barnaby rudge(巴纳比·卢杰)-第146章
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engendered； as if the city were invaded by a foreign army。
Gashford walked stealthily about； listening to all he heard； and
diffusing or confirming； whenever he had an opportunity； such
false intelligence as suited his own purpose； and； busily occupied
in this way； turned into Holborn for the twentieth time； when a
great many women and children came flying along the street—
often panting and looking back—and the confused murmur of
numerous voices struck upon his ear。 Assured by these tokens；
and by the red light which began to flash upon the houses on
either side； that some of his friends were indeed approaching； he
begged a moment’s shelter at a door which opened as he passed；
and running with some other persons to an upper window； looked
out upon the crowd。
They had torches among them； and the chief faces were
distinctly visible。 That they had been engaged in the destruction of
some building was sufficiently apparent； and that it was a Catholic
place of worship was evident from the spoils they bore as trophies；
which were easily recognisable for the vestments of priests； and
rich fragments of altar furniture。 Covered with soot； and dirt； and
dust； and lime； their garments torn to rags； their hair hanging
wildly about them； their hands and faces jagged and bleeding with
the wounds of rusty nails； Barnaby； Hugh； and Dennis hurried on
before them all； like hideous madmen。 After them； the dense
throng came fighting on： some singing； some shouting in triumph；
some quarrelling among themselves； some menacing the
spectators as they passed； some with great wooden fragments； on
which they spent their rage as if they had been alive； rending them
limb from limb； and hurling the scattered morsels high into the
air； some in a drunken state； unconscious of the hurts they had
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received from falling bricks； and stones； and beams； one borne
upon a shutter； in the very midst； covered with a dingy cloth； a
senseless； ghastly heap。 Thus—a vision of coarse faces； with here
and there a blot of flaring； smoky light； a dream of demon heads
and savage eyes； and sticks and iron bars uplifted in the air； and
whirled about； a bewildering horror； in which so much was seen；
and yet so little； which seemed so long； and yet so short； in which
there were so many phantoms； not to be forgotten all through life；
and yet so many things that could not be observed in one
distracting glimpse—it flitted onward； and was gone。
As it passed away upon its work of wrath and ruin； a piercing
scream was heard。 A knot of persons ran towards the spot；
Gashford； who just then emerged into the street； among them。 He
was on the outskirts of the little concourse； and could not see or
hear what passed within； but one who had a better place； informed
him that a widow woman had descried her son among the rioters。
‘Is that all？’ said the secretary； turning his face homewards。
‘Well！ I think this looks a little more like business！’
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Chapter 51
romising as these outrages were to Gashford’s view； and
Pmuch like business as they looked； they extended that
night no farther。 The soldiers were again called out； again
they took half…a…dozen prisoners； and again the crowd dispersed
after a short and bloodless scuffle。 Hot and drunken though they
were； they had not yet broken all bounds and set all law and
government at defiance。 Something of their habitual deference to
the authority erected by society for its own preservation yet
remained among them； and had its majesty been vindicated in
time； the secretary would have had to digest a bitter
disappointment。
By midnight； the streets were clear and quiet； and； save that
there stood in two parts of the town a heap of nodding walls and
pile of rubbish； where there had been at sunset a rich and
handsome building； everything wore its usual aspect。 Even the
Catholic gentry and tradesmen； of whom there were many
resident in different parts of the City and its suburbs； had no fear
for their lives or property； and but little indignation for the wrong
they had already sustained in the plunder and destruction of their
temples of worship。 An honest confidence in the government
under whose protection they had lived for many years； and a well…
founded reliance on the good feeling and right thinking of the
great mass of the community； with whom； notwithstanding their
religious differences； they were every day in habits of confidential；
affectionate； and friendly intercourse； reassured them； even under
the excesses that had been committed； and convinced them that
they who were Protestants in anything but the name； were no
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more to be considered as abettors of these disgraceful
occurrences； than they themselves were chargeable with the uses
of the block； the rack； the gibbet； and the stake in cruel Mary’s
reign。
The clock was on the stroke of one； when Gabriel Varden； with
his lady and Miss Miggs； sat waiting in the little parlour。 This fact；
the toppling wicks of the dull； wasted candles； the silence that
prevailed； and； above all； the nightcaps of both maid and matron；
were sufficient evidence that they had been prepared for bed some
time ago； and had some reason for sitting up so far beyond their
usual hour。
If any other corroborative testimony had been required； it
would have been abundantly furnished in the actions of Miss
Miggs； who； having arrived at that restless state and sensitive
condition of the nervous system which are the result of long
watching； did； by a constant rubbing and tweaking of her nose； a
perpetual change of position （arising from the sudden growth of
imaginary knots and knobs in her chair）； a frequent friction of her
eyebrows； the incessant recurrence of a small cough； a small
groan； a gasp； a sigh； a sniff； a spasmodic start； and by other
demonstrations of that nature； so file down and rasp； as it were；
the patience of the locksmith； that after looking at her in silence
for some time； he at last broke out into this apostrophe：—
‘Miggs； my good girl； go to bed—do go to bed。 You’re really
worse than the dripping of a hundred water…butts outside
