barnaby rudge(巴纳比·卢杰)-第181节
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she said it； she glanced towards Dolly。 ‘Mine； good gentleman！’
This was just what Mr Dennis wanted； and expected。
‘Ah！’ he said； looking so soothingly； not to say amorously on
Miggs； that she sat； as she afterwards remarked； on pins and
needles of the sharpest Whitechapel kind； not knowing what
intentions might be suggesting that expression to his features： ‘I
was afraid of that。 I saw as much myself。 It’s her fault。 She will
entice ’em。’
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‘I wouldn’t；’ cried Miggs； folding her hands and looking
upwards with a kind of devout blankness； ‘I wouldn’t lay myself
out as she does； I wouldn’t be as bold as her； I wouldn’t seem to
say to all male creeturs “Come and kiss me”’—and here a shudder
quite convulsed her frame—‘for any earthly crowns as might be
offered。 Worlds；’ Miggs added solemnly； ‘should not reduce me。
No。 Not if I was Wenis。’
‘Well； but you are Wenus； you know；’ said Mr Dennis；
confidentially。
‘No； I am not； good gentleman；’ answered Miggs； shaking her
head with an air of self…denial which seemed to imply that she
might be if she chose； but she hoped she knew better。 ‘No； I am
not； good gentleman。 Don’t charge me with it。’
Up to this time she had turned round； every now and then； to
where Dolly and Miss Haredale had retired and uttered a scream；
or groan； or laid her hand upon her heart and trembled
excessively； with a view of keeping up appearances； and giving
them to understand that she conversed with the visitor； under
protest and on compulsion； and at a great personal sacrifice； for
their common good。 But at this point； Mr Dennis looked so very
full of meaning； and gave such a singularly expressive twitch to his
face as a request to her to come still nearer to him； that she
abandoned these little arts； and gave him her whole and undivided
attention。
‘When was Simmuns here； I say？’ quoth Dennis； in her ear。
‘Not since yesterday morning； and then only for a few minutes。
Not all day； the day before。’
‘You know he meant all along to carry off that one！’ said Dennis；
indicating Dolly by the slightest possible jerk of his head：—‘And to
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hand you over to somebody else。’
Miss Miggs； who had fallen into a terrible state of grief when
the first part of this sentence was spoken； recovered a little at the
second； and seemed by the sudden check she put upon her tears；
to intimate that possibly this arrangement might meet her views；
and that it might； perhaps； remain an open question。
‘—But unfort’nately；’ pursued Dennis； who observed this：
‘somebody else was fond of her too； you see； and even if he wasn’t；
somebody else is took for a rioter； and it’s all over with him。’
Miss Miggs relapsed。
‘Now I want；’ said Dennis； ‘to clear this house； and to see you
righted。 What if I was to get her off； out of the way； eh？’
Miss Miggs； brightening again； rejoined； with many breaks and
pauses from excess of feeling； that temptations had been
Simmuns’s bane。 That it was not his faults； but hers （meaning
Dolly’s）。 That men did not see through these dreadful arts as
women did； and therefore was caged and trapped； as Simmun had
been。 That she had no personal motives to serve—far from it—on
the contrary； her intentions was good towards all parties。 But
forasmuch as she knowed that Simmun； if united to any designing
and artful minxes （she would name no names； for that was not her
dispositions）—to any designing and artful minxes—must be made
miserable and unhappy for life； she did incline towards
prewentions。 Such； she added； was her free confessions。 But as
this was private feelings； and might perhaps be looked upon as
wengeance； she begged the gentleman would say no more。
Whatever he said； wishing to do her duty by all mankind； even by
them as had ever been her bitterest enemies； she would not listen
to him。 With that she stopped her ears； and shook her head from
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side to side； to intimate to Mr Dennis that though he talked until
he had no breath left； she was as deaf as any adder。
‘Lookee here； my sugar…stick；’ said Mr Dennis； ‘if your view’s
the same as mine； and you’ll only be quiet and slip away at the
right time； I can have the house clear to…morrow； and be out of this
trouble。—Stop though！ there’s the other。’
‘Which other； sir？’ asked Miggs—still with her fingers in her
ears and her head shaking obstinately。
‘Why； the tallest one； yonder；’ said Dennis； as he stroked his
chin； and added； in an undertone to himself； something about not
crossing Muster Gashford。
Miss Miggs replied （still being profoundly deaf） that if Miss
Haredale stood in the way at all； he might make himself quite easy
on that score； as she had gathered； from what passed between
Hugh and Mr Tappertit when they were last there； that she was to
be removed alone （not by them； but by somebody else）； to…morrow
night。
Mr Dennis opened his eyes very wide at this piece of
information； whistled once； considered once； and finally slapped
his head once and nodded once； as if he had got the clue to this
mysterious removal； and so dismissed it。 Then he imparted his
design concerning Dolly to Miss Miggs； who was taken more deaf
than before； when he began； and so remained； all through。
The notable scheme was this。 Mr Dennis was immediately to
seek out from among the rioters； some daring young fellow （and
he had one in his eye； he said）； who； terrified by the threats he
could hold out to him； and alarmed by the capture of so many who
were no better and no worse than he； would gladly avail himself of
any help to get abroad； and out of harm’s way； with his plunder；
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even though his journey were incumbered by an unwilling
companion； indeed； the unwilling companion being a beautiful
girl； would probably be an additional inducement and temptation。
Such a person found； he proposed to bring him there on the
ensuing night； when the tall one was taken off； and Miss Miggs
had purposely retired； and then that Dolly should be gagged；
muffled in a cloak； and carried in any handy conveyance down to
the river’s side； where there were abundant means of getting her
smuggled snugly off in any small craft of doubtful character； and
no questions asked。 With regard to the expense of this removal； he
would say； at a rough calculation； that two or three silver tea or
coffee…pots； with something additional for drink （such as a
muffineer； or toast…rack）； would more than cover it。 Articles of
plate of every kind having been buried by the rioters in several
lonely parts of London； and particularly； as he knew； in St James’s
Square； which； though easy of access； was little frequented after
dark； and had a convenient piece of water in the midst； the needful
funds were close at hand； and could be had upon the shortest
notice。 With regard to Dolly； the gen
