bleak house(凄凉的房子)-第312章
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clear to you that nobody’s a…going to be wronged—which must be
a great relief to your mind—we may proceed with the ceremony of
chairing you home again。”
He unbolted the door； called in the bearers； wished us good
morning； and with a look full of meaning； and a crook of his finger
at parting； went his way。
We went our way too； which was to Lincoln’s Inn； as quickly as
possible。 Mr Kenge was disengaged； and we found him at his table
in his dusty room； with the inexpressive…looking books； and the
piles of papers。 Chairs having been placed for us by Mr Guppy； Mr
Kenge expressed the surprise and gratification he felt at the
unusual sight of Mr Jarndyce in his office。 He turned over his
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Bleak House 1156
double eyeglass as he spoke； and was more Conversation Kenge
than ever。
“I hope；” said Mr Kenge； “that the genial influence of Miss
Summerson；” he bowed to me； “may have induced Mr Jarndyce；”
he bowed to him； “to forego some little of his animosity towards a
Cause and towards a Court which are—shall I say； which take
their place in the stately vista of the pillars of our profession？”
“I am inclined to think；” returned my Guardian； “that Miss
Summerson has seen too much of the effects of the Court and the
Cause to exert any influence in their favour。 Nevertheless； they are
a part of the occasion of my being here。 Mr Kenge； before I lay this
paper on your desk and have done with it； let me tell you how it
has come into my hands。”
He did so shortly and distinctly。
“It could not； sir；” said Mr Kenge； “have been stated more
plainly and to the purpose； if it had been a case at law。”
“Did you ever know English law； or equity either； plain and to
the purpose？” said my Guardian。
“O fie！” said Mr Kenge。
At first he had not seemed to attach much importance to the
paper； but when he saw it he appeared more interested； and when
he had opened and read a little of it through his eyeglass； he
became amazed。 “Mr Jarndyce；” he said； looking off it； “you have
perused this？”
“Not I！” returned my Guardian。
“But my dear sir；” said Mr Kenge； “it is a Will of later date than
any in the suit。 It appears to be all in the Testator’s handwriting。 It
is duly executed and attested。 And even if intended to be
cancelled； as might possibly be supposed to be denoted by these
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Bleak House 1157
marks of fire； it is not cancelled。 Here it is； a perfect instrument！”
“Well！” said my Guardian。 “What is that to me？”
“Mr Guppy！” cried Mr Kenge； raising his voice。—“I beg your
pardon； Mr Jarndyce。”
“Sir。”
“Mr Vholes of Symond’s Inn。 My compliments。 Jarndyce and
Jarndyce。 Glad to speak with him。”
Mr Guppy disappeared。
“You ask me what is this to you； Mr Jarndyce。 If you had
perused this document； you would have seen that it reduces your
interest considerably； though still leaving it a very handsome one；
still leaving it a very handsome one；” said Mr Kenge； waving his
hand persuasively and blandly。 “You would further have seen；
that the interests of Mr Richard Carstone； and of Miss Ada Clare；
now Mrs Richard Carstone； are very materially advanced by it。”
“Kenge；” said my Guardian； “if all the flourishing wealth that
the suit brought into this vile court of Chancery could fall to my
two young cousins； I should be well contented。 But do you ask me
to believe that any good is to come of Jarndyce and Jarndyce？”
“O really； Mr Jarndyce！ Prejudice； prejudice。 My dear sir； this is
a very great country； a very great country。 Its system of equity is a
very great system； a very great system。 Really； really！”
My Guardian said no more； and Mr Vholes arrived。 He was
modestly impressed by Mr Kenge’s professional eminence。
“How do you do； Mr Vholes？ Will you be so good as to take a
chair here by me； and look over this paper？”
Mr Vholes did as he was asked； and seemed to read it every
word。 He was not excited by it； but he was not excited by anything。
When he had well examined it； he retired with Mr Kenge into a
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Bleak House 1158
window； and shading his mouth with his black glove； spoke to him
at some length。 I was not surprised to observe Mr Kenge inclined
to dispute what he said before he had said much； for I knew that
no two people ever did agree about anything in Jarndyce and
Jarndyce。 But he seemed to get the better of Mr Kenge； too； in a
conversation that sounded as if it were almost composed of the
words； “Receiver…General；” “Accountant…General；” “Report；”
“Estate；” and “Costs。” When they had finished； they came back to
Mr Kenge’s table； and spoke aloud。
“Well！ But this is a very remarkable document； Mr Vholes？”
said Mr Kenge。
Mr Vholes said； “Very much so。”
“And a very important document； Mr Vholes？” said Mr Kenge。
Again Mr Vholes said； “Very much so。” “And as you say； Mr
Vholes； when the Cause is in the paper next Term； this document
will be an unexpected and interesting feature in it；” said Mr
Kenge； looking loftily at my Guardian。
Mr Vholes was gratified； as a smaller practitioner striving to
keep respectable； to be confirmed in any opinion of his own by
such an authority。
“And when；” asked my Guardian； rising after a pause； during
which Mr Kenge had rattled his money； and Mr Vholes had picked
his pimples； “when is next Term？”
“Next Term； Mr Jarndyce； will be next month；” said Mr Kenge。
“Of course we shall at once proceed to do what is necessary with
this document； and to collect the necessary evidence concerning it；
and of course you will receive our usual notification of the Cause
being in the paper。”
“To which I shall pay； of course； my usual attention。”
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“Still bent； my dear sir；” said Mr Kenge； showing us through
the the outer office to the door； “still bent； even with your enlarged
mind； on echoing a popular prejudice？ We are a prosperous
community； Mr Jarndyce； a very prosperous community。 We are a
great country； Mr Jarndyce； we are a very great country。 This is a
great system； Mr Jarndyce； and would you wish a great country to
have a little system？ Now； really； really！”
He said this at the stair…head； gently moving his right hand as if
it were a silver trowel； with which to spread the cement of his
words on the structure of the system； and consolidate it for a
th
