barnaby rudge(巴纳比·卢杰)-第143章
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broke in。
The vaults were profoundly dark； and having no torch or
candle—for they had been afraid to carry one； lest it should betray
their place of refuge—they were obliged to grope with their hands。
But they were not long without light； for they had not gone far
when they heard the crowd forcing the door； and； looking back
among the low…arched passages； could see them in the distance；
hurrying to and fro with flashing links； broaching the casks；
staving the great vats； turning off upon the right hand and the left；
into the different cellars； and lying down to drink at the channels
of strong spirits which were already flowing on the ground。
They hurried on； not the less quickly for this； and had reached
the only vault which lay between them and the passage out； when
suddenly； from the direction in which they were going； a strong
light gleamed upon their faces； and before they could slip aside； or
turn back； or hide themselves； two men （one bearing a torch） came
upon them； and cried in an astonished whisper； ‘Here they are！’
At the same instant they pulled off what they wore upon their
heads。 Mr Haredale saw before him Edward Chester； and then
saw； when the vintner gasped his name； Joe Willet。
Ay； the same Joe； though with an arm the less； who used to
make the quarterly journey on the grey mare to pay the bill to the
purple…faced vintner； and that very same purple…faced vintner；
formerly of Thames Street； now looked him in the face； and
challenged him by name。
‘Give me your hand；’ said Joe softly； taking it whether the
astonished vintner would or no。 ‘Don’t fear to shake it； it’s a
friendly one and a hearty one； though it has no fellow。 Why； how
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well you look and how bluff you are！ And you—God bless you； sir。
Take heart； take heart。 We’ll find them。 Be of good cheer； we have
not been idle。’
There was something so honest and frank in Joe’s speech； that
Mr Haredale put his hand in his involuntarily； though their
meeting was suspicious enough。 But his glance at Edward
Chester； and that gentleman’s keeping aloof； were not lost upon
Joe； who said bluntly； glancing at Edward while he spoke：
‘Times are changed； Mr Haredale； and times have come when
we ought to know friends from enemies； and make no confusion of
names。 Let me tell you that but for this gentleman； you would
most likely have been dead by this time； or badly wounded at the
best。’
‘What do you say？’ cried Mr Haredale。
‘I say；’ said Joe； ‘first； that it was a bold thing to be in the crowd
at all disguised as one of them； though I won’t say much about
that； on second thoughts； for that’s my case too。 Secondly； that it
was a brave and glorious action—that’s what I call it—to strike
that fellow off his horse before their eyes！’
‘What fellow！ Whose eyes！’
‘What fellow； sir！’ cried Joe： ‘a fellow who has no goodwill to
you； and who has the daring and devilry in him of twenty fellows。 I
know him of old。 Once in the house； he would have found you；
here or anywhere。 The rest owe you no particular grudge； and；
unless they see you； will only think of drinking themselves dead。
But we lose time。 Are you ready？’
‘Quite；’ said Edward。 ‘Put out the torch； Joe； and go on。 And be
silent； there’s a good fellow。’
‘Silent or not silent；’ murmured Joe； as he dropped the flaring
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link upon the ground； crushed it with his foot； and gave his hand
to Mr Haredale； ‘it was a brave and glorious action；—no man can
alter that。’
Both Mr Haredale and the worthy vintner were too amazed and
too much hurried to ask any further questions； so followed their
conductors in silence。 It seemed； from a short whispering which
presently ensued between them and the vintner relative to the
best way of escape； that they had entered by the back…door； with
the connivance of John Grueby； who watched outside with the key
in his pocket； and whom they had taken into their confidence。 A
party of the crowd coming up that way； just as they entered； John
had double…locked the door again； and made off for the soldiers； so
that means of retreat was cut off from under them。
However； as the front…door had been forced； and this minor
crowd； being anxious to get at the liquor； had no fancy for losing
time in breaking down another； but had gone round and got in
from Holborn with the rest； the narrow lane in the rear was quite
free of people。 So； when they had crawled through the passage
indicated by the vintner （which was a mere shelving…trap for the
admission of casks）； and had managed with some difficulty to
unchain and raise the door at the upper end； they emerged into
the street without being observed or interrupted。 Joe still holding
Mr Haredale tight； and Edward taking the same care of the
vintner； they hurried through the streets at a rapid pace；
occasionally standing aside to let some fugitives go by； or to keep
out of the way of the soldiers who followed them； and whose
questions； when they halted to put any； were speedily stopped by
one whispered word from Joe。
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Chapter 68
hile Newgate was burning on the previous night；
WBarnaby and his father； having been passed among the
crowd from hand to hand； stood in Smithfield； on the
outskirts of the mob； gazing at the flames like men who had been
suddenly roused from sleep。 Some moments elapsed before they
could distinctly remember where they were； or how they got there；
or recollected that while they were standing idle and listless
spectators of the fire； they had tools in their hands which had been
hurriedly given them that they might free themselves from their
fetters。
Barnaby； heavily ironed as he was； if he had obeyed his first
impulse； or if he had been alone； would have made his way back to
the side of Hugh； who to his clouded intellect now shone forth with
the new lustre of being his preserver and truest friend。 But his
father’s terror of remaining in the streets； communicated itself to
him when he comprehended the full extent of his fears； and
impressed him with the same eagerness to fly to a place of safety。
In a corner of the market among the pens for cattle； Barnaby
knelt down； and pausing every now and then to pass his hand over
his father’s face； or look up to him with a smile； knocked off his
irons。 When he had seen him spring； a free man； to his feet； and
had given vent to the transport of delight which the sight
awakened； he went to work upon his own； which soon fell rattling
down upon the ground； and left his limbs unfettered。
Gliding away together when this task was accomplished； and
passing several groups of men； each gathered round a stooping
figure to hide him from those who passed； but unable to repress
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the clanking sound of hammers； which told that they too were
busy at the same work；—the two fugitives made towards
Clerkenwell； and passing thence to Islington； as the nearest point
of egress； were quickly in the fields。 After wandering about for a
long time； they found in a pasture near Finchley a poor shed； with
walls of mud； and roof of grass and brambles； built for some
cowherd； but now deserted。 Here； they lay down for the rest of the
night。
They wandered to and fro when it was day； and once Barnaby
went off alone to a cluster of little cottages two or three miles
away； to purchase some bread and milk。 But finding no better
shelter； they returned to the same place； and lay down again to
wait for night。
Heaven alone can tell； with what vague hopes of duty； and
affection； with what strange promptings of nature； intelligible to
him as to a man of radiant mind and most enlarged capacity； with
what dim memories of children he had played with when a child
himself； who had prattled of their fathers； and of loving them； and
being loved； with how many half…remembered； dreamy
associations of his mother’s grief and tears and widowhood； he
watched and tended this man。 But that a vague and shadowy
crowd of such ideas came slowly on him； that they taught him to
be sorry when he looked upon his haggard face； that they
overflowed his eyes when he stooped to kiss him； that they kept
him waking in a tearful gladness； shading him from the sun；
fanning him with leaves； soothing him when he started in his
sleep—ah！ what a troubled sleep it was—and wondering when she
would come to join them and be happy； is the truth。 He sat beside
him all that day； listening for her footsteps in every breath of air；
Charles Dickens
