barnaby rudge(巴纳比·卢杰)-第157节
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
up the stairs； to where the skirt of a dressing…gown fluttered on the
landing…place。 ‘Here is a gentleman here； whose house was
actually burnt down last night。’
‘Dear me； dear me；’ replied a testy voice； ‘I am very sorry for it；
but what am I to do？ I can’t build it up again。 The chief magistrate
of the city can’t go and be a rebuilding of people’s houses； my good
sir。 Stuff and nonsense！’
‘But the chief magistrate of the city can prevent people’s houses
from having any need to be rebuilt； if the chief magistrate’s a man；
and not a dummy—can’t he； my lord？’ cried the old gentleman in a
choleric manner。
‘You are disrespectable； sir；’ said the Lord Mayor—‘leastways；
disrespectful I mean。’
‘Disrespectful； my lord！’ returned the old gentleman。 ‘I was
respectful five times yesterday。 I can’t be respectful for ever。 Men
can’t stand on being respectful when their houses are going to be
burnt over their heads； with them in ’em。 What am I to do； my
lord？ Am I to have any protection！’
‘I told you yesterday； sir；’ said the Lord Mayor； ‘that you might
have an alderman in your house； if you could get one to come。’
‘What the devil’s the good of an alderman？’ returned the
choleric old gentleman。
‘—To awe the crowd； sir；’ said the Lord Mayor。
‘Oh Lord ha’ mercy！’ whimpered the old gentleman； as he
wiped his forehead in a state of ludicrous distress； ‘to think of
sending an alderman to awe a crowd！ Why； my lord； if they were
even so many babies； fed on mother’s milk； what do you think
they’d care for an alderman！ Will you come？’
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
… Page 654…
Barnaby Rudge 655
‘I！’ said the Lord Mayor； most emphatically： ‘Certainly not。’
‘Then what；’ returned the old gentleman； ‘what am I to do？ Am
I a citizen of England？ Am I to have the benefit of the laws？ Am I
to have any return for the King’s taxes？’
‘I don’t know； I am sure；’ said the Lord Mayor； ‘what a pity it is
you’re a Catholic！ Why couldn’t you be a Protestant； and then you
wouldn’t have got yourself into such a mess？ I’m sure I don’t know
what’s to be done。—There are great people at the bottom of these
riots。—Oh dear me； what a thing it is to be a public character！—
You must look in again in the course of the day。—Would a javelin…
man do？—Or there’s Philips the constable；—he’s disengaged；—
he’s not very old for a man at his time of life； except in his legs；
and if you put him up at a window he’d look quite young by
candle…light； and might frighten ’em very much。—Oh dear！—
well！—we’ll see about it。’
‘Stop！’ cried Mr Haredale； pressing the door open as the porter
strove to shut it； and speaking rapidly； ‘My Lord Mayor； I beg you
not to go away。 I have a man here； who committed a murder eight…
and…twenty years ago。 Half…a…dozen words from me； on oath； will
justify you in committing him to prison for re…examination。 I only
seek； just now； to have him consigned to a place of safety。 The
least delay may involve his being rescued by the rioters。’
‘Oh dear me！’ cried the Lord Mayor。 ‘God bless my soul—and
body—oh Lor！—well I！—there are great people at the bottom of
these riots； you know。—You really mustn’t。’
‘My lord；’ said Mr Haredale； ‘the murdered gentleman was my
brother； I succeeded to his inheritance； there were not wanting
slanderous tongues at that time； to whisper that the guilt of this
most foul and cruel deed was mine—mine； who loved him； as he
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
… Page 655…
Barnaby Rudge 656
knows； in Heaven； dearly。 The time has come； after all these years
of gloom and misery； for avenging him； and bringing to light a
crime so artful and so devilish that it has no parallel。 Every
second’s delay on your part loosens this man’s bloody hands again；
and leads to his escape。 My lord； I charge you hear me； and
despatch this matter on the instant。’
‘Oh dear me！’ cried the chief magistrate； ‘these an’t business
hours； you know—I wonder at you—how ungentlemanly it is of
you—you mustn’t—you really mustn’t。—And I suppose you are a
Catholic too？’
‘I am；’ said Mr Haredale。
‘God bless my soul； I believe people turn Catholics a’purpose to
vex and worrit me；’ cried the Lord Mayor。 ‘I wish you wouldn’t
come here； they’ll be setting the Mansion House afire next； and we
shall have you to thank for it。 You must lock your prisoner up；
sir—give him to a watchman—and—call again at a proper time。
Then we’ll see about it！’
Before Mr Haredale could answer； the sharp closing of a door
and drawing of its bolts； gave notice that the Lord Mayor had
retreated to his bedroom； and that further remonstrance would be
unavailing。 The two clients retreated likewise； and the porter shut
them out into the street。
‘That’s the way he puts me off；’ said the old gentleman； ‘I can
get no redress and no help。 What are you going to do； sir？’
‘To try elsewhere；’ answered Mr Haredale； who was by this
time on horseback。
‘I feel for you； I assure you—and well I may； for we are in a
common cause；’ said the old gentleman。 ‘I may not have a house to
offer you to…night； let me tender it while I can。 On second thoughts
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
… Page 656…
Barnaby Rudge 657
though；’ he added； putting up a pocket…book he had produced
while speaking； ‘I’ll not give you a card； for if it was found upon
you； it might get you into trouble。 Langdale—that’s my name—
vintner and distiller—Holborn Hill—you’re heartily welcome； if
you’ll come。’
Mr Haredale bowed； and rode off； close beside the chaise as
before； determining to repair to the house of Sir John Fielding；
who had the reputation of being a bold and active magistrate； and
fully resolved； in case the rioters should come upon them； to do
execution on the murderer with his own hands； rather than suffer
him to be released。
They arrived at the magistrate’s dwelling； however； without
molestation （for the mob； as we have seen； were then intent on
deeper schemes）； and knocked at the door。 As it had been pretty
generally rumoured that Sir John was proscribed by the rioters； a
body of thief…takers had been keeping watch in the house all night。
To one of them Mr Haredale stated his business； which appearing
to the man of sufficient moment to warrant his arousing the
justice； procured him an immediate audience。
No time was lost in committing the murderer to Newgate； then
a new building； recently completed at a vast expense； and
considered to be of enormous strength。 The warrant being made
out； three of the thief…takers bound him afresh （he had been
struggling； it seemed； in the chaise； and had loosened his
manacles）； gagged him lest they should meet with any of the mob；
and he should call to them for help； and seated themselves； along
with him； in the carriage。 These men being all well armed； made a
formidable escort； but they drew up the blinds again； as though
the carriage were empty； and directed Mr Haredale to ride
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
… Page 657…
Barnaby Rudge 658
forward； that he might not attract attention by seeming to belong
to it。
The wisdom of this proceeding was sufficiently obvious；
