按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
when Mr Chester yawned at length and declared himself quite
wearied out； he made a rough kind of excuse for having talked so
much。
‘There—get you gone；’ said Sir John； holding the door open in
his hand。 ‘You have made a pretty evening’s work。 I told you not to
do this。 You may get into trouble。 You’ll have an opportunity of
revenging yourself on your proud friend Haredale； though； and for
that； you’d hazard anything； I suppose？’
‘I would；’ retorted Hugh； stopping in his passage out and
looking back； ‘but what do I risk！ What do I stand a chance of
losing； master？ Friends； home？ A fig for ’em all； I have none； they
are nothing to me。 Give me a good scuffle； let me pay off old scores
in a bold riot where there are men to stand by me； and then use
me as you like—it don’t matter much to me what the end is！’
‘What have you done with that paper？’ said Sir John。
‘I have it here； master。’
‘Drop it again as you go along； it’s as well not to keep such
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
… Page 435…
Barnaby Rudge 436
things about you。’
Hugh nodded； and touching his cap with an air of as much
respect as he could summon up； departed。
Sir John； fastening the doors behind him； went back to his
dressing…room； and sat down once again before the fire； at which
he gazed for a long time； in earnest meditation。
‘This happens fortunately；’ he said； breaking into a smile； ‘and
promises well。 Let me see。 My relative and I； who are the most
Protestant fellows in the world； give our worst wishes to the
Roman Catholic cause； and to Saville； who introduces their bill； I
have a personal objection besides； but as each of us has himself for
the first article in his creed； we cannot commit ourselves by
joining with a very extravagant madman； such as this Gordon
most undoubtedly is。 Now really； to foment his disturbances in
secret； through the medium of such a very apt instrument as my
savage friend here； may further our real ends； and to express at all
becoming seasons； in moderate and polite terms； a disapprobation
of his proceedings； though we agree with him in principle； will
certainly be to gain a character for honesty and uprightness of
purpose； which cannot fail to do us infinite service； and to raise us
into some importance。 Good！ So much for public grounds。 As to
private considerations； I confess that if these vagabonds would
make some riotous demonstration （which does not appear
impossible）； and would inflict some little chastisement on Haredale
as a not inactive man among his sect； it would be extremely
agreeable to my feelings； and would amuse me beyond measure。
Good again！ Perhaps better！’
When he came to this point； he took a pinch of snuff； then
beginning slowly to undress； he resumed his meditations； by
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
… Page 436…
Barnaby Rudge 437
saying with a smile：
‘I fear； I do fear exceedingly； that my friend is following fast in
the footsteps of his mother。 His intimacy with Mr Dennis is very
ominous。 But I have no doubt he must have come to that end any
way。 If I lend him a helping hand； the only difference is； that he
may； upon the whole； possibly drink a few gallons； or puncheons；
or hogsheads； less in this life than he otherwise would。 It’s no
business of mine。 It’s a matter of very small importance！’
So he took another pinch of snuff； and went to bed。
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
… Page 437…
Barnaby Rudge 438
Chapter 41
rom the workshop of the Golden Key； there issued forth a
tinkling sound； so merry and good…humoured； that it
Fsuggested the idea of some one working blithely； and made
quite pleasant music。 No man who hammered on at a dull
monotonous duty； could have brought such cheerful notes from
steel and iron； none but a chirping； healthy； honest…hearted fellow；
who made the best of everything； and felt kindly towards
everybody； could have done it for an instant。 He might have been a
coppersmith； and still been musical。 If he had sat in a jolting
waggon； full of rods of iron； it seemed as if he would have brought
some harmony out of it。
Tink； tink； tink—clear as a silver bell； and audible at every
pause of the streets’ harsher noises； as though it said； ‘I don’t care；
nothing puts me out； I am resolved to he happy。’ Women scolded；
children squalled； heavy carts went rumbling by； horrible cries
proceeded from the lungs of hawkers； still it struck in again； no
higher； no lower； no louder； no softer； not thrusting itself on
people’s notice a bit the more for having been outdone by louder
sounds—tink； tink； tink； tink； tink。
It was a perfect embodiment of the still small voice； free from all
cold； hoarseness； huskiness； or unhealthiness of any kind； foot…
passengers slackened their pace； and were disposed to linger near
it； neighbours who had got up splenetic that morning； felt good…
humour stealing on them as they heard it； and by degrees became
quite sprightly； mothers danced their babies to its ringing； still the
same magical tink； tink； tink； came gaily from the workshop of the
Golden Key。
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
… Page 438…
Barnaby Rudge 439
Who but the locksmith could have made such music！ A gleam of
sun shining through the unsashed window； and chequering the
dark workshop with a broad patch of light； fell full upon him； as
though attracted by his sunny heart。 There he stood working at his
anvil； his face all radiant with exercise and gladness；