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… Page 370…

                                Barnaby Rudge                                       371 



    Hugh;      who    had    already     reached     the   turret;   held    it  more 

steadily;   and   ascended   first;   turning   round   from   time   to   time   to 

shed his light downward on the steps。 Mr Haredale following next; 

eyed   his   lowering   face   with   no   great   favour;   and   Hugh;   looking 

down on him; returned his glances with interest; as they climbed 

the winding stairs。 

    It   terminated   in   a   little   ante…room   adjoining   that   from   which 

they had seen the light。 Mr Haredale entered first; and led the way 

through  it   into   the   latter   chamber;   where   he   seated   himself  at   a 

writing…table   from   which   he   had   risen   when   they   had   rung   the 

bell。 

    ‘Come      in;’  he   said;   beckoning      to  old   John;    who    remained 

bowing   at   the   door。   ‘Not   you;   friend;’   he   added   hastily   to   Hugh; 

who entered also。 ‘Willet; why do you bring that fellow here?’ 

    ‘Why; sir;’ returned John; elevating his eyebrows; and lowering 

his   voice   to  the   tone   in   which  the   question   had   been   asked   him; 

‘he’s a good guard; you see。’ 

    ‘Don’t  be   too  sure  of  that;’   said   Mr   Haredale;   looking   towards 

him as he spoke。 ‘I doubt it。 He has an evil eye。’ 

    ‘There’s      no   imagination       in   his   eye;’   returned     Mr     Willet; 

glancing over his shoulder at the organ in question; ‘certainly。’ 

    ‘There is no good there; be assured;’ said Mr Haredale。 ‘Wait in 

that little room; friend; and close the door between us。’ 

    Hugh shrugged his shoulders; and with a disdainful look; which 

showed;      either    that  he   had   overheard;      or  that   he   guessed     the 

purport of their whispering; did as he was told。 When he was shut 

out; Mr Haredale turned to John; and bade him go on with  what 

he had to say; but not to speak too loud; for there were quick ears 

yonder。 



Charles Dickens                                                       ElecBook Classics 


… Page 371…

                                Barnaby Rudge                                      372 



    Thus cautioned; Mr Willet; in an oily whisper; recited all that he 

had   heard   and   said   that   night;   laying   particular   stress   upon   his 

own sagacity;   upon   his   great  regard   for  the   family;   and  upon   his 

solicitude for their peace of mind and happiness。 The story moved 

his auditor much more than he had expected。 Mr Haredale often 

changed   his   attitude;   rose   and   paced   the   room;   returned   again; 

desired him to repeat; as nearly as he could;   the   very  words   that 

Solomon       had    used;    and    gave   so   many     other    signs   of   being 

disturbed and ill at ease; that even Mr Willet was surprised。 

    ‘You did quite right;’ he said; at the end of a long conversation; 

‘to bid them keep this story secret。 It is a foolish fancy on the part 

of this weak…brained man; bred in his fears and superstition。 But 

Miss     Haredale;     though    she   would     know    it  to  be  so;  would     be 

disturbed   by   it   if   it   reached   her   ears;   it   is   too   nearly   connected 

with a subject very painful to us all; to be heard with indifference。 

You     were     most    prudent;     and    have     laid  me     under     a  great 

obligation。 I thank you very much。’ 

    This   was   equal   to   John’s   most   sanguine   expectations;   but   he 

would      have   preferred     Mr    Haredale’s     looking    at  him    when     he 

spoke; as if he really did thank him; to his walking up and down; 

speaking  by  fits and   starts;   often stopping  with  his   eyes   fixed   on 

the   ground;   moving   hurriedly   on   again;   like   one   distracted;   and 

seeming almost unconscious of what he said or did。 

    This; however; was his manner; and it was so embarrassing to 

John that he sat quite passive for a long time; not knowing what to 

do。 At length he rose。 Mr Haredale stared at him for a moment as 

though he had quite forgotten his being present; then shook hands 

with him; and opened the door。 Hugh; who was; or feigned to be; 

fast asleep on the ante…chamber floor; sprang up on their entrance; 



Charles Dickens                                                      ElecBook Classics 


… Page 372…

                               Barnaby Rudge                                      373 



and throwing his cloak about him;   grasped   his   stick and   lantern; 

and prepared to descend the stairs。 

    ‘Stay;’ said Mr Haredale。 ‘Will this man drink?’ 

    ‘Drink! He’d drink the Thames up; if it was strong enough; sir; 

replied   John   Willet。   ‘He’ll   have   something   when   he   gets   home。 

He’s better without it; now; sir。’ 

    ‘Nay。 Half the distance is done;’ said Hugh。 ‘What a hard master 

you    are!   I  shall  go  home     the   better   for  one   glassful;   halfway。 

Come!’ 

    As   John   made   no   reply;   Mr   Haredale   brought   out   a   glass   of 

liquor; and gave it to Hugh; who; as he took it in his hand; threw 

part of it upon the floor。 

    ‘What      do   you    mean      by   splashing      your    drink     about    a 

gentleman’s house; sir?’ said John。 

    ‘I’m   drinking  a   toast;’   Hugh   rejoined;   holding   the   glass   above 

his head; and fixing his eyes on Mr Haredale’s face; ‘a toast to this 

house and its master。’ With that he muttered something to himself; 

and   drank   the   rest;   and   setting   down   the   glass;   preceded   them 

without another word。 

    John     was   a  good    deal   scandalised      by  this   observance;      but 

seeing that Mr Haredale took little heed of what Hugh said or did; 

and   that   his   thoughts     were   otherwise     employed;      he   offered   no 

apology; and went in silence down the stairs; across the walk; and 

through   the   garden…gate。   They   stopped   upon   the   outer   side   for 

Hugh to hold the light while Mr Haredale locked it on   the   inner; 

and then John saw with wonder (as he often afterwards   related); 

that he was very pale; and that his face had changed so much and 

grown   so   haggard   since   their   entrance;       that   he  almost   seemed 

another man。 



Charles Dickens                                                     ElecBook Classics 


… Page 373…

                               Barnaby Rudge                                      374 



    They were in the open road again; and John Willet was walking 

on   behind   his   escort;   as   he   had   come;   thinking   very   steadily   of 

what be had just now seen; when Hugh drew him suddenly aside; 

and   almost  at   the   same   instant   three   horsemen   swept   past—the 

nearest     brushed     his   shoulder     even   then—who;        checking     their 

steeds as suddenly as they could; stood   still; and   waited   for  their 

coming up。 



Charles Dickens                                                      ElecBook Classics 


… Page 374…

                               Barnaby Rudge                                      375 



                                 Chapter 35 



              hen     John    Willet    saw    that   the   horsemen       wheeled 

Wsmartly round; and drew up three abreast in the narrow 

              road;    waiting    for  him    and   his  man     to  join  them;    it 

occurred      to  him   with    unusual    precipitation     that   they   must    be 

highwaymen;   and   had   Hugh   been   armed   with   a   blunderbuss;   in 

place of his stout cudgel; he would certainly have ordered him to 

fire it off at a venture; and would; while the word of command was 

obeyed;      have   consulted     his  own    personal     safety   in  immediate 

flight。   Under     the   circumstances       of   disadvantage;      however;     in 

which   he   and   his   guard   were   placed;   he   deemed   it   prudent   to 

adopt a different style of generalship; and therefore whispered his 

attendant   to   address   them   in   the   most   peaceable   and   courteous 

terms。     By   way    of   acting   up   to   the   spirit  and    letter   of  this 

instruction; Hugh stepped forward; and flourishing his staff before 

the very eyes of the rider nearest to him; demanded roughly what 

he   and   his   fellows   meant   by   so   nearly   galloping   over   them;   and 

why they scoured the king’s highway at that late hour of night。 

    The man whom be addressed was beginning an angry reply in 

the   same   strain;   when   be   was   checked   by   the   horseman   in   the 

centre;   who;   interposing   with   an   air   of   authority;   inquired   in   a 

somewh

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