bleak house(凄凉的房子)-第155章
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doubt。 He is； of course； handsomely paid； and he associates almost
on a footing of equality with the highest society。”
Everybody starts。 For a gun is fired close by。
“Good gracious； what’s that？” cries Volumnia with her little
withered scream。
“A rat；” says my Lady。 “And they have shot him。”
Enter Mr Tulkinghorn； followed by Mercuries with lamps and
candles。
“No； no；” says Sir Leicester； “I think not。 My Lady； do you
object to the twilight？”
On the contrary； my Lady prefers it。
“Volumnia？”
O！ nothing is so delicious to Volumnia； as to sit and talk in the
dark。
“Then take them away；” says Sir Leicester。 “Tulkinghorn； I beg
your pardon。 How do you do？”
Mr Tulkinghorn with his usual leisurely ease advances； renders
his passing homage to my Lady； shakes Sir Leicester’s hand； and
subsides into the chair proper to him when he has anything to
communicate； on the opposite side of the Baronet’s little
newspaper table。 Sir Leicester is apprehensive that my Lady； not
being very well； will take cold at that open window。 My Lady is
obliged to him； but would rather sit there for the air。 Sir Leicester
rises； adjusts her scarf about her； and returns to his seat。 Mr
Tulkinghorn in the meanwhile takes a pinch of snuff。
“Now；” says Sir Leicester。 “How has that contest gone？”
“Oh； hollow from the beginning。 Not a chance。 They have
brought in both their people。 You are beaten out of all reason。
Three to one。”
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It is a part of Mr Tulkinghorn’s policy and mastery to have no
political opinions； indeed； no opinions。 Therefore he says “you”
are beaten； and not “we。”
Sir Leicester is majestically wroth。 Volumnia never heard of
such a thing。 The debilitated cousin holds that it’s—sort of thing
that’s sure tapn slongs votes—giv’n—Mob。
“It’s the place； you know；” Mr Tulkinghorn goes on to say in the
fast increasing darkness； when there is silence again； “where they
wanted to put up Mrs Rouncewell’s son。”
“A proposal which； as you correctly informed me at the time； he
had the becoming taste and perception；” observes Sir Leicester；
“to decline。 I cannot say that I by any means approve of the
sentiments expressed by Mr Rouncewell； when he was here for
some half…hour； in this room； but there was a sense of propriety in
his decision which I am glad to acknowledge。”
“Ha！” says Mr Tulkinghorn。 “It did not prevent him from being
very active in this election； though。”
Sir Leicester is distinctly heard to gasp before speaking。 “Did I
understand you？ Did you say that Mr Rouncewell had been very
active in this election？”
“Uncommonly active。”
“Against—”
“O dear yes； against you。 He is a very good speaker。 Plain and
emphatic。 He made a damaging effect； and has great influence。 In
the business…part of the proceedings he carried all before him。”
It is evident to the whole company； though nobody can see him；
that Sir Leicester is staring majestically。
“And he was much assisted；” says Mr Tulkinghorn； as a wind…
up； “by his son。”
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“By his son； sir？” repeats Sir Leicester； with awful politeness。
“By his son。”
“The son who wished to marry the young woman in my Lady’s
service？”
“That son。 He has but one。”
“Then； upon my honour；” says Sir Leicester； after a terrific
pause； during which he has been heard to snort and felt to stare；
“then upon my honour； upon my life； upon my reputation and
principles； the floodgates of society are burst open； and the waters
have—a—obliterated the landmarks of the framework of the
cohesion by which things are held together！”
General burst of cousinly indignation。 Volumnia thinks it is
really high time； you know； for somebody in power to step in and
do something strong。 Debilitated cousin thinks—Country’s going
—DAYVLE—steeple…chase pace。
“I beg；” says Sir Leicester； in a breathless condition； “that we
may not comment further on this circumstance。 Comment is
superfluous。 My Lady； let me suggest in reference to that young
woman—”
“I have no intention；” observes my Lady from her window； in a
low but decided tone； “of parting with her。”
“That was not my meaning；” returns Sir Leicester。 “I am glad
to hear you say so。 I would suggest that as you think her worthy of
your patronage； you should exert your influence to keep her from
these dangerous hands。 You might show her what violence would
be done； in such association； to her duties and principles； and you
might preserve her for a better fate。 You might point out to her
that she probably would； in good time； find a husband at Chesney
Wold； by whom she would not be—” Sir Leicester adds； after a
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moment’s consideration； “dragged from the altars of her
forefathers。”
These remarks he offers with his unvarying politeness and
deference when he addresses himself to his wife。 She merely
moves her head in reply。 The moon is rising； and where she sits
there is a little stream of cold pale light； in which her head is seen。
“It is worthy of remark；” says Mr Tulkinghorn； “however； that
these people are； in their way； very proud。”
“Proud？” Sir Leicester doubts his hearing。
“I should not be surprised； if they all voluntarily abandoned the
girl—yes； lover and all—instead of her abandoning them；
supposing she remained at Chesney Wold under such
circumstances。”
“Well！” says Sir Leicester； tremulously； “Well！ You should
know； Mr Tulkinghorn。 You have been among them。”
“Really； Sir Leicester；” returns the lawyer； “I state the fact。
Why I could tell you a story—with Lady Dedlock’s permission。”
Her head concedes it； and Volumnia is enchanted。 A story！ O；
he is going to tell something at last！ A ghost in it； Volumnia hopes？
“No。 Real flesh and blood。” Mr Tulkinghorn stops for an
instant； and repeats； with some little emphasis grafted upon his
usual monotony； “Real flesh and blood； Miss Dedlock。 Sir
Leicester； these particulars have only lately become known to me。
They are very brief。 They exemplify what I have said。 I suppress
names for the present。 Lady Dedlock will not think me ill…bred； I
hope。”
By the light of the fire； which is low； he can be seen looking
towards the moonlight。 By the light of the moon Lady Dedlock can
be seen； perfectly still。
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“A townsman of this Mrs Rouncewell； a man in exactly parallel
circumstances； as I am told； had the good fortune to have a
daughter who attracted the notice of a great lady。 I speak of really
a great lady； not merely great to him； but married to a gentleman
of your condition； Sir Leicester。”
Sir Leicester condescendingly says； “Yes； Mr Tulkinghorn；”
implying that then she must have appeared of very considerable
moral dimensions indeed； in the eyes of an ironmaster。
“The lady was wealthy and beautiful； and had a liking for the
girl； and treated her with great kindness； and kept her always near
her。 Now this lady preserved a secret under all her greatness；
which she had preserved for many years。 In fact； she had in early
life been engaged to marry a young rake—he was a captain in the
army—nothing connected with whom came to any good。 She
never did marry him； but she gave birth to a child of which he was
the father。”
By the light of the fire he can be seen looking towards the
moonlight。 By the moonlight； Lady Dedlock can be seen in profile；
perfectly still。
“The captain in the army being dead； she believed herself safe；
but a train of circumstances with which I need not trouble you； led
to discovery。 As I received the story； they began in an imprudence
on her own part one day； when she was taken by surprise； which
shows how difficult it is for the firmest of us （she was very firm） to
be always guarded。 There was great domestic trouble and
amazement； you may suppose； I leave you to imagine； Sir
Leicester； the husband’s grief。 But that is not the present point。
When Mr Rouncewell’s townsman heard of the disclosure； he no
more allowed the girl to be patronised and honoured than he
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would have suffered her to be trodden underfoot before his eyes。
Such was his pride； that he indignantly took her away as if from
reproach and disgrace。 He had no sense of the honour done him
and his daughter by the lady’s condescension； not the least。 He
resented the girl’s position； as if the lady had been the commonest
of commoners。 That is the story。 I hope Lady Dedlock will excuse
