barnaby rudge(巴纳比·卢杰)-第44节
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Barnaby Rudge 183
hissing on the puddled ground。
Then there was the watch with staff and lantern crying the
hour； and the kind of weather； and those who woke up at his voice
and turned them round in bed； were glad to hear it rained； or
snowed； or blew； or froze； for very comfort’s sake。 The solitary
passenger was startled by the chairmen’s cry of ‘By your leave
there！’ as two came trotting past him with their empty vehicle—
carried backwards to show its being disengaged—and hurried to
the nearest stand。 Many a private chair； too； inclosing some fine
lady； monstrously hooped and furbelowed； and preceded by
running…footmen bearing flambeaux—for which extinguishers are
yet suspended before the doors of a few houses of the better sort—
made the way gay and light as it danced along； and darker and
more dismal when it had passed。 It was not unusual for these
running gentry； who carried it with a very high hand； to quarrel in
the servants’ hall while waiting for their masters and mistresses；
and； falling to blows either there or in the street without； to strew
the place of skirmish with hair…powder； fragments of bag…wigs； and
scattered nosegays。 Gaming； the vice which ran so high among all
classes （the fashion being of course set by the upper）； was
generally the cause of these disputes； for cards and dice were as
openly used； and worked as much mischief； and yielded as much
excitement below stairs； as above。 While incidents like these；
arising out of drums and masquerades and parties at quadrille；
were passing at the west end of the town； heavy stagecoaches and
scarce heavier waggons were lumbering slowly towards the city；
the coachmen； guard； and passengers； armed to the teeth； and the
coach—a day or so perhaps behind its time； but that was
nothing—despoiled by highwaymen； who made no scruple to
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attack； alone and single…handed； a whole caravan of goods and
men； and sometimes shot a passenger or two； and were sometimes
shot themselves； as the case might be。 On the morrow； rumours of
this new act of daring on the road yielded matter for a few hours’
conversation through the town； and a Public Progress of some fine
gentleman （half…drunk） to Tyburn； dressed in the newest fashion；
and damning the ordinary with unspeakable gallantry and grace；
furnished to the populace； at once a pleasant excitement and a
wholesome and profound example。
Among all the dangerous characters who； in such a state of
society； prowled and skulked in the metropolis at night； there was
one man from whom many as uncouth and fierce as he； shrunk
with an involuntary dread。 Who he was； or whence he came； was a
question often asked； but which none could answer。 His name was
unknown； he had never been seen until within about eight days or
thereabouts； and was equally a stranger to the old ruffians； upon
whose haunts he ventured fearlessly； as to the young。 He could be
no spy； for he never removed his slouched hat to look about him；
entered into conversation with no man； heeded nothing that
passed； listened to no discourse； regarded nobody that came or
went。 But so surely as the dead of night set in； so surely this man
was in the midst of the loose concourse in the night…cellar where
outcasts of every grade resorted； and there he sat till morning。
He was not only a spectre at their licentious feasts； a something
in the midst of their revelry and riot that chilled and haunted
them； but out of doors he was the same。 Directly it was dark； he
was abroad—never in company with any one； but always alone；
never lingering or loitering； but always walking swiftly； and
looking （so they said who had seen him） over his shoulder from
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Barnaby Rudge 185
time to time； and as he did so quickening his pace。 In the fields；
the lanes； the roads； in all quarters of the town—east； west； north；
and south—that man was seen gliding on like a shadow。 He was
always hurrying away。 Those who encountered him； saw him steal
past； caught sight of the backward glance； and so lost him in the
darkness。
This constant restlessness； and flitting to and fro； gave rise to
strange stories。 He was seen in such distant and remote places； at
times so nearly tallying with each other； that some doubted
whether there were not two of them； or more—some； whether he
had not unearthly means of travelling from spot to spot。 The
footpad hiding in a ditch had marked him passing like a ghost
along its brink； the vagrant had met him on the dark high…road；
the beggar had seen him pause upon the bridge to look down at
the water； and then sweep on again； they who dealt in bodies with
the surgeons could swear he slept in churchyards； and that they
had beheld him glide away among the tombs on their approach。
And as they told these stories to each other； one who had looked
about him would pull his neighbour by the sleeve； and there he
would be among them。
At last； one man—he was one of those whose commerce lay
among the graves—resolved to question this strange companion。
Next night； when he had eat his poor meal voraciously （he was
accustomed to do that； they had observed； as though he had no
other in the day）； this fellow sat down at his elbow。
‘A black night； master！’
‘It is a black night。’
‘Blacker than last； though that was pitchy too。 Didn’t I pass you
near the turnpike in the Oxford Road？’
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Barnaby Rudge 186
‘It’s like you may。 I don’t know。’
‘Come； come； master；’ cried the fellow； urged on by the looks of
his comrades； and slapping him on the shoulder； ‘be more
companionable and communicative。 Be more the gentleman in
this good company。 There are tales among us that you have sold
yourself to the devil； and I know not what。’
‘We all have； have we not？’ returned the stranger； looking up。
‘If we were fewer in number； perhaps he would give better wages。’
‘It goes rather hard with you； indeed；’ said the fellow； as the
stranger disclosed his haggard unwashed face； and torn clothes。
‘What of that？ Be merry； master。 A stave of a roaring song now’—
‘Sing you； if you desire to hear one；’ replied the other； shaking
him roughly off； ‘and don’t touch me if you’re a prudent man； I
carry arms which go off easily—they have done so； before now—
and make it dangerous for strangers who don’t know the trick of
them； to lay hands upon me。’
‘Do you threaten？’ said the fellow。
‘Yes；’ returned the other； rising and turning upon him； and
looking fiercely round as if in apprehension of a general attack。
His voice； and look； and bearing—all expressive of the wildest
recklessness and desperation—daunted while they repelled the
bystanders。 Although in a very different sphere of action now； they
were not without much of the effect they had wrought at the
Maypole Inn。
‘I am what you all are； and live as you all do；’ said the man
sternly； after a short silence。 ‘I am in hiding here like the rest； and
if we were surprised would perhaps do my part with the best of ye。
If it’s my humour to be left to myself； let me have i
