barnaby rudge(巴纳比·卢杰)-第103章
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
seemed to have made an unnatural retreat into his head； and to
have dug themselves a cave to hide in。 His manner was smooth
and humble； but very sly and slinking。 He wore the aspect of a
man who was always lying in wait for something that wouldn’t
come to pass； but he looked patient—very patient—and fawned
like a spaniel dog。 Even now； while he warmed and rubbed his
hands before the blaze； he had the air of one who only presumed
to enjoy it in his degree as a commoner； and though he knew his
lord was not regarding him； he looked into his face from time to
time； and with a meek and deferential manner； smiled as if for
practice。
Such were the guests whom old John Willet； with a fixed and
leaden eye； surveyed a hundred times； and to whom he now
advanced with a state candlestick in each hand； beseeching them
to follow him into a worthier chamber。 ‘For my lord；’ said John—it
is odd enough； but certain people seem to have as great a pleasure
in pronouncing titles as their owners have in wearing them—‘this
room； my lord； isn’t at all the sort of place for your lordship； and I
have to beg your lordship’s pardon for keeping you here； my lord；
one minute。’
With this address； John ushered them upstairs into the state
apartment； which； like many other things of state； was cold and
comfortless。 Their own footsteps； reverberating through the
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
… Page 382…
Barnaby Rudge 383
spacious room； struck upon their hearing with a hollow sound；
and its damp and chilly atmosphere was rendered doubly
cheerless by contrast with the homely warmth they had deserted。
It was of no use； however； to propose a return to the place they
had quitted； for the preparations went on so briskly that there was
no time to stop them。 John； with the tall candlesticks in his hands；
bowed them up to the fireplace； Hugh； striding in with a lighted
brand and pile of firewood； cast it down upon the hearth； and set it
in a blaze； John Grueby （who had a great blue cockade in his hat；
which he appeared to despise mightily） brought in the
portmanteau he had carried on his horse； and placed it on the
floor； and presently all three were busily engaged in drawing out
the screen； laying the cloth； inspecting the beds； lighting fires in
the bedrooms； expediting the supper； and making everything as
cosy and as snug as might be； on so short a notice。 In less than an
hour’s time； supper had been served； and ate； and cleared away；
and Lord George and his secretary； with slippered feet； and legs
stretched out before the fire； sat over some hot mulled wine
together。
‘So ends； my lord；’ said Gashford； filling his glass with great
complacency； ‘the blessed work of a most blessed day。’
‘And of a blessed yesterday；’ said his lordship； raising his head。
‘Ah！’—and here the secretary clasped his hands—‘a blessed
yesterday indeed！ The Protestants of Suffolk are godly men and
true。 Though others of our countrymen have lost their way in
darkness； even as we； my lord； did lose our road to…night； theirs is
the light and glory。’
‘Did I move them； Gashford ？’ said Lord George。
‘Move them； my lord！ Move them！ They cried to be led on
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
… Page 383…
Barnaby Rudge 384
against the Papists； they vowed a dreadful vengeance on their
heads； they roared like men possessed—’
‘But not by devils；’ said his lord。
‘By devils！ my lord！ By angels。’
‘Yes—oh surely—by angels； no doubt；’ said Lord George；
thrusting his hands into his pockets； taking them out again to bite
his nails； and looking uncomfortably at the fire。 ‘Of course by
angels—eh Gashford？’
‘You do not doubt it； my lord？’ said the secretary。
‘No—No；’ returned his lord。 ‘No。 Why should I？ I suppose it
would be decidedly irreligious to doubt it—wouldn’t it； Gashford？
Though there certainly were；’ he added； without waiting for an
answer； ‘some plaguy ill…looking characters among them。’
‘When you warmed；’ said the secretary； looking sharply at the
other’s downcast eyes； which brightened slowly as he spoke；
‘when you warmed into that noble outbreak； when you told them
that you were never of the lukewarm or the timid tribe； and bade
them take heed that they were prepared to follow one who would
lead them on； though to the very death； when you spoke of a
hundred and twenty thousand men across the Scottish border
who would take their own redress at any time； if it were not
conceded； when you cried “Perish the Pope and all his base
adherents； the penal laws against them shall never be repealed
while Englishmen have hearts and hands”—and waved your own
and touched your sword； and when they cried “No Popery！” and
you cried “No； not even if we wade in blood；” and they threw up
their hats and cried “Hurrah！ not even if we wade in blood； No
Popery！ Lord George！ Down with the Papists—Vengeance on their
heads：” when this was said and done； and a word from you； my
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
… Page 384…
Barnaby Rudge 385
lord； could raise or still the tumult—ah！ then I felt what greatness
was indeed； and thought； When was there ever power like this of
Lord George Gordon’s！’
‘It’s a great power。 You’re right。 It is a great power！’ he cried
with sparkling eyes。 ‘But—dear Gashford—did I really say all
that？’
‘And how much more！’ cried the secretary； looking upwards。
‘Ah！ how much more！’
‘And I told them what you say； about the one hundred and forty
thousand men in Scotland； did I！’ he asked with evident delight。
‘That was bold。’
‘Our cause is boldness。 Truth is always bold。’
‘Certainly。 So is religion。 She’s bold； Gashford？’
‘The true religion is； my lord。’
‘And that’s ours；’ he rejoined； moving uneasily in his seat； and
biting his nails as though he would pare them to the quick。 ‘There
can be no doubt of ours being the true one。 You feel as certain of
that as I do； Gashford； don’t you？’
‘Does my lord ask me；’ whined Gashford； drawing his chair
nearer with an injured air； and laying his broad flat hand upon the
table； ‘me；’ he repeated； bending the dark hollows of his eyes upon
him with an unwholesome smile； ‘who； stricken by the magic of his
eloquence in Scotland but a year ago； abjured the errors of the
Romish church； and clung to him as one whose timely hand had
plucked me from a pit？’
