barnaby rudge(巴纳比·卢杰)-第214章
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deepen and intensify; remorseful for every act that had been done
by every man among the cruel crowd; feeling for the time their
guilt his own; and their lives put in peril by himself; and finding;
amidst such reflections; little comfort in fanaticism; or in his
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fancied call; sat the unhappy author of all—Lord George Gordon。
He had been made prisoner that evening。 ‘If you are sure it’s
me you want;’ he said to the officers; who waited outside with the
warrant for his arrest on a charge of High Treason; ‘I am ready to
accompany you—’ which he did without resistance。 He was
conducted first before the Privy Council; and afterwards to the
Horse Guards; and then was taken by way of Westminster Bridge;
and back over London Bridge (for the purpose of avoiding the
main streets); to the Tower; under the strongest guard ever known
to enter its gates with a single prisoner。
Of all his forty thousand men; not one remained to bear him
company。 Friends; dependents; followers;—none were there。 His
fawning secretary had played the traitor; and he whose weakness
had been goaded and urged on by so many for their own purposes;
was desolate and alone。
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Chapter 74
e Dennis; having been made prisoner late in the
evening; was removed to a neighbouring round…house
M
for that night; and carried before a justice for
examination on the next day; Saturday。 The charges against him
being numerous and weighty; and it being in particular proved; by
the testimony of Gabriel Varden; that he had shown a special
desire to take his life; he was committed for trial。 Moreover he was
honoured with the distinction of being considered a chief among
the insurgents; and received from the magistrate’s lips the
complimentary assurance that he was in a position of imminent
danger; and would do well to prepare himself for the worst。
To say that Mr Dennis’s modesty was not somewhat startled by
these honours; or that he was altogether prepared for so flattering
a reception; would be to claim for him a greater amount of stoical
philosophy than even he possessed。 Indeed this gentleman’s
stoicism was of that not uncommon kind; which enables a man to
bear with exemplary fortitude the afflictions of his friends; but
renders him; by way of counterpoise; rather selfish and sensitive
in respect of any that happen to befall himself。 It is therefore no
disparagement to the great officer in question to state; without
disguise or concealment; that he was at first very much alarmed;
and that he betrayed divers emotions of fear; until his reasoning
powers came to his relief; and set before him a more hopeful
prospect。
In proportion as Mr Dennis exercised these intellectual
qualities with which he was gifted; in reviewing his best chances of
coming off handsomely and with small personal inconvenience;
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his spirits rose; and his confidence increased。 When he
remembered the great estimation in which his office was held; and
the constant demand for his services; when he bethought himself;
how the Statute Book regarded him as a kind of Universal
Medicine applicable to men; women; and children; of every age
and variety of criminal constitution; and how high he stood; in his
official capacity; in the favour of the Crown; and both Houses of
Parliament; the Mint; the Bank of England; and the Judges of the
land; when he recollected that whatever Ministry was in or out; he
remained their peculiar pet and panacea; and that for his sake
England stood single and conspicuous among the civilised nations
of the earth: when he called these things to mind and dwelt upon
them; he felt certain that the national gratitude must relieve him
from the consequences of his late proceedings; and would
certainly restore him to his old place in the happy social system。
With these crumbs; or as one may say; with these whole loaves
of comfort to regale upon; Mr Dennis took his place among the
escort that awaited him; and repaired to jail with a manly
indifference。 Arriving at Newgate; where some of the ruined cells
had been hastily fitted up for the safe keeping of rioters; he was
warmly received by the turnkeys; as an unusual and interesting
case; which agreeably relieved their monotonous duties。 In this
spirit; he was fettered with great care; and conveyed into the
interior of the prison。
‘Brother;’ cried the hangman; as; following an officer; he
traversed under these novel circumstances the remains of
passages with which he was well acquainted; ‘am I going to be
along with anybody?’
‘If you’d have left more walls standing; you’d have been alone;’
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was the reply。 ‘As it is; we’re cramped for room; and you’ll have
company。’
‘Well;’ returned Dennis; ‘I don’t object to company; brother。 I
rather like company。 I was formed for society; I was。’
‘That’s rather a pity; an’t it?’ said the man。
‘No;’ answered Dennis; ‘I’m not aware that it is。 Why should it
be a pity; brother?’
‘Oh! I don’t know;’ said the man carelessly。 ‘I thought that was
what you meant。 Being formed for society; and being cut off in
your flower; you know—’
‘I say;’ interposed the other quickly; ‘what are you talking of?
Don’t。 Who’s a…going to be cut off in their flowers?’
‘Oh; nobody particular。 I thought you was; perhaps;’ said the
man。
Mr Dennis wiped his face; which had suddenly grown very hot;
and remarking in a tremulous voice to his conductor that he had
always been fond of his joke; followed him in silence until he
stopped at a door。
‘This is my quarters; is it?’ he asked facetiously。
‘This is the shop; sir;’ replied his friend。
He was walking in; but not with the best possible grace; when
he suddenly stopped; and started back。
‘Halloa!’ said the officer。 ‘You’re nervous。’
‘Nervous!’ whispered Dennis in great alarm。 ‘Well I may be。
Shut the door。’
‘I will; when you’re in;’ returned the man。
‘But I can’t go in there;’ whispered Dennis。 ‘I can’t be shut up
with that man。 Do you want me to be throttled; b