barnaby rudge(巴纳比·卢杰)-第190节
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and he spurned her from him。
‘Begone！’ he cried。 ‘Leave me！ You plot； do you！ You plot to get
speech with me； and let them know I am the man they say I am。 A
curse on you and on your boy。’
‘On him the curse has already fallen；’ she replied； wringing her
hands。
‘Let it fall heavier。 Let it fall on one and all。 I hate you both。 The
worst has come to me。 The only comfort that I seek or I can have；
will be the knowledge that it comes to you。 Now go！’
She would have urged him gently； even then； but he menaced
her with his chain。
‘I say go—I say it for the last time。 The gallows has me in its
grasp； and it is a black phantom that may urge me on to something
more。 Begone！ I curse the hour that I was born； the man I slew；
and all the living world！’
In a paroxysm of wrath； and terror； and the fear of death； he
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broke from her； and rushed into the darkness of his cell； where he
cast himself jangling down upon the stone floor； and smote it with
his ironed hands。 The man returned to lock the dungeon door； and
having done so； carried her away。
On that warm； balmy night in June； there were glad faces and
light hearts in all quarters of the town； and sleep； banished by the
late horrors； was doubly welcomed。 On that night； families made
merry in their houses； and greeted each other on the common
danger they had escaped； and those who had been denounced；
ventured into the streets； and they who had been plundered； got
good shelter。 Even the timorous Lord Mayor； who was summoned
that night before the Privy Council to answer for his conduct；
came back contented； observing to all his friends that he had got
off very well with a reprimand； and repeating with huge
satisfaction his memorable defence before the Council； ‘that such
was his temerity； he thought death would have been his portion。’
On that night； too； more of the scattered remnants of the mob
were traced to their lurking…places； and taken； and in the
hospitals； and deep among the ruins they had made； and in the
ditches； and fields； many unshrouded wretches lay dead： envied
by those who had been active in the disturbances； and who
pillowed their doomed heads in the temporary jails。
And in the Tower； in a dreary room whose thick stone walls
shut out the hum of life； and made a stillness which the records
left by former prisoners with those silent witnesses seemed to
deepen and intensify； remorseful for every act that had been done
by every man among the cruel crowd； feeling for the time their
guilt his own； and their lives put in peril by himself； and finding；
amidst such reflections； little comfort in fanaticism； or in his
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fancied call； sat the unhappy author of all—Lord George Gordon。
He had been made prisoner that evening。 ‘If you are sure it’s
me you want；’ he said to the officers； who waited outside with the
warrant for his arrest on a charge of High Treason； ‘I am ready to
accompany you—’ which he did without resistance。 He was
conducted first before the Privy Council； and afterwards to the
Horse Guards； and then was taken by way of Westminster Bridge；
and back over London Bridge （for the purpose of avoiding the
main streets）； to the Tower； under the strongest guard ever known
to enter its gates with a single prisoner。
Of all his forty thousand men； not one remained to bear him
company。 Friends； dependents； followers；—none were there。 His
fawning secretary had played the traitor； and he whose weakness
had been goaded and urged on by so many for their own purposes；
was desolate and alone。
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Chapter 74
e Dennis； having been made prisoner late in the
evening； was removed to a neighbouring round…house
M
for that night； and carried before a justice for
examination on the next day； Saturday。 The charges against him
being numerous and weighty； and it being in particular proved； by
the testimony of Gabriel Varden； that he had shown a special
desire to take his life； he was committed for trial。 Moreover he was
honoured with the distinction of being considered a chief among
the insurgents； and received from the magistrate’s lips the
complimentary assurance that he was in a position of imminent
danger； and would do well to prepare himself for the worst。
To say that Mr Dennis’s modesty was not somewhat startled by
these honours； or that he was altogether prepared for so flattering
a reception； would be to claim for him a greater amount of stoical
philosophy than even he possessed。 Indeed this gentleman’s
stoicism was of that not uncommon kind； which enables a man to
bear with exemplary fortitude the afflictions of his friends； but
renders him； by way of counterpoise； rather selfish and sensitive
in respect of any that happen to befall himself。 It is therefore no
disparagement to the great officer in question to state； without
disguise or concealment； that he was at first very much alarmed；
and that he betrayed divers emotions of fear； until his reasoning
powers came to his relief； and set before him a more hopeful
prospect。
In proportion as Mr Dennis exercised these intellectual
qualities with which he was gifted； in reviewing his best chances of
coming off handsomely and with small personal inconvenience；
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his spirits rose； and his confidence increased。 When he
remembered the great estimation in which his office was held； and
the constant demand for his services； when he bethought himself；
how the Statute Book regarded him as a kind of Universal
Medicine applicable to men； women； and children； of every age
and variety of criminal constitution； and how high he stood； in his
official capacity； in the favour of the Crown； and both Houses of
Parliament； the Mint； the Bank of England； and the Judges of the
land； when he recollected that whatever Ministry was in or out； he
remained their peculiar pet and panacea； and that for his sake
England stood single and conspicuous among the civilised nations
of the earth： when he called these things to mind and dwelt upon
them； he felt certain that the national gratitude must relieve him
from the consequences of his late proceedings； and would
certainly restore him to his old place in the happy social system。
With these crumbs； or as one may say； with these whole loaves
of comfort to regale upon； Mr Dennis took his place among the
escort that awaited him； and repaired to jail with a manly
indifference。 Arriving at Newgate； where some of the ruined cells
had been hastily fitted up for the safe keeping of rioters； he was
warmly received by the turnkeys； as an unusual and interesting
case； which agreeably relieved their monotonous duties。 In this
spirit； he was fettered with great care； and conveyed into the
interior of the prison。
‘Brother；’ cried the hangman； as； following an officer； he
traversed under these novel circumstances the remains of
passages with which he was
