barnaby rudge(巴纳比·卢杰)-第158章
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ready trussed； as one may say； wouldn’t it be better for all parties
if we was to work him off？ It would read uncommon well in the
newspapers； it would indeed。 The public would think a great deal
more on us！’
Hugh； inferring what his companion meant； rather from his
gestures than his technical mode of expressing himself （to which；
as he was ignorant of his calling； he wanted the clue）； rejected this
proposition for the second time； and gave the word ‘Forward！’
which was echoed by a hundred voices from without。
‘To the Warren！’ shouted Dennis as he ran out； followed by the
rest。 ‘A witness’s house； my lads！’
A loud yell followed； and the whole throng hurried off； mad for
pillage and destruction。 Hugh lingered behind for a few moments
to stimulate himself with more drink； and to set all the taps
running； a few of which had accidentally been spared； then；
glancing round the despoiled and plundered room； through whose
shattered window the rioters had thrust the Maypole itself；—for
even that had been sawn down；—lighted a torch； clapped the mute
and motionless John Willet on the back； and waving his light
above his head； and uttering a fierce shout； hastened after his
companions。
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Chapter 55
ohn Willet； left alone in his dismantled bar； continued to sit
Jstaring about him； awake as to his eyes； certainly； but with
all his powers of reason and reflection in a sound and
dreamless sleep。 He looked round upon the room which had been
for years； and was within an hour ago； the pride of his heart； and
not a muscle of his face was moved。 The night； without； looked
black and cold through the dreary gaps in the casement； the
precious liquids； now nearly leaked away； dripped with a hollow
sound upon the floor； the Maypole peered ruefully in through the
broken window； like the bowsprit of a wrecked ship； the ground
might have been the bottom of the sea； it was so strewn with
precious fragments。 Currents of air rushed in； as the old doors
jarred and creaked upon their hinges； the candles flickered and
guttered down； and made long winding…sheets； the cheery deep…
red curtains flapped and fluttered idly in the wind； even the stout
Dutch kegs； overthrown and lying empty in dark corners； seemed
the mere husks of good fellows whose jollity had departed； and
who could kindle with a friendly glow no more。 John saw this
desolation； and yet saw it not。 He was perfectly contented to sit
there； staring at it； and felt no more indignation or discomfort in
his bonds than if they had been robes of honour。 So far as he was
personally concerned； old Time lay snoring； and the world stood
still。
Save for the dripping from the barrels； the rustling of such light
fragments of destruction as the wind affected； and the dull
creaking of the open doors； all was profoundly quiet： indeed； these
sounds； like the ticking of the death…watch in the night； only made
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the silence they invaded deeper and more apparent。 But quiet or
noisy； it was all one to John。 If a train of heavy artillery could have
come up and commenced ball practice outside the window； it
would have been all the same to him。 He was a long way beyond
surprise。 A ghost couldn’t have overtaken him。
By and by he heard a footstep—a hurried； and yet cautious
footstep—coming on towards the house。 It stopped； advanced
again； then seemed to go quite round it。 Having done that； it came
beneath the window； and a head looked in。
It was strongly relieved against the darkness outside by the
glare of the guttering candles。 A pale； worn； withered face； the
eyes—but that was owing to its gaunt condition—unnaturally
large and bright； the hair； a grizzled black。 It gave a searching
glance all round the room； and a deep voice said：
‘Are you alone in this house？’
John made no sign； though the question was repeated twice；
and he heard it distinctly。 After a moment’s pause； the man got in
at the window。 John was not at all surprised at this； either。 There
had been so much getting in and out of window in the course of
the last hour or so； that he had quite forgotten the door； and
seemed to have lived among such exercises from infancy。
The man wore a large； dark； faded cloak； and a slouched hat； he
walked up close to John； and looked at him。 John returned the
compliment with interest。
‘How long have you been sitting thus？’ said the man。
John considered； but nothing came of it。
‘Which way have the party gone？’
Some wandering speculations relative to the fashion of the
stranger’s boots； got into Mr Willet’s mind by some accident or
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other； but they got out again in a hurry； and left him in his former
state。
‘You would do well to speak；’ said the man； ‘you may keep a
whole skin； though you have nothing else left that can be hurt。
Which way have the party gone？’
‘That！’ said John； finding his voice all at once； and nodding with
perfect good faith—he couldn’t point； he was so tightly bound—in
exactly the opposite direction to the right one。
‘You lie！’ said the man angrily； and with a threatening gesture。
‘I came that way。 You would betray me。’
It was so evident that John’s imperturbability was not assumed；
but was the result of the late proceedings under his roof； that the
man stayed his hand in the very act of striking him； and turned
away。
John looked after him without so much as a twitch in a single
nerve of his face。 He seized a glass； and holding it under one of the
little casks until a few drops were collected； drank them greedily
off； then throwing it down upon the floor impatiently； he took the
vessel in his hands and drained it into his throat。 Some scraps of
bread and meat were scattered about； and on these he fell next；
eating them with voracity； and pausing every now and then to
listen for some fancied noise outside。 When he had refreshed
himself in this manner with violent haste； and raised another
barrel to his lips； he pulled his hat upon his brow as though he
were about to leave the house； and turned to John。
‘Where are your servants？’
Mr Willet indistinctly remembered to have heard the rioters
calling to them to throw the key of the room in which they were；
out of window； for their keeping。 He
