the lion and the unicorn(狮子与独角兽)-第32章
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What the Hon。 〃Reggie〃 Blake thought about it。
〃H。 M。 HOLLOWAY PRISON；
〃July 28th。
〃I am going to keep a diary while I am in prison； that is； if they will let
me。 I never kept one before because I hadn't the time； when I was home
on leave there was too much going on to bother about it； and when I was
up country I always came back after a day's riding so tired that I was too
sleepy to write anything。 And now that I have the time； I won't have
anything to write about。 I fancy that more things happened to me today
than are likely to happen again for the next eight months； so I will make
this day take up as much room in the diary as it can。 I am writing this on
the back of the paper the Warder uses for his official reports； while he is
hunting up cells to put us in。 We came down on him rather unexpectedly
and he is nervous。 〃Of course； I had prepared myself for this after a
fashion； but now I see that somehow I never really did think I would be in
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here； and all my friends outside； and everything going on just the same as
though I wasn't alive somewhere。 It's like telling yourself that your horse
can't possibly pull off a race； so that you won't mind so much if he doesn't；
but you always feel just as bad when he comes in a loser。 A man can't
fool himself into thinking one way when he is hoping the other。
〃But I am glad it is over； and settled。 It was a great bore not knowing
your luck and having the thing hanging over your head every morning
when you woke up。 Indeed it was quite a relief when the counsel got all
through arguing over those proclamations； and the Chief Justice summed
up； but I nearly went to sleep when I found he was going all over it again
to the jury。 I didn't understand about those proclamations myself and I'll
lay a fiver the jury didn't either。 The Colonel said he didn't。 I couldn't
keep my mind on what Russell was explaining about； and I got to thinking
how much old Justice Hawkins looked like the counsel in 'Alice in
Wonderland' when they tried the knave of spades for stealing the tarts。
He had just the same sort of a beak and the same sort of a wig； and I
wondered why he had his wig powdered and the others didn't。 Pollock's
wig had a hole in the top； you could see it when he bent over to take notes。
He was always taking notes。 I don't believe he understood about those
proclamations either； he never seemed to listen； anyway。
〃The Chief Justice certainly didn't love us very much； that's sure； and
he wasn't going to let anybody else love us either。 I felt quite the
Christian Martyr when Sir Edward was speaking in defence。 He made it
sound as though we were all a lot of Adelphi heroes and ought to be
promoted and have medals； but when Lord Russell started in to read the
Riot Act at us I began to believe that hanging was too good for me。 I'm
sure I never knew I was disturbing the peace of nations； it seems like such
a large order for a subaltern。
〃But the worst was when they made us stand up before all those
people to be sentenced。 I must say I felt shaky about the knees then； not
because I was afraid of what was coming； but because it was the first time
I had ever been pointed out before people； and made to feel ashamed。
And having those girls there； too； looking at one。 That wasn't just fair to
us。 It made me feel about ten years old； and I remembered how the Head
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Master used to call me to his desk and say； 'Blake Senior； two pages of
Horace and keep in bounds for a week。' And then I heard our names and
the months； and my name and 'eight months' imprisonment；' and there was
a bustle and murmur and the tipstaves cried； 'Order in the Court；' and the
Judges stood up and shook out their big red skirts as though they were
shaking off the contamination of our presence and rustled away； and I sat
down； wondering how long eight months was； and wishing they'd given
me as much as they gave Jameson。
〃They put us in a room together then； and our counsel said how sorry
they were； and shook hands； and went off to dinner and left us。 I thought
they might have waited with us and been a little late for dinner just that
once； but no one waited except a lot of costers outside whom we did not
know。 It was eight o'clock and still quite light when we came out； and
there was a line of four… wheelers and a hansom ready for us。 I'd been
hoping they would take us out by the Strand entrance； just because I'd like
to have seen it again； but they marched us instead through the main
quadranglea beastly； gloomy courtyard that echoed； and out； into Carey
Streetsuch a dirty； gloomy street。 The costers and clerks set up a sort of
a cheer when we came out； and one of them cried； 'God bless you； sir；' to
the doctor； but I was sorry they cheered。 It seemed like kicking against
the umpire's decision。 The Colonel and I got into a hansom together and
we trotted off into Chancery Lane and turned into Holborn。 Most of the
shops were closed； and the streets looked empty； but there was a lighted
clock…face over Mooney's public…house； and the hands stood at a quarter
past eight。 I didn't know where Holloway was； and was hoping they
would have to take us through some decent streets to reach it； but we
didn't see a part of the city that meant anything to me； or that I would
choose to travel through again。
〃Neither of us talked； and I imagined that the people in the streets
knew we were going to prison； and I kept my eyes on the enamel card on
the back of the apron。 I suppose I read； 'Two… wheeled hackney carriage：
if hired and discharged within the four…mile limit； 1s。' at least a hundred
times。 I got more sensible after a bit； and when we had turned into
Gray's Inn Road I looked up and saw a tram in front of us with 'Holloway
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Road and King's X；' painted on the steps； and the Colonel saw it about the
same time I fancy； for we each looked at the other； and the Colonel raised
his eyebrows。 It showed us that at least the cabman knew where we were
going。
〃'They might have taken us for a turn through the West End first； I
think；' the Colonel said。 'I'd like to have had a look around； wouldn't you？
This isn't a cheerful neighborhood； is it？'
〃There were a lot of children playing in St。 Andrew's Gardens； and a
crowd of them ran out just as we passed； shrieking and laughing over
nothing； the way kiddies do； and that was about the only pleasant sight in
the ride。 I had quite a turn when we came to the New Hospital just
beyond； for I thought it was Holloway； and it came over me what eight
month
