barnaby rudge(巴纳比·卢杰)-第147节
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‘So because one man dresses unlike another；’ returned his
angry master； glancing at himself； ‘and happens to differ from
other men in his carriage and manner； and to advocate a great
cause which the corrupt and irreligious desert； he is to be
accounted mad； is he？’
‘Stark； staring； raving； roaring mad； my lord；’ returned the
unmoved John。
‘Do you say this to my face？’ cried his master； turning sharply
upon him。
‘To any man； my lord； who asks me；’ answered John。
‘Mr Gashford； I find； was right；’ said Lord George； ‘I thought
him prejudiced； though I ought to have known a man like him
better than to have supposed it possible！’
‘I shall never have Mr Gashford’s good word； my lord；’ replied
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John； touching his hat respectfully； ‘and I don’t covet it。’
‘You are an ill…conditioned； most ungrateful fellow；’ said Lord
George： ‘a spy； for anything I know。 Mr Gashford is perfectly
correct； as I might have felt convinced he was。 I have done wrong
to retain you in my service。 It is a tacit insult to him as my choice
and confidential friend to do so； remembering the cause you sided
with； on the day he was maligned at Westminster。 You will leave
me to…night—nay； as soon as we reach home。 The sooner the
better。’
‘If it comes to that； I say so too； my lord。 Let Mr Gashford have
his will。 As to my being a spy； my lord； you know me better than to
believe it； I am sure。 I don’t know much about causes。 My cause is
the cause of one man against two hundred； and I hope it always
will be。’
‘You have said quite enough；’ returned Lord George； motioning
him to go back。 ‘I desire to hear no more。’
‘If you’ll let me have another word； my lord；’ returned John
Grueby； ‘I’d give this silly fellow a caution not to stay here by
himself。 The proclamation is in a good many hands already； and
it’s well known that he was concerned in the business it relates to。
He had better get to a place of safety if he can； poor creature。’
‘You hear what this man says？’ cried Lord George； addressing
Barnaby； who had looked on and wondered while this dialogue
passed。 ‘He thinks you may be afraid to remain upon your post；
and are kept here perhaps against your will。 What do you say？’
‘I think； young man；’ said John； in explanation； ‘that the
soldiers may turn out and take you； and that if they do； you will
certainly be hung by the neck till you’re dead—dead—dead。 And I
think you had better go from here； as fast as you can。 That’s what I
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think。’
‘He’s a coward； Grip； a coward！’ cried Barnaby； putting the
raven on the ground； and shouldering his staff。 ‘Let them come！
Gordon for ever！ Let them come！’
‘Ay！’ said Lord George； ‘let them！ Let us see who will venture to
attack a power like ours； the solemn league of a whole people。 This
a madman！ You have said well； very well。 I am proud to be the
leader of such men as you。’
Barnaby’s heart swelled within his bosom as he heard these
words。 He took Lord George’s hand and carried it to his lips；
patted his horse’s crest； as if the affection and admiration he had
conceived for the man extended to the animal he rode； then
unfurling his flag； and proudly waving it； resumed his pacing up
and down。
Lord George； with a kindling eye and glowing cheek； took off
his hat； and flourishing it above his head； bade him exultingly
Farewell！—then cantered off at a brisk pace； after glancing angrily
round to see that his servant followed。 Honest John set spurs to
his horse and rode after his master； but not before he had again
warned Barnaby to retreat； with many significant gestures； which
indeed he continued to make； and Barnaby to resist； until the
windings of the road concealed them from each other’s view。
Left to himself again with a still higher sense of the importance
of his post； and stimulated to enthusiasm by the special notice and
encouragement of his leader； Barnaby walked to and fro in a
delicious trance rather than as a waking man。 The sunshine which
prevailed around was in his mind。 He had but one desire
ungratified。 If she could only see him now！
The day wore on； its heat was gently giving place to the cool of
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evening； a light wind sprung up； fanning his long hair； and making
the banner rustle pleasantly above his head。 There was a freedom
and freshness in the sound and in the time； which chimed exactly
with his mood。 He was happier than ever。
He was leaning on his staff looking towards the declining sun；
and reflecting with a smile that he stood sentinel at that moment
over buried gold； when two or three figures appeared in the
distance； making towards the house at a rapid pace； and
motioning with their hands as though they urged its inmates to
retreat from some approaching danger。 As they drew nearer； they
became more earnest in their gestures； and they were no sooner
within hearing； than the foremost among them cried that the
soldiers were coming up。
At these words； Barnaby furled his flag； and tied it round the
pole。 His heart beat high while he did so； but he had no more fear
or thought of retreating than the pole itself。 The friendly stragglers
hurried past him； after giving him notice of his danger； and
quickly passed into the house； where the utmost confusion
immediately prevailed。 As those within hastily closed the windows
and the doors； they urged him by looks and signs to fly without
loss of time； and called to him many times to do so； but he only
shook his head indignantly in answer； and stood the firmer on his
post。 Finding that he was not to be persuaded； they took care of
themselves； and leaving the place with only one old woman in it；
speedily withdrew。
As yet there had been no symptom of the news having any
better foundation than in the fears of those who brought it； but
The Boot had not been deserted five minutes； when there
appeared； coming across the fields； a body of men who； it was easy
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to see； by the glitter of their arms and ornaments in the sun； and
by their orderly and regular mode of advancing—for they came on
as one man—were soldiers。 In a very little time； Barnaby knew
that they were a strong detachment of the Foot Guards； having
along with them two gentlemen in private clothes； and a small
party of Horse； the latter brought up the rear； and were not in
number more than six or eight。
They advanced steadily； neither quickening their pace as they
came nearer； nor raising any cry； nor showing the least emotion or
anxiety。 Though this was a matter of course in the case of regular
troops； even to Barnaby； there was something particularly
impressive and disconcerting in it to one accustomed to the noise
and tumult of an undisciplined mob。 For all that； he stood his
ground not a whit the less resolutely； and looked on undismayed。
Presently； they marched into the yard； and halted。
