bleak house(凄凉的房子)-第134节
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Mr Tulkinghorn comes and goes pretty often； there being estate
business to do； leases to be renewed； and so on。 He sees my Lady
pretty often； too； and he and she are as composed； and as
indifferent； and take as little heed of one another； as ever。 Yet it
may be that my Lady fears this Mr Tulkinghorn； and that he
knows it。 It may be that he pursues her doggedly and steadily；
with no touch of compunction； remorse； or pity。 It may be that her
beauty； and all the state and brilliancy surrounding her； only gives
him the greater zest for what he is set upon； and makes him the
more inflexible in it。 Whether he be cold and cruel； whether
immovable in what he has made his duty； whether absorbed in
love of power； whether determined to have nothing hidden from
him in ground where he has burrowed among secrets all his life；
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Bleak House 558
whether he in his heart despises the splendour of which he is a
distant beam； whether he is always treasuring up slights and
offences in the affability of his gorgeous clients—whether he be
any of this； or all of this； it may be that my Lady had better have
five thousand pairs of fashionable eyes upon her； in distrustful
vigilance； than the two eyes of this rusty lawyer； with his wisp of
neckcloth and his dull black breeches tied with ribbons at the
knees。
Sir Leicester sits in my Lady’s room—that room in which Mr
Tulkinghorn read the affidavit in Jarndyce and Jarndyce—
particularly complacent。 My Lady—as on that day—sits before the
fire with her screen in her hand。 Sir Leicester is particularly
complacent； because he has found in his newspaper some
congenial remarks bearing directly on the floodgates and the
framework of society。 They apply so happily to the late case； that
Sir Leicester has come from the library to my Lady’s room
expressly to read them aloud。 “The man who wrote this article；”
he observes by way of preface； nodding at the fire as if he were
nodding down at the man from a Mount； “has a well…balanced
mind。”
The man’s mind is not so well balanced but that he bores my
Lady； who； after a languid effort to listen； or rather a languid
resignation of herself to a show of listening； becomes distraught；
and falls into a contemplation of the fire as if it were her fire at
Chesney Wold； and she had never left it。 Sir Leicester； quite
unconscious； reads on through his double eyeglass； occasionally
stopping to remove his glass and express approval； as “Very true
indeed；” “Very properly put；” “I have frequently made the same
remark myself；” invariably losing his place after each observation；
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Bleak House 559
and going up and down the column to find it again。
Sir Leicester is reading； with infinite gravity and state； when
the door opens； and the Mercury in powder makes this strange
announcement：
“The young man； my Lady； of the name Guppy。”
Sir Leicester pauses； stares； repeats in a killing voice：—
“The young man of the name of Guppy？”
Looking round he beholds the young man of the name of
Guppy； much discomfited； and not presenting a very impressive
letter of introduction in his manner and appearance。
“Pray；” says Sir Leicester to Mercury； “what do you mean by
announcing with this abruptness a young man of the name of
Guppy？”
“I beg your pardon； Sir Leicester； but my Lady said she would
see the young man whenever he called。 I was not aware that you
were here； Sir Leicester。”
With this apology； Mercury directs a scornful and indignant
look at the young man of the name of Guppy； which plainly says；
“What do you come calling here for； and getting me into a row？”
“It’s quite right。 I gave him those directions；” says my Lady。
“Let the young man wait。”
“By no means； my Lady。 Since he has your orders to come； I
will not interrupt you。” Sir Leicester in his gallantry retires； rather
declining to accept a bow from the young man as he goes out； and
majestically supposing him to be some shoemaker of intrusive
appearance。
Lady Dedlock looks imperiously at her visitor； when the servant
has left the room； casting her eyes over him from head to foot。 She
suffers him to stand by the door； and asks him what he wants？
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Bleak House 560
“That your ladyship would have the kindness to oblige me with
a little conversation；” returns Mr Guppy； embarrassed。
“You are； of course； the person who has written me so many
letters？”
“Several； your ladyship。 Several； before your ladyship
condescended to favour me with an answer。”
“And could you not take the same means of rendering a
conversation unnecessary？ Can you not still？”
Mr Guppy screws his mouth into a silent “No！” and shakes his
head。
“You have been strangely importunate。 If it should appear；
after all； that what you have to say does not concern me—and I
don’t know how it can； and don’t expect that it will—you will allow
me to cut you short with but little ceremony。 Say what you have
say； if you please。”
My Lady； with a careless toss of her screen； turns herself
towards the fire again； sitting almost with her back to the young
man of the name of Guppy。
“With your ladyship’s permission； then；” says the young man； “I
will now enter on my business。 Hem！ I am； as I told your ladyship
in my first letter； in the law。 Being in the law； I have learnt the
habit of not committing myself in writing； and therefore I did not
mention to your ladyship the name of the firm with which I am
connected； and in which my standing—and I may add income—is
tolerably good。 I may now state to your ladyship； in confidence；
that the name of that firm is Kenge Carboy； of Lincoln’s Inn；
which may not be altogether unknown to your ladyship in
connection with the case in Chancery of Jarndyce and Jarndyce。”
My Lady’s figure begins to be expressive of some attention。 She
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has ceased to toss the screen； and holds it as if she were listening。
“Now； I may say to your ladyship at once；” says Mr Guppy； a
little emboldened； “it is no matter arising out of Jarndyce and
Jarndyce that made me so desirous to speak to your ladyship；
which conduct I have no doubt did appear； and does appear；
obtrusive—in fact； almost blackguardly。” After waiting for a
moment to receive some assurance to the contrary； and not
receiving any； Mr Guppy proceeds。 “If it had been Jarndyce and
Jarndyce； I should have gone at once to your ladyship’s solicitor；
Mr Tulkinghorn of the Fields。 I have the pleasure of being
acquainted with Mr Tulkinghorn；—at least we move when we
meet one another—and if it had been any business of that sort； I
should have gone to him。”
My Lady turns a little round； and says “You had better sit
down。”
“Thank you la
