bleak house(凄凉的房子)-第180章
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on his bell being rung； takes the opportunity of mentioning as
much； he brings no more encouraging message than that Mr
Tulkinghorn has nothing to say to them； they had better not wait。
They do wait； however with the perseverance of military tactics；
and at last the bell rings again and the client in possession comes
out of Mr Tulkinghorn’s room。
The client is a handsome old lady； no other than Mrs
Rouncewell； housekeeper at Chesney Wold。 She comes out of the
sanctuary with a fair old…fashioned curtsey； and softly shuts the
door。 She is treated with some distinction there； for the clerk steps
out of his pew to show her through the outer office； and to let her
out。 The old lady is thanking him for his attention； when she
observes the comrades in waiting。
“I beg your pardon； sir； but I think those gentlemen are
military？”
The clerk referring the question to them with his eye； and Mr
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George not turning round from the almanack over the fireplace；
Mr Bagnet takes upon himself to reply； “Yes； ma’am。 Formerly。”
“I thought so。 I was sure of it。 My heart warms； gentlemen； at
the sight of you。 It always does at the sight of such。 God bless you；
gentlemen！ You’ll excuse an old woman； but I had a son once who
went for a soldier。 A fine handsome youth he was； and good in his
bold way； though some people did disparage him to his poor
mother。 I ask your pardon for troubling you； sir。 God bless you；
gentlemen！”
“Same to you； ma’am！” returns Mr Bagnet； with right good will。
There is something very touching in the earnestness of the old
lady’s voice； and in the tremble that goes through the quaint old
figure。 But Mr George is so occupied with the almanack over the
fireplace （calculating the coming months by it； perhaps）； that he
does not look round until she has gone away； and the door is
closed upon her。
“George；” Mr Bagnet gruffly whispers； when he does turn from
the almanack at last。 “Don’t be cast down！ ‘Why soldiers； why—
should we be melancholy boys？’ Cheer up； my hearty！”
The clerk having now again gone in to say that they are still
there； and Mr Tulkinghorn being heard to return with some
irascibility； “Let ’em come in then！” they pass into the great room
with the painted ceiling； and find him standing before the fire。
“Now you men； what do you want？ Serjeant； I told you the last
time I saw you that I don’t desire your company here。”
Serjeant replies—dashed within the last few minutes as to his
usual manner of speech； and even as to his usual carriage—that he
has received this letter； has been to Mr Smallweed about it； and
has been referred there。
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“I have nothing to say to you；” rejoins Mr Tulkinghorn。 “If you
get into debt； you must pay your debts； or take the consequences。
You have no occasion to come here to learn that； I suppose？”
Serjeant is sorry to say that he is not prepared with the money。
“Very well！ then the other man—this man； if this is he—must
pay it for you。”
Serjeant is sorry to add that the other man is not prepared with
the money either。
“Very well！ Then you must pay it between you； or you must
both be sued for it； and both suffer。 You have had the money and
must refund it。 You are not to pocket other people’s pounds；
shillings； and pence； and escape scot free。”
The lawyer sits down in his easy chair and stirs the fire。 Mr
George hopes he will have the goodness to—“I tell you； Serjeant； I
have nothing to say to you。 I don’t like your associates； and don’t
want you here。 This matter is not at all in my course of practice；
and is not in my office。 Mr Smallweed is good enough to offer
these affairs to me； but they are not in my way。 You must go to
Melchisedech’s in Clifford’s Inn。”
“I must make an apology to you； sir；” says Mr George； “for
pressing myself upon you with so little encouragement—which is
almost as unpleasant to me as it can be to you； but would you let
me say a private word to you？”
Mr Tulkinghorn rises with his hands in his pockets； and walks
into one of the window recesses。 “Now！ I have no time to waste。”
In the midst of his perfect assumption of indifference； he directs a
sharp look at the trooper； taking care to stand with his own back
to the light； and to have the other with his face towards it。
“Well； sir；” says Mr George； “this man with me is the other
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Bleak House 668
party implicated in this unfortunate affair—nominally； only
nominally—and my sole object is to prevent his getting into
trouble on my account。 He is a most respectable man with a wife
and family； formerly in the Royal Artillery—”
“My friend； I don’t care a pinch of snuff for the whole Royal
Artillery establishment—officers； men； tumbrils； wagons； horses；
guns； and ammunition。”
“‘Tis likely； sir。 But I care a good deal for Bagnet and his wife
and family being injured on my account。 And if I could bring them
through this matter； I should have no help for it but to give up
without any other consideration； what you wanted of me the other
day。”
“Have you got it here？”
“I have got it here； sir。”
“Serjeant；” the lawyer proceeds in his dry passionless manner；
far more hopeless in dealing with than any amount of vehemence；
“make up your mind while I speak to you； for this is final。 After I
have finished speaking I have closed the subject； and I won’t
reopen it。 Understand that。 You can leave here； for a few days；
what you say you have brought here； if you choose； you can take it
away at once； if you choose。 In case you choose to leave it here； I
can do this for you—I can replace this matter on its old footing；
and I can go so far besides as to give you a written undertaking
that this man Bagnet shall never be troubled in any way until you
have been proceeded against to the utmost—that your means shall
be exhausted before the creditor looks to his。 This is in fact all but
freeing him。 Have you decided？”
The trooper puts his hand into his breast； and answers with a
long breath； “I must do it； sir。”
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Bleak House 669
So Mr Tulkinghorn； putting on his spectacles； sits down and
writes the undertaking； which he slowly reads and explains to
Bagnet； who has all this time been staring at the cei
