bleak house(凄凉的房子)-第237节
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Bucket； soothingly； “no doubt。 He was calculated to be a
deprivation； I’m sure he was。”
Volumnia gives Mr Bucket to understand； in reply； that her
sensitive mind is fully made up never to get the better of it as long
as she lives； that her nerves are unstrung forever； and that she has
not the least expectation of smiling again。 Meanwhile she folds up
a cocked…hat for that redoubtable old general at Bath； descriptive
of her melancholy condition。
“It gives a start to a delicate female；” says Mr Bucket；
sympathetically； “but it’ll wear off。”
Volumnia wishes of all things to know what is doing？ Whether
they are going to convict； or whatever it is； that dreadful soldier？
Whether he had any accomplices； or whatever the thing is called
in the law？ And a great deal more to the like artless purpose。
“Why you see； miss；” returns Mr Bucket； bringing the finger
into persuasive action—and such is his natural gallantry； that he
had almost said； my dear； “it ain’t easy to answer those questions
at the present moment。 Not at the present moment。 I’ve kept
myself on this case； Sir Leicester Dedlock； Baronet；” whom Mr
Bucket takes into the conversation in right of his importance；
“morning； noon； and night。 But for a glass or two of sherry； I don’t
think I could have had my mind so much upon the stretch as it has
been。 I could answer your questions； miss； but duty forbids it。 Sir
Leicester Dedlock； Baronet； will very soon be made acquainted
with all that has been traced。 And I hope that he may find it；” Mr
Bucket again looks grave； “to his satisfaction。”
The debilitated cousin only hopes some fler’ll be executed—
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zample。 Thinks more interest’s wanted—get man hanged
presentime—than get man place ten thousand a year。 Hasn’t a
doubt—zample—far better hang wrong fler than no fler。
“You know life； you know； sir；” says Mr Bucket； with a
complimentary twinkle of his eye and crook of his finger； “and you
can confirm what I’ve mentioned to this lady。 You don’t want to be
told； that； from information I have received； I have gone to work。
You’re up to what a lady can’t be expected to be up to。 Lord！
especially in your elevated station of society； miss；” says Mr
Bucket； quite reddening at another narrow escape from my dear。
“The officer； Volumnia；” observes Sir Leicester； “is faithful to
his duty； and perfectly right。”
Mr Bucket murmurs； “Glad to have the honour of your
approbation； Sir Leicester Dedlock； Baronet。”
“In fact； Volumnia；” proceeds Sir Leicester； “it is not holding
up a good model for imitation； to ask the officer any such
questions as you have put to him。 He is the best judge of his own
responsibility； he acts upon his responsibility。 And it does not
become us； who assist in making the laws； to impede or interfere
with those who carry them into execution。 Or；” says Sir Leicester；
somewhat sternly； for Volumnia was going to cut in before he had
rounded his sentence； “or who vindicate their outraged majesty。”
Volumnia with all humility explains that she has not merely the
plea of curiosity to urge （in common with the giddy youth of her
sex in general）； but that she is perfectly dying with regret and
interest for the darling man whose loss they all deplore。
“Very well； Volumnia；” returns Sir Leicester。 “Then you cannot
be too discreet。”
Mr Bucket takes the opportunity of a pause to be heard again。
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“Sir Leicester Dedlock； Baronet； I have no objections to telling
this lady； with your leave and among ourselves； that I look upon
the case as pretty well complete。 It is a beautiful case—a beautiful
case—and what little is wanting to complete it； I expect to be able
to supply in a few hours。”
“I am very glad indeed to hear it；” says Sir Leicester。 “Highly
creditable to you。”
“Sir Leicester Dedlock； Baronet；” returns Mr Bucket； very
seriously； “I hope it may at one and the same time do me credit；
and prove satisfactory to all。 When I depict it as a beautiful case；
you see； miss；” Mr Bucket goes on； glancing gravely at Sir
Leicester； “I mean from my point of view。 As considered from
other points of view； such cases will always involve more or less
unpleasantness。 Very strange things comes to our knowledge in
families； miss； bless your heart； what you would think to be
phenomenons； quite。”
Volumnia； with her innocent little scream； supposes so。
“Aye； and even in gen…teel families； in high families； in great
families；” says Mr Bucket； again gravely eyeing Sir Leicester
aside。 “I have had the honour of being employed in high families
before； and you have no idea—come； I’ll go so far as to say not
even you have any idea； sir；” this to the debilitated cousin； “what
games goes on！”
The cousin； who has been casting sofa…pillows on his head； in a
prostration of boredom； yawns； “Vayli”—being the used…up for
“very likely。”
Sir Leicester； deeming it time to dismiss the officer； here
majestically interposes with the words； “Very good。 Thank you！”
and also with a wave of his hand； implying not only that there is an
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end of the discourse； but that if high families fall into low habits
they must take the consequences。 “You will not forget； officer；” he
adds； with condescension； “that I am at your disposal when you
please。”
Mr Bucket （still grave） inquires if tomorrow morning； now；
would suit； in case he should be as for’ard as he expects to be？ Sir
Leicester replies； “All times are alike to me。” Mr Bucket makes his
three bows； and is withdrawing； when a forgotten point occurs to
him。
“Might I ask； by the bye；” he says； in a low voice； cautiously
returning； “who posted the Reward…bill on the staircase。”
“I ordered it to be put up there；” replies Sir Leicester。
“Would it be considered a liberty； Sir Leicester Dedlock；
Baronet； if I was to ask you why？”
“Not at all。 I chose it as a conspicuous part of the house。 I think
it cannot be too prominently kept before the whole establishment。
I wish my people to be impressed with the enormity of the crime；
the determination to punish it； and the hopelessness of escape。 At
the same time； officer； if you in your better knowledge of the
subject see any objection—” Mr Bucket sees none now； the bill
having been put up； had better not be taken down。 Repeating his
three bows he withdraws： closing the door on Volumnia’s little
scream； which is a preliminary to her remarking that that
charmingly horrible person is a perfect Blue Chamber。
In his fondness for society； and his adaptability to all grades； Mr
Bucket is presently standing before the hall…fire—bright and warm
on the early winter night—admiring Mercury。
“Why； you’re six foot two； I suppose？” says Mr Bucket。
“Three；” says Mercury。
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“Are you so much？ But then； you see； you’re broad in
proportion； and don’t look it。 You’re not one of the weak…legged
ones； you ain’t。 Was you ever modelled now？” Mr Bucket asks；
conveying
