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lofty stone； but of wood and plaster； it was not planned with a dull
and wearisome regard to regularity； for no one window matched
the other； or seemed to have the slightest reference to anything
besides itself。
The shop—for it had a shop—was； with reference to the first
floor； where shops usually are； and there all resemblance between
it and any other shop stopped short and ceased。 People who went
in and out didn’t go up a flight of steps to it； or walk easily in upon
a level with the street； but dived down three steep stairs； as into a
cellar。 Its floor was paved with stone and brick； as that of any
other cellar might be； and in lieu of window framed and glazed it
had a great black wooden flap or shutter； nearly breast high from
the ground； which turned back in the day…time； admitting as much
cold air as light； and very often more。 Behind this shop was a
wainscoted parlour； looking first into a paved yard； and beyond
that again into a little terrace garden； raised some feet above it。
Any stranger would have supposed that this wainscoted parlour；
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saving for the door of communication by which he had entered；
was cut off and detached from all the world； and indeed most
strangers on their first entrance were observed to grow extremely
thoughtful； as weighing and pondering in their minds whether the
upper rooms were only approachable by ladders from without；
never suspecting that two of the most unassuming and unlikely
doors in existence； which the most ingenious mechanician on
earth must of necessity have supposed to be the doors of closets；
opened out of this room—each without the smallest preparation；
or so much as a quarter of an inch of passage—upon two dark
winding flights of stairs； the one upward； the other downward；
which were the sole means of communication between that
chamber and the other portions of the house。
With all these oddities； there was not a neater； more
scrupulously tidy； or more punctiliously ordered house； in
Clerkenwell； in London； in all England。 There were not cleaner
windows； or whiter floors； or brighter Stoves； or more highly
shining articles of furniture in old mahogany； there was not more
rubbing； scrubbing； burnishing and polishing； in the whole street
put together。 Nor was this excellence attained without some cost
and trouble and great expenditure of voice； as the neighbours
were frequently reminded when the good lady of the house
overlooked and assisted in its being put to rights on cleaning
days—which were usually from Monday morning till Saturday
night； both days inclusive。
Leaning against the door…post of this； his dwelling； the
locksmith stood early on the morning after he had met with the
wounded man； gazing disconsolately at a great wooden emblem of
a key； painted in vivid yellow to resemble gold； which dangled
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Barnaby Rudge 57
from the house…front； and swung to and fro with a mournful
creaking noise； as if complaining that it had nothing to unlock。
Sometimes； he looked over his shoulder into the shop； which was
so dark and dingy with numerous tokens of his trade； and so
blackened by the smoke of a little forge； near which his ’prentice
was at work； that it would have been difficult for one unused to
such espials to have distinguished anything but various tools of
uncouth make and shape； great bunches of rusty keys； fragments
of iron； half…finished locks； and such like things； which garnished
the walls and hung in clusters from the ceiling。
After a long and patient contemplation of the golden key； and
many such backward glances； Gabriel stepped into the road； and
stole a look at the upper windows。 One of them chanced to be
thrown open at the moment； and a roguish face met his； a face
lighted up by the loveliest pair of sparkling eyes that ever
locksmith looked upon； the face of a pretty； laughing； girl； dimpled
and fresh； and healthful—the very impersonation of good…humour
and blooming beauty。
‘Hush！’ she whispered； bending forward and pointing archly to
the window underneath。 ‘Mother is still asleep。’
‘Still； my dear；’ returned the locksmith in the same tone。 ‘You
talk as if she had been asleep all night； instead of little more than
half an hour。 But I’m very thankful。 Sleep’s a blessing—no doubt
about it。’ The last few words he muttered to himself。
‘How cruel of you to keep us up so late this morning； and never
tell us where you were； or send us word！’ said the girl。
‘Ah Dolly； Dolly！’ returned the locksmith； shaking his head； and
smiling； ‘how cruel of you to run upstairs to bed！ Come down to
breakfast； madcap； and come down lightly； or you’ll wake your
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mother。 She must be tired； I am sure—I am。’
Keeping these latter words to himself； and returning his
daughter’s nod； he was passing into the workshop； with the smile
she had awakened still beaming on his face； when he just caught
sight of his ’prentice’s brown paper cap ducking down to avoid
observation； and shrinking from the window back to its former
place； which the wearer no sooner reached than he began to
hammer lustily。
‘Listening again； Simon！’ said Gabriel to himself。 ‘That’s bad。
What in the name of wonder does he expect the girl to say； that I
always catch him listening when she speaks； and never at any
other time！ A bad habit； Sim； a sneaki