bleak house(凄凉的房子)-第242节
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
at Mr Bucket。
“I suppose now；” returns that officer； “you will be expecting a
twenty…pound note； or a present of about that figure？”
Mrs Chadband merely laughs； and contemptuously tells him he
can “offer” twenty pence。
“My friend the law…stationer’s good lady over there；” says Mr
Bucket； luring Mrs Snagsby forward with the finger。 “What may
your game be； ma’am？”
Mrs Snagsby is at first prevented； by tears and lamentations；
from stating the nature of her game： but by degrees it confusedly
comes to light； that she is a woman overwhelmed with injuries and
wrongs； whom Mr Snagsby has habitually deceived； abandoned；
and sought to keep in darkness； and whose chief comfort； under
her afflictions； has been the sympathy of the late Mr Tulkinghorn；
who showed so much commiseration for her； on one occasion of
his calling in Cook’s Court in the absence of her perjured husband；
that she has of late habitually carried to him all her woes。
Everybody it appears； the present company excepted； has plotted
against Mrs Snagsby’s peace。 There is Mr Guppy； clerk to Kenge
and Carboy； who was at first as open as the sun at noon； but who
suddenly shut up as close as midnight； under the influence—no
doubt—of Mr Snagsby’s suborning and tampering。 There is There
was Mr Weevle； friend of Mr Guppy； who lived mysteriously up a
court； owing to the like coherent causes。 There was Krook；
deceased； there was Nimrod； deceased； and there was Jo；
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
… Page 1008…
Bleak House 1008
deceased； and they were “all in it。” In what； Mrs Snagsby does not
with particularity express； but she knows that Jo was Mr
Snagsby’s son； “as well as if a trumpet had spoken it；” and she
followed Mr Snagsby when he went on his last visit to the boy； and
if he was not his son why did he go？ The one occupation of her life
has been； for some time back； to follow Mr Snagsby to and fro； and
up and down； and to piece suspicious circumstances together—
and every circumstance that has happened has been most
suspicious； and in this way she has pursued her object of detecting
and confounding her false husband； night and day。 Thus did it
come to pass that she brought the Chadbands and Mr Tulkinghorn
together； and conferred with Mr Tulkinghorn on the change in Mr
Guppy； and helped to turn up the circumstances in which the
present company are interested； casually； by the wayside； being
still； and ever； on the great high road that is to terminate in Mr
Snagsby’s full exposure and a matrimonial separation。 All this；
Mrs Snagsby； as an injured woman； and the friend of Mrs
Chadband； and the follower of Mr Chadband； and the mourner of
the late Mr Tulkinghorn； is here to certify under the seal of
confidence； with very possible confusion and involvement possible
and impossible； having no pecuniary motive whatever； no scheme
or project but the one mentioned； and bringing here； and taking
everywhere； her own dense atmosphere of dust； arising from the
ceaseless working of her mill of jealousy。
While this exordium is in hand—and it takes some time—Mr
Bucket； who has seen through the transparency of Mrs Snagsby’s
vinegar at a glance； confers with his familiar demon； and bestows
his shrewd attention on the Chadbands and Mr Smallweed。 Sir
Leicester Dedlock remains immoveable； with the same icy surface
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
… Page 1009…
Bleak House 1009
upon him： except that he once or twice looks towards Mr Bucket；
as relying on that officer alone of all mankind。
“Very good；” says Mr Bucket。 “Now I understand you； you
know； and； being deputed by Sir Leicester Dedlock； Baronet； to
look into this little matter；” again Sir Leicester mechanically bows
in confirmation of the statement； “can give it my fair and full
attention。 Now I won’t allude to conspiring to extort money； or
anything of that sort； because we are men and women of the world
here； and our object is to make things pleasant。 But I will tell you
what I do wonder at； I am surprised that you should think of
making a noise below in the hall。 It was so opposed to your
interests。 That’s what I look at。”
“We wanted to get in；” pleads Mr Smallweed。
“Why； of course； you wanted to get in；” Mr Bucket assents with
cheerfulness： “but for a old gentleman at your time of life—what I
call truly venerable； mind you！—with his wits sharpened； as I have
no doubt they are； by the loss of the use of his limbs； which
occasions all his animation to mount up into his head—not to
consider that if he don’t keep such a business as the present as
close as possible it can’t be worth a mag to him； is so curious！ You
see your temper got the better of you； that’s where you lost
ground；” says Mr Bucket； in an argumentative and friendly way。
“I only said I wouldn’t go； without one of the servants came up
to Sir Leicester Dedlock；” returns Mr Smallweed。
“That’s it！ That’s where your temper got the better of you。 Now；
you keep it under another time； and you’ll make money by it。 Shall
I ring for them to carry you down？”
“When are we to hear more of this？” Mrs Chadband sternly
demands。
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
… Page 1010…
Bleak House 1010
“Bless your heart for a true woman！ Always curious； your
delightful sex is！” replies Mr Bucket； with gallantry。 “I shall have
the pleasure of giving you a call tomorrow or next day—not
forgetting Mr Smallweed and his proposal of two fifty。”
“Five hundred！” exclaims Mr Smallweed。
“All right！ Nominally five hundred；” Mr Bucket has his hand on
the bell…rope； “shall I wish you good day for the present； on the
part of myself and the gentleman of the house？” he asks in an
insinuating tone。
Nobody having the hardihood to object to his doing so； he does
it； and the party retire as they came up。 Mr Bucket follows them to
the door； and； returning； says with an air of serious business：—
“Sir Leicester Dedlock； Baronet； it’s for you to consider
whether or not to buy this up。 I should recommend； on the whole；
it’s being bought up myself； and I think it may be bought pretty
cheap。 You see； that little pickled cucumber of a Mrs Snagsby has
been used by all sides of the speculation； and has done a deal more
harm in bringing odds and ends together than if she had meant it。
Mr Tulkinghorn； deceased； he held all these horses in his hand；
and could have drove ’em his own way； I haven’t a doubt； but he
was fetched off the box head…foremost； and now they have got
their legs over the traces； and are all dragging and pulling their
own ways。 So it is； and such is life。 The cat’s away； and the mice
they play； the frost breaks up； and the water runs。 Now； with
regard to the party to be apprehended。”
Sir Leicester seems to wake； though his eyes have been wide
open； and he looks intently at Mr Bucket； as Mr Bucket refers to
his watch。
“The party to be apprehended is now in this house；” proceeds
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
… Page 1011…
Bleak House 1011
Mr Bucket； putting up his watch with a steady hand； and with
rising spirits； “and I’m about to take her into custody in your
presence。 Sir Leicester Dedlock； Baronet； don’t you
