barnaby rudge(巴纳比·卢杰)-第74章
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on the plural number； ‘but there’s a Inn—one Inn—the Maypole
Inn。 That’s a Inn indeed。 You won’t see the like of that Inn often。’
‘You keep it； perhaps？’ said the horseman； smiling。
‘I do； sir；’ replied John； greatly wondering how he had found
this out。
‘And how far is the Maypole from here？’
‘About a mile’—John was going to add that it was the easiest
mile in all the world； when the third rider； who had hitherto kept a
little in the rear； suddenly interposed：
‘And have you one excellent bed； landlord？ Hem！ A bed that
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you can recommend—a bed that you are sure is well aired—a bed
that has been slept in by some perfectly respectable and
unexceptionable person？’
‘We don’t take in no tagrag and bobtail at our house； sir；’
answered John。 ‘And as to the bed itself—’
‘Say； as to three beds；’ interposed the gentleman who had
spoken before； ‘for we shall want three if we stay； though my
friend only speaks of one。’
‘No； no； my lord； you are too good； you are too kind； but your
life is of far too much importance to the nation in these portentous
times； to be placed upon a level with one so useless and so poor as
mine。 A great cause； my lord； a mighty cause； depends on you。 You
are its leader and its champion； its advanced guard and its van。 It
is the cause of our altars and our homes； our country and our faith。
Let me sleep on a chair—the carpet—anywhere。 No one will
repine if I take cold or fever。 Let John Grueby pass the night
beneath the open sky—no one will repine for him。 But forty
thousand men of this our island in the wave （exclusive of women
and children） rivet their eyes and thoughts on Lord George
Gordon； and every day； from the rising up of the sun to the going
down of the same； pray for his health and vigour。 My lord；’ said the
speaker； rising in his stirrups； ‘it is a glorious cause； and must not
be forgotten。 My lord； it is a mighty cause； and must not be
endangered。 My lord； it is a holy cause； and must not be deserted。’
‘It is a holy cause；’ exclaimed his lordship； lifting up his hat with
great solemnity。 ‘Amen。’
‘John Grueby；’ said the long…winded gentleman； in a tone of
mild reproof； ‘his lordship said Amen。’
‘I heard my lord； sir；’ said the man； sitting like a statue on his
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horse。
‘And do not you say Amen； likewise？’
To which John Grueby made no reply at all； but sat looking
straight before him。
‘You surprise me； Grueby；’ said the gentleman。 ‘At a crisis like
the present； when Queen Elizabeth； that maiden monarch； weeps
within her tomb； and Bloody Mary； with a brow of gloom and
shadow； stalks triumphant—’
‘Oh； sir；’ cried the man； gruffly； ‘where’s the use of talking of
Bloody Mary； under such circumstances as the present； when my
lord’s wet through； and tired with hard riding？ Let’s either go on
to London； sir； or put up at once； or that unfort’nate Bloody Mary
will have more to answer for—and she’s done a deal more harm in
her grave than she ever did in her lifetime； I believe。’
By this time Mr Willet； who had never beard so many words
spoken together at one time； or delivered with such volubility and
emphasis as by the long…winded gentleman； and whose brain；
being wholly unable to sustain or compass them； had quite given
itself up for lost； recovered so far as to observe that there was
ample accommodation at the Maypole for all the party： good beds；
neat wines； excellent entertainment for man and beast； private
rooms for large and small parties； dinners dressed upon the
shortest notice； choice stabling； and a lock…up coach…house； and； in
short； to run over such recommendatory scraps of language as
were painted up on various portions of the building； and which in
the course of some forty years he had learnt to repeat with
tolerable correctness。 He was considering whether it was at all
possible to insert any novel sentences to the same purpose； when
the gentleman who had spoken first； turning to him of the long
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wind； exclaimed； ‘What say you； Gashford？ Shall we tarry at this
house he speaks of； or press forward？ You shall decide。’
‘I would submit； my lord； then；’ returned the person he
appealed to； in a silky tone； ‘that your health and spirits—so
important； under Providence； to our great cause； our pure and
truthful cause’—here his lordship pulled off his hat again； though
it was raining hard—‘require refreshment and repose。’
‘Go on before； landlord； and show the way；’ said Lord George
Gordon； ‘we will follow at a footpace。’
‘If you’ll give me leave； my lord；’ said John Grueby； in a low
voice； ‘I’ll change my proper place； and ride before you。 The looks
of the landlord’s friend are not over honest； and it may be as well
to be cautious with him。’
‘John Grueby is quite right；’ interposed Mr Gashford； falling
back hastily。 ‘My lord； a life so precious as yours must not be put
in peril。 Go forward； John； by all means。 If you have any reason to
suspect the fellow； blow his brains out。’
John made no answer； but looking straight before him； as his
custom seemed to be when the secretary spoke； bade Hugh push
on； and followed close behind him。 Then came his lordship； with
Mr Willet at his bridle rein； and； last of all； his lordship’s
secretary—for that； it seemed； was Gashford’s office。
Hugh strode briskly on； often looking back at the servant；
whose horse was close upon his heels； and glancing with a leer at
his bolster case of pistols； by which he seemed to set great store。
He was a square…built； strong…made； bull…necked fellow； of the true
English breed； and as Hugh measured him with his eye； he
measured Hugh； regarding him meanwhile with a look of bluff
disdain。 He was much older than the Maypole man； being to all
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appearance five…and…forty； but was one of those self…possessed；
hard…headed； imperturbable fellows； who； if they are ever beaten
at fisticuffs； or other kind of warfare； never know it； and go on
coolly till they win。
‘If I led you wrong now；’ said Hugh； tauntingly； ‘you’d—ha ha
ha！—you’d shoot me through the head； I suppose。’
John Grueby took no more notice of this remark than if he had
been deaf and Hugh dumb； but kept riding on quite comfortably；
with his eyes fixed on the horizon。
‘Did you ever try a fall with a man when you were young；
master？’ said Hugh。 ‘Can you make any play at single…stick？’
John Grueby looked at him sideways with the same contented
air； but deigned not a word in answer。
‘—Like this？’ said Hugh； giving his cudgel one of those skilful
flourishes； in which the rustic of that time delighted。 ‘Whoop！’
‘—Or that；’ returned John Grueby； beating down his guard with
his whip； and striking him on the head with its butt end。 ‘Yes； I
played a little once。 You wear your hair too long； I should have
cracked your crown if it had been a little shorter。’
It was a pretty smart； loud…sounding rap； as it was； and
evidently astonished Hugh； who； for the moment； seemed
disposed to drag his new acquaintance from his saddle。 But his
face betokening neither malice； triumph； rage； nor any lingering
idea that he had given him offence； his eyes gazing steadily in the
old direction； and his manner being as careless and composed as if
he had merely brushed away a fly； Hugh was so puzzled； and so
disposed to look upon him as a customer of almost supernatural
toughness； that he merely laughed； and cried ‘Well done！’ then；
sheering off a little； led the way in silence。
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Before the lapse of many minutes the party halted at the
Maypole door。 Lord George and his secretary quickly
dismounting； gave their horses to their servant； who； under the
guidance of Hugh； repaired to the stables。 Right glad to escape
from the inclemency of the night； they followed Mr Willet into the
common room； and stood warming themselves and drying their
clothes before the cheerful fire； while he busied himself with such
orders and preparations as his guest’s high quality required。
As he bustled in and out of the room； intent on these
arrangements； he had an opportunity of observing the two
travellers； of whom； as yet； he knew nothing but the voice。 The
lord； the great personage who did the Maypole so much honour；
was about the middle height； of a slender make； and sallow
complexion； with an aquiline nose； and long
