bleak house(凄凉的房子)-第250节
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fashionable visitors； but such visitors； for instance； as Miss
Barbary’s old servant； or as a person without the use of his lower
extremities； carried upstairs similarly to a Guy？”
“No！”
“Then I assure your Ladyship that such visitors have been here
and have been received here。 Because I saw them at the door； and
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waited at the corner of the square till they came out； and took half…
an…hour’s turn afterwards to avoid them。”
“What have I to do with that； or what have you？ I do not
understand you。 What do you mean？”
“Your Ladyship； I come to put you on your guard。 There may
be no occasion for it。 Very well。 Then I have only done my best to
keep my promise to Miss Summerson。 I strongly suspect （from
what Small has dropped； and from what we have corkscrewed out
of him） that those letters I was to have brought to your Ladyship
were not destroyed when I supposed they were。 That if there was
anything to be blown upon； it is blown upon。 That the visitors I
have alluded to have been here this morning to make money of it。
And that the money is made； or making。”
Mr Guppy picks up his hat and rises。
“Your Ladyship； you know best； whether there’s anything in
what I say； or whether there’s nothing。 Something or nothing； I
have acted up to Miss Summerson’s wishes in letting things alone；
and in undoing what I had begun to do； as far as possible； that’s
sufficient for me。 In case I should be taking a liberty in putting
your Ladyship on your guard when there’s no necessity for it； you
will endeavour； I should hope； to outlive my presumption； and I
shall endeavour to outlive your disapprobation。 I now take my
farewell of your Ladyship； and assure you that there’s no danger
of your ever being waited on by me again。”
She scarcely acknowledges these parting words by any look；
but when he has been gone a little while she rings her bell。
“Where is Sir Leicester？”
Mercury reports that he is at present shut up in the library；
alone。
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“Has Sir Leicester had any visitors this morning？”
Several on business。 Mercury proceeds to a description of them；
which has been anticipated by Mr Guppy。 Enough： he may go。
So！ All is broken down。 Her name is in these many mouths； her
husband knows his wrongs； her shame will be published—may be
spreading while she thinks about it—and in addition to the
thunderbolt so long foreseen by her； so unforeseen by him； she is
denounced by an invisible accuser as the murderess of her enemy。
Her enemy he was； and she has often； often； often； wished him
dead。 Her enemy he is； even in his grave。 This dreadful accusation
comes upon her； like a new torment at his lifeless hand。 And when
she recalls how she was secretly at his door that night； and how
she may be represented to have sent her favourite girl away； so
soon before； merely to release herself from observation； she
shudders as if the hangman’s hands were at her neck。
She has thrown herself upon the floor； and lies with her hair all
wildly scattered； and her face buried in the cushions of a couch。
She rises up； hurries to and fro； flings herself down again； and
rocks and moans。 The horror that is upon her； is unutterable。 If
she really were the murderess； it could hardly be； for the moment；
more intense。
For； as her murderous perspective； before the doing of the
deed； however subtle the precautions for its commission； would
have been closed up by a gigantic dilatation of the hateful figure；
preventing her from seeing any consequences beyond it； and as
those consequences would have rushed in； in an unimagined
flood； the moment the figure was laid low—which always happens
when a murder is done； so； now she sees that when he used to be
on the watch before her； and she used to think； “if some mortal
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stroke would but fall on this old man and take him from my way！”
it was but wishing that all he held against her in his hand might be
flung to the winds； and chance…sown in many places。 So； too； with
the wicked relief she has felt in his death。 What was his death but
the keystone of a gloomy arch removed； and now the arch begins
to fall in a thousand fragments； each crushing and mangling
piecemeal！
Thus； a terrible impression steals upon and overshadows her；
that from this pursuer； living or dead—obdurate and
imperturbable before her in his well…remembered shape； or not
more obdurate and imperturbable in his coffin…bed；—there is no
escape but in death。 Hunted； she flies。 The complication of her
shame； her dread； remorse； and misery； overwhelms her at its
height； and even her strength of self…reliance is overturned and
whirled away； like a leaf before a mighty wind。
She hurriedly addresses these lines to her husband； seals； and
leaves them on her table。
“If I am sought for； or accused of； his murder； believe that I am
wholly innocent。 Believe no other good of me； for I am innocent of
nothing else that you have heard； or will hear； laid to my charge。
He prepared me on that fatal night； for his disclosure of my guilt to
you。 After he had left me； I went out； on pretence of walking in the
garden where I sometimes walk； but really to follow him； and
make one last petition that he would not protract the dreadful
suspense on which I have been racked by him； you do not know
how long； but would mercifully strike next morning。
“I found his house dark and silent。 I rang twice at his door； but
there was no reply； and I came home。
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“I have no home left。 I will encumber you no more。 May you； in
your just resentment； be able to forget the unworthy woman on
whom you have wasted a most generous devotion—who avoids
you； only with a deeper shame than that with which she hurries
from herself—and who writes this last adieu！”
She veils and dresses quickly； leaves all her jewels and her
money； listens； goes downstairs at a moment when the hall is
empty； opens and shuts the great door； flutters away； in the shrill；
frosty wind。
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Chapter 56
Pursuit
mpassive； as behoves its high breeding； the Dedlock town…
house stares at the other houses in the street of dismal
I
grandeur； and gives no outward sign of anything going wrong
within。 Carriages rattle； doors are battered at； the world
exchanges calls； ancient charmers with skeleton throats； and
peachy cheeks that have a rather ghastly bloom upon them seen
by daylight； when indeed these fascinating creatures look like
Death and the Lady fused together； dazzle the eyes of men。 Forth
from the frigid Mews come easily swinging carriages guided by
short…legged coachmen in flaxen wigs； deep sunk into downy
hammercloths； and up behind mount luscious Mercuries； bearing
sticks of state； and wearing cocked hats broadwise： a spectacle for
the Angels。
The Dedlock town hous
