barnaby rudge(巴纳比·卢杰)-第89章
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Barnaby Rudge 453
Chapter 42
he Royal East London Volunteers made a brilliant sight
that day： formed into lines； squares； circles； triangles； and
T
what not； to the beating of drums； and the streaming of
flags； and performed a vast number of complex evolutions； in all of
which Serjeant Varden bore a conspicuous share。 Having
displayed their military prowess to the utmost in these warlike
shows； they marched in glittering order to the Chelsea Bun House；
and regaled in the adjacent taverns until dark。 Then at sound of
drum they fell in again； and returned amidst the shouting of His
Majesty’s lieges to the place from whence they came。
The homeward march being somewhat tardy；—owing to the
un…soldierlike behaviour of certain corporals； who； being
gentlemen of sedentary pursuits in private life and excitable out of
doors； broke several windows with their bayonets； and rendered it
imperative on the commanding officer to deliver them over to a
strong guard； with whom they fought at intervals as they came
along；—it was nine o’clock when the locksmith reached home。 A
hackney…coach was waiting near his door； and as he passed it； Mr
Haredale looked from the window and called him by his name。
‘The sight of you is good for sore eyes； sir；’ said the locksmith；
stepping up to him。 ‘I wish you had walked in though； rather than
waited here。’
‘There is nobody at home； I find；’ Mr Haredale answered；
‘besides； I desired to be as private as I could。’
‘Humph！’ muttered the locksmith； looking round at his house。
‘Gone with Simon Tappertit to that precious Branch； no doubt。’
Mr Haredale invited him to come into the coach； and； if he were
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not tired or anxious to go home； to ride with him a little way that
they might have some talk together。 Gabriel cheerfully complied；
and the coachman mounting his box drove off。
‘Varden；’ said Mr Haredale； after a minute’s pause； ‘you will be
amazed to hear what errand I am on； it will seem a very strange
one。’
‘I have no doubt it’s a reasonable one； sir； and has a meaning in
it；’ replied the locksmith； ‘or it would not be yours at all。 Have you
just come back to town； sir？’
‘But half an hour ago。’
‘Bringing no news of Barnaby； or his mother？’ said the
locksmith dubiously。 ‘Ah！ you needn’t shake your head； sir。 It was
a wild…goose chase。 I feared that； from the first。 You exhausted all
reasonable means of discovery when they went away。 To begin
again after so long a time has passed is hopeless； sir—quite
hopeless。’
‘Why； where are they？’ he returned impatiently。 ‘Where can
they be？ Above ground？’
‘God knows；’ rejoined the locksmith； ‘many that I knew above it
five years ago； have their beds under the grass now。 And the world
is a wide place。 It’s a hopeless attempt； sir； believe me。 We must
leave the discovery of this mystery； like all others； to time； and
accident； and Heaven’s pleasure。’
‘Varden； my good fellow；’ said Mr Haredale； ‘I have a deeper
meaning in my present anxiety to find them out； than you can
fathom。 It is not a mere whim； it is not the casual revival of my old
wishes and desires； but an earnest； solemn purpose。 My thoughts
and dreams all tend to it； and fix it in my mind。 I have no rest by
day or night； I have no peace or quiet； I am haunted。’
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His voice was so altered from its usual tones； and his manner
bespoke so much emotion； that Gabriel； in his wonder； could only
sit and look towards him in the darkness； and fancy the expression
of his face。
‘Do not ask me；’ continued Mr Haredale； ‘to explain myself。 If I
were to do so； you would think me the victim of some hideous
fancy。 It is enough that this is so； and that I cannot—no； I can
not—lie quietly in my bed； without doing what will seem to you
incomprehensible。’
‘Since when； sir；’ said the locksmith after a pause； ‘has this
uneasy feeling been upon you？’
Mr Haredale hesitated for some moments； and then replied：
‘Since the night of the storm。 In short； since the last nineteenth of
March。’
As though he feared that Varden might express surprise； or
reason with him； he hastily went on：
‘You will think； I know； I labour under some delusion。 Perhaps
I do。 But it is not a morbid one； it is a wholesome action of the
mind； reasoning on actual occurrences。 You know the furniture
remains in Mrs Rudge’s house； and that it has been shut up； by my
orders； since she went away； save once a…week or so； when an old
neighbour visits it to scare away the rats。 I am on my way there
now。’
‘For what purpose？’ asked the locksmith。
‘To pass the night there；’ he replied； ‘and not to…night alone； but
many nights。 This is a secret which I trust to you in case of any
unexpected emergency。 You will not come； unless in case of strong
necessity； to me； from dusk to broad day I shall be there。 Emma；
your daughter； and the rest； suppose me out of London； as I have
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been until within this hour。 Do not undeceive them。 This is the
errand I am bound upon。 I know I may confide it to you； and I rely
upon your questioning me no more at this time。’
With that； as if to change the theme； he led the astounded
locksmith back to the night of the Maypole highwayman； to the
robbery of Edward Chester； to the reappearance of the man at Mrs
Rudge’s house； and to all the strange circumstances which
afterwards occurred。 He even asked him carelessly about the
man’s height； his face； his figure； whether he was like any one he
had ever seen—like Hugh； for instance； or any man he had known
at any time—and put many questions of that sort； which the
locksmith； considering them as mere devices to engage his
attention and prevent his expressing the astonishment he felt；
answered pretty much at random。
At length； they arrived at the corner of the street in which the
house stood； where Mr Haredale； alighting； dismissed the coach。
‘If you desire to see me safely lodged；’ he said； turning to the
locksmith with a gloomy smile； ‘you can。’
Gabriel； to whom all former marvels had been nothing in
comparison with this； followed him along the narrow pavement in
silence。 When they reached the door； Mr Haredale softly opened it
with a key he had about him； and closing it when Varden entered；
they were left in thorough darkness。
They groped their way into the ground…floor room。 Here Mr
Haredale struck a light； and kindled a pocket taper he had brought
with him for the purpose。 It was then； when the flame was full
upon him； that the locksmith saw for the first time how haggard；
pale； and changed he looked； how worn and thin he was； how
perfectly his whole appearance coincided with all that he had said
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so strangely as they rode along。 It was not an unnatural impulse in
Gabriel； after what he had heard； to note curiously the expression
of his eyes。 It was perfectly collected and rational；—so much so；
indeed； that he felt ashamed of his momentary suspicion； and
drooped his own when Mr Haredale looked towards him； as if he
feared they would betray his thoughts。
‘Will you walk through the house？’ said Mr Haredale； with a
glance towards the window； the crazy shutters of which were
closed and fastened。 ‘Speak low。’
There was a kind of awe about the place； which would have
rendered it difficult to speak in any other manner。 Gabriel
whispered ‘Yes；’ and followed him upstairs。
Everything was just as they had seen it last。 There was a sense
of closeness from the exclusion of fresh air； and a gloom and
heaviness around； as though long imprisonment had made the
very silence sad。 The homely hangings of the beds and windows
had begun to droop； the dust lay thick upon their dwindling folds；
and damps had made their way through ceiling； wall； and floor。
The boards creaked beneath their tread； as if resenting the
unaccustomed intrusion； nimble spiders； paralysed by the taper’s
glare； checked the motion of their hundred legs upon the wall； or
dropped like lifeless things upon the ground； the death…watch
ticked； and the scampering feet of rats and mice rattled behind the
wainscot。
As they looked about them on the decaying furniture； it was
strange to find how vividly it presented those to whom it had
belonged； and with whom it was once familiar。 Grip seemed to
perch again upon his high…backed chair； Barnaby to crouch in his
old favourite corner by the fire； the mother to resume her usual
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