barnaby rudge(巴纳比·卢杰)-第180节
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to wave his fettered hand when he passed。 For himself； he buoyed
up his courage as he rode along； with the assurance that the mob
would force his jail wherever it might be； and set him at liberty。
But when they got into London； and more especially into Fleet
Market； lately the stronghold of the rioters； where the military
were rooting out the last remnant of the crowd； he saw that this
hope was gone； and felt that he was riding to his death。
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Chapter 70
r Dennis having despatched this piece of business
without any personal hurt or inconvenience； and having
M
now retired into the tranquil respectability of private
life； resolved to solace himself with half an hour or so of female
society。 With this amiable purpose in his mind； he bent his steps
towards the house where Dolly and Miss Haredale were still
confined； and whither Miss Miggs had also been removed by order
of Mr Simon Tappertit。
As he walked along the streets with his leather gloves clasped
behind him； and his face indicative of cheerful thought and
pleasant calculation； Mr Dennis might have been likened unto a
farmer ruminating among his crops； and enjoying by anticipation
the bountiful gifts of Providence。 Look where he would； some
heap of ruins afforded him rich promise of a working off； the
whole town appeared to have been ploughed and sown； and
nurtured by most genial weather； and a goodly harvest was at
hand。
Having taken up arms and resorted to deeds of violence； with
the great main object of preserving the Old Bailey in all its purity；
and the gallows in all its pristine usefulness and moral grandeur； it
would perhaps be going too far to assert that Mr Dennis had ever
distinctly contemplated and foreseen this happy state of things。 He
rather looked upon it as one of those beautiful dispensations
which are inscrutably brought about for the behoof and advantage
of good men。 He felt； as it were； personally referred to； in this
prosperous ripening for the gibbet； and had never considered
himself so much the pet and favourite child of Destiny； or loved
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that lady so well or with such a calm and virtuous reliance； in all
his life。
As to being taken up； himself； for a rioter； and punished with
the rest； Mr Dennis dismissed that possibility from his thoughts as
an idle chimera； arguing that the line of conduct he had adopted at
Newgate； and the service he had rendered that day； would be
more than a set…off against any evidence which might identify him
as a member of the crowd。 That any charge of companionship
which might be made against him by those who were themselves
in danger； would certainly go for nought。 And that if any trivial
indiscretion on his part should unluckily come out； the uncommon
usefulness of his office； at present； and the great demand for the
exercise of its functions； would certainly cause it to be winked at；
and passed over。 In a word； he had played his cards throughout；
with great care； had changed sides at the very nick of time； had
delivered up two of the most notorious rioters； and a distinguished
felon to boot； and was quite at his ease。
Saving—for there is a reservation； and even Mr Dennis was not
perfectly happy—saving for one circumstance； to wit； the forcible
detention of Dolly and Miss Haredale； in a house almost adjoining
his own。 This was a stumbling…block； for if they were discovered
and released； they could； by the testimony they had it in their
power to give； place him in a situation of great jeopardy； and to set
them at liberty； first extorting from them an oath of secrecy and
silence； was a thing not to be thought of。 It was more； perhaps；
with an eye to the danger which lurked in this quarter； than from
his abstract love of conversation with the sex； that the hangman；
quickening his steps； now hastened into their society； cursing the
amorous natures of Hugh and Mr Tappertit with great heartiness；
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at every step he took。
When be entered the miserable room in which they were
confined； Dolly and Miss Haredale withdrew in silence to the
remotest corner。 But Miss Miggs； who was particularly tender of
her reputation； immediately fell upon her knees and began to
scream very loud； crying； ‘What will become of me！’—‘Where is my
Simmuns！’—‘Have mercy； good gentlemen； on my sex’s
weaknesses！’—with other doleful lamentations of that nature；
which she delivered with great propriety and decorum。
‘Miss； miss；’ whispered Dennis； beckoning to her with his
forefinger； ‘come here—I won’t hurt you。 Come here； my lamb；
will you？’
On hearing this tender epithet； Miss Miggs； who had left off
screaming when he opened his lips； and had listened to him
attentively； began again； crying： ‘Oh I’m his lamb！ He says I’m his
lamb！ Oh gracious； why wasn’t I born old and ugly！ Why was I
ever made to be the youngest of six； and all of ’em dead and in
their blessed graves； excepting one married sister； which is settled
in Golden Lion Court； number twenty…sivin； second bell…handle on
the—！’
‘Don’t I say I an’t a…going to hurt you？’ said Dennis； pointing to
a chair。 ‘Why miss； what’s the matter？’
‘I don’t know what mayn’t be the matter！’ cried Miss Miggs；
clasping her hands distractedly。 ‘Anything may be the matter！’
‘But nothing is； I tell you；’ said the hangman。 ‘First stop that
noise and come and sit down here； will you； chuckey？’
The coaxing tone in which he said these latter words might
have failed in its object； if he had not accompanied them with
sundry sharp jerks of his thumb over one shoulder； and with
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divers winks and thrustings of his tongue into his cheek； from
which signals the damsel gathered that he sought to speak to her
apart； concerning Miss Haredale and Dolly。 Her curiosity being
very powerful； and her jealousy by no means inactive； she arose；
and with a great deal of shivering and starting back； and much
muscular action among all the small bones in her throat； gradually
approached him。
‘Sit down；’ said the hangman。
Suiting the action to the word； he thrust her rather suddenly
and prematurely into a chair； and designing to reassure her by a
little harmless jocularity； such as is adapted to please and
fascinate the sex； converted his right forefinger into an ideal
bradawl or gimlet； and made as though he would screw the same
into her side—whereat Miss Miggs shrieked again； and evinced
symptoms of faintness。
‘Lovey； my dear；’ whispered Dennis； drawing his chair close to
hers。 ‘When was your young man here last； eh？’
‘My young man； good gentleman！’ answered Miggs in a tone of
exquisite distress。
‘Ah！ Simmuns； you know—him？’ said Dennis。
‘Mine indeed！’ cried Miggs； with a burst of bitterness—and as
she said it； she glanced towards Dolly。 ‘Min
