bleak house(凄凉的房子)-第183章
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rapture； engages himself for that day twelvemonth more than
thankfully； makes a memorandum of the day in a large black
pocket…book with a girdle to it； and breathes a hope that Mrs
Bucket and Mrs Bagnet may before then become； in a manner；
sisters。 As he says himself； what is public life without private ties？
He is in his humble way a public man； but it is not in that sphere
that he finds happiness。 No； it must be sought within the confines
of domestic bliss。
It is natural； under these circumstances； that he； in his turn；
should remember the friend to whom he is indebted for so
promising an acquaintance。 And he does。 He keeps very close to
him。 Whatever the subject of the conversation； he keeps a tender
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eye upon him。 He waits to walk home with him。 He is interested in
his very boots； and observes even them attentively； as Mr George
sits smoking cross…legged in the chimney corner。
At length； Mr George rises to depart。 At the same moment Mr
Bucket； with the secret sympathy of friendship； also rises。 He
dotes upon the children to the last； and remembers the
commission he has undertaken for an absent friend。
“Respecting that second…hand wiolinceller； governor—could
you recommend me such a thing？”
“Scores；” says Mr Bagnet。
“I am obliged to you；” returns Mr Bucket； squeezing his hand。
“You’re a friend in need。 A good tone； mind you！ My friend is a
regular dab at it。 Ecod； he saws away at Mo…zart and Handel； and
the rest of the big…wigs； like a thorough workman。 And you
needn’t；” says Mr Bucket； in a considerate and private voice； “you
needn’t commit yourself to too low a figure； governor。 I don’t want
to pay too large a price for my friend； but I want you to have your
proper percentage； and be remunerated for your loss of time。 That
is but fair。 Every man must live； and ought to it。”
Mr Bagnet shakes his head at the old girl； to the effect that they
have found a jewel of price。
“Suppose I was to give you a look in； say at half…arter ten
tomorrow morning。 Perhaps you could name the figures of a few
wiolincellers of a good tone？” says Mr Bucket。
Nothing easier。 Mr and Mrs Bagnet both engage to have the
requisite information ready； and even hint to each other at the
practicability of having a small stock collected there for approval。
“Thank you；” says Mr Bucket； “thank you。 Good night； ma’am。
Good night； governor。 Good night； darlings。 I am much obliged to
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you for one of the pleasantest evenings I ever spent in my life。”
They； on the contrary； are much obliged to him for the pleasure
he has given them in his company； and so they part with many
expressions of good…will on both sides。 “Now； George； old boy；”
says Mr Bucket； taking his arm at the shop door； “come along。’“ As
they go down the little street； and the Bagnets pause for a minute
looking after them； Mrs Bagnet remarks to the worthy Lignum
that Mr Bucket “almost clings to George like； and seems to be
really fond of him。”
The neighbouring streets being narrow and ill paved； it is a
little inconvenient to walk there two abreast and arm in arm。 Mr
George therefore soon proposes to walk singly。 But Mr Bucket；
who cannot make up his mind to relinquish his friendly hold；
replies。 “Wait half a minute； George。 I should wish to speak to you
first。” Immediately afterwards； he twists him into a public…house
and into a parlour； where he confronts him； and claps his own
back against the door。
“Now； George；” says Mr Bucket。 “Duty is duty； and friendship
is friendship。 I never want the two to clash； if I can help it。 I have
endeavoured to make things pleasant tonight； and I put it to you
whether I have done it or not。 You must consider yourself in
custody； George。”
“Custody？ What for？” returns the trooper； thunderstruck。
“Now； George；” says Mr Bucket； urging a sensible view of the
case upon him with his fat forefinger； “duty； as you know very
well； is one thing； and conversation is another。 It’s my duty to
inform you that any observations you may make will be liable to be
used against you。 Therefore； George； be careful what you say。 You
don’t happen to have heard of a murder！”
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“Murder！”
“Now； George；” says Mr Bucket； keeping his forefinger in an
impressive state of action； “bear in mind what I’ve said to you。 I
ask you nothing。 You’ve been in low spirits this afternoon。 I say；
you don’t happen to have heard of a murder。”
“No。 Where has there been a murder？”
“Now； George；” says Mr Bucket； “don’t you go and commit
yourself。 I’m a…going to tell you what I want you for。 There has
been a murder in Lincoln’s Inn Fields—gentleman of the name of
Tulkinghorn。 He was shot last night。 I want you for that。”
The trooper sinks upon a seat behind him； and great drops start
out upon his forehead； and a deadly pallor overspreads his face。
“Bucket！ It’s not possible that Mr Tulkinghorn has been killed
and that you suspect me？”
“George；” returns Mr Bucket； keeping his forefinger going； “it
is certainly possible； because it’s the case。 This deed was done last
night at ten o’clock。 Now； you know where you were last night at
ten o’clock； and you’ll be able to prove it no doubt。”
“Last night！ Last night？” repeats the trooper； thoughtfully。
Then it flashes upon him。 “Why； great Heaven； I was there last
night！”
“So I have understood； George；” returns Mr Bucket； with great
deliberation。 “So I have understood。 Likewise you’ve been very
often there。 You’ve been seen hanging about the place； and you’ve
been heard more than once in a wrangle with him； and it’s
possible—I don’t say it’s certainly so； mind you； but it’s possible—
that he may have been heard to call you a threatening； murdering；
dangerous fellow。”
The trooper gasps as if he would admit it all； if he could speak。
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“Now； George；” continues Mr Bucket； putting his hat upon the
table； with an air of business rather in the upholstery way than
otherwise； “My wish is； as it has been all the evening； to make
things pleasant。 I tell you plainly there’s a reward out； of a
hundred guineas； offered by Sir Leicester Dedlock； Baronet。 You
and me have always been pleasant together； but I have got a duty
to discharge； and if that hundred guineas is to be made； it may as
well be made by me as by another man。 On all of which accounts； I
should hope it was clear to you that I must have you； and that I’m
damned if I don’t have you。 Am I to call in any assistance； or is the
trick done？”
Mr George has recovered himself； and stands up like a soldier。
“Come；” he says； “I am ready。”
“George；” continues Mr Bucket； “wait a bit！” With his
upholsterer manner； as if the trooper were a window to be fitted
up； he takes from his pocket a pair of handcuffs。 “This is a serious
charge； George； and such is my duty。”
The trooper flushes angrily； and hesitates a moment； but holds
out his two hands； clasped together； and says； “There！ Put them
on！”
Mr Bucket adjusts them in a moment。 “How do you find them？
Are they comfortable？ If not； say so； for I wish to make things as
pleasant as is consistent with my duty； and I’ve got another pair in
my pocket。” This remark he offers like a most respectable
tradesman； anxious to execute an order neatly and to the perfect
satisfaction of his customer。 “They’ll do as they are？ Very well！
Now； you see George；” he takes a cloak from a corner； and begins
adjusting it about the trooper’s neck； “I was mindful of your
feelings when I come out； and brought this on purpose。 There！
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Who’s the wiser？”
“Only I；” returns the trooper； “but as I know it； do me one more
good turn； and pull my hat over my eyes。”
“Really； though！ Do you mean it？ Ain’t it a pity？ It looks so。”
“I can’t look chance men in the face with these things on；” Mr
George hurriedly replies。 “Do for God’s sake； pull my hat
forward。”
So strongly entreated； Mr Bucket complies； puts his own hat
on； and conducts his prize into the streets； the trooper marching
on as steadily as usual； though with his head less erect； and Mr
Bucket steering him with his elbow over the crossings and up the
turnings。
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Chapter 50
Esther’s Narrative
t happened that when I came home from Deal； I found a note
from Caddy Jellyby （as we always continued to call her）；
I
informing me that her health； which
