barnaby rudge(巴纳比·卢杰)-第161节
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these laudable attempts did harm rather than good。 For the
crowd； becoming speedily acquainted with the Lord Mayor’s
temper； did not fail to take advantage of it by boasting that even
the civil authorities were opposed to the Papists； and could not
find it in their hearts to molest those who were guilty of no other
offence。 These vaunts they took care to make within the hearing of
the soldiers； and they； being naturally loth to quarrel with the
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people； received their advances kindly enough： answering； when
they were asked if they desired to fire upon their countrymen； ‘No；
they would be damned if they did；’ and showing much honest
simplicity and good nature。 The feeling that the military were No…
Popery men； and were ripe for disobeying orders and joining the
mob； soon became very prevalent in consequence。 Rumours of
their disaffection； and of their leaning towards the popular cause；
spread from mouth to mouth with astonishing rapidity； and
whenever they were drawn up idly in the streets or squares； there
was sure to be a crowd about them； cheering and shaking hands；
and treating them with a great show of confidence and affection。
By this time； the crowd was everywhere； all concealment and
disguise were laid aside； and they pervaded the whole town。 If any
man among them wanted money； he had but to knock at the door
of a dwelling…house； or walk into a shop； and demand it in the
rioters name； and his demand was instantly complied with。 The
peaceable citizens being afraid to lay hands upon them； singly and
alone； it may be easily supposed that when gathered together in
bodies； they were perfectly secure from interruption。 They
assembled in the streets； traversed them at their will and pleasure；
and publicly concerted their plans。 Business was quite suspended；
the greater part of the shops were closed； most of the houses
displayed a blue flag in token of their adherence to the popular
side； and even the Jews in Houndsditch； Whitechapel； and those
quarters； wrote upon their doors or window…shutters； ‘This House
is a True Protestant。’ The crowd was the law； and never was the
law held in greater dread； or more implicitly obeyed。
It was about six o’clock in the evening； when a vast mob poured
into Lincoln’s Inn Fields by every avenue； and divided—evidently
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in pursuance of a previous design—into several parties。 It must
not be understood that this arrangement was known to the whole
crowd； but that it was the work of a few leaders； who； mingling
with the men as they came upon the ground； and calling to them
to fall into this or that parry； effected it as rapidly as if it had been
determined on by a council of the whole number； and every man
had known his place。
It was perfectly notorious to the assemblage that the largest
body； which comprehended about two…thirds of the whole； was
designed for the attack on Newgate。 It comprehended all the
rioters who had been conspicuous in any of their former
proceedings； all those whom they recommended as daring hands
and fit for the work； all those whose companions had been taken
in the riots； and a great number of people who were relatives or
friends of felons in the jail。 This last class included； not only the
most desperate and utterly abandoned villains in London； but
some who were comparatively innocent。 There was more than one
woman there； disguised in man’s attire； and bent upon the rescue
of a child or brother。 There were the two sons of a man who lay
under sentence of death； and who was to be executed along with
three others； on the next day but one。 There was a great parry of
boys whose fellow…pickpockets were in the prison； and at the skirts
of all； a score of miserable women； outcasts from the world；
seeking to release some other fallen creature as miserable as
themselves； or moved by a general sympathy perhaps—God
knows—with all who were without hope； and wretched。
Old swords； and pistols without ball or powder； sledge…
hammers； knives； axes； saws； and weapons pillaged from the
butchers’ shops； a forest of iron bars and wooden clubs； long
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ladders for scaling the walls； each carried on the shoulders of a
dozen men； lighted torches； tow smeared with pitch； and tar； and
brimstone； staves roughly plucked from fence and paling； and
even crutches taken from crippled beggars in the streets；
composed their arms。 When all was ready； Hugh and Dennis； with
Simon Tappertit between them； led the way。 Roaring and chafing
like an angry sea； the crowd pressed after them。
Instead of going straight down Holborn to the jail； as all
expected； their leaders took the way to Clerkenwell； and pouring
down a quiet street； halted before a locksmith’s house—the
Golden Key。
‘Beat at the door；’ cried Hugh to the men about him。 ‘We want
one of his craft to…night。 Beat it in； if no one answers。’
The shop was shut。 Both door and shutters were of a strong and
sturdy kind； and they knocked without effect。 But the impatient
crowd raising a cry of ‘Set fire to the house！’ and torches being
passed to the front； an upper window was thrown open； and the
stout old locksmith stood before them。
‘What now； you villains！’ he demanded。 ‘Where is my
daughter？’
‘Ask no questions of us； old man；’ retorted Hugh； waving his
comrades to be silent； ‘but come down； and bring the tools of your
trade。 We want you。’
‘Want me！’ cried the locksmith； glancing at the regimental dress
he wore： ‘Ay； and if some that I could name possessed the hearts of
mice； ye should have had me long ago。 Mark me； my lad—and you
about him do the same。 There are a score among ye whom I see
now and know； who are dead men from this hour。 Begone！ and
rob an undertaker’s while you can！ You’ll want some coffins before
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long。’
‘Will you come down？’ cried Hugh。
‘Will you give me my daughter； ruffian？’ cried the locksmith。
‘I know nothing of her；’ Hugh rejoined。 ‘Burn the door！’
‘Stop！’ cried the locksmith； in a voice that made them falter—
presenting； as he spoke； a gun。 ‘Let an old man do that。 You can
spare him better。’
The young fellow who held the light； and who was stooping
down before the door； rose hastily at these words； and fell back。
The locksmith ran his eye along the upturned faces； and kept the
weapon levelled at the threshold of his house。 It had no other rest
than his shoulder； but was as steady as the house itself。
‘Let the man who does it； take heed to his prayers；’ he said
firmly； ‘I warn him。’
Snatching a torch from one who stood near him； Hugh was
stepping forward with an oath； when he was arrested by a shrill
and piercing shriek； and； looking upward； saw a fluttering
garment on the house…top。
There was another shriek； and another； and then a shrill voice
cried； ‘Is Simmun below！’ At the same moment a lean neck was
stretched over the parapet； and Miss Miggs； indistinctly seen
