bleak house(凄凉的房子)-第218节
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dangerous proceeding。 I know it to be unnecessary； and calculated
to awaken speculation； doubt； rumour； I don’t know what； in the
house。 Besides； it is a violation of our agreement。 You were to be
exactly what you were before。 Whereas； it must be evident to
yourself； as it is to me； that you have been this evening very
different from what you were before。 Why； bless my soul； Lady
Dedlock； transparently so！”
“If； sir；” she begins； “in my knowledge of my secret—” But he
interrupts her。
“Now； Lady Dedlock； this is a matter of business； and in a
matter of business the ground cannot be kept too clear。 It is no
longer your secret。 Excuse me。 That is just the mistake。 It is my
secret； in trust for Sir Leicester and the family。 If it were your
secret； Lady Dedlock； we should not be here； holding this
conversation。”
“That is very true。 If； in my knowledge of the secret； I do what I
can to spare an innocent girl （especially； remembering your own
reference to her when you told my story to the assembled guests at
Chesney Wold） from the taint of my impending shame； I act upon
a resolution I have taken。 Nothing in the world； and no one in the
world； could shake it； or could move me。” This she says with great
deliberation and distinctness； and with no more outward passion
than himself。 As for him； he methodically discusses his matter of
business； as if she were any insensible instrument used in
business。
“Really？ Then you see； Lady Dedlock；” he returns； “you are not
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to be trusted。 You have put the case in a perfectly plain way； and
according to the literal fact； and； that being the case； you are not to
be trusted。”
“Perhaps you may remember that I expressed some anxiety on
this same point； when we spoke at night at Chesney Wold？”
“Yes；” says Mr Tulkinghorn； coolly getting up and standing on
the hearth。 “Yes。 I recollect； Lady Dedlock； that you certainly
referred to the girl； but that was before we came to our
arrangement； and both the letter and the spirit of our
arrangement altogether precluded any action on your part；
founded upon my discovery。 There can be no doubt about that。 As
to sparing the girl； of what importance or value is she？ Spare！
Lady Dedlock； here is a family name compromised。 One might
have supposed that the course was straight on—over everything；
neither to the right nor to the left； regardless of all considerations
in the way； sparing nothing； treading everything under foot。”
She has been looking at the table。 She lifts up her eyes； and
looks at him。 There is a stern expression on her face； and a part of
her lower lip is compressed under her teeth。 “This woman
understands me；” Mr Tulkinghorn thinks； as she lets her glance
fall again。 “She cannot be spared。 Why should she spare others？”
For a little while they are silent。 Lady Dedlock has eaten no
dinner； but has twice or thrice poured out water with a steady
hand and drunk it。 She rises from table； takes a lounging…chair；
and reclines in it； shading her face。 There is nothing in her
manner to express weakness or excite compassion。 It is
thoughtful； gloomy； concentrated。 “This woman；” thinks Mr
Tulkinghorn； standing on the hearth； again a dark object closing
up her view； is a “study。”
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He studies her at his leisure； not speaking for a time。 She； too；
studies something at her leisure。 She is not the first to speak；
appearing indeed so unlikely to be so； though he stood there until
midnight； that even he is driven upon breaking silence。
“Lady Dedlock； the most disagreeable part of this business
interview remains； but it is business。 Our agreement is broken。 A
lady of your sense and strength of character will be prepared for
my now declaring it void； and taking my own course。”
“I am quite prepared。”
Mr Tulkinghorn inclines his head。 “That is all I have to trouble
you with； Lady Dedlock。”
She stops him as he is moving out of the room； by asking； “This
is the notice I was to receive？ I wish not to misapprehend you。”
“Not exactly the notice you were to receive； Lady Dedlock；
because the contemplated notice supposed the agreement to have
been observed。 But virtually the same； virtually the same。 The
difference is merely in a lawyer’s mind。”
“You intend to give me no other notice？”
“You are right。 No。”
“Do you contemplate undeceiving Sir Leicester tonight？”
“A home question！” says Mr Tulkinghorn； with a slight smile；
and cautiously shaking his head at the shaded face。 “No； not
tonight。”
“Tomorrow？”
“All things considered； I had better decline answering that
question； Lady Dedlock。 If I were to say。 If I were to say I don’t
know when； exactly； you would not believe me； and it would
answer no purpose。 It may be tomorrow。 I would rather say no
more。 You are prepared； and I hold out no expectations which
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circumstances might fail to justify。 I wish you good evening。”
She removes her hand； turns her pale face towards him as he
walks silently to the door； and stops him once again as he is about
to open it。
“Do you intend to remain in the house any time？ I heard you
were writing in the library。 Are you going to return there？”
“Only for my hat。 I am going home。”
She bows her eyes rather than her head； the movement is so
slight and curious； and he withdraws。 Clear of the room he looks
at his watch； but is inclined to doubt it by a minute or thereabouts。
There is a splendid clock upon the staircase； famous； as splendid
clocks not often are； for its accuracy。 “And what do you say？ Mr
Tulkinghorn inquires； referring to it。 “What do you say？”
If it said now； “Don’t go home！” What a famous clock； hereafter；
if it said tonight of all the nights that it has counted off； to this old
man of all the young and old men who have ever stood before it；。
“Don’t go home！” With its sharp clear bell it strikes three…quarters
after seven； and ticks on again。 “Why； you are worse than I
thought you；” says Mr Tulkinghorn； muttering reproof to his
watch。 “Two minutes wrong？ At this rate you won’t last my time。”
What a watch to return good for evil； if it ticked in answer “Don’t
go home！”
He passes out into the streets； and walks on； with his hands
behind him； under the shadow of the lofty houses； many of whose
mysteries； difficulties； mortgages； delicate affairs of all kinds； are
treasured up within his old black satin waistcoat。 He is in the
confidence of the very bricks and mortar。 The high chimney…
stacks telegraphed family secrets to him。 Yet there is not a voice in
a mile of them to whisper “Don’t go home！”
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Through the stir and motion of the commoner streets； through
the roar and jar of many vehicles； many feet； many voices； with the
blazing shop…lights lighting him on； the west wind blowing him on；
and the crowd pressing him on； he is pitilessly urged upon his
way； and nothing meets him；
