bleak house(凄凉的房子)-第106章
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Shakespeare！”
“There are two branches to this subject； Jobling；” says Mr
Guppy。 “That is the first。 I come to the second。 You know Krook；
the Chancellor； across the lane。 Come； Jobling；” says Mr Guppy； in
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his encouraging cross…examination…tone； “I think you know Krook；
the Chancellor； across the lane？”
“I know him by sight；” says Mr Jobling。
“You know him by sight。 Very well。 And you know little Flite？”
“Everybody knows her；” says Mr Jobling。
“Everybody knows her。 Very well。 Now it has been one of my
duties of late； to pay Flite a certain weekly allowance； deducting
from it the amount of her weekly rent； which I have paid （in
consequence of instructions I have received） to Krook himself；
regularly； in her presence。 This has brought me into
communication with Krook； and into a knowledge of his house and
his habits。 I know he has a room to let。 You may live there； at a
very low charge； under any name you like； as quietly as if you were
a hundred miles off。 He’ll ask no questions； and would accept you
as a tenant； at a word from me—before the clock strikes； if you
chose。 And I’ll tell you another thing； Jobling；” says Mr Guppy；
who has suddenly lowered his voice； and become familiar again；
“he’s an extraordinary old chap—always rummaging among a
litter of papers； and grubbing away at teaching himself to read and
write； without getting on a bit； as it seems to me。 He is a most
extraordinary old chap； sir。 I don’t know but what it might be
worth a fellow’s while to look him up a bit。”
“You don’t mean —？” Mr Jobling begins。
“I mean；” returns Mr Guppy； shrugging his shoulders with
becoming modesty； “that I can’t make him out。 I appeal to our
mutual friend Smallweed whether he has or has not heard me
remark； that I can’t make him out。”
Mr Smallweed bears the concise testimony； “A few！”
“I have seen something of the profession； and something of life；
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Tony；” says Mr Guppy； “and it’s seldom I can’t make a man out；
more or less。 But such an old card as this； so deep； so sly； and
secret （though I don’t believe he is ever sober）； I never came
across。 Now； he must be precious old； you know； and he has not a
soul about him； and he is reported to be immensely rich； and
whether he is a smuggler； or a receiver； or an unlicensed
pawnbroker； or a money…lender—all of which I have thought likely
at different times—it might pay you to knock up a sort of
knowledge of him。 I don’t see why you shouldn’t go in for it； when
everything else suits。”
Mr Jobling； Mr Guppy； and Mr Smallweed； all lean their elbows
on the table； and their chins upon their hands； and look at the
ceiling。 After a time； they all drink； slowly lean back； put their
hands in their pockets； and look at one another。
“If I had the energy I once possessed； Tony！” says Mr Guppy；
with a sigh。 “But there are chords in the human mind—”
Expressing the remainder of the desolate sentiment in rum…and…
water； Mr Guppy concludes by resigning the adventure to Tony
Jobling； and informing him that during the vacation and while
things are slack； his purse； “as far as three or four or even five
pound goes；” will be at his disposal。 “For never shall it be said；”
Mr Guppy adds with emphasis； “that William Guppy turned his
back upon his friend！”
The latter part of the proposal is so directly to the purpose； that
Mr Jobling says with emotion； “Guppy； my trump； your fist！” Mr
Guppy presents it； saying； “Jobling； my boy； there it is！” Mr
Jobling returns； “Guppy； we have been pals now for some years！”
Mr Guppy replies； “Jobling； we have。”
They then shake hands； and Mr Jobling adds in a feeling
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manner； “Thank you； Guppy； I don’t know but what I will take
another glass； for old acquaintance sake。”
“Krook’s last lodger died there；” observes Mr Guppy； in an
incidental way。
“Did he； though！” says Mr Jobling。
“There was a verdict。 Accidental death。 You don’t mind that？”
“No；” says Mr Jobling； “I don’t mind it； but he might as well
have died somewhere else。 It’s devilish odd that he need go and
die at my place！” Mr Jobling quite resents this liberty； several
times returning to it with such remarks as； “There are places
enough to die in； I should think！” or； “He wouldn’t have liked my
dying at his place； I dare say！”
However； the compact being virtually made； Mr Guppy
proposes to despatch the trusty Smallweed to ascertain if Mr
Krook is at home； as in that case they may complete the
negotiation without delay。 Mr Jobling approving； Smallweed puts
himself under the tall hat and conveys it out of the dining…rooms in
the Guppy manner。 He soon returns with the intelligence that Mr
Krook is at home； and that he has seen him through the shop…
door； sitting in his back premises； sleeping； “like one o’clock。”
“Then I’ll pay；” says Mr Guppy； “and we’ll go and see him。
Small； what will it be！”
Mr Smallweed； compelling the attendance of the waitress with
one hitch of his eyelash； instantly replies as follows： “Four veals
and hams is three； and four potatoes is three and four； and one
summer cabbage is three and six； and three marrows is four and
six； and six breads is five； and three Cheshires is five and three；
and four pints of half…and…half is six and three； and four small
rums is eight and three； and three Pollys is eight and six。 Eight
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and six is half a sovereign； Polly； and eighteen…pence out！”
Not at all excited by these stupendous calculations； Smallweed
dismisses his friends with a cool nod； and remains behind to take a
little admiring notice of Polly； as opportunity may serve； and to
read the daily papers： which are so very large in proportion to
himself； shorn of his hat； that when he holds up The Times to run
his eye over the columns； he seems to have retired fo
