barnaby rudge(巴纳比·卢杰)-第147章
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
than you can。’
But this operation was postponed for a few moments by a new
occurrence。 The blind man； whose ears were quicker than most
people’s sight； had been alarmed； before Barnaby； by a rustling in
the bushes； under cover of which the soldiers had advanced。 He
retreated instantly—had hidden somewhere for a minute—and
probably in his confusion mistaking the point at which he had
emerged； was now seen running across the open meadow。
An officer cried directly that he had helped to plunder a house
last night。 He was loudly called on； to surrender。 He ran the
harder； and in a few seconds would have been out of gunshot。 The
word was given； and the men fired。
There was a breathless pause and a profound silence； during
which all eyes were fixed upon him。 He had been seen to start at
the discharge； as if the report had frightened him。 But he neither
stopped nor slackened his pace in the least； and ran on full forty
yards further。 Then； without one reel or stagger； or sign of
faintness； or quivering of any limb； he dropped。
Some of them hurried up to where he lay；—the hangman with
them。 Everything had passed so quickly； that the smoke had not
yet scattered； but curled slowly off in a little cloud； which seemed
like the dead man’s spirit moving solemnly away。 There were a
few drops of blood upon the grass—more； when they turned him
over—that was all。
‘Look here！ Look here！’ said the hangman； stooping one knee
beside the body； and gazing up with a disconsolate face at the
officer and men。 ‘Here’s a pretty sight！’
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
… Page 746…
Barnaby Rudge 747
‘Stand out of the way；’ replied the officer。 ‘Serjeant！ see what he
had about him。’
The man turned his pockets out upon the grass； and counted；
besides some foreign coins and two rings； five…and…forty guineas in
gold。 These were bundled up in a handkerchief and carried away；
the body remained there for the present； but six men and the
serjeant were left to take it to the nearest public…house。
‘Now then； if you’re going；’ said the serjeant； clapping Dennis
on the back； and pointing after the officer who was walking
towards the shed。
To which Mr Dennis only replied； ‘Don’t talk to me！’ and then
repeated what he had said before； namely； ‘Here’s a pretty sight！’
‘It’s not one that you care for much； I should think；’ observed
the serjeant coolly。
‘Why； who；’ said Mr Dennis rising； ‘should care for it； if I don’t？’
‘Oh！ I didn’t know you was so tender…hearted；’ said the serjeant。
‘That’s all！’
‘Tender…hearted！’ echoed Dennis。 ‘Tender…hearted！ Look at this
man。 Do you call this constitootional？ Do you see him shot through
and through instead of being worked off like a Briton？ Damme； if I
know which party to side with。 You’re as bad as the other。 What’s
to become of the country if the military power’s to go a
superseding the ciwilians in this way？ Where’s this poor feller…
creetur’s rights as a citizen； that he didn’t have me in his last
moments！ I was here。 I was willing。 I was ready。 These are nice
times； brother； to have the dead crying out against us in this way；
and sleep comfortably in our beds arterwards； wery nice！’
Whether he derived any material consolation from binding the
prisoners； is uncertain； most probably he did。 At all events his
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
… Page 747…
Barnaby Rudge 748
being summoned to that work； diverted him； for the time； from
these painful reflections； and gave his thoughts a more congenial
occupation。
They were not all three carried off together； but in two parties；
Barnaby and his father； going by one road in the centre of a body
of foot； and Hugh； fast bound upon a horse； and strongly guarded
by a troop of cavalry； being taken by another。
They had no opportunity for the least communication； in the
short interval which preceded their departure； being kept strictly
apart。 Hugh only observed that Barnaby walked with a drooping
head among his guard； and； without raising his eyes； that he tried
to wave his fettered hand when he passed。 For himself； he buoyed
up his courage as he rode along； with the assurance that the mob
would force his jail wherever it might be； and set him at liberty。
But when they got into London； and more especially into Fleet
Market； lately the stronghold of the rioters； where the military
were rooting out the last remnant of the crowd； he saw that this
hope was gone； and felt that he was riding to his death。
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
… Page 748…
Barnaby Rudge 749
Chapter 70
r Dennis having despatched this piece of business
without any personal hurt or inconvenience； and having
M
now retired into the tranquil respectability of private
life； resolved to solace himself with half an hour or so of female
society。 With this amiable purpose in his mind； he bent his steps
towards the house where Dolly and Miss Haredale were still
confined； and whither Miss Miggs had also been removed by order
of Mr Simon Tappertit。
As he walked along the streets with his leather gloves clasped
behind him； and his face indicative of cheerful thought and
pleasant calculation； Mr Dennis might have been likened unto a
farmer ruminating among his crops； and enjoying by anticipation
the bountiful gifts of Providence。 Look where he would； some
heap of ruins afforded him rich promise of a working off； the
whole town appeared to have been ploughed and sown； and
nurtured by most genial weather； and a goodly harvest was at
hand。
Having taken up arms and resorted to deeds of violence； with
the great main object of preserving the Old Bailey in all its purity；
and the gallows in all its pristine usefulness and moral grandeur； it
would perhaps be going too far to assert that Mr Dennis had ever
distinctly contemplated and foreseen this happy state of things。 He
rather looked upon it as one of those beautiful dispensations
which are inscrutably brought about for the behoof and advantage
of good men。 He felt； as it were； personally referred to； in this
prosperous ripening for the gibbet； and had never considered
himself so much the pet and favourite child of Destiny； or loved
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
… Page 749…
Barnaby Rudge 750
that lady so well or with such a calm and virtuous reliance； in all
his life。
As to being taken up； himself； for a rioter； and punished with
the rest； Mr Dennis dismissed that possibility from his thoughts as
an idle chimera； arguing that the line of conduct he had adopted at
Newgate； and the service he had rendered that day； would be
more than a set…off against any evidence which might identify him
as a member of the crowd。 That any charge of companionship
which might be made against him by those who were themselves
in danger； would certainly go for nought。 And that if any trivial
indiscretion on his part should unluckily come out； the uncommon
usefulness of his office； at present； and the great demand for the
exercise of its functions； would certainly cause it to be winked at；
and passed over。 In a word； he had played his cards throughout；
with great care； had changed sides at the very nick of time； had
delivered up two of the most notorious rioters； and a distinguished
felon to boot； and was quite at his ease。
Saving—for there is a reservation； and even Mr Dennis was not
perfectly happy—saving for one circumstance； to wit； the forcible
detention of Dolly and Miss Haredale； in a house almost adjoining
his own。 This was a stumbling…block； for if they were discovered
and released； they could； by the testimony they had it in their
power to give； place him in a situation of great jeopardy； and to set
them at liberty； first extorting from them an oath of secrecy and
silence； was a thing not to be thought of。 It was more； perhaps；
with an eye to the danger which lurked in this quarter； than from
his abstract love of conversation with the sex； that the hangman；
quickening his steps； now hastened into their society； cursing the
amorous natures of Hugh and Mr Tappertit with great heartiness；
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
… Page 750…
Barnaby Rudge 751
at every step he took。
When be entered the miserable room in which they were
confined； Dolly and Miss Haredale withdrew in silence to the
remotest corner。 But Miss Miggs； who was particularly tender of
her reputation； immediately fell upon her knees and began to
scream very loud； crying； ‘What will become of me！’—‘Where is my
Simmuns！’—‘Have mercy； good gentlemen； on my sex’s
weaknesses！’—with other doleful lamentations of that nature；
which she delivered with great propriety and decorum。
‘Miss； miss；’ whispered Dennis； beckoning to her with his
forefinger； ‘come he
