barnaby rudge(巴纳比·卢杰)-第137章
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space of a single instant。
He was still looking down from his window upon these things；
when a band of men with torches； ladders； axes； and many kinds
of weapons； poured into the yard； and hammering at his door；
inquired if there were any prisoner within。 He left the window
when he saw them coming； and drew back into the remotest
corner of the cell； but although he returned them no answer； they
had a fancy that some one was inside； for they presently set
ladders against it； and began to tear away the bars at the
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casement； not only that； indeed； but with pickaxes to hew down
the very stones in the wall。
As soon as they had made a breach at the window； large enough
for the admission of a man’s head； one of them thrust in a torch
and looked all round the room。 He followed this man’s gaze until it
rested on himself； and heard him demand why he had not
answered； but made him no reply。
In the general surprise and wonder； they were used to this；
without saying anything more； they enlarged the breach until it
was large enough to admit the body of a man； and then came
dropping down upon the floor； one after another； until the cell was
full。 They caught him up among them； handed him to the window；
and those who stood upon the ladders passed him down upon the
pavement of the yard。 Then the rest came out； one after another；
and； bidding him fly； and lose no time； or the way would be choked
up； hurried away to rescue others。
It seemed not a minute’s work from first to last。 He staggered to
his feet； incredulous of what had happened； when the yard was
filled again； and a crowd rushed on； hurrying Barnaby among
them。 In another minute—not so much： another minute！ the same
instant； with no lapse or interval between！—he and his son were
being passed from hand to hand； through the dense crowd in the
street； and were glancing backward at a burning pile which some
one said was Newgate。
From the moment of their first entrance into the prison； the
crowd dispersed themselves about it； and swarmed into every
chink and crevice； as if they had a perfect acquaintance with its
innermost parts； and bore in their minds an exact plan of the
whole。 For this immediate knowledge of the place； they were； no
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doubt； in a great degree； indebted to the hangman； who stood in
the lobby； directing some to go this way； some that； and some the
other； and who materially assisted in bringing about the
wonderful rapidity with which the release of the prisoners was
effected。
But this functionary of the law reserved one important piece of
intelligence； and kept it snugly to himself。 When he had issued his
instructions relative to every other part of the building； and the
mob were dispersed from end to end； and busy at their work； he
took a bundle of keys from a kind of cupboard in the wall； and
going by a kind of passage near the chapel （it joined the governors
house； and was then on fire）； betook himself to the condemned
cells； which were a series of small； strong； dismal rooms； opening
on a low gallery； guarded； at the end at which he entered； by a
strong iron wicket； and at its opposite extremity by two doors and
a thick grate。 Having double locked the wicket； and assured
himself that the other entrances were well secured； he sat down on
a bench in the gallery； and sucked the head of his stick with the
utmost complacency； tranquillity； and contentment。
It would have been strange enough； a man’s enjoying himself in
this quiet manner； while the prison was burning； and such a
tumult was cleaving the air； though he had been outside the walls。
But here； in the very heart of the building； and moreover with the
prayers and cries of the four men under sentence sounding in his
ears； and their hands； stretched our through the gratings in their
cell…doors； clasped in frantic entreaty before his very eyes； it was
particularly remarkable。 Indeed； Mr Dennis appeared to think it
an uncommon circumstance； and to banter himself upon it； for he
thrust his hat on one side as some men do when they are in a
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waggish humour； sucked the head of his stick with a higher relish；
and smiled as though he would say； ‘Dennis； you’re a rum dog；
you’re a queer fellow； you’re capital company； Dennis； and quite a
character！’
He sat in this way for some minutes； while the four men in the
cells； who were certain that somebody had entered the gallery； but
could not see who； gave vent to such piteous entreaties as
wretches in their miserable condition may be supposed to have
been inspired with： urging； whoever it was； to set them at liberty；
for the love of Heaven； and protesting； with great fervour； and
truly enough； perhaps； for the time； that if they escaped； they
would amend their ways； and would never； never； never again do
wrong before God or man； but would lead penitent and sober lives；
and sorrowfully repent the crimes they had committed。 The
terrible energy with which they spoke； would have moved any
person； no matter how good or just （if any good or just person
could have strayed into that sad place that night）； to have set them
at liberty： and； while he would have left any other punishment to
its free course； to have saved them from this last dreadful and
repulsive penalty； which never turned a man inclined to evil； and
has hardened thousands who were half inclined to good。
Mr Dennis； who had been bred and nurtured in the good old
school； and had administered the good old laws on the good old
plan； always once and sometimes twice every six weeks； for a long
time； bore these appeals with a deal of philosophy。 Being at last；
however； rather disturbed in his pleasant reflection by their
repetition； he rapped at one of the doors with his stick； and cried：
‘Hold your noise there； will you？’
At this they all cried together that they were to be hanged on
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the next day but one； and again implored his aid。
‘Aid！ For what！’ said Mr Dennis； playfully rapping the knuckles
of the hand nearest him。
‘To save us！’ they cried。
‘Oh； certainly；’ said Mr Dennis； winking at the wall in the
absence of any friend with whom he could humour the joke。 ‘And
so you’re to be worked off； are you； brothers？’
‘Unless we are released to…night；’ one of them cried； ‘we are
dead men！’
‘I tell you what it is；’ said the hangman； gravely； ‘I’m afraid； my
friend； that you’re not in that ’ere state of mind that’s suitable to
your condition； then； you’re not a…going to be released： don’t think
it—Will you leave off that ’ere indecent row？ I wonder you an’t
ashamed of yourselves； I do。’
He followed up this reproof by rapping every set of knuckles
one after the other； and having done so； resumed his seat again
with a cheerful countenance。
‘You’ve had law；’ he said； crossing his legs and elevating his
eyebrows： ‘laws have been made a’ purpose for you； a wery
handsome prison’s been made a’ purpose for you； a parson’s kept
a purpose for you； a constitootional officer’s appointed a’ purpose
for you； carts is maintained a’ purpose for you—and yet you’re not
contented！—Will you hold that noise； you sir in the furthest？’
A groan was the only answer。
‘So well as I can make out；’ said Mr Dennis； in a tone of mingled
badinage and remonstrance； ‘there’s not a man among you。 I begin
to think I’m on the opposite side； and among the ladies； though for
the matter of that； I’ve seen a many ladies face it out； in a manner
that did honour to the sex。—You in number two； don’t grind them
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teeth of yours。 Worse manners；’ said the hangman； rapping at the
door with his stick； ‘I never see in this place afore。 I’m ashamed of
you。 You’re a disgrace to the Bailey。’
After pausing for a moment to hear if anything could be
pleaded in justification； Mr Dennis resumed in a sort of coaxing
tone：
‘Now look’ee here； you four。 I’m come here to take care of you；
and see that you an’t burnt； instead of the other thing。 It’s no use
your making any noise； for you won’t be found out by them as has
broken in； and you’ll only be hoarse when you come to the
speeches；—which is a pity。 What I say in respect to the speeches
always is； “Give it mouth。” That’s my maxim。 Give it mouth。 I’ve
heerd；’ said the hangman； pulling off his hat to take his
handkerchief from the crown and wipe his face； and then putting
it on again a little more on one side than before； ‘I’ve heerd a
eloquence on them boards—you know what boards I mean—and
have heerd a degre
