barnaby rudge(巴纳比·卢杰)-第39章
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pursuit。
As this conclusion involved the necessity of their going upstairs
forthwith； they were about to ascend in the order they had agreed
upon； when a smart ringing at the guest’s bell； as if he had pulled
it vigorously； overthrew all their speculations； and involved them
in great uncertainty and doubt。 At length Mr Willet agreed to go
upstairs himself； escorted by Hugh and Barnaby； as the strongest
and stoutest fellows on the premises； who were to make their
appearance under pretence of clearing away the glasses。
Under this protection； the brave and broad…faced John boldly
entered the room； half a foot in advance； and received an order for
a boot…jack without trembling。 But when it was brought； and he
leant his sturdy shoulder to the guest； Mr Willet was observed to
look very hard into his boots as he pulled them off； and； by
opening his eyes much wider than usual； to appear to express
some surprise and disappointment at not finding them full of
blood。 He took occasion； too； to examine the gentleman as closely
as he could； expecting to discover sundry loopholes in his person；
pierced by his adversary’s sword。 Finding none； however； and
observing in course of time that his guest was as cool and
unruffled； both in his dress and temper； as he had been all day； old
John at last heaved a deep sigh； and began to think no duel had
been fought that night。
‘And now； Willet；’ said Mr Chester； ‘if the room’s well aired； I’ll
try the merits of that famous bed。’
‘The room； sir；’ returned John； taking up a candle； and nudging
Barnaby and Hugh to accompany them； in case the gentleman
should unexpectedly drop down faint or dead from some internal
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wound； ‘the room’s as warm as any toast in a tankard。 Barnaby；
take you that other candle； and go on before。 Hugh！ Follow up； sir；
with the easy…chair。’
In this order—and still； in his earnest inspection； holding his
candle very close to the guest； now making him feel extremely
warm about the legs； now threatening to set his wig on fire； and
constantly begging his pardon with great awkwardness and
embarrassment—John led the party to the best bedroom； which
was nearly as large as the chamber from which they had come；
and held； drawn out near the fire for warmth； a great old spectral
bedstead； hung with faded brocade； and ornamented； at the top of
each carved post； with a plume of feathers that had once been
white； but with dust and age had now grown hearse…like and
funereal。
‘Good night； my friends；’ said Mr Chester with a sweet smile；
seating himself； when he had surveyed the room from end to end；
in the easy…chair which his attendants wheeled before the fire。
‘Good night！ Barnaby； my good fellow； you say some prayers
before you go to bed； I hope？’
Barnaby nodded。 ‘He has some nonsense that he calls his
prayers； sir；’ returned old John； officiously。 ‘I’m afraid there an’t
much good in em。’
‘And Hugh？’ said Mr Chester； turning to him。
‘Not I；’ he answered。 ‘I know his’—pointing to Barnaby—
‘they’re well enough。 He sings ’em sometimes in the straw。 I
listen。’
‘He’s quite a animal； sir；’ John whispered in his ear with
dignity。 ‘You’ll excuse him； I’m sure。 If he has any soul at all； sir； it
must be such a very small one； that it don’t signify what he does or
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doesn’t in that way。 Good night； sir！’
The guest rejoined ‘God bless you！’ with a fervour that was
quite affecting； and John； beckoning his guards to go before；
bowed himself out of the room； and left him to his rest in the
Maypole’s ancient bed。
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Chapter 13
f Joseph Willet； the denounced and proscribed of ’prentices；
had happened to be at home when his father’s courtly guest
I
presented himself before the Maypole door—that is； if it had
not perversely chanced to be one of the half…dozen days in the
whole year on which he was at liberty to absent himself for as
many hours without question or reproach—he would have
contrived； by hook or crook； to dive to the very bottom of Mr
Chester’s mystery； and to come at his purpose with as much
certainty as though he had been his confidential adviser。 In that
fortunate case； the lovers would have had quick warning of the ills
that threatened them； and the aid of various timely and wise
suggestions to boot； for all Joe’s readiness of thought and action；
and all his sympathies and good wishes； were enlisted in favour of
the young people； and were staunch in devotion to their cause。
Whether this disposition arose out of his old prepossessions in
favour of the young lady； whose history had surrounded her in his
mind； almost from his cradle； with circumstances of unusual
interest； or from his attachment towards the young gentleman；
into whose confidence he had； through his shrewdness and
alacrity； and the rendering of sundry important services as a spy
and messenger； almost imperceptibly glided； whether they had
their origin in either of these sources； or in the habit natural to
youth； or in the constant badgering and worrying of his venerable
parent； or in any hidden little love affair of his own which gave
him something of a fellow…feeling in the matter； it is needless to
inquire—especially as Joe was out of the way； and had no
opportunity on that particular occasion of testifying to his
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sentiments either on one side or the other。
It was； in fact； the twenty…fifth of March； which； as most people
know to their cost； is； and has been time out of mind； one of those
unpleasant epochs termed quarter…days。 On this twenty…fifth of
March； it was John Willet’s pride annually to settle； in hard cash；
his account with a certain vintner and distiller in the city of
London； to give into whose hands a canvas bag containing its
exact amount； and not a penny more or le
