barnaby rudge(巴纳比·卢杰)-第139节
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morrow full and true accounts of the real state of the city； and if it
were quiet； to give him the full merit of his victory。
John Willet looked after them； as they plodded along the road
in the rich glow of a summer evening； and knocking the ashes out
of his pipe； laughed inwardly at their folly； until his sides were
sore。 When he had quite exhausted himself—which took some
time； for he laughed as slowly as he thought and spoke—he sat
himself comfortably with his back to the house； put his legs upon
the bench； then his apron over his face； and fell sound asleep。
How long he slept； matters not； but it was for no brief space； for
when he awoke； the rich light had faded； the sombre hues of night
were falling fast upon the landscape； and a few bright stars were
already twinkling overhead。 The birds were all at roost； the daisies
on the green had closed their fairy hoods； the honeysuckle twining
round the porch exhaled its perfume in a twofold degree； as
though it lost its coyness at that silent time and loved to shed its
fragrance on the night； the ivy scarcely stirred its deep green
leaves。 How tranquil； and how beautiful it was！
Was there no sound in the air； besides the gentle rustling of the
trees and the grasshopper’s merry chirp？ Hark！ Something very
faint and distant； not unlike the murmuring in a sea…shell。 Now it
grew louder； fainter now； and now it altogether died away。
Presently； it came again； subsided； came once more； grew louder；
fainter—swelled into a roar。 It was on the road； and varied with its
windings。 All at once it burst into a distinct sound—the voices； and
the tramping feet of many men。
It is questionable whether old John Willet； even then； would
have thought of the rioters but for the cries of his cook and
housemaid； who ran screaming upstairs and locked themselves
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into one of the old garrets；—shrieking dismally when they had
done so； by way of rendering their place of refuge perfectly secret
and secure。 These two females did afterwards depone that Mr
Willet in his consternation uttered but one word； and called that
up the stairs in a stentorian voice； six distinct times。 But as this
word was a monosyllable； which； however inoffensive when
applied to the quadruped it denotes； is highly reprehensible when
used in connection with females of unimpeachable character；
many persons were inclined to believe that the young women
laboured under some hallucination caused by excessive fear； and
that their ears deceived them。
Be this as it may； John Willet； in whom the very uttermost
extent of dull…headed perplexity supplied the place of courage；
stationed himself in the porch； and waited for their coming up。
Once； it dimly occurred to him that there was a kind of door to the
house； which had a lock and bolts； and at the same time some
shadowy ideas of shutters to the lower windows； flitted through
his brain。 But he stood stock still； looking down the road in the
direction in which the noise was rapidly advancing； and did not so
much as take his hands out of his pockets。
He had not to wait long。 A dark mass； looming through a cloud
of dust； soon became visible； the mob quickened their pace；
shouting and whooping like savages； they came rushing on pell
mell； and in a few seconds he was bandied from hand to hand； in
the heart of a crowd of men。
‘Halloa！’ cried a voice he knew； as the man who spoke came
cleaving through the throng。 ‘Where is he？ Give him to me。 Don’t
hurt him。 How now； old Jack！ Ha ha ha！’
Mr Willet looked at him； and saw it was Hugh； but he said
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nothing； and thought nothing。
‘These lads are thirsty and must drink！’ cried Hugh； thrusting
him back towards the house。 ‘Bustle； Jack； bustle。 Show us the
best—the very best—the over…proof that you keep for your own
drinking； Jack！’
John faintly articulated the words； ‘Who’s to pay？’
‘He says “Who’s to pay？”’ cried Hugh； with a roar of laughter
which was loudly echoed by the crowd。 Then turning to John； he
added； ‘Pay！ Why； nobody。’
John stared round at the mass of faces—some grinning； some
fierce； some lighted up by torches； some indistinct； some dusky
and shadowy： some looking at him； some at his house； some at
each other—and while he was； as he thought； in the very act of
doing so； found himself； without any consciousness of having
moved； in the bar； sitting down in an arm…chair； and watching the
destruction of his property； as if it were some queer play or
entertainment； of an astonishing and stupefying nature； but
having no reference to himself—that he could make out—at all。
Yes。 Here was the bar—the bar that the boldest never entered
without special invitation—the sanctuary； the mystery； the
hallowed ground： here it was； crammed with men； clubs； sticks；
torches； pistols； filled with a deafening noise； oaths； shouts；
screams； hootings； changed all at once into a bear…garden； a
madhouse； an infernal temple： men darting in and out； by door
and window； smashing the glass； turning the taps； drinking liquor
out of China punchbowls； sitting astride of casks； smoking private
and personal pipes； cutting down the sacred grove of lemons；
hacking and hewing at the celebrated cheese； breaking open
inviolable drawers； putting things in their pockets which didn’t
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belong to them； dividing his own money before his own eyes；
wantonly wasting； breaking； pulling down and tearing up： nothing
quiet； nothing private： men everywhere—above； below； overhead；
in the bedrooms； in the kitchen； in the yard； in the stables—
clambering in at windows when there were doors wide open；
dropping out of windows when the stairs were handy； leaping over
the bannisters into chasms of passages： new faces and figures
presenting themselves every instant—some yelling； some singing；
some fighting； some breaking glass and crockery； some laying the
dust with the liquor they couldn’t drink； some ringing the bells till
they pulled them down； others beating them with pokers till they
beat them into fragments： more men still—more； more； more—
swarming on like insects： noise； smoke； light； darkness； frolic；
anger； laughter； groans； plunder； fear； and ruin！
Nearly all the time while John looked on at this bewildering
scene； Hugh kept near him； and though he was the loudest；
wildest； most destructive villain there； he saved his old master’s
bones a score of times。 Nay； even when Mr Tappertit； excited by
liquor； came up； and in assertion of his prerogative politely kicked
John Willet on the shins； Hugh bade him return the compliment；
and if old John had had sufficient presence of mind to understand
this whispered direction； and to profit by it； he might no doubt；
under Hugh’s protection； have done so with impunity。
At length the band began to reassemble outside t
