is
Mr George。”
“In…deed！” returned Miss Flite。 “Very proud to have the
honour！ A military man； my dear。 You know； a perfect General！”
she whispered to me。
Poor Miss Flite deemed it necessary to be so courtly and polite；
as a mark of her respect for the army； and to courtesy so very
often； that it was no easy matter to get her out of the Court。 When
this was at last done； and addressing Mr George； as “General；” she
gave him her arm to the great entertainment of some idlers who
were looking on； he was so discomposed； and begged me so
respectfully “not to desert him；” that I could not make up my mind
to do it； especially as Miss Flite was always tractable with me； and
as she too said； “Fitz…Jarndyce； my dear； you will accompany us； of
course。” As Richard seemed quite willing； and even anxious； that
we should see them safely to their destination； we agreed to do so。
And as Mr George informed us that Gridley’s mind had run on Mr
Jarndyce all the afternoon； after hearing of their interview in the
morning； I wrote a hasty note in pencil to my Guardian to say
where we were gone； and why。 Mr George sealed it at a coffee…
house； that it might lead to no discovery； and we sent it off by a
ticket…porter。
We then took a hackney coach； and drove away to the
neighbourhood of Leicester Square。 We walked through some
narrow courts； for which Mr George apologised； and soon came to
the Shooting Gallery； the door of which was closed。 As he pulled a
bell…handle which hung by a chain to the door…post； a very
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respectable old gentleman； with grey hair； wearing spectacles； and
dressed in a black spencer and gaiters and a broad…brimmed hat；
and carrying a large gold…headed cane； addressed him。
“I ask your pardon； my good friend；” said he； but is this
George’s Shooting Gallery？”
“It is； sir；” returned Mr George； glancing up at the great letters
in which that inscription was painted on the whitewashed wall。
“Oh！ To be sure！” said the old gentleman； following his eyes。
“Thank you。 Have you rung the bell？”
“My name is George； sir； and I have rung the bell。”
“Oh； indeed？” said the old gentleman。 “Your name is George？
Then I am here as soon as you； you see。 You came for me； no
doubt？”
“No； sir。 You have the advantage of me。”
“Oh； indeed？” said the old gentleman。 “Then it was your young
man who came for me。 I am a physician； and was requested—five
minutes ago—to come and visit a sick man； at George’s Shooting
Gallery。”
“The muffled drums；” said Mr George； turning to Richard and
me； and gravely shaking his head。 “It’s quite correct； sir。 Will you
please to walk in。”
The door being at that moment opened； by a very singular…
looking little man in a green baize cap and apron； whose face； and
hands； and dress； were blackened all over； we passed along a
dreary passage into a large building with bare brick walls； where
there were targets； and guns； and swords； and other things of that
kind。 When we had all arrived here； the physician stopped； and；
taking off his hat； appeared to vanish by magic； and to leave
another and quite a different man in his place。
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“Now look’ee here； George；” said the man turning quickly
round upon him； and tapping him on the breast with a large
forefinger。 “You know me； and I know you。 You’re a man of the
world； and I’m a man of the world。 My name’s Bucket； as you are
aware； and I have got a peace…warrant against Gridley。 You have
kept him out of the way a long time； and you have been artful in it；
and it does you credit。”
Mr George； looking hard at him； bit his lip and shook his head。
“Now； George；” said the other； keeping close to him； “you’re a
sensible man； and a well…conducted man； that’s what you are；
beyond a doubt。 And mind you； I don’t talk to you as a common
character； because you have served your country； and you know
that when duty calls we must obey。 Consequently； you’re very far
from wanting to give trouble。 If I required assistance； you’d assist
me； that’s what you’d do。 Phil Squod； don’t you go a…sidling round
the gallery like that；” the dirty little man was shuffling about with
his shoulder against the wall； and his eyes on the intruder； in a
manner that looked threatening； “because I know you； and I won’t
have it。”
“Phil！” said Mr George。
“Yes； Guv’ner。”
“Be quiet。”
The little man； with a low growl； stood still。
“Ladies and gentlemen；” said Mr Bucket； “you’ll excuse
anything that may appear to be disagreeable in this； for my name’s
Inspector Bucket of the Detective； and I have a duty to perform。
George； I know where my man is； because I was on the roof last
night； and saw him through the skylight； and you along with him。
He is in t
