barnaby rudge(巴纳比·卢杰)-第102章
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possible to insert any novel sentences to the same purpose； when
the gentleman who had spoken first； turning to him of the long
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wind； exclaimed； ‘What say you； Gashford？ Shall we tarry at this
house he speaks of； or press forward？ You shall decide。’
‘I would submit； my lord； then；’ returned the person he
appealed to； in a silky tone； ‘that your health and spirits—so
important； under Providence； to our great cause； our pure and
truthful cause’—here his lordship pulled off his hat again； though
it was raining hard—‘require refreshment and repose。’
‘Go on before； landlord； and show the way；’ said Lord George
Gordon； ‘we will follow at a footpace。’
‘If you’ll give me leave； my lord；’ said John Grueby； in a low
voice； ‘I’ll change my proper place； and ride before you。 The looks
of the landlord’s friend are not over honest； and it may be as well
to be cautious with him。’
‘John Grueby is quite right；’ interposed Mr Gashford； falling
back hastily。 ‘My lord； a life so precious as yours must not be put
in peril。 Go forward； John； by all means。 If you have any reason to
suspect the fellow； blow his brains out。’
John made no answer； but looking straight before him； as his
custom seemed to be when the secretary spoke； bade Hugh push
on； and followed close behind him。 Then came his lordship； with
Mr Willet at his bridle rein； and； last of all； his lordship’s
secretary—for that； it seemed； was Gashford’s office。
Hugh strode briskly on； often looking back at the servant；
whose horse was close upon his heels； and glancing with a leer at
his bolster case of pistols； by which he seemed to set great store。
He was a square…built； strong…made； bull…necked fellow； of the true
English breed； and as Hugh measured him with his eye； he
measured Hugh； regarding him meanwhile with a look of bluff
disdain。 He was much older than the Maypole man； being to all
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appearance five…and…forty； but was one of those self…possessed；
hard…headed； imperturbable fellows； who； if they are ever beaten
at fisticuffs； or other kind of warfare； never know it； and go on
coolly till they win。
‘If I led you wrong now；’ said Hugh； tauntingly； ‘you’d—ha ha
ha！—you’d shoot me through the head； I suppose。’
John Grueby took no more notice of this remark than if he had
been deaf and Hugh dumb； but kept riding on quite comfortably；
with his eyes fixed on the horizon。
‘Did you ever try a fall with a man when you were young；
master？’ said Hugh。 ‘Can you make any play at single…stick？’
John Grueby looked at him sideways with the same contented
air； but deigned not a word in answer。
‘—Like this？’ said Hugh； giving his cudgel one of those skilful
flourishes； in which the rustic of that time delighted。 ‘Whoop！’
‘—Or that；’ returned John Grueby； beating down his guard with
his whip； and striking him on the head with its butt end。 ‘Yes； I
played a little once。 You wear your hair too long； I should have
cracked your crown if it had been a little shorter。’
It was a pretty smart； loud…sounding rap； as it was； and
evidently astonished Hugh； who； for the moment； seemed
disposed to drag his new acquaintance from his saddle。 But his
face betokening neither malice； triumph； rage； nor any lingering
idea that he had given him offence； his eyes gazing steadily in the
old direction； and his manner being as careless and composed as if
he had merely brushed away a fly； Hugh was so puzzled； and so
disposed to look upon him as a customer of almost supernatural
toughness； that he merely laughed； and cried ‘Well done！’ then；
sheering off a little； led the way in silence。
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Before the lapse of many minutes the party halted at the
Maypole door。 Lord George and his secretary quickly
dismounting； gave their horses to their servant； who； under the
guidance of Hugh； repaired to the stables。 Right glad to escape
from the inclemency of the night； they followed Mr Willet into the
common room； and stood warming themselves and drying their
clothes before the cheerful fire； while he busied himself with such
orders and preparations as his guest’s high quality required。
As he bustled in and out of the room； intent on these
arrangements； he had an opportunity of observing the two
travellers； of whom； as yet； he knew nothing but the voice。 The
lord； the great personage who did the Maypole so much honour；
was about the middle height； of a slender make； and sallow
complexion； with an aquiline nose； and long hair of a reddish
brown； combed perfectly straight and smooth about his ears； and
slightly powdered； but without the faintest vestige of a curl。 He
was attired； under his greatcoat； in a full suit of black； quite free
from any ornament； and of the most precise and sober cut。 The
gravity of his dress； together with a certain lankness of cheek and
stiffness of deportment； added nearly ten years to his age； but his
figure was that of one not yet past thirty。 As he stood musing in
the red glow of the fire； it was striking to observe his very bright
large eye； which betrayed a restlessness of thought and purpose；
singularly at variance with the studied composure and sobriety of
his mien； and with his quaint and sad apparel。 It had nothing
harsh or cruel in its expression； neither had his face； which was
thin and mild； and wore an air of melancholy； but it was suggestive
of an indefinable uneasiness； which infected those who looked
upon him； and filled them with a kind of pity for the man： though
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why it did so； they would have had some trouble to explain。
Gashford； the secretary； was taller； angularly made； high…
shouldered； bony； and ungraceful。 His dress； in imitation of his
superior； was demure and staid in the extreme； his manner；
formal and constrained。 This gentleman had an overhanging
brow； great hands and feet and ears； and a pair of eyes that
seemed to have made an unnatural retreat into his head； and to
have dug themselves a
