barnaby rudge(巴纳比·卢杰)-第140节
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under Hugh’s protection； have done so with impunity。
At length the band began to reassemble outside the house； and
to call to those within； to join them； for they were losing time。
These murmurs increasing； and attaining a high pitch； Hugh； and
some of those who yet lingered in the bar； and who plainly were
the leaders of the troop； took counsel together； apart； as to what
was to be done with John； to keep him quiet until their Chigwell
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work was over。 Some proposed to set the house on fire and leave
him in it； others； that he should be reduced to a state of temporary
insensibility； by knocking on the head； others； that he should be
sworn to sit where he was until to…morrow at the same hour；
others again； that he should be gagged and taken off with them；
under a sufficient guard。 All these propositions being overruled； it
was concluded； at last； to bind him in his chair； and the word was
passed for Dennis。
‘Look’ee here； Jack！’ said Hugh； striding up to him： ‘We are
going to tie you； hand and foot； but otherwise you won’t be hurt。
D’ye hear？’
John Willet looked at another man； as if he didn’t know which
was the speaker； and muttered something about an ordinary every
Sunday at two o’clock。
‘You won’t be hurt I tell you； Jack—do you hear me？’ roared
Hugh； impressing the assurance upon him by means of a heavy
blow on the back。 ‘He’s so dead scared； he’s woolgathering； I
think。 Give him a drop of something to drink here。 Hand over； one
of you。’
A glass of liquor being passed forward； Hugh poured the
contents down old John’s throat。 Mr Willet feebly smacked his
lips； thrust his hand into his pocket； and inquired what was to pay；
adding； as he looked vacantly round； that he believed there was a
trifle of broken glass—
‘He’s out of his senses for the time； it’s my belief；’ said Hugh；
after shaking him； without any visible effect upon his system； until
his keys rattled in his pocket。 ‘Where’s that Dennis？’
The word was again passed； and presently Mr Dennis； with a
long cord bound about his middle； something after the manner of
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a friar； came hurrying in； attended by a body…guard of half…a…dozen
of his men。
‘Come！ Be alive here！’ cried Hugh； stamping his foot upon the
ground。 ‘Make haste！’
Dennis； with a wink and a nod； unwound the cord from about
his person； and raising his eyes to the ceiling； looked all over it；
and round the walls and cornice； with a curious eye； then shook
his head。
‘Move； man； can’t you！’ cried Hugh； with another impatient
stamp of his foot。 ‘Are we to wait here； till the cry has gone for ten
miles round； and our work’s interrupted？’
‘It’s all very fine talking； brother；’ answered Dennis； stepping
towards him； ‘but unless—’ and here he whispered in his ear—
‘unless we do it over the door； it can’t be done at all in this here
room。’
‘What can’t？’ Hugh demanded。
‘What can’t！’ retorted Dennis。 ‘Why； the old man can’t。’
‘Why； you weren’t going to hang him！’ cried Hugh。
‘No； brother？’ returned the hangman with a stare。 ‘What else？’
Hugh made no answer； but snatching the rope from his
companion’s hand； proceeded to bind old John himself； but his
very first move was so bungling and unskilful； that Mr Dennis
entreated； almost with tears in his eyes； that he might be
permitted to perform the duty。 Hugh consenting； be achieved it in
a twinkling。
‘There；’ he said； looking mournfully at John Willet； who
displayed no more emotion in his bonds than he had shown out of
them。 ‘That’s what I call pretty and workmanlike。 He’s quite a
picter now。 But； brother； just a word with you—now that he’s
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ready trussed； as one may say； wouldn’t it be better for all parties
if we was to work him off？ It would read uncommon well in the
newspapers； it would indeed。 The public would think a great deal
more on us！’
Hugh； inferring what his companion meant； rather from his
gestures than his technical mode of expressing himself （to which；
as he was ignorant of his calling； he wanted the clue）； rejected this
proposition for the second time； and gave the word ‘Forward！’
which was echoed by a hundred voices from without。
‘To the Warren！’ shouted Dennis as he ran out； followed by the
rest。 ‘A witness’s house； my lads！’
A loud yell followed； and the whole throng hurried off； mad for
pillage and destruction。 Hugh lingered behind for a few moments
to stimulate himself with more drink； and to set all the taps
running； a few of which had accidentally been spared； then；
glancing round the despoiled and plundered room； through whose
shattered window the rioters had thrust the Maypole itself；—for
even that had been sawn down；—lighted a torch； clapped the mute
and motionless John Willet on the back； and waving his light
above his head； and uttering a fierce shout； hastened after his
companions。
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Chapter 55
ohn Willet； left alone in his dismantled bar； continued to sit
Jstaring about him； awake as to his eyes； certainly； but with
all his powers of reason and reflection in a sound and
dreamless sleep。 He looked round upon the room which had been
for years； and was within an hour ago； the pride of his heart； and
not a muscle of his face was moved。 The night； without； looked
black and cold through the dreary gaps in the casement； the
precious liquids； now nearly leaked away； dripped with a hollow
sound upon the floor； the Maypole peered ruefully in through the
broken window； like the bowsprit of a wrecked ship； the ground
might have been the bottom of the sea； it was so strewn with
precious fragments。 Currents of air rushed in； as the old doors
jarred and creaked upon their hinges； the candles flickered and
guttered down； and made long winding…sheets； the cheery deep…
red curtains flapped and fluttered idly in the wind； even the stout
Dutch kegs； overthrown and lying empty in dark corners； seemed
the mere husks of good fellows whose jollity had departed； and
who could kindle with a friendly glow no more。 John saw this
desolation； and yet saw it not。 He was perfectly contented to sit
there； staring at it； and felt no more indignation or discomfort in
his bonds than if they had been robes of honour。 So far as he was
personally concerned； old Time lay snoring； and the world stood
still。
Save for the dripping from the barrels； the rustling of such light
fragments of destruction as the wind affected； and the dull
creaking of the open doors； all was profoundly quiet： indeed； these
sounds； like the ticking of the death…watch in the night； only made
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the silence they invaded deeper and more apparent。 But quiet or
noisy； it was all one to John。 If a train of heavy artillery could have
come up and commenced
