barnaby rudge(巴纳比·卢杰)-第60章
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but one whom it was quite a treat to see staking his two or three
pieces in deference to the follies of society； and smiling with equal
benevolence on winners and losers—made it late before he
reached home。 It was his custom to bid his servant go to bed at his
own time unless he had orders to the contrary； and to leave a
candle on the common stair。 There was a lamp on the landing by
which he could always light it when he came home late； and
having a key of the door about him he could enter and go to bed at
his pleasure。
He opened the glass of the dull lamp； whose wick； burnt up and
swollen like a drunkard’s nose； came flying off in little carbuncles
at the candle’s touch； and scattering hot sparks about； rendered it
matter of some difficulty to kindle the lazy taper； when a noise； as
of a man snoring deeply some steps higher up； caused him to
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pause and listen。 It was the heavy breathing of a sleeper； close at
hand。 Some fellow had lain down on the open staircase； and was
slumbering soundly。 Having lighted the candle at length and
opened his own door； he softly ascended； holding the taper high
above his head； and peering cautiously about； curious to see what
kind of man had chosen so comfortless a shelter for his lodging。
With his head upon the landing and his great limbs flung over
half…a…dozen stairs； as carelessly as though he were a dead man
whom drunken bearers had thrown down by chance； there lay
Hugh； face uppermost； his long hair drooping like some wild weed
upon his wooden pillow； and his huge chest heaving with the
sounds which so unwontedly disturbed the place and hour。
He who came upon him so unexpectedly was about to break his
rest by thrusting him with his foot； when； glancing at his upturned
face； he arrested himself in the very action； and stooping down
and shading the candle with his hand； examined his features
closely。 Close as his first inspection was； it did not suffice； for he
passed the light； still carefully shaded as before； across and across
his face； and yet observed him with a searching eye。
While he was thus engaged； the sleeper； without any starting or
turning round； awoke。 There was a kind of fascination in meeting
his steady gaze so suddenly； which took from the other the
presence of mind to withdraw his eyes； and forced him； as it were；
to meet his look。 So they remained staring at each other； until Mr
Chester at last broke silence； and asked him in a low voice； why he
lay sleeping there。
‘I thought；’ said Hugh； struggling into a sitting posture and
gazing at him intently； still； ‘that you were a part of my dream。 It
was a curious one。 I hope it may never come true； master。’
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‘What makes you shiver？’
‘The—the cold； I suppose；’ he growled； as he shook himself and
rose。 ‘I hardly know where I am yet。’
‘Do you know me？’ said Mr Chester。
‘Ay； I know you；’ he answered。 ‘I was dreaming of you—we’re
not where I thought we were。 That’s a comfort。’
He looked round him as he spoke； and in particular looked
above his head； as though he half expected to be standing under
some object which had had existence in his dream。 Then he
rubbed his eyes and shook himself again； and followed his
conductor into his own rooms。
Mr Chester lighted the candles which stood upon his dressing…
table； and wheeling an easy…chair towards the fire； which was yet
burning； stirred up a cheerful blaze； sat down before it； and bade
his uncouth visitor ‘Come here；’ and draw his boots off。
‘You have been drinking again； my fine fellow；’ he said； as Hugh
went down on one knee； and did as he was told。
‘As I’m alive； master； I’ve walked the twelve long miles； and
waited here I don’t know how long； and had no drink between my
lips since dinner…time at noon。’
‘And can you do nothing better； my pleasant friend； than fall
asleep； and shake the very building with your snores？’ said Mr
Chester。 ‘Can’t you dream in your straw at home； dull dog as you
are； that you need come here to do it？—Reach me those slippers；
and tread softly。’
Hugh obeyed in silence。
‘And harkee； my dear young gentleman；’ said Mr Chester； as he
put them on； ‘the next time you dream； don’t let it be of me； but of
some dog or horse with whom you are better acquainted。 Fill the
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glass once—you’ll find it and the bottle in the same place—and
empty it to keep yourself awake。’
Hugh obeyed again even more zealously—and having done so；
presented himself before his patron。
‘Now；’ said Mr Chester； ‘what do you want with me？’
‘There was news to…day；’ returned Hugh。 ‘Your son was at our
house—came down on horseback。 He tried to see the young
woman； but couldn’t get sight of her。 He left some letter or some
message which our Joe had charge of； but he and the old one
quarrelled about it when your son had gone； and the old one
wouldn’t let it be delivered。 He says （that’s the old one does） that
none of his people shall interfere and get him into trouble。 He’s a
landlord； he says； and lives on everybody’s custom。’
‘He’s a jewel；’ smiled Mr Chester； ‘and the better for being a
dull one。—Well？’
‘Varden’s daughter—that’s the girl I kissed—’
‘—and stole the bracelet from upon the king’s highway；’ said Mr
Chester； composedly。 ‘Yes； what of her？’
‘She wrote a note at our house to the young woman； saying she
lost the letter I brought to you； and you burnt。 Our Joe was to
carry it； but the old one kept him at home all next day； on purpose
that he shouldn’t。 Next morning he gave it to me to take； and here
it is。’
‘You didn’t deliver it then； my good friend？’ said Mr Chester；
twirling Dolly’s note between his finger and thumb； and feigning
to be surprised。
‘I supposed you’d want to have it；’ retorted Hugh。 ‘Burn one；
burn all； I thought。’
‘My devil…may…care acquaintance；’ said Mr Chester—‘really if
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you do not draw some nicer distinctions； your career will be cut
short with most surprising suddenness。 Don’t you know that the
letter you brought to me； was directed to my son who resides in
this very place？ And can you descry no difference between his
letters and those addressed to other people？’
‘If you don’t want it；’ said Hugh； disconcerted by this reproof；
for he had expected high praise； ‘give it me back； and I’ll deliver it。
I don’t know how to please you； master。’
‘I shall deliver it；’ returned his patron； putting it away after a
moment’s consideration； ‘myself。 Does the young lady walk out； on
fine mornings？’
‘Mostly—about noon is her usual time。’
‘Alone？’
‘Yes； alone。’
‘Where？’
‘In the grounds before the house。—Them that the footpath
crosses。’
‘If the weather should be fine； I may throw myself in her way to…
morrow； perhaps；’ said Mr Chester； as coolly as if she were one of
his ordinary acquaintance。 ‘Mr Hugh； if I should ride up to the
Maypole door； you will do me the favour only to have seen me
once。 You must suppress your gratitude； and endeavour to forget
my forbearance in the matter of the bracelet。 It is natural it should
break out； and it does you honour； but when other folks are by；
you must； for your own sake and safety； be as like your usual self
as though you owed me no obligation whatever； and had never
stood within these walls。 You comprehend me？’
Hugh understood him perfectly。 After a pause he muttered that
he hoped his patron would involve him in no trouble about this
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last letter； for he had kept it back solely with the view of pleasing
him。 He was continuing in this strain； when Mr Chester with a
most beneficent and patronising air cut him short by saying：
‘My good fellow； you have my promise； my word； my sealed
bond （for a verbal pledge with me is quite as good）； that I will
always protect you so long as you deserve it。 Now； do set your
mind at rest。 Keep it at ease； I beg of you。 When a man puts
himself in my power so thoroughly as you have done； I really feel
as though he had a kind of claim upon me。 I am more disposed to
mercy and forbearance under such circumstances than I can tell
you； Hugh。 Do look upon me as your protector； and rest assured； I
entreat you； that on the subject of that indiscretion； you may
preserve； as long as you and I are friends； the lightest heart that
ever beat within a human breast。 Fill that glass once more to cheer
you on your road homewards—I am really quite ashamed to think
how far you have to go—and then God bless you for the night。’
‘They think；’ said Hugh； when he had tossed the liquor down；
‘that I am sleeping soundly in the stable。 Ha ha ha！
