bleak house(凄凉的房子)-第152章
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the sunlight； can at first see nothing save darkness and shadows；
but they gradually discern the elder Mr Smallweed； seated in his
chair upon the brink of a well or grave of waste paper； the virtuous
Judy groping therein； like a female sexton； and Mrs Smallweed on
the level ground in the vicinity； snowed up in a heap of paper
fragments； print and manuscript； which would appear to be the
accumulated compliments that have been sent flying at her in the
course of the day。 The whole party； Small included； are blackened
with dust and dirt； and present a fiendish appearance not relieved
by the general aspect of the room。 There is more litter and lumber
in it than of old； and it is dirtier if possible； likewise； it is ghostly
with traces of its dead inhabitant； and even with his chalked
writing on the wall。
On the entrance of visitors； Mr Smallweed and Judy
simultaneously fold their arms and stop in their researches。
“Aha！” croaks the old gentleman。 “How de do； gentlemen； how
de do！ Come to fetch your property； Mr Weevle？ That’s well； that’s
well。 Ha！ ha！ We should have been forced to sell you up； sir； to pay
your warehouse room； if you had left it here much longer。 You feel
quite at home here； again； I daresay？ Glad to see you； glad to see
you！”
Mr Weevle； thanking him； casts an eye about。 Mr Guppy’s eye
follows Mr Weevle’s eye。 Mr Weevle’s eye comes back without any
new intelligence in it。 Mr Guppy’s eye comes back and meets Mr
Smallweed’s eye。 That engaging old gentleman is still murmuring；
like some wound…up instrument running down； “How de do； sir—
how de—how—。” And then； having run down； he lapses into
grinning silence； as Mr Guppy starts at seeing Mr Tulkinghorn
standing in the darkness opposite； with his hands behind him。
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“Gentleman so kind as to act as my solicitor；” says Grandfather
Smallweed。 “I am not the sort of client for a gentleman of such
note； but he is so good！”
Mr Guppy slightly nudging his friend to take another look
makes a shuffling bow to Mr Tulkinghorn； who returns it with an
easy nod。 Mr Tulkinghorn is looking on as if he had nothing else to
do； and were rather amused by the novelty。
“A good deal of property here； sir； I should say；” Mr Guppy
observes to Mr Smallweed。
“Principally rags and rubbish； my dear friend！ rags and
rubbish！ Me and Bart； and my granddaughter Judy； are
endeavouring to make out an inventory of what’s worth anything
to sell。 But we haven’t come to much as yet； we—haven’t—come—
to—hah！”
Mr Smallweed has run down again； while Mr Weevle’s eye；
attended by Mr Guppy’s eye； has again gone round the room and
come back。
“Well； sir；” says Mr Weevle。 “We won’t intrude any longer； if
you’ll allow us to go upstairs。”
“Anywhere； my dear sir； anywhere！ You’re at home。 Make
yourself so； pray！”
As they go upstairs； Mr Guppy lifts his eyebrows inquiringly；
and looks at Tony。 Tony shakes his head。 They find the old room
very dull and dismal； with the ashes of the fire that was burning on
that memorable night yet in the discoloured grate。 They have a
great disinclination to touch any object； and carefully blow the
dust from it first。 Nor are they desirous to prolong their visit：
packing the few movables with all possible speed； and never
speaking above a whisper。
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“Look here；” says Tony； recoiling。 “Here’s that horrible cat
coming in！”
Mr Guppy retreats behind a chair。 “Small told me of her。 She
went leaping and bounding and tearing about； that night； like a
Dragon； and got out on the house…top； and roamed about up there
for a fortnight； and then came tumbling down the chimney very
thin。 Did you ever see such a brute？ Looks as if she knew all about
it； don’t she？ Almost looks as if she was Krook。 Shoohoo！ Get out；
you goblin！”
Lady Jane in the doorway； with her tiger…snarl from ear to ear；
and her club of a tail； shows no intention of obeying； but Mr
Tulkinghorn stumbling over her； she spits at his rusty legs； and
swearing wrathfully； takes her arched back upstairs。 Possibly to
roam the house…tops again； and return by the chimney。
“Mr Guppy；” says Mr Tulkinghorn； “could I have a word with
you？”
Mr Guppy is engaged in collecting the Galaxy Gallery of British
Beauty from the wall； and depositing those works of art in their
old ignoble band…box。 “Sir；” he returns； reddening； “I wish to act
with courtesy towards every member of the profession； and
especially； I am sure； towards a member of it so well known as
yourself—I will truly add； sir； so distinguished as yourself。 Still； Mr
Tulkinghorn； sir； I must stipulate that if you have any word with
me； that word is spoken in the presence of my friend。”
“Oh； indeed？” says Mr Tulkinghorn。
“Yes； sir。 My reasons are not of a personal nature at all； but
they are amply sufficient for myself。”
“No doubt； no doubt。” Mr Tulkinghorn is as imperturbable as
the hearthstone to which he has quietly walked。 “The matter is not
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of that consequence that I need put you to the trouble of making
any conditions； Mr Guppy。” He pauses here to smile； and his smile
is as dull and rusty as his pantaloons。 “You are to be
congratulated； Mr Guppy； you are a fortunate young man； sir。”
“Pretty well so； Mr Tulkinghorn； I don’t complain。”
“Complain？ High friends； free admission to great houses； and
access to elegant ladies！ Why； Mr Guppy； there are people in
London who would give their ears to be you。”
Mr Guppy； looking as if he would give his own reddening and
still reddening ears to be one of those people at present instead of
himself； replies； “Sir； if I attend to my profession； and do what is
right by Kenge and Carboy； my friends and acquaintances are of
no consequence to them； nor to any member of the profession； not
excepting Mr Tulkinghorn of the Fields。 I am not under any
obligation to explain myself further； and with all respect for you；
sir； and without offence—I repeat； without offence—”
“Oh； certainly！”
“—I don’t intend to do it。”
“Quite so；” says Mr Tulkinghorn； with a calm nod。 “Very good： I
see by these portraits that you take a strong interest in the
fashionable great； sir？”
He addresses this to the astounded Tony； who admits the soft
impeachment。
“A virtue in which few Englishmen are deficient；” observes Mr
Tulkinghorn。 He has been standing on the hearth…stone； with his
back to the smoked chimney…piece； and now turns round； with his
glasses to his eyes。 “Who is this？ ‘Lady Dedlock。’ Ha！ A very good
likeness in its way； but it wants force of character。 Good day to
you； gentlemen； good day！”
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When he has walked out； Mr Guppy； in a great perspiration；
nerves himself to the hasty completion of the taking down of the
Galaxy Gallery； concluding with Lady Dedlock。
“Tony；” he says hurriedly to his astonished companion； “let us
be quick in putting the things together； and in getting out of this
place。 It were in vain longer to conceal from you； Tony； that
between myself and one of the members of a swanlike aristocracy
whom I now hold in my hand； there has been undivulged
communication and association。 The time might have been； when
I might have revealed it to you。 It never will be more。 It is due
alike to the oath I have taken； alike to the shattered idol； and alike
to circumstances over which I have no control； that the whole
should be buried in oblivion。 I charge you as a friend； by the
interest you have ever testified in the fashionable intelligence； and
by any little advances with which I may have been able to
accommodate you； so to bury it without a word of inquiry！”
This charge Mr Guppy delivers in a state little short of forensic
lunacy； while his friend shows a dazed mind in his whole head of
hair； and even in his cultivated whiskers。
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Chapter 40
National And Domestic
ngland has been in a dreadful state for some weeks。 Lord
ECoodle would go out； Sir Thomas Doodle wouldn’t come
in； and there being nobody in Great Britain （to speak of）
except Coodle and Doodle； there has been no Government。 It is a
mercy that the hostile meeting between those two great men；
which at one time seemed inevitable； did not come off； because if
both pistols had taken effect； and Coodle and Doodle had killed
each other； it is to be presumed that England must have waited to
be governed until young Coodle and young Doodle； now in frocks
and long stockings； were grown up。 This stupendous
