barnaby rudge(巴纳比·卢杰)-第164章
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come。 In the Lord’s name let me be sent to Bloomsbury Square。
Don’t hang me here。 It’s murder。’
They took him to the anvil： but even then he could he heard
above the clinking of the smiths’ hammers； and the hoarse raging
of the crowd； crying that he knew of Hugh’s birth—that his father
was living； and was a gentleman of influence and rank—that he
had family secrets in his possession—that he could tell nothing
unless they gave him time； but must die with them on his mind；
and he continued to rave in this sort until his voice failed him； and
he sank down a mere heap of clothes between the two attendants。
It was at this moment that the clock struck the first stroke of
twelve； and the bell began to toll。 The various officers； with the
two sheriffs at their head； moved towards the door。 All was ready
when the last chime came upon the ear。
They told Hugh this； and asked if he had anything to say。
‘To say！’ he cried。 ‘Not I。 I’m ready。—Yes；’ he added； as his eye
fell upon Barnaby； ‘I have a word to say； too。 Come hither； lad。’
There was； for the moment； something kind； and even tender；
struggling in his fierce aspect； as he wrung his poor companion by
the hand。
‘I’ll say this；’ he cried； looking firmly round； ‘that if I had ten
lives to lose； and the loss of each would give me ten times the
agony of the hardest death； I’d lay them all down—ay； I would；
though you gentlemen may not believe it—to save this one。 This
one；’ he added； wringing his hand again； ‘that will be lost through
me。’
‘Not through you；’ said the idiot； mildly。 ‘Don’t say that。 You
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were not to blame。 You have always been very good to me。—Hugh；
we shall know what makes the stars shine； now！’
‘I took him from her in a reckless mood； and didn’t think what
harm would come of it；’ said Hugh； laying his hand upon his head；
and speaking in a lower voice。 ‘I ask her pardon； and his。—Look
here；’ he added roughly； in his former tone。 ‘You see this lad？’
They murmured ‘Yes；’ and seemed to wonder why he asked。
‘That gentleman yonder’—pointing to the clergyman—‘has
often in the last few days spoken to me of faith； and strong belief。
You see what I am—more brute than man； as I have been often
told—but I had faith enough to believe； and did believe as strongly
as any of you gentlemen can believe anything； that this one life
would be spared。 See what he is！—Look at him！’
Barnaby had moved towards the door； and stood beckoning
him to follow。
‘If this was not faith； and strong belief！’ cried Hugh； raising his
right arm aloft； and looking upward like a savage prophet whom
the near approach of Death had filled with inspiration； ‘where are
they！ What else should teach me—me； born as I was born； and
reared as I have been reared—to hope for any mercy in this
hardened； cruel； unrelenting place！ Upon these human shambles；
I； who never raised this hand in prayer till now； call down the
wrath of God！ On that black tree； of which I am the ripened fruit； I
do invoke the curse of all its victims； past； and present； and to
come。 On the head of that man； who； in his conscience； owns me
for his son； I leave the wish that he may never sicken on his bed of
down； but die a violent death as I do now； and have the night…wind
for his only mourner。 To this I say； Amen； amen！’
His arm fell downward by his side； he turned； and moved
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towards them with a steady step； the man he had been before。
‘There is nothing more？’ said the governor。
Hugh motioned Barnaby not to come near him （though without
looking in the direction where he stood） and answered； ‘There is
nothing more。’
‘Move forward！’
‘—Unless；’ said Hugh； glancing hurriedly back；—‘unless any
person here has a fancy for a dog； and not then； unless he means
to use him well。 There’s one； belongs to me； at the house I came
from； and it wouldn’t be easy to find a better。 He’ll whine at first；
but he’ll soon get over that。—You wonder that I think about a dog
just now； he added； with a kind of laugh。 ‘If any man deserved it of
me half as well； I’d think of him。’
He spoke no more； but moved onward in his place； with a
careless air； though listening at the same time to the Service for
the Dead； with something between sullen attention； and
quickened curiosity。 As soon as he had passed the door； his
miserable associate was carried out； and the crowd beheld the
rest。
Barnaby would have mounted the steps at the same time—
indeed he would have gone before them； but in both attempts he
was restrained； as he was to undergo the sentence elsewhere。 In a
few minutes the sheriffs reappeared； the same procession was
again formed； and they passed through various rooms and
passages to another door—that at which the cart was waiting。 He
held down his head to avoid seeing what he knew his eyes must
otherwise encounter； and took his seat sorrowfully；—and yet with
something of a childish pride and pleasure；—in the vehicle。 The
officers fell into their places at the sides； in front and in the rear；
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the sheriffs’ carriages rolled on； a guard of soldiers surrounded the
whole； and they moved slowly forward through the throng and
pressure toward Lord Mansfield’s ruined house。
It was a sad sight—all the show； and strength； and glitter；
assembled round one helpless creature—and sadder yet to note； as
he rode along； how his wandering thoughts found strange
encouragement in the crowded windows and the concourse in the
streets； and how； even then； he felt the influence of the bright sky；
and looked up； smiling； into its deep unfathomable blue。 But there
had been many such sights since the riots were over—some so
moving in their nature； and so repulsive too； that they were far
more calculated to awaken pity for the sufferers； than respect for
that law whose strong arm seemed in more than one case to be as
wantonly stretched forth now that all was safe； as it had been
basely paralysed in time of danger。
Two cripples—both mere boys—one with a leg of wood； one
who dragged his twisted limbs along by the help of a crutch； were
hanged in this same Bloomsbury Square。 As the cart was about to
glide from under them； it was observed that they stood with their
faces from； not to； the house they had assisted to despoil； and their
misery was protracted that this omission might be remedied。
Another boy was hanged in Bow Street； other young lads in
various quarters of the town。 Four wretched women； too； were put
to death。 In a word； those who suffered as rioters were； for the
most part； the weakest； meanest； and most miserable among them。
It was a most exquisite satire upon the false religious cry which
had led to so much misery； that some of these people owned
themselves to be Catholics； and begged to be attended by their
own priests。
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One young man was hanged in Bishopsgate Street； whose aged
grey…headed father waited for him at the gallows； kissed him at its
foot when he arrived； and sat there； on the ground； till they took
him down。 They would have given him the body of his child； but
he had no hearse； no coffin； nothing to remove it in； being too
poor—and walked meekly away beside the cart that took it back to
prison； trying； as he went； to touch its lifeless hand。
But the crowd had forgotten these matters； or cared little about
them if they lived in their memory： and while one great multitude
fought and hustled to get near the gibbet before Newgate； for a
parting look； another followed in the train of poor lost Barnaby； to
swell the throng that waited for him on the spot。
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Chapter 78
n this same day； and about this very hour； Mr Willet the
elder sat smoking his pipe in a chamber at the Black Lion。
O
Although it was hot summer weather； Mr Willet sat close
to the fire。 He was in a state of profound cogitation； with his own
thoughts； and it was his custom at such times to stew himself
slowly； under the impression that that process of cookery was
favourable to the melting out of his ideas； which； when he began to
simmer； sometimes oozed forth so copiously as to astonish even
himself。
Mr Willet had been several thousand times comforted by his
friends and acquaintance； with the assurance that for the loss he
had sustained in the damage done to the Maypole； he could ‘come
upon the county。’ But as this phrase happened to bear an
unfortunate resemblance to the popular expression of ‘coming on
the parish；’ it suggested to Mr Willet’s mind no more consolatory
visions
