barnaby rudge(巴纳比·卢杰)-第191节
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passages with which he was well acquainted； ‘am I going to be
along with anybody？’
‘If you’d have left more walls standing； you’d have been alone；’
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was the reply。 ‘As it is； we’re cramped for room； and you’ll have
company。’
‘Well；’ returned Dennis； ‘I don’t object to company； brother。 I
rather like company。 I was formed for society； I was。’
‘That’s rather a pity； an’t it？’ said the man。
‘No；’ answered Dennis； ‘I’m not aware that it is。 Why should it
be a pity； brother？’
‘Oh！ I don’t know；’ said the man carelessly。 ‘I thought that was
what you meant。 Being formed for society； and being cut off in
your flower； you know—’
‘I say；’ interposed the other quickly； ‘what are you talking of？
Don’t。 Who’s a…going to be cut off in their flowers？’
‘Oh； nobody particular。 I thought you was； perhaps；’ said the
man。
Mr Dennis wiped his face； which had suddenly grown very hot；
and remarking in a tremulous voice to his conductor that he had
always been fond of his joke； followed him in silence until he
stopped at a door。
‘This is my quarters； is it？’ he asked facetiously。
‘This is the shop； sir；’ replied his friend。
He was walking in； but not with the best possible grace； when
he suddenly stopped； and started back。
‘Halloa！’ said the officer。 ‘You’re nervous。’
‘Nervous！’ whispered Dennis in great alarm。 ‘Well I may be。
Shut the door。’
‘I will； when you’re in；’ returned the man。
‘But I can’t go in there；’ whispered Dennis。 ‘I can’t be shut up
with that man。 Do you want me to be throttled； brother？’
The officer seemed to entertain no particular desire on the
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subject one way or other； but briefly remarking that he had his
orders； and intended to obey them； pushed him in； turned the key；
and retired。
Dennis stood trembling with his back against the door； and
involuntarily raising his arm to defend himself； stared at a man；
the only other tenant of the cell； who lay； stretched at his fall
length； upon a stone bench； and who paused in his deep breathing
as if he were about to wake。 But he rolled over on one side； let his
arm fall negligently down； drew a long sigh； and murmuring
indistinctly； fell fast asleep again。
Relieved in some degree by this； the hangman took his eyes for
an instant from the slumbering figure； and glanced round the cell
in search of some ‘vantage…ground or weapon of defence。 There
was nothing moveable within it； but a clumsy table which could
not be displaced without noise； and a heavy chair。 Stealing on
tiptoe towards this latter piece of furniture； he retired with it into
the remotest corner； and intrenching himself behind it； watched
the enemy with the utmost vigilance and caution。
The sleeping man was Hugh； and perhaps it was not unnatural
for Dennis to feel in a state of very uncomfortable suspense； and to
wish with his whole soul that he might never wake again。 Tired of
standing； he crouched down in his corner after some time； and
rested on the cold pavement； but although Hugh’s breathing still
proclaimed that he was sleeping soundly； he could not trust him
out of his sight for an instant。 He was so afraid of him； and of some
sudden onslaught； that he was not content to see his closed eyes
through the chair…back； but every now and then； rose stealthily to
his feet； and peered at him with outstretched neck； to assure
himself that he really was still asleep； and was not about to spring
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upon him when he was off his guard。
He slept so long and so soundly； that Mr Dennis began to think
he might sleep on until the turnkey visited them。 He was
congratulating himself upon these promising appearances； and
blessing his stars with much fervour； when one or two unpleasant
symptoms manifested themselves： such as another motion of the
arm； another sigh； a restless tossing of the head。 Then； just as it
seemed that he was about to fall heavily to the ground from his
narrow bed； Hugh’s eyes opened。
It happened that his face was turned directly towards his
unexpected visitor。 He looked lazily at him for some half…dozen
seconds without any aspect of surprise or recognition； then
suddenly jumped up； and with a great oath pronounced his name。
‘Keep off； brother； keep off！’ cried Dennis； dodging behind the
chair。 ‘Don’t do me a mischief。 I’m a prisoner like you。 I haven’t
the free use of my limbs。 I’m quite an old man。 Don’t hurt me！’
He whined out the last three words in such piteous accents； that
Hugh； who had dragged away the chair； and aimed a blow at him
with it； checked himself； and bade him get up。
‘I’ll get up certainly； brother；’ cried Dennis； anxious to
propitiate him by any means in his power。 ‘I’ll comply with any
request of yours； I’m sure。 There—I’m up now。 What can I do for
you？ Only say the word； and I’ll do it。’
‘What can you do for me！’ cried Hugh； clutching him by the
collar with both hands； and shaking him as though he were bent
on stopping his breath by that means。 ‘What have you done for
me？’
‘The best。 The best that could be done；’ returned the hangman。
Hugh made him no answer； but shaking him in his strong grip
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until his teeth chattered in his head； cast him down upon the floor；
and flung himself on the bench again。
‘If it wasn’t for the comfort it is to me； to see you here；’ he
muttered； ‘I’d have crushed your head against it； I would。’
It was some time before Dennis had breath enough to speak；
but as soon as he could resume his propitiatory strain； he did so。
‘I did the best that could be done； brother；’ he whined； ‘I did
indeed。 I was forced with two bayonets and I don’t know how
many bullets on each side of me； to point you out。 If you hadn’t
been taken； you’d have been shot； and what a sight that would
have been—a fine young man like you！’
‘Will it be a better sight now？’ asked Hugh； raising his head；
with such a fierce expression； that the other durst not answer him
just then。
‘A deal better；’ said Dennis meekly； after a pause。 ‘First； there’s
all the chances of the law； and they’re five hundred strong。 We
may get off scot…free。 Unlikelier things than that have come to
pass。 Even if we shouldn’t； and the chances fail； we can but be
worked off once： and when it’s well done； it’s so neat； so skilful； so
captiwating； if that don’t seem too strong a word； that you’d hardly
believe it could be brought to sich perfection。 Kill one’s fellow…
creeturs off； with muskets！—Pah！’ and his nature so revolted at
the bare idea； that he spat upon the dungeon pavement。
His warming on this topic； which to one unacquainted with his
pursuits and tastes appeared like courage； together with his artful
suppression of his own secret hopes； and mention of himself as
being in the same condition with Hugh； did more to soothe that
ruffian than the most elaborate arguments could have done； or the
most abject submission。 He re
