barnaby rudge(巴纳比·卢杰)-第182章
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presenting； as he spoke； a gun。 ‘Let an old man do that。 You can
spare him better。’
The young fellow who held the light； and who was stooping
down before the door； rose hastily at these words； and fell back。
The locksmith ran his eye along the upturned faces； and kept the
weapon levelled at the threshold of his house。 It had no other rest
than his shoulder； but was as steady as the house itself。
‘Let the man who does it； take heed to his prayers；’ he said
firmly； ‘I warn him。’
Snatching a torch from one who stood near him； Hugh was
stepping forward with an oath； when he was arrested by a shrill
and piercing shriek； and； looking upward； saw a fluttering
garment on the house…top。
There was another shriek； and another； and then a shrill voice
cried； ‘Is Simmun below！’ At the same moment a lean neck was
stretched over the parapet； and Miss Miggs； indistinctly seen in
the gathering gloom of evening； screeched in a frenzied manner；
‘Oh！ dear gentlemen； let me hear Simmuns’s answer from his own
lips。 Speak to me； Simmun。 Speak to me！’
Mr Tappertit； who was not at all flattered by this compliment；
looked up； and bidding her hold her peace； ordered her to come
down and open the door； for they wanted her master； and would
take no denial。
‘Oh good gentlemen！’ cried Miss Miggs。 ‘Oh my own precious；
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precious Simmun—’
‘Hold your nonsense； will you！’ retorted Mr Tappertit； ‘and
come down and open the door。—G。 Varden； drop that gun； or it
will be worse for you。’
‘Don’t mind his gun；’ screamed Miggs。 ‘Simmun and
gentlemen； I poured a mug of table…beer right down the barrel。’
The crowd gave a loud shout； which was followed by a roar of
laughter。
‘It wouldn’t go off； not if you was to load it up to the muzzle；’
screamed Miggs。 ‘Simmun and gentlemen； I’m locked up in the
front attic； through the little door on the right hand when you
think you’ve got to the very top of the stairs—and up the flight of
corner steps； being careful not to knock your heads against the
rafters； and not to tread on one side in case you should fall into the
two…pair bedroom through the lath and plasture； which do not
bear； but the contrairy。 Simmun and gentlemen； I’ve been locked
up here for safety； but my endeavours has always been； and
always will be； to be on the right side—the blessed side and to
prenounce the Pope of Babylon； and all her inward and her
outward workings； which is Pagin。 My sentiments is of little
consequences； I know；’ cried Miggs； with additional shrillness； ‘for
my positions is but a servant； and as sich； of humilities； still I gives
expressions to my feelings； and places my reliances on them which
entertains my own opinions！’
Without taking much notice of these outpourings of Miss Miggs
after she had made her first announcement in relation to the gun；
the crowd raised a ladder against the window where the locksmith
stood； and notwithstanding that he closed； and fastened； and
defended it manfully； soon forced an entrance by shivering the
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glass and breaking in the frames。 After dealing a few stout blows
about him； he found himself defenceless； in the midst of a furious
crowd； which overflowed the room and softened off in a confused
heap of faces at the door and window。
They were very wrathful with him （for he had wounded two
men）； and even called out to those in front； to bring him forth and
hang him on a lamp…post。 But Gabriel was quite undaunted； and
looked from Hugh and Dennis； who held him by either arm； to
Simon Tappertit； who confronted him。
‘You have robbed me of my daughter；’ said the locksmith； ‘who
is far dearer to me than my life； and you may take my life； if you
will。 I bless God that I have been enabled to keep my wife free of
this scene； and that He has made me a man who will not ask
mercy at such hands as yours。’
‘And a wery game old gentleman you are；’ said Mr Dennis；
approvingly； ‘and you express yourself like a man。 What’s the
odds； brother； whether it’s a lamp…post to…night； or a feather…bed
ten year to come； eh？’
The locksmith glanced at him disdainfully； but returned no
other answer。
‘For my part；’ said the hangman； who particularly favoured the
lamp…post suggestion； ‘I honour your principles。 They’re mine
exactly。 In such sentiments as them；’ and here he emphasised his
discourse with an oath； ‘I’m ready to meet you or any man
halfway。—Have you got a bit of cord anywheres handy？ Don’t put
yourself out of the way； if you haven’t。 A handkecher will do。’
‘Don’t be a fool； master；’ whispered Hugh； seizing Varden
roughly by the shoulder； ‘but do as you’re bid。 You’ll soon hear
what you’re wanted for。 Do it！’
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‘I’ll do nothing at your request； or that of any scoundrel here；’
returned the locksmith。 ‘If you want any service from me； you may
spare yourselves the pains of telling me what it is。 I tell you；
beforehand； I’ll do nothing for you。’
Mr Dennis was so affected by this constancy on the part of the
staunch old man； that he protested—almost with tears in his
eyes—that to baulk his inclinations would be an act of cruelty and
hard dealing to which he； for one； never could reconcile his
conscience。 The gentleman； he said； had avowed in so many words
that he was ready for working off； such being the case； he
considered it their duty； as a civilised and enlightened crowd； to
work him off。 It was not often； he observed； that they had it in
their power to accommodate themselves to the wishes of those
from whom they had the misfortune to differ。 Having now found
an individual who expressed a desire which they could reasonably
indulge （and for himself he was free to confess that in his opinion
that desire did honour to his feelings）； he hoped they would decide
to accede to his proposition before going any further。 It was an
experiment which； skilfully and dexterously performed； would be
over in five minutes； with great comfort and satisfaction to all
parties； and though it did not become him （Mr Dennis） to speak
well of himself he trusted he might be allowed to say that he had
practical knowledge of the subject； and； being naturally of an
obliging and friendly disposition；
