barnaby rudge(巴纳比·卢杰)-第71章
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under the biler。 How dare you look like that？ Is anybody a…
following of you？ What do you mean？ Say something； or I’ll be the
death of you； I will。’
Mr Willet； in his frenzy； was so near keeping his word to the
very letter （Solomon Daisy’s eyes already beginning to roll in an
alarming manner； and certain guttural sounds； as of a choking
man； to issue from his throat）； that the two bystanders； recovering
in some degree； plucked him off his victim by main force； and
placed the little clerk of Chigwell in a chair。 Directing a fearful
gaze all round the room； he implored them in a faint voice to give
him some drink； and above all to lock the house…door and close
and bar the shutters of the room； without a moment’s loss of time。
The latter request did not tend to reassure his hearers； or to fill
them with the most comfortable sensations； they complied with it；
however； with the greatest expedition； and having handed him a
bumper of brandy…and…water； nearly boiling hot； waited to hear
what he might have to tell them。
‘Oh； Johnny；’ said Solomon； shaking him by the hand。 ‘Oh；
Parkes。 Oh； Tommy Cobb。 Why did I leave this house to…night！ On
the nineteenth of March—of all nights in the year； on the
nineteenth of March！’
They all drew closer to the fire。 Parkes； who was nearest to the
door； started and looked over his shoulder。 Mr Willet； with great
indignation； inquired what the devil he meant by that—and then
said； ‘God forgive me；’ and glanced over his own shoulder； and
came a little nearer。
‘When I left here to…night；’ said Solomon Daisy； ‘I little thought
what day of the month it was。 I have never gone alone into the
church after dark on this day； for seven…and…twenty years。 I have
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heard it said that as we keep our birthdays when we are alive； so
the ghosts of dead people； who are not easy in their graves； keep
the day they died upon。—How the wind roars！’
Nobody spoke。 All eyes were fastened on Solomon。
‘I might have known；’ he said； ‘what night it was； by the foul
weather。 There’s no such night in the whole year round as this is；
always。 I never sleep quietly in my bed on the nineteenth of
March。’
‘Go on；’ said Tom Cobb； in a low voice。 ‘Nor I neither。’
Solomon Daisy raised his glass to his lips； put it down upon the
floor with such a trembling hand that the spoon tinkled in it like a
little bell； and continued thus：
‘Have I ever said that we are always brought back to this
subject in some strange way； when the nineteenth of this month
comes round？ Do you suppose it was by accident； I forgot to wind
up the church…clock？ I never forgot it at any other time； though it’s
such a clumsy thing that it has to be wound up every day。 Why
should it escape my memory on this day of all others？
‘I made as much haste down there as I could when I went from
here； but I had to go home first for the keys； and the wind and rain
being dead against me all the way； it was pretty well as much as I
could do at times to keep my legs。 I got there at last； opened the
church…door； and went in。 I had not met a soul all the way； and you
may judge whether it was dull or not。 Neither of you would bear
me company。 If you could have known what was to come； you’d
have been in the right。
‘The wind was so strong； that it was as much as I could do to
shut the church…door by putting my whole weight against it； and
even as it was； it burst wide open twice； with such strength that
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any of you would have sworn； if you had been leaning against it； as
I was； that somebody was pushing on the other side。 However； I
got the key turned； went into the belfry； and wound up the clock—
which was very near run down； and would have stood stock…still in
half an hour。
‘As I took up my lantern again to leave the church； it came upon
me all at once that this was the nineteenth of March。 It came upon
me with a kind of shock； as if a hand had struck the thought upon
my forehead； at the very same moment； I heard a voice outside the
tower—rising from among the graves。’
Here old John precipitately interrupted the speaker； and
begged that if Mr Parkes （who was seated opposite to him and was
staring directly over his head） saw anything； he would have the
goodness to mention it。 Mr Parkes apologised； and remarked that
he was only listening； to which Mr Willet angrily retorted； that his
listening with that kind of expression in his face was not
agreeable； and that if he couldn’t look like other people； he had
better put his pocket…handkerchief over his head。 Mr Parkes with
great submission pledged himself to do so； if again required； and
John Willet turning to Solomon desired him to proceed。 After
waiting until a violent gust of wind and rain； which seemed to
shake even that sturdy house to its foundation； had passed away；
the little man complied：
‘Never tell me that it was my fancy； or that it was any other
sound which I mistook for that I tell you of。 I heard the wind
whistle through the arches of the church。 I heard the steeple strain
and creak。 I heard the rain as it came driving against the walls。 I
felt the bells shake。 I saw the ropes sway to and fro。 And I heard
that voice。’
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‘What did it say？’ asked Tom Cobb。
‘I don’t know what； I don’t know that it spoke。 It gave a kind of
cry； as any one of us might do； if something dreadful followed us in
a dream； and came upon us unawares； and then it died off：
seeming to pass quite round the church。’
‘I don’t see much in that；’ said John； drawing a long breath； and
looking round him like a man who felt relieved。
‘Perhaps not；’ returned his friend； ‘but that’s not all。’
‘What more do you mean to say； sir； is to come？’ asked John；
pausing in the act of wiping his face upon his apron。 ‘What are you
a…going to tell us of next？’
‘What I saw。’
‘Saw！’ echoed all three； bending forward。
‘When I opened the church…door to come out；’ said the little
man； with an expression of face which bore ample testimony to the
sincerity of his conviction； ‘when I opened the church…door to
come out； which I did suddenly； for I wanted to get it shut again
before another gust of wind came up； there crossed me—so close；
that by stretching out my finger I could have touched it—
something in the likeness of a man。 It was bare…headed to the
storm。 It turned its face without stopping； and fixed its eyes on
mine。 It was a ghost—a spirit。’
‘Whose？’ they all three cried together。
In the excess of his emotion （for he fell back trembling in his
chair； and waved his hand as if entreating them to question him no
further）； his answer was lost on all but old John Willet； who
happened to be seated close beside him。
‘Who！’ cried Parkes and Tom Cobb； looking eagerly by turns at
Solomon Daisy and at Mr Willet。 ‘Who was it？’
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‘Gentlemen；’ said Mr Willet after a long pause； ‘you needn’t ask。
The likeness of a murdered man。 This is the nineteenth of March。’
A profound silence ensued。
‘If you’ll take my advice；’ said John； ‘we had better； one and all；
keep this a secret。 Such tales would not be liked at the Warren。
Let us keep it to ourselves for the present time at all events； or we
may get into trouble； and Solomon may lose his place。 Whether it
was really as he says； or whether it wasn’t； is no matter。 Right or
wrong； nobody would believe him。 As to the probabilities； I don’t
myself think；’ said Mr Willet； eyeing the corners of the room in a
manner which showed that； like some other philosophers； he was
not quite easy in his theory； ‘that a ghost as had been a man of
sense in his lifetime； would be out a…walking in such weather—I
only know that I wouldn’t； if I was one。’
But this heretical doctrine was strongly opposed by the other
three； who quoted a great many precedents to show that bad
weather was the very time for such appearances； and Mr Parkes
（who had had a ghost in his family； by the mother’s side） argued
the matter with so much ingenuity and force of illustration； that
John was only saved from having to retract his opinion by the
opportune appearance of supper； to which they applied
themselves with a dreadful relish。 Even Solomon Daisy himself； by
dint of the elevating influences of fire； lights； brandy； and good
company； so far recovered as to handle his knife and fork in a
highly creditable manner； and to display a capacity both of eating
and drinking； such as banished all fear of his having sustained any
lasting injury from his fright。
Supper done； they crowded round the
