barnaby rudge(巴纳比·卢杰)-第102节
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‘No。 Natural genius；’ said Mr Dennis。 ‘No ’prenticing。 It come
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by natur’。 Muster Gashford knows my calling。 Look at that hand of
mine—many and many a job that hand has done； with a neatness
and dex…terity； never known afore。 When I look at that hand；’ said
Mr Dennis； shaking it in the air； ‘and remember the helegant bits
of work it has turned off； I feel quite molloncholy to think it should
ever grow old and feeble。 But sich is life！’
He heaved a deep sigh as he indulged in these reflections； and
putting his fingers with an absent air on Hugh’s throat； and
particularly under his left ear； as if he were studying the
anatomical development of that part of his frame； shook his head
in a despondent manner and actually shed tears。
‘You’re a kind of artist； I suppose—eh！’ said Mr Tappertit。
‘Yes；’ rejoined Dennis； ‘yes—I may call myself a artist—a fancy
workman—art improves natur’—that’s my motto。’
‘And what do you call this？’ said Mr Tappertit taking his stick
out of his hand。
‘That’s my portrait atop；’ Dennis replied； ‘d’ye think it’s like？’
‘Why—it’s a little too handsome；’ said Mr Tappertit。 ‘Who did
it？ You？’
‘I！’ repeated Dennis； gazing fondly on his image。 ‘I wish I had
the talent。 That was carved by a friend of mine； as is now no more。
The very day afore he died； he cut that with his pocket…knife from
memory！ “I’ll die game；” says my friend； “and my last moments
shall be dewoted to making Dennis’s picter。” That’s it。’
‘That was a queer fancy； wasn’t it？’ said Mr Tappertit。
‘It was a queer fancy；’ rejoined the other； breathing on his
fictitious nose； and polishing it with the cuff of his coat； ‘but he
was a queer subject altogether—a kind of gipsy—one of the finest；
stand…up men； you ever see。 Ah！ He told me some things that
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would startle you a bit； did that friend of mine； on the morning
when he died。’
‘You were with him at the time； were you？’ said Mr Tappertit。
‘Yes；’ he answered with a curious look； ‘I was there。 Oh！ yes
certainly； I was there。 He wouldn’t have gone off half as
comfortable without me。 I had been with three or four of his family
under the same circumstances。 They were all fine fellows。’
‘They must have been fond of you；’ remarked Mr Tappertit；
looking at him sideways。
‘I don’t know that they was exactly fond of me；’ said Dennis；
with a little hesitation； ‘but they all had me near ’em when they
departed。 I come in for their wardrobes too。 This very handkecher
that you see round my neck； belonged to him that I’ve been
speaking of—him as did that likeness。’
Mr Tappertit glanced at the article referred to； and appeared to
think that the deceased’s ideas of dress were of a peculiar and by
no means an expensive kind。 He made no remark upon the point；
however； and suffered his mysterious companion to proceed
without interruption。
‘These smalls；’ said Dennis； rubbing his legs； ‘these very
smalls—they belonged to a friend of mine that’s left off sich
incumbrances for ever： this coat too—I’ve often walked behind
this coat； in the street； and wondered whether it would ever come
to me： this pair of shoes have danced a hornpipe for another man；
afore my eyes； full half…a…dozen times at least： and as to my hat；’ he
said； taking it off； and whirling it round upon his fist—‘Lord！ I’ve
seen this hat go up Holborn on the box of a hackney…coach—ah；
many and many a day！’
‘You don’t mean to say their old wearers are all dead； I hope？’
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said Mr Tappertit； falling a little distance from him as he spoke。
‘Every one of ’em；’ replied Dennis。 ‘Every man Jack！’
There was something so very ghastly in this circumstance； and
it appeared to account； in such a very strange and dismal manner；
for his faded dress—which； in this new aspect； seemed discoloured
by the earth from graves—that Mr Tappertit abruptly found he
was going another way； and； stopping short； bade him good night
with the utmost heartiness。 As they happened to be near the Old
Bailey； and Mr Dennis knew there were turnkeys in the lodge with
whom he could pass the night； and discuss professional subjects of
common interest among them before a rousing fire； and over a
social glass； he separated from his companions without any great
regret； and warmly shaking hands with Hugh； and making an
early appointment for their meeting at The Boot； left them to
pursue their road。
‘That’s a strange sort of man；’ said Mr Tappertit； watching the
hackney…coachman’s hat as it went bobbing down the street。 ‘I
don’t know what to make of him。 Why can’t he have his smalls
made to order； or wear live clothes at any rate？’
‘He’s a lucky man； captain；’ cried Hugh。 ‘I should like to have
such friends as his。’
‘I hope he don’t get ’em to make their wills； and then knock ’em
on the head；’ said Mr Tappertit； musing。 ‘But come。 The United
B。’s expect me。 On！—What’s the matter？’
‘I quite forgot；’ said Hugh； who had started at the striking of a
neighbouring clock。 ‘I have somebody to see to…night—I must turn
back directly。 The drinking and singing put it out of my head。 It’s
well I remembered it！’
Mr Tappertit looked at him as though he were about to give
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utterance to some very majestic sentiments in reference to this act
of desertion； but as it was clear； from Hugh’s hasty manner； that
the engagement was one of a pressing nature； he graciously
forbore； and gave him his permission to depart immediately；
which Hugh acknowledged with a roar of laughter。
‘Good night； captain！’ he cried。 ‘I am yours to the death；
remember！’
‘Farewell！’ said Mr Tappertit； waving his hand。 ‘Be bold and
vigilant！’
‘No Popery； captain！’ roared Hugh。
‘England in blood first！’ cried his desperate leader。 Whereat
Hugh cheered and laughed； and ran off like a greyhound。
‘That man will prove a credit to my corps；’ said Simon； turning
thoughtfully upon his heel。 ‘And let me see。 In an altered state of
society—which must ensue if we break out and are victorious—
when the locksmith’s child is mine； Miggs must be got rid of
somehow； or she’ll poison the tea…kettle one evening when I’m out。
He might marry Miggs； if he was drunk enough。 It shall be done。
I’ll make a note of it。’
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Chapter 40
ittle thinking of the plan for his happy settlement in life
which had suggested itself to the teeming brain of his
L
provident commander； Hugh made no pause until Saint
Dunstan’s giants struck the hour above him； when he worked the
handle of a pump which stood hard by； with great vigour； and
thrusting his head under the spout； let the water gush upon him
until a little stream ran down from every uncombed hair； and he
was wet to the waist。 Considerably refreshed by this ablution； both
in mind and body； and
