barnaby rudge(巴纳比·卢杰)-第3章
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only that Queen Elizabeth had slept there one night while upon a
hunting excursion； to wit； in a certain oak…panelled room with a
deep bay window； but that next morning； while standing on a
mounting block before the door with one foot in the stirrup； the
virgin monarch had then and there boxed and cuffed an unlucky
page for some neglect of duty。 The matter…of…fact and doubtful
folks； of whom there were a few among the Maypole customers； as
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Barnaby Rudge 14
unluckily there always are in every little community； were inclined
to look upon this tradition as rather apocryphal； but； whenever the
landlord of that ancient hostelry appealed to the mounting block
itself as evidence； and triumphantly pointed out that there it stood
in the same place to that very day； the doubters never failed to be
put down by a large majority； and all true believers exulted as in a
victory。
Whether these； and many other stories of the like nature； were
true or untrue； the Maypole was really an old house； a very old
house； perhaps as old as it claimed to be； and perhaps older； which
will sometimes happen with houses of an uncertain； as with ladies
of a certain； age。 Its windows were old diamond…pane lattices； its
floors were sunken and uneven； its ceilings blackened by the hand
of time； and heavy with massive beams。 Over the doorway was an
ancient porch； quaintly and grotesquely carved； and here on
summer evenings the more favoured customers smoked and
drank—ay； and sang many a good song too； sometimes—reposing
on two grim…looking high…backed settles； which； like the twin
dragons of some fairy tale； guarded the entrance to the mansion。
In the chimneys of the disused rooms； swallows had built their
nests for many a long year； and from earliest spring to latest
autumn whole colonies of sparrows chirped and twittered in the
eaves。 There were more pigeons about the dreary stable…yard and
out…buildings than anybody but the landlord could reckon up。 The
wheeling and circling flights of runts； fantails； tumblers； and
pouters； were perhaps not quite consistent with the grave and
sober character of the building； but the monotonous cooing； which
never ceased to be raised by some among them all day long； suited
it exactly； and seemed to lull it to rest。 With its overhanging
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Barnaby Rudge 15
stories； drowsy little panes of glass； and front bulging out and
projecting over the pathway； the old house looked as if it were
nodding in its sleep。 Indeed； it needed no very great stretch of
fancy to detect in it other resemblances to humanity。 The bricks of
which it was built had originally been a deep dark red； but had
grown yellow and discoloured like an old man’s skin； the sturdy
timbers had decayed like teeth； and here and there the ivy； like a
warm garment to comfort it in its age； wrapt its green leaves
closely round the time…worn walls。
It was a hale and hearty age though； still： and in the summer or
autumn evenings； when the glow of the setting sun fell upon the
oak and chestnut trees of the adjacent forest； the old house；
partaking of its lustre； seemed their fit companion； and to have
many good years of life in him yet。
The evening with which we have to do； was neither a summer
nor an autumn one； but the twilight of a day in March； when the
wind howled dismally among the bare branches of the trees； and
rumbling in the wide chimneys and driving the rain against the
windows of the Maypole Inn； gave such of its frequenters as
chanced to be there at the moment an undeniable reason for
prolonging their stay； and caused the landlord to prophesy that
the night would certainly clear at eleven o’clock precisely；—which
by a remarkable coincidence was the hour at which he always
closed his house。
The name of him upon whom the spirit of prophecy thus
descended was John Willet； a burly； large…headed man with a fat
face； which betokened profound obstinacy and slowness of
apprehension； combined with a very strong reliance upon his own
merits。 It was John Willet’s ordinary boast in his more placid
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Barnaby Rudge 16
moods that if he were slow he was sure； which assertion could； in
one sense at least； be by no means gainsaid； seeing that he was in
everything unquestionably the reverse of fast； and withal one of
the most dogged and positive fellows in existence—always sure
that what he thought or said or did was right； and holding it as a
thing quite settled and ordained by the laws of nature and
Providence； that anybody who said or did or thought otherwise
must be inevitably and of necessity wrong。
Mr Willet walked slowly up to the window； flattened his fat nose
against the cold glass； and shading his eyes that his sight might
not be affected by the ruddy glow of the fire； looked abroad。 Then
he walked slowly back to his old seat in the chimney…corner； and；
composing himself in it with a slight shiver； such as a man might
give way to and so acquire an additional relish for the warm blaze；
said； looking round upon his guests：
‘It’ll clear at eleven o’clock。 No sooner and no later。 Not before
and not arterwards。’
‘How do you make out that？’ said a little man in the opposite
corner。 ‘The moon is past the full； and she rises at nine。’
John looked sedately and solemnly at his questioner until he
had brought his mind to bear upon the whole of his observation；
and then made answer； in a tone which seemed to imply that the
moon was peculiarly his business and nobody else’s：
‘Never you mind about the moon。 Don’t you trouble yourself
about her。 You let the moon alone； and I’ll let you alone。’
‘No offence I hope？’ said the little man。
Again John waited leisurely until the observation had
thoroughly penetrated to his brain； and then replying； ‘No offence
as yet；’ applied a light to his pipe and smoked in placid silence；
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now and then casting a sidelong look at a man wrapped in a loose
riding…coat with huge cuffs ornamented with tarnished silver lace
and large metal buttons； who sat apart from the regular
frequenters of the house； and wearing a hat flapped over his face；
which was still further shaded by the hand on which his forehead
rested； looked unsociable enough。
There was another guest； who sat； booted and spurred； at some
distance from the fire also； and whose thoughts—to judge from his
folded arms and knitted brows； and from the untasted liquor
before him—were occupied with other matters than the topics
under discussion or the persons who discussed them。 This was a
young man of about eight…and…twenty； rather above the middle
height； and though of somewhat slight figure； gracefully and
strongly made。 He wore his own dark hair； and was accoutred in a
riding dress； which together with his large boots （resembling in
shape and fashion those worn by our Life Guardsmen at the
present day）； showed indisputable traces of the bad condition of
the roads。 But travel…stained though he was； he was well and even
richly attired； and without being overdressed looked a gallant
gentleman。
Lying upon the table beside him； as he had carelessly thrown
them down； were a heavy riding…whip and a slouched hat； the
latter worn no doubt as being best suited to the inclemency of the
weather。 There； too； were a pair of pistols in a holster…case； and a
short riding…cloak。 Little of his face was visible； except the long
dark lashes which concealed his downcast eyes； but an air of
careless ease and natural gracefulness of demeanour pervaded the
figure； and seemed to comprehend even those slight accessories；
which were all handsome； and in good keeping。
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Towards this young gentleman the eyes of Mr Willet wandered
but once； and then as if in mute inquiry whether he had observed
his silent neighbour。 It was plain that John and the young
gentleman had often met before。 Finding that his look was not
returned； or indeed observed by the person to whom it was
addressed； John gradually concentrated the whole power of his
eyes into one focus； and brought it to bear upon the man in the
flapped hat； at whom he came to stare in course of time with an
intensity so remarkable； that it affected his fireside cronies； who
all； as with one accord； took their pipes from their lips； and stared
with open mouths at the stranger likewise。
The sturdy landlord had a large pair of dull fish…like eyes； and
the little man who had hazarded the remark about the moon （and
who was the parish…clerk and bell…ringer of Chigwell； a village
hard by） had little r
