barnaby rudge(巴纳比·卢杰)-第126章
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Protestant petition。 All this he told the persons about him in a loud
voice； and with great abundance of ungainly gesture。 Those who
were nearest him made comments to each other； and vented
threats and murmurings； those who were outside the crowd cried；
‘Silence；’ and Stand back；’ or closed in upon the rest；
endeavouring to make a forcible exchange of places： and so they
came driving on in a very disorderly and irregular way； as it is the
manner of a crowd to do。
When they were very near to where the secretary； Sir John； and
Mr Haredale stood； Lord George turned round and； making a few
remarks of a sufficiently violent and incoherent kind； concluded
with the usual sentiment； and called for three cheers to back it。
While these were in the act of being given with great energy； he
extricated himself from the press； and stepped up to Gashford’s
side。 Both he and Sir John being well known to the populace； they
fell back a little； and left the four standing together。
‘Mr Haredale； Lord George；’ said Sir John Chester； seeing that
the nobleman regarded him with an inquisitive look。 ‘A Catholic
gentleman unfortunately—most unhappily a Catholic—but an
esteemed acquaintance of mine； and once of Mr Gashford’s。 My
dear Haredale； this is Lord George Gordon。’
‘I should have known that； had I been ignorant of his lordship’s
person；’ said Mr Haredale。 ‘I hope there is but one gentleman in
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England who； addressing an ignorant and excited throng； would
speak of a large body of his fellow…subjects in such injurious
language as I heard this moment。 For shame； my lord； for shame！’
‘I cannot talk to you； sir；’ replied Lord George in a loud voice；
and waving his hand in a disturbed and agitated manner； ‘we have
nothing in common。’
‘We have much in common—many things—all that the
Almighty gave us；’ said Mr Haredale； ‘and common charity； not to
say common sense and common decency； should teach you to
refrain from these proceedings。 If every one of those men had
arms in their hands at this moment； as they have them in their
heads； I would not leave this place without telling you that you
disgrace your station。’
‘I don’t hear you； sir；’ he replied in the same manner as before；
‘I can’t hear you。 It is indifferent to me what you say。 Don’t retort；
Gashford；’ for the secretary had made a show of wishing to do so；
‘I can hold no communion with the worshippers of idols。’
As he said this； he glanced at Sir John； who lifted his hands and
eyebrows； as if deploring the intemperate conduct of Mr Haredale；
and smiled in admiration of the crowd and of their leader。
‘He retort！’ cried Haredale。 ‘Look you here； my lord。 Do you
know this man？’
Lord George replied by laying his hand upon the shoulder of
his cringing secretary； and viewing him with a smile of confidence。
‘This man；’ said Mr Haredale； eyeing him from top to toe； ‘who
in his boyhood was a thief； and has been from that time to this； a
servile； false； and truckling knave： this man； who has crawled and
crept through life； wounding the hands he licked； and biting those
he fawned upon： this sycophant； who never knew what honour；
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truth； or courage meant； who robbed his benefactor’s daughter of
her virtue； and married her to break her heart； and did it； with
stripes and cruelty： this creature； who has whined at kitchen
windows for the broken food； and begged for halfpence at our
chapel doors： this apostle of the faith； whose tender conscience
cannot bear the altars where his vicious life was publicly
denounced—Do you know this man？’
‘Oh； really—you are very； very hard upon our friend！’ exclaimed
Sir John。
‘Let Mr Haredale go on；’ said Gashford； upon whose
unwholesome face the perspiration had broken out during this
speech； in blotches of wet； ‘I don’t mind him； Sir John； it’s quite as
indifferent to me what he says； as it is to my lord。 If he reviles my
lord； as you have heard； Sir John； how can I hope to escape？’
‘Is it not enough； my lord；’ Mr Haredale continued； ‘that I； as
good a gentleman as you； must hold my property； such as it is； by a
trick at which the state connives because of these hard laws； and
that we may not teach our youth in schools the common principles
of right and wrong； but must we be denounced and ridden by such
men as this！ Here is a man to head your No…Popery cry！ For
shame。 For shame！’
The infatuated nobleman had glanced more than once at Sir
John Chester； as if to inquire whether there was any truth in these
statements concerning Gashford； and Sir John had as often plainly
answered by a shrug or look； ‘Oh dear me！ no。’ He now said； in the
same loud key； and in the same strange manner as before：
‘I have nothing to say； sir； in reply； and no desire to hear
anything more。 I beg you won’t obtrude your conversation； or
these personal attacks； upon me。 I shall not be deterred from
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doing my duty to my country and my countrymen； by any such
attempts； whether they proceed from emissaries of the Pope or
not； I assure you。 Come； Gashford！’
They had walked on a few paces while speaking； and were now
at the Hall…door； through which they passed together。 Mr
Haredale； without any leave…taking； turned away to the river
stairs； which were close at hand； and hailed the only boatman who
remained there。
But the throng of people—the foremost of whom had heard
every word that Lord George Gordon said； and among all of whom
the rumour had been rapidly dispersed that the stranger was a
Papist who was bearding him for his advocacy of the popular
cause—came pouring out pell…mell； and； forcing the nobleman； his
secretary； and Sir John Chester on before them； so that they
appeared to be at their head； crowded to the top of the stairs
where Mr Haredale waited until the boat was ready； and there
stood still； leaving him on a little clear space by himself。
They were not silent； however； though inactive。 At first some
indistinct mutterings arose among them； which were followed by a
hiss or two； and these swelled by degrees into a perfect storm。
Then one voice said； ‘Down with the Papists！’ and there was a
pretty general cheer； but nothing more。 After
