barnaby rudge(巴纳比·卢杰)-第151章
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among their friends again。
‘It is told in three words；’ he said； glancing at the locksmith’s
daughter with a look of some displeasure。 ‘The people have risen；
to a man； against us； the streets are filled with soldiers； who
support them and do their bidding。 We have no protection but
from above； and no safety but in flight； and that is a poor resource；
for we are watched on every hand； and detained here； both by
force and fraud。 Miss Haredale； I cannot bear—believe me； that I
cannot bear—by speaking of myself； or what I have done； or am
prepared to do； to seem to vaunt my services before you。 But；
having powerful Protestant connections； and having my whole
wealth embarked with theirs in shipping and commerce； I happily
possessed the means of saving your uncle。 I have the means of
saving you； and in redemption of my sacred promise； made to him；
I am here； pledged not to leave you until I have placed you in his
arms。 The treachery or penitence of one of the men about you； led
to the discovery of your place of confinement； and that I have
forced my way here； sword in hand； you see。’
‘You bring；’ said Emma； faltering； ‘some note or token from my
uncle？’
‘No； he doesn’t；’ cried Dolly； pointing at him earnestly； ‘now I
am sure he doesn’t。 Don’t go with him for the world！’
‘Hush； pretty fool—be silent；’ he replied； frowning angrily upon
her。 ‘No； Miss Haredale； I have no letter； nor any token of any
kind； for while I sympathise with you； and such as you； on whom
misfortune so heavy and so undeserved has fallen； I value my life。
I carry； therefore； no writing which； found upon me； would lead to
its certain loss。 I never thought of bringing any other token； nor
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did Mr Haredale think of entrusting me with one—possibly
because he had good experience of my faith and honesty； and
owed his life to me。’
There was a reproof conveyed in these words； which to a nature
like Emma Haredale’s； was well addressed。 But Dolly； who was
differently constituted； was by no means touched by it； and still
conjured her； in all the terms of affection and attachment she
could think of； not to be lured away。
‘Time presses；’ said their visitor； who； although he sought to
express the deepest interest； had something cold and even in his
speech； that grated on the ear； ‘and danger surrounds us。 If I have
exposed myself to it； in vain； let it be so； but if you and he should
ever meet again； do me justice。 If you decide to remain （as I think
you do）； remember； Miss Haredale； that I left you with a solemn
caution； and acquitting myself of all the consequences to which
you expose yourself。’
‘Stay； sir！’ cried Emma—one moment； I beg you。 Cannot we—
and she drew Dolly closer to her—‘cannot we go together？’
‘The task of conveying one female in safety through such scenes
as we must encounter； to say nothing of attracting the attention of
those who crowd the streets；’ he answered； ‘is enough。 I have said
that she will be restored to her friends to…night。 If you accept the
service I tender； Miss Haredale； she shall be instantly placed in
safe conduct； and that promise redeemed。 Do you decide to
remain？ People of all ranks and creeds are flying from the town；
which is sacked from end to end。 Let me be of use in some quarter。
Do you stay； or go？’
‘Dolly；’ said Emma； in a hurried manner； ‘my dear girl； this is
our last hope。 If we part now； it is only that we may meet again in
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happiness and honour。 I will trust to this gentleman。’
‘No no…no！’ cried Dolly； clinging to her。 ‘Pray； pray； do not！’
‘You hear；’ said Emma； ‘that to…night—only to…night—within a
few hours—think of that！—you will be among those who would die
of grief to lose you； and who are now plunged in the deepest
misery for your sake。 Pray for me； dear girl； as I will for you； and
never forget the many quiet hours we have passed together。 Say
one “God bless you！” Say that at parting！’
But Dolly could say nothing； no； not when Emma kissed her
cheek a hundred times； and covered it with tears； could she do
more than hang upon her neck； and sob； and clasp； and hold her
tight。
‘We have time for no more of this；’ cried the man； unclenching
her hands； and pushing her roughly off； as he drew Emma
Haredale towards the door： ‘Now！ Quick； outside there！ are you
ready？’
‘Ay！’ cried a loud voice； which made him start。 ‘Quite ready！
Stand back here； for your lives！’
And in an instant he was felled like an ox in the butcher’s
shambles—struck down as though a block of marble had fallen
from the roof and crushed him—and cheerful light； and beaming
faces came pouring in—and Emma was clasped in her uncle’s
embrace； and Dolly； with a shriek that pierced the air； fell into the
arms of her father and mother。
What fainting there was； what laughing； what crying； what
sobbing； what smiling； how much questioning； no answering； all
talking together； all beside themselves with joy； what kissing；
congratulating； embracing； shaking of hands； and falling into all
these raptures； over and over and over again； no language can
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describe。
At length； and after a long time； the old locksmith went up and
fairly hugged two strangers； who had stood apart and left them to
themselves； and then they saw—whom？ Yes； Edward Chester and
Joseph Willet。
‘See here！’ cried the locksmith。 ‘See here！ where would any of
us have been without these two？ Oh； Mr Edward； Mr Edward—oh；
Joe； Joe； how light； and yet how full； you have made my old heart
to…night！’
‘It was Mr Edward that knocked him down； sir；’ said Joe： ‘I
longed to do it； but I gave it up to him。 Come； you brave and
honest gentleman！ Get your senses together； for you haven’t long
to lie here。’
He had his foot upon the breast of their sham deliverer； in the
absence of a spare arm； and gave him a gentle roll as he spoke。
Gashford； for it was no other； crouching yet malignant； raised his
scowling face； like sin subdued； and pleaded to be gently used。
‘I have access to all my lord’s papers； Mr Haredale；’ he said； in a
submissive voice： Mr Haredale keeping his back towards him； and
not once looking round： ‘there are very important documents
among them。 There are a great many in secret drawers； and
distributed in various places； known only to my lord and me。 I can
give some very valuable information； and render important
assistance to any inquiry。 You will have to answer it； if I receive ill
usage。
‘Pah！’ cried Joe； in deep disgust。 ‘Get up； man； you’re waited
for； outside。 Get up； do you hear？’
Gashford slowly rose； and picking up his hat； and looking with a
baffled malevolence； yet with an air of despicable humility； all
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round the room； crawled out。
‘And now； gentlemen；’ said Joe； who seemed to be the
spokesman of the party； for all the rest were silent； ‘the sooner we
get back to the Black Lion； the better； perhaps。’
Mr Haredale nodded assent； and drawing his niece’s arm
through his； and taking one of her hands between his own； passed
out straightway； followed by the locksmith； Mrs Varden； and
Dolly—who would scarcely have presented a sufficient surface for
all the hugs and caresses they bestowed upon her though she had
been a dozen Dollys。 Edward Chester and Joe followed。
And did Dolly never once look behind—not once？ Was there
not one little fleeting glimpse of the dark eyelash； almost resting
on her flushed cheek； and of the downcast sparkling eye it
shaded？ Joe thought there was—and he is not likely to have been
mistaken； for there were not many eyes like Dolly’s； that’s the
truth。
The outer room through which they had to pass； was full of
men； among them； Mr Dennis in safe keeping； and there； had been
since yesterday； lying in hiding behind a wooden screen which
was now thrown down； Simon Tappertit； the recreant ’prentice；
burnt and bruised； and with a gun…shot wound in his body； and his
legs—his perfect legs； the pride and glory of his life； the comfort of
his existence—crushed into shapeless ugliness。 Wondering no
longer at the moans they had heard； Dolly kept closer to her
father； and shuddered at the sight； but neither bruises； burns； nor
gun…shot wound； nor all the torture of his shattered limbs； sent
half so keen a pang to Simon’s breast； as Dolly passing out； with
Joe for her preserver。
A coach was ready at the door； and Dolly found herself safe and
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whole inside； betw
