barnaby rudge(巴纳比·卢杰)-第124章
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dispersing now—had begun before I came away。’
‘And is the coast clear？’
‘Clear enough before our men； I take it；’ said Hugh。 ‘There are
not many who； knowing of their work over yonder； will want to
meddle with ’em to…night。—Who’s got some drink here？’
Everybody had some plunder from the cellar； half…a…dozen
flasks and bottles were offered directly。 He selected the largest；
and putting it to his mouth； sent the wine gurgling down his
throat。 Having emptied it； he threw it down； and stretched out his
hand for another； which he emptied likewise； at a draught。
Another was given him； and this he half emptied too。 Reserving
what remained to finish with； he asked：
‘Have you got anything to eat； any of you？ I’m as ravenous as a
hungry wolf。 Which of you was in the larder—come？’
‘I was； brother；’ said Dennis； pulling off his hat； and fumbling in
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the crown。 ‘There’s a matter of cold venison pasty somewhere or
another here； if that’ll do。’
‘Do！’ cried Hugh； seating himself on the pathway。 ‘Bring it out！
Quick！ Show a light here； and gather round！ Let me sup in state；
my lads！ Ha ha ha！’
Entering into his boisterous humour； for they all had drunk
deeply； and were as wild as he； they crowded about him； while two
of their number who had torches； held them up； one on either side
of him； that his banquet might not be despatched in the dark。 Mr
Dennis； having by this time succeeded in extricating from his hat a
great mass of pasty； which had been wedged in so tightly that it
was not easily got out； put it before him； and Hugh； having
borrowed a notched and jagged knife from one of the company；
fell to work upon it vigorously。
‘I should recommend you to swallow a little fire every day；
about an hour afore dinner； brother；’ said Dennis； after a pause。 ‘It
seems to agree with you； and to stimulate your appetite。’
Hugh looked at him； and at the blackened faces by which he
was surrounded； and； stopping for a moment to flourish his knife
above his head； answered with a roar of laughter。
‘Keep order； there； will you？’ said Simon Tappertit。
‘Why； isn’t a man allowed to regale himself； noble captain；’
retorted his lieutenant； parting the men who stood between them；
with his knife； that he might see him；—‘to regale himself a little bit
after such work as mine？ What a hard captain！ What a strict
captain！ What a tyrannical captain！ Ha ha ha！’
‘I wish one of you fellers would hold a bottle to his mouth to
keep him quiet；’ said Simon； ‘unless you want the military to be
down upon us。’
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‘And what if they are down upon us！’ retorted Hugh。 ‘Who
cares？ Who’s afraid？ Let ’em come； I say； let ’em come。 The more；
the merrier。 Give me bold Barnaby at my side； and we two will
settle the military； without troubling any of you。 Barnaby’s the
man for the military。 Barnaby’s health！’
But as the majority of those present were by no means anxious
for a second engagement that night； being already weary and
exhausted； they sided with Mr Tappertit； and pressed him to make
haste with his supper； for they had already delayed too long。
Knowing； even in the height of his frenzy； that they incurred great
danger by lingering so near the scene of the late outrages； Hugh
made an end of his meal without more remonstrance； and rising；
stepped up to Mr Tappertit； and smote him on the back。
‘Now then；’ he cried； ‘I’m ready。 There are brave birds inside
this cage； eh？ Delicate birds；—tender； loving； little doves。 I caged
’em—I caged ’em—one more peep！’
He thrust the little man aside as he spoke； and mounting on the
steps； which were half let down； pulled down the blind by force；
and stared into the chaise like an ogre into his larder。
‘Ha ha ha！ and did you scratch； and pinch； and struggle； pretty
mistress？’ he cried； as he grasped a little hand that sought in vain
to free itself from his grip： ‘you； so bright…eyed； and cherry…lipped；
and daintily made？ But I love you better for it； mistress。 Ay； I do。
You should stab me and welcome； so that it pleased you； and you
had to cure me afterwards。 I love to see you proud and scornful。 It
makes you handsomer than ever； and who so handsome as you at
any time； my pretty one！’
‘Come！’ said Mr Tappertit； who had waited during this speech
with considerable impatience。 ‘There’s enough of that。 Come
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down。’
The little hand seconded this admonition by thrusting Hugh’s
great head away with all its force； and drawing up the blind；
amidst his noisy laughter； and vows that he must have another
look； for the last glimpse of that sweet face had provoked him past
all bearing。 However； as the suppressed impatience of the party
now broke out into open murmurs； he abandoned this design； and
taking his seat upon the bar； contented himself with tapping at the
front windows of the carriage； and trying to steal a glance inside；
Mr Tappertit； mounting the steps and hanging on by the door；
issued his directions to the driver with a commanding voice and
attitude； the rest got up behind； or ran by the side of the carriage；
as they could； some； in imitation of Hugh； endeavoured to see the
face he had praised so highly； and were reminded of their
impertinence by hints from the cudgel of Mr Tappertit。 Thus they
pursued their journey by circuitous and winding roads；
preserving； except when they halted to take breath； or to quarrel
about the best way of reaching London； pretty good order and
tolerable silence。
In the mean time； Dolly—beautiful； bewitching； captivating
little Dolly—her hair dishevelled； her dress torn； her dark
eyelashes wet with tears； her bosom heaving—her face； now pale
with fear； now crimsoned with indignation—her whole self a
hundred times more beautiful in this heightened aspect than ever
she had been before—vainly strove to comfort Emma Haredale；
and to impart to her the consolation of which she stood in so much
need herself。 The soldiers were sure to come； they must be
rescued； it would be impossible to convey them through the
streets of London when they set the threats of their guards at
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defiance； and shrieked to the passengers for help。 If they did this
when they came into the more frequented ways； she was certain—
she was quite certain—they must be released。 So poor Dolly said；
and so poor Dolly tried to think； but the invariable conclusion of
all such arguments was； that Dolly burst into tears； cried； as she
wrung her hands； what would they do or think； or who would
comfort them； at home； at the Golden Key； and sobbed most
piteously。
Miss Haredale； whose feelings were usually of a quieter kind
than Dolly’s； and not so much upon the surface； was dreadfully
alarmed； and indeed had only just recovered from a swoon。 She
was very pale； and the hand which Dolly held was quite cold； but
she bade her； nevertheless； remember that； under Providence；
much must depend upon their own discretion； that if they
remained quiet and lulled the vigilance of the ruffians into whose
hands they had fallen； the chances of their being able to procure
assistance when they reached the town； were very much
increased； that unless society were quite unhinged； a hot pursuit
must be immediately commenced； and that her uncle； she might
be sure； would never rest until he had found them out and rescued
them。 But as she said these latter words； the idea that he had
fallen in a general massacre of the Catholics that night—no very
wild or improbable supposition after what they had seen and
undergone—struck her dumb； and； lost in the horrors they had
witnessed； and those they might be yet reserved for； she sat
incapable of thought； or speech； or outward show of grief： as rigid；
and almost as white and cold； as marble。
Oh； how many； many times； in that long ride； did Dolly think of
her old lover；—poor； fond； slighted Joe！ How many； many times；
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did she recall that night when she ran into his arms from the very
man now projecting his hateful gaze into the darkness where she
sat； and leering through the glass in monstrous admiration！ And
when she thought of Joe； and what a brave fellow he was； and how
he would have rode boldly up； and dashed in among these villains
now； yes； though they were double the number—and here she
clenched her little hand； and pressed her foot upon the ground—
the pride she felt for a moment in having won his heart； faded in a
burst of tears； and she sobbed more bitterly than ever。
As the night wore on； and th
