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！
us really； for a moment； contemplate the very remarkable
character of this meeting。 Haredale； my dear friend； pardon me if I
think you are not sufficiently impressed with its singularity。 Here
we stand； by no previous appointment or arrangement； three old
schoolfellows； in Westminster Hall； three old boarders in a
remarkably dull and shady seminary at Saint Omer’s； where you；
being Catholics and of necessity educated out of England； were
brought up； and where I； being a promising young Protestant at
that time； was sent to learn the French tongue from a native of
Paris！’
‘Add to the singularity； Sir John；’ said Mr Haredale； ‘that some
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
… Page 464…
Barnaby Rudge 465
of you Protestants of promise are at this moment leagued in
yonder building； to prevent our having the surpassing and
unheard…of privilege of teaching our children to read and write—
here—in this land； where thousands of us enter your service every
year； and to preserve the freedom of which； we die in bloody
battles abroad； in heaps： and that others of you； to the number of
some thousands as I learn； are led on to look on all men of my
creed as wolves and beasts of prey； by this man Gashford。 Add to it
besides the bare fact that this man lives in society； walks the
streets in broad day—I was about to say； holds up his head； but
that he does not—and it will be strange； and very strange； I grant
you。’
‘Oh！ you are hard upon our friend；’ replied Sir John； with an
engaging smile。 ‘You are really very hard upon our friend！’
‘Let him go on； Sir John；’ said Gashford； fumbling with his
gloves。 ‘Let him go on。 I can make allowances； Sir John。 I am
honoured with your good opinion； and I can dispense with Mr
Haredale’s。 Mr Haredale is a sufferer from the penal laws； and I
can’t expect his favour。’
‘You have so much of my favour； sir；’ retorted Mr Haredale；
with a bitter glance at the third party in their conversation； ‘that I
am glad to see you in such good company。 You are the essence of
your great Association； in yourselves。’
‘Now； there you mistake；’ said Sir John； in his most benignant
way。 ‘There—which is a most remarkable circumstance for a man
of your punctuality and exactness； Haredale—you fall into error。 I
don’t belong to the body； I have an immense respect for its
members； but I don’t belong to it； although I am； it is certainly
true； the conscientious opponent of your being relieved。 I feel it
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
… Page 465…
Barnaby Rudge 466
my duty to be so； it is a most unfortunate necessity； and cost me a
bitter struggle。—Will you try this box？ If you don’t object to a
trifling infusion of a very chaste scent； you’ll find its flavour
exquisite。’
‘I ask your pardon； Sir John；’ said Mr Haredale； declining the
proffer with a motion of his hand； ‘for having ranked you among
the humble instruments who are obvious and in all men’s sight。 I
should have done more justice to your genius。 Men of your
capacity plot in secrecy and safety； and leave exposed posts to the
duller wits。’
‘Don’t apologise； for the world；’ replied Sir John sweetly； ‘old
friends like you and I； may be allowed some freedoms； or the
deuce is in it。’
Gashford； who had been very restless all this time； but had not
once looked up； now turned to Sir John； and ventured to mutter
something to the effect that he must go； or my lord would perhaps
be waiting。
‘Don’t distress yourself； good sir；’ said Mr Haredale； ‘I’ll take my
leave； and put you at your ease—’ which he was about to do
without ceremony； when he was stayed by a buzz and murmur at
the upper end of the hall； and； looking in that direction； saw Lord
George Gordon coming in； with a crowd of people round him。
There was a lurking look of triumph； though very differently
expressed； in the faces of his two companions； which made it a
natural impulse on Mr Haredale’s part not to give way before this
leader； but to stand there while he passed。 He drew himself up
and； clasping his hands behind him； looked on with a proud and
scornful aspect； while Lord George slowly advanced （for the press
was great about him） towards the spot where they were standing。
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
… Page 466…
Barnaby Rudge 467
He had left the House of Commons but that moment； and had
come straight down into the Hall； bringing with him； as his custom
was； intelligence of what had been said that night in reference to
the Papists； and what petitions had been presented in their favour；
and who had supported them； and when the bill was to be brought
in； and when it would be advisable to present their own Great
Protestant petition。 All this he told the persons about him in a loud
voice； and with great abundance of ungainly gesture。 Those who
were nearest him made comments to each other； and vented
threats and murmurings； those who were outside the crowd cried；
‘Silence；’ and Stand back；’ or closed in upon the rest；
endeavouring to make a forcible exchange of places： and so they
came driving on in a very disorderly and irregular way； as it is the
manner of a crowd to do。
When they were very near to where the secretary； Sir John； and
Mr Haredale stood； Lord George turned round and； making a few
remarks of a sufficiently violent and incoherent kind； concluded
with the usual sentiment； and called for three cheers to back it。
While these were in the act of being given with great energy； he
extricated himself from the press； and stepped up to Gashford’s
side。 Both he and Sir John being well known to t