bleak house(凄凉的房子)-第275章
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Sir Leicester rises from his chair； and staggers down again。
“And she got encouragement in it from hearing that I was
always here； which was done a’ purpose。 Now； open that pocket…
book of mine； Sir Leicester Dedlock； if I may take the liberty of
throwing it towards you； and look at the letter sent to me； each
with the two words； LADY DEDLOCK； in it。 Open the one
directed to yourself； which I stopped this very morning； and read
the three words； LADY DEDLOCK； MURDERESS； in it。 These
letters have been falling about like a shower of lady…birds。 What do
you say now to Mrs Bucket； from her spy…place； having seen them
all written by this young woman？ What do you say to Mrs Bucket
having； within this half…hour； secured the corresponding ink and
paper； fellow half…sheets； and what not？ What do you say to Mrs
Bucket having watched the posting of ’em every one by this young
woman； Sir Leicester Dedlock； Baronet？” Mr Bucket asks；
triumphant in his admiration of his lady’s genius。
Two things are especially observable； as Mr Bucket proceeds to
a conclusion。 First； that he seems imperceptibly to establish a
dreadful right of property in Mademoiselle。 Secondly； that the
very atmosphere she breathes seems to narrow and contract about
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her； as if a close net； or a pall； were being drawn nearer and yet
nearer around her breathless figure。
“There’s no doubt that her Ladyship was on the spot at the
eventful period；” says Mr Bucket； “and my foreign friend here saw
her； I believe from the upper part of the staircase。 Her Ladyship
and George and my foreign friend were all pretty close on one
another’s heels。 But that don’t signify any more； so I’ll not go into
it。 I found the wadding of the pistol with which the deceased Mr
Tulkinghorn was shot。 It was a bit of the printed description of
your house at Chesney Wold。 Not much in that； you’ll say； Sir
Leicester Dedlock； Baronet。 No。 But when my foreign friend here
is so thoroughly off her guard as to think it a safe time to tear up
the rest of that leaf； and when Mrs Bucket puts the pieces together
and finds the wadding wanting； it begins to look like Queer
street。”
“These are very long lies；” Mademoiselle interposes。 “You
prose great deal。 Is it that you have almost all finished； or are you
speaking always？”
“Sir Leicester Dedlock； Baronet；” proceeds Mr Bucket； who
delights in a full title； and does violence to himself when he
dispenses with any fragment of it； “the last point in the case which
I am now going to mention； shows the necessity of patience in our
business； and never doing a thing in a hurry。 I watched this young
woman yesterday； without her knowledge； when she was looking
at the funeral； in company with my wife； who planned to take her
there； and I had so much to convict her； and I saw such an
expression in her face； and my mind so rose against her malice
towards her Ladyship； and the time was altogether such a time for
bringing down what you may call retribution upon her； that if I
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had been a younger hand with less experience； I should have
taken her； certain。 Equally； last night； when her Ladyship； as is so
universally admired I am sure； come home； looking—why； Lord！ a
man might almost say like Venus rising from the ocean； it was so
unpleasant and inconsistent to think of her being charged with a
murder of which she was innocent； that I felt quite to want to put
an end to the job。 What should I have lost？ Sir Leicester Dedlock；
Baronet； I should have lost the weapon。 My prisoner here
proposed to Mrs Bucket； after the departure of the funeral； that
they should go； per buss； a little ways into the country； and take
tea at a very decent house of entertainment。 Now； near that house
of entertainment there’s a piece of water。 At tea； my prisoner got
up to fetch her pocket…handkerchef from the bedroom where the
bonnets was； she was rather a long time gone； and came back a
little out of wind。 As soon as they came home this was reported to
me by Mrs Bucket； along with her observations and suspicious。 I
had the piece of water dragged by moonlight； in presence of a
couple of our men； and the pocket…pistol was brought up before it
had been there half…a…dozen hours。 Now； my dear； put your arm a
little further through mine； and hold it steady； and I sha’n’t hurt
you！”
In a trice Mr Bucket snaps a handcuff on her wrist。 “That’s
one；” says Mr Bucket。 “Now the other； darling。 Two； and all told！”
He rises； she rises too。 “Where；” she asks him； darkening her
large eyes until their drooping lids almost conceal them—and yet
they stare； “where is your false； your treacherous and cursed
wife？”
“She’s gone forrard to the Police Office；” returns Mr Bucket。
“You’ll see her there； my dear。”
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“I would like to kiss her？” exclaims Mademoiselle Hortense；
panting tigress…like。
“You’d bite her； I suspect；” says Mr Bucket。
“I would！” making her eyes very large。 “I would love to tear her；
limb from limb。”
“Bless you； darling；” says Mr Bucket； with the greatest
composure； “I’m fully prepared to hear that。 Your sex have such a
surprising animosity against one another； when you do differ。 You
don’t mind me half so much； do you？”
“No。 Though you are a Devil still。”
“Angel and devil by turns； eh？” cries Mr Bucket。 “But I am in
my regular employment； you must consider。 Let me put your
shawl tidy。 I’ve been lady’s maid to a good many before now。
Anything wanting to the bonnet？ There’s a cab at the door。”
Mademoiselle Hortense； casting an indignant eye at the glass；
shakes herself perfectly neat in one shake； and looks； to do her
justice； uncommonly genteel。
“Listen then； my angel；” says she； after several sarcastic nods。
“You are very spiritual。 But can you restore him back to life？”
Mr Bucket answers； “Not exactly。”
“That is droll。 Listen yet one time。 You are very spiritual。 Can
you make a honourable lady of Her？”
“Don’t be so malicious；” says Mr Bucket。
“Or a haughty gentleman of Him？” cries Mademoiselle；
referring to Sir Leicester with ineffable disdain。 “Eh！ O then
regard him！ The poor infant！ Ha！ ha！ ha！”
“Come； come； why this is worse Parlaying than the other；” says
Mr Bucket。 “Come along！”
“You cannot do these things？ Then you can do as you
