bleak house(凄凉的房子)-第259节
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two pair out here； for a crown a man。 Wake up； some of you！”
“You will not desert this lady we are in search of； you will not
abandon her on such a night； and in such a state of mind as I know
her to be in！” said I； in an agony； and grasping his hand。
“You are right； my dear； I won’t。 But I’ll follow the other。 Look
alive here with them horses。 Send a man fo’rard in the saddle to
the next stage； and let him send another for’ard again； and order
four on； up； right through。 My darling； don’t you be afraid！”
These orders； and the way in which he ran about the yard；
urging them； caused a general excitement that was scarcely less
bewildering to me than the sudden change。 But； in the height of
the confusion； a mounted man galloped away to order the relays；
and our horses were put to with great speed。
“My dear；” said Mr Bucket； jumping to his seat； and looking in
again—“you’ll excuse me if I’m too familiar—don’t you fret and
worry yourself no more than you can help。 I say nothing else at
present； but you know me； my dear； now； don’t you？”
I endeavoured to say that I knew he was far more capable than
I of deciding what we ought to do； but was he sure that this was
right？ Could I not go forward by myself in search of—I grasped his
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Bleak House 1078
hand again in my distress； and whispered it to him—of my own
mother。
“My dear；” he answered； “I know； I know； and would I put you
wrong； do you think？ Inspector Bucket。 Now you know me； don’t
you？”
What could I say but yes！
“Then you keep up as good a heart as you can； and you rely
upon me for standing by you； no less than by Sir Leicester
Dedlock； Baronet。 Now； are you right there？”
“All right； sir！”
“Off she goes； then。 And get on； my lads！”
We were again upon the melancholy road by which we had
come； tearing up the miry sleet and thawing snow； as if they were
torn up by a water…wheel。
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Chapter 58
A Wintry Day And Night
till impassive； as behoves its breeding； the Dedlock town
house carries itself as usual towards the street of dismal
S
grandeur。 There are powdered heads from time to time in
the little windows of the hall； looking out at the untaxed powder
falling all day from the sky； and； in the same conservatory； there is
peach blossom turning itself exotically to the great hall fire from
the nipping weather out of doors。 It is given out that my Lady has
gone down into Lincolnshire； but is expected to return presently。
Rumour； busy overmuch； however； will not go down into
Lincolnshire。 It persists in flitting and chattering about town。 It
knows that that poor unfortunate man； Sir Leicester； has been
sadly used。 It hears； my dear child； all sorts of shocking things。 It
makes the world； of five miles round； quite merry。 Not to know
that there is something wrong at the Dedlocks’ is to augur yourself
unknown。 One of the peachy…cheeked charmers with the skeleton
throats； is already apprised of all the principal circumstances that
will come out before the Lords； on Sir Leicester’s application for a
bill of divorce。
At Blaze and Sparkle’s the jewellers； and at Sheen and Gloss’s
the mercers； it is and will be for several hours the topic of the age；
the feature of the century。 The patronesses of those
establishments； albeit so loftily inscrutable； being as nicely
weighed and measured there as any other article of the stock…in…
trade； are perfectly understood in this new fashion by the rawest
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Bleak House 1080
hand behind the counter。 “Our people； Mr Jones；” said Blaze and
Sparkle to the hand in question on engaging him； “our people； sir；
are sheep—mere sheep。 Where two or three marked ones go； all
the rest follow。 Keep those two or three in your eye； Mr Jones； and
you have the flock。” So； likewise； Sheen and Gloss to their Jones；
in reference to knowing where to have the fashionable people； and
how to bring what they （Sheen and Gloss） choose； into fashion。 On
similar unerring principles； Mr Sladdery the librarian； and indeed
the great farmer of gorgeous sheep； admits this very day； “Why
yes； sir； there certainly are reports concerning Lady Dedlock； very
current indeed among my high connection； sir。 You see； my high
connection must talk about something； sir； and it’s only to get a
subject into vogue with one or two ladies I could name； to make it
go down with the whole。 Just what I should have done with those
ladies； sir； in the case of any novelty you had left to me to bring in；
they have done of themselves in this case through knowing Lady
Dedlock； and being perhaps a little innocently jealous of her too；
sir。 You’ll find； sir； that this topic will be very popular among my
high connection。 If it had been a speculation； sir； it would have
brought money。 And when I say so； you may trust to my being
right； sir； for I have made it my business to study my high
connection； and to be able to wind it up like a clock； sir。”
Thus rumour thrives in the capital； and will not go down into
Lincolnshire。 By half…past five； post meridian； Horse Guards’ time；
it has even elicited a new remark from the Honourable Mr Stables；
which bids fair to outshine the old one； on which he has so long
rested his colloquial reputation。 This sparkling sally is to the effect
that； although he always knew she was the best…groomed woman
in the stud； he had no idea she was a bolter。 It is immensely
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received in turf…circles。
At feasts and festivals also—in firmaments she has often graced；
and among constellations she outshone but yesterday； she is still
the prevalent subject。 What is it？ Who is it？ When was it？ Where
was it？ How was it？ She is discussed by her dear friends with all
the genteelest slang in vogue； with the last new word； the last new
manner； the last new drawl； and the perfection of polite
indifference。 A remarkable feature of the theme is； that it is found
to be so inspiring that several people come out upon it who never
came out before—positively say things！ William Buffy carries one
of these smartnesses from the place where he dines； down to the
House； where the Whip for his party hands it about with his snuff…
box； to keep men together who want to be off； with such effect that
the Speaker （who has had it privately insinuated into his own ear
under the corner of his wig） cries “Order at the bar！” three times
without making an impression。
And not the least amazing circumstance connected with her
being vaguely the town talk； is； that people hovering on the
confines of Mr Sladdery’s high connection； people who know
nothing and ever did know nothing about her； think it essential to
their reputation to pretend that she is their topic too； and to retail
her at second…hand with the last new word and the last new
manner； and the last new drawl； and the last new polite
indifference； and all the rest of it； all at second…hand but
considered equal to new； in inferior systems and to fainter stars。 If
there be any man of letters； art； or science among these little
dealers； how noble in him to support the feeble sisters on such
majestic crutches！
So goes the wintry day outside the Dedlock mansion。 How
