barnaby rudge(巴纳比·卢杰)-第236章
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‘Thank you；’ returned the other。 ‘Shall we walk as we talk？ The
damp falls rather heavily。 Well；—as you please。 But I grieve to say
that I can spare you only a very few moments。’
‘I would；’ said Mr Haredale； ‘you had spared me none。 I would；
with all my soul； you had been in Paradise （if such a monstrous lie
could be enacted）； rather than here to…night。’
‘Nay；’ returned the other—‘really—you do yourself injustice。
You are a rough companion； but I would not go so far to avoid
you。’
‘Listen to me；’ said Mr Haredale。 ‘Listen to me。’
‘While you rail？’ inquired Sir John。
‘While I deliver your infamy。 You urged and stimulated to do
your work a fit agent； but one who in his nature—in the very
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essence of his being—is a traitor； and who has been false to you
（despite the sympathy you two should have together） as he has
been to all others。 With hints； and looks； and crafty words； which
told again are nothing； you set on Gashford to this work—this
work before us now。 With these same hints； and looks； and crafty
words； which told again are nothing； you urged him on to gratify
the deadly hate he owes me—I have earned it； I thank Heaven—by
the abduction and dishonour of my niece。 You did。 I see denial in
your looks；’ he cried； abruptly pointing in his face； and stepping
back； ‘and denial is a lie！’
He had his hand upon his sword； but the knight； with a
contemptuous smile； replied to him as coldly as before。
‘You will take notice； sir—if you can discriminate sufficiently—
that I have taken the trouble to deny nothing。 Your discernment is
hardly fine enough for the perusal of faces； not of a kind as coarse
as your speech； nor has it ever been； that I remember； or； in one
face that I could name； you would have read indifference； not to
say disgust； somewhat sooner than you did。 I speak of a long time
ago；—but you understand me。’
‘Disguise it as you will； you mean denial。 Denial explicit or
reserved； expressed or left to be inferred； is still a lie。 You say you
don’t deny。 Do you admit？’
‘You yourself；’ returned Sir John； suffering the current of his
speech to flow as smoothly as if it had been stemmed by no one
word of interruption； ‘publicly proclaimed the character of the
gentleman in question （I think it was in Westminster Hall） in
terms which relieve me from the necessity of making any further
allusion to him。 You may have been warranted； you may not have
been； I can’t say。 Assuming the gentleman to be what you
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described； and to have made to you or any other person any
statements that may have happened to suggest themselves to him；
for the sake of his own security； or for the sake of money； or for his
own amusement； or for any other consideration；—I have nothing
to say of him； except that his extremely degrading situation
appears to me to be shared with his employers。 You are so very
plain yourself； that you will excuse a little freedom in me； I am
sure。’
‘Attend to me again； Sir John but once；’ cried Mr Haredale； ‘in
your every look； and word； and gesture； you tell me this was not
your act。 I tell you that it was； and that you tampered with the man
I speak of； and with your wretched son （whom God forgive！） to do
this deed。 You talk of degradation and character。 You told me once
that you had purchased the absence of the poor idiot and his
mother； when （as I have discovered since； and then suspected） you
had gone to tempt them； and had found them flown。 To you I
traced the insinuation that I alone reaped any harvest from my
brother’s death； and all the foul attacks and whispered calumnies
that followed in its train。 In every action of my life； from that first
hope which you converted into grief and desolation； you have
stood； like an adverse fate； between me and peace。 In all； you have
ever been the same cold…blooded； hollow； false； unworthy villain。
For the second time； and for the last； I cast these charges in your
teeth； and spurn you from me as I would a faithless dog！’
With that he raised his arm； and struck him on the breast so
that he staggered。 Sir John； the instant he recovered； drew his
sword； threw away the scabbard and his hat； and running on his
adversary made a desperate lunge at his heart； which； but that his
guard was quick and true； would have stretched him dead upon
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the grass。
In the act of striking him； the torrent of his opponent’s rage had
reached a stop。 He parried his rapid thrusts； without returning
them； and called to him； with a frantic kind of terror in his face； to
keep back。
‘Not to…night！ not to…night！’ he cried。 ‘In God’s name； not
tonight！’
Seeing that he lowered his weapon； and that he would not
thrust in turn； Sir John lowered his。
‘Not to…night！’ his adversary cried。 ‘Be warned in time！’
‘You told me—it must have been in a sort of inspiration—’ said
Sir John； quite deliberately； though now he dropped his mask； and
showed his hatred in his face； ‘that this was the last time。 Be
assured it is！ Did you believe our last meeting was forgotten？ Did
you believe that your every word and look was not to be accounted
for； and was not well remembered？ Do you believe that I have
waited your time； or you mine？ What kind of man is he who
entered； with all his sickening cant of honesty and truth； into a
bond with me to prevent a marriage he affected to dislike； and
when I had redeemed my part to the spirit and the letter； skulked
from his； and brought the match about in his own time； to rid
himself of a burden he had grown tired of； and cast a spurious
lustre on his house？’
‘I have acted；’ cried Mr Haredale； ‘with honour and in good
faith。 I do so now。 Do not force me to renew this duel to…night！’
‘You said my “wretched” son； I think？’ said Sir John； with a
smile。 ‘Poor fool！ The dupe of such a shallow knave—trapped into
marriage by such an uncle and by such a niece—he well deserves
your pity。 But he is no longer a son of mine： you are welcome to
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the prize your craft has made； sir。’
‘Once more；’ cried his opponent； wildly stamping on the
