barnaby rudge(巴纳比·卢杰)-第134章
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this night！’ cried Miggs。 ‘What resting…places now remains but in
the silent tombses！’
‘I wish you was in the silent tombses； I do；’ cried Mr Tappertit；
‘and boxed up tight； in a good strong one。 Here；’ he cried to one of
the bystanders； in whose ear he whispered for a moment： ‘Take
her off； will you。 You understand where？’
The fellow nodded； and taking her in his arms； notwithstanding
her broken protestations； and her struggles （which latter species
of opposition； involving scratches； was much more difficult of
resistance）； carried her away。 They who were in the house poured
out into the street； the locksmith was taken to the head of the
crowd； and required to walk between his two conductors； the
whole body was put in rapid motion； and without any shouts or
noise they bore down straight on Newgate； and halted in a dense
mass before the prison…gate。
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Chapter 64
reaking the silence they had hitherto preserved； they
Braised a great cry as soon as they were ranged before the
jail； and demanded to speak to the governor。 This visit
was not wholly unexpected； for his house； which fronted the street；
was strongly barricaded； the wicket…gate of the prison was closed
up； and at no loophole or grating was any person to be seen。
Before they had repeated their summons many times； a man
appeared upon the roof of the governor’s house； and asked what it
was they wanted。
Some said one thing； some another； and some only groaned and
hissed。 It being now nearly dark； and the house high； many
persons in the throng were not aware that any one had come to
answer them； and continued their clamour until the intelligence
was gradually diffused through the whole concourse。 Ten minutes
or more elapsed before any one voice could be heard with
tolerable distinctness； during which interval the figure remained
perched alone； against the summer…evening sky； looking down
into the troubled street。
‘Are you；’ said Hugh at length； ‘Mr Akerman； the head jailer
here？’
‘Of course he is； brother；’ whispered Dennis。 But Hugh； without
minding him； took his answer from the man himself。
‘Yes；’ he said。 ‘I am。’
‘You have got some friends of ours in your custody； master。’
‘I have a good many people in my custody。’ He glanced
downward； as he spoke； into the jail： and the feeling that he could
see into the different yards； and that he overlooked everything
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which was hidden from their view by the rugged walls； so lashed
and goaded the mob； that they howled like wolves。
‘Deliver up our friends；’ said Hugh； ‘and you may keep the rest。’
‘It’s my duty to keep them all。 I shall do my duty。’
‘If you don’t throw the doors open； we shall break ’em down；’
said Hugh； ‘for we will have the rioters out。’
‘All I can do； good people；’ Akerman replied； ‘is to exhort you to
disperse； and to remind you that the consequences of any
disturbance in this place； will be very severe； and bitterly repented
by most of you； when it is too late。’
He made as though he would retire when he said these words；
but he was checked by the voice of the locksmith。
‘Mr Akerman；’ cried Gabriel； ‘Mr Akerman。’
‘I will hear no more from any of you；’ replied the governor；
turning towards the speaker； and waving his hand。
‘But I am not one of them；’ said Gabriel。 ‘I am an honest man；
Mr Akerman； a respectable tradesman—Gabriel Varden； the
locksmith。 You know me？’
‘You among the crowd！’ cried the governor in an altered voice。
‘Brought here by force—brought here to pick the lock of the
great door for them；’ rejoined the locksmith。 ‘Bear witness for me；
Mr Akerman； that I refuse to do it； and that I will not do it； come
what may of my refusal。 If any violence is done to me； please to
remember this。’
‘Is there no way （if helping you？’ said the governor。
‘None； Mr Akerman。 You’ll do your duty； and I’ll do mine。 Once
again； you robbers and cut…throats；’ said the locksmith； turning
round upon them； ‘I refuse。 Ah！ Howl till you’re hoarse。 I refuse。’
‘Stay—stay！’ said the jailer； hastily。 ‘Mr Varden； I know you for
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a worthy man； and one who would do no unlawful act except upon
compulsion—’
‘Upon compulsion； sir；’ interposed the locksmith； who felt that
the tone in which this was said； conveyed the speaker’s impression
that he had ample excuse for yielding to the furious multitude who
beset and hemmed him in； on every side； and among whom he
stood； an old man； quite alone； ‘upon compulsion； sir； I’ll do
nothing。’
‘Where is that man；’ said the keeper； anxiously； ‘who spoke to
me just now？’
‘Here！’ Hugh replied。
‘Do you know what the guilt of murder is； and that by keeping
that honest tradesman at your side you endanger his life！’
‘We know it very well；’ he answered； ‘for what else did we bring
him here？ Let’s have our friends； master； and you shall have your
friend。 Is that fair； lads？’
The mob replied to him with a loud Hurrah！
‘You see how it is； sir？’ cried Varden。 ‘Keep ’em out； in King
George’s name。 Remember what I have said。 Good night！’
There was no more parley。 A shower of stones and other
missiles compelled the keeper of the jail to retire； and the mob；
pressing on； and swarming round the walls； forced Gabriel Varden
close up to the door。
In vain the basket of tools was laid upon the ground before him；
and he was urged in turn by promises； by blows； by offers of
reward； and threats of instant death； to do the office for which they
had brought him there。 ‘No；’ cried the sturdy locksmith； ‘I will
not！’
He had never loved his life so well as then； but nothing could
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move him。 The savage faces that glared upon him； look where he
would； the cries of those who thirsted； like wild animals； for his
blood； the sight of men pressing forward； and trampling down
their fellows； as they strove to reach him； and struck at him above
the heads of other men； with axes and with iron bars； all failed to
daunt him。 He looked from man to man； and face to face； and still；
with quickened breath and lessening colour； cried firmly； ‘I will
not！’
Dennis dealt him a blow upon the face which felled him to the
ground。 He sprung up again like a man in the prime of life； and
with blood upon his forehead； caught him by the throat。
‘You cowardly dog！’ he said： ‘Give me my daughter。 Give me my
daughter。’
They struggled together。 Some cried ‘Kill him；’ and some （but
they were not near enough） strove to trample him to death。 Tug as
he would at the old man’s wrists； the hangman could not force him
to unclench his hands。
‘Is this all the return you make me； you ungrateful monster？’ he
articulated with great difficulty； and with many oaths。
‘Give me my daughter！’ cried the locksmith； who was now as
fierce as those who gathered round him： ‘Give me my daughter！’
He was down again； and up； and down once more； and
buffeting with a score of them； who bandied him from hand to
hand； when one tall fellow； fresh from a slaughter…house； whose
dress and great thigh…boots smoked hot with grease and blood；
raised a pole…axe； and swearing a horrible oath； aimed it at the old
man’s uncovered head。 At that instant； and in the very act； he fell
himself； as if struck by lightning； and over his body a one…armed
man came darting to the locksmith’s side。 Another man was with
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him； and both caught the locksmith roughly in their grasp。
‘Leave him to us！’ they cried to Hugh—struggling； as they
spoke； to force a passage backward through the crowd。 ‘Leave him
to us。 Why do you waste your whole strength on such as he； when
a couple of men can finish him in as many minutes！ You lose time。
Remember the prisoners！ remember Barnaby！’
The cry ran through the mob。 Hammers began to rattle on the
walls； and every man strove to reach the prison； and be among the
foremost rank。 Fighting their way through the press and struggle；
as desperately as if they were in the midst of enemies rather than
their own friends； the two men retreated with the locksmith
between them； and dragged him through the very heart of the
concourse。
And now the strokes began to fall like hail upon the gate； and
on the strong building； for those who could not reach the door；
spent their fierce rage on anything—even on the great blocks of
stone； which shivered their weapons into fragments； and m
