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！
direction in which the noise was rapidly advancing； and did not so
much as take his hands out of his pockets。
He had not to wait long。 A dark mass； looming through a cloud
of dust； soon became visible； the mob quickened their pace；
shouting and whooping like savages； they came rushing on pell
mell； and in a few seconds he was bandied from hand to hand； in
the heart of a crowd of men。
‘Halloa！’ cried a voice he knew； as the man who spoke came
cleaving through the throng。 ‘Where is he？ Give him to me。 Don’t
hurt him。 How now； old Jack！ Ha ha ha！’
Mr Willet looked at him； and saw it was Hugh； but he said
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
… Page 581…
Barnaby Rudge 582
nothing； and thought nothing。
‘These lads are thirsty and must drink！’ cried Hugh； thrusting
him back towards the house。 ‘Bustle； Jack； bustle。 Show us the
best—the very best—the over…proof that you keep for your own
drinking； Jack！’
John faintly articulated the words； ‘Who’s to pay？’
‘He says “Who’s to pay？”’ cried Hugh； with a roar of laughter
which was loudly echoed by the crowd。 Then turning to John； he
added； ‘Pay！ Why； nobody。’
John stared round at the mass of faces—some grinning； some
fierce； some lighted up by torches； some indistinct； some dusky
and shadowy： some looking at him； some at his house； some at
each other—and while he was； as he thought； in the very act of
doing so； found himself； without any consciousness of having
moved； in the bar； sitting down in an arm…chair； and watching the
destruction of his property； as if it were some queer play or
entertainment； of an astonishing and stupefying nature； but
having no reference to himself—that he could make out—at all。
Yes。 Here was the bar—the bar that the boldest never entered
without special invitation—the sanctuary； the mystery； the
hallowed ground： here it was； crammed with men； clubs； sticks；
torches； pistols； filled with a deafening noise； oaths； shouts；
screams； hootings； changed all at once into a bear…garden； a
madhouse； an infernal temple： men darting in and out； by door
and window； smashing the glass； turning the taps； drinking liquor
out of China punchbowls； sitting astride of casks； smoking private
and personal pipes； cutting down the sacred grove of lemons；
hacking and hewing at the celebrated cheese； breaking open
inviolable drawers； putting things in their pockets which didn’t
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
… Page 582…
Barnaby Rudge 583
belong to them； dividing his own money before his own eyes；
wantonly wasting； breaking； pulling down and tearing up： nothing
quiet； nothing private： men everywhere—above； below； overhead；
in the bedrooms； in the kitchen； in the yard； in the stables—
clambering in at windows when there were doors wide open；
dropping out of windows when the stairs were handy； leaping over
the bannisters into chasms of passages： new faces and figures
presenting themselves every instant—some yelling； some singing；
some fighting； some breaking glass and crockery； some laying the
dust with the liquor they couldn’t drink； some ringing the bells till
they pulled them down； others beating them with pokers till they
beat them into fragments： more men still—more； more； more—
swarming on like insects： noise； smoke； light； darkness； frolic；
anger； laughter； groans； plunder； fear； and ruin！
Nearly all the time while John looked on at this bewildering
scene； Hugh kept near him； and though he was the loudest；
wildest； most destructive villain there； he saved his old master’s
bones a score of times。 Nay； even when Mr Tappertit； excited by
liquor； came up； and in assertion of his prerogative politely kicked
John Willet on the shins； Hugh bade him return the compliment；
and if old John had had sufficient presence of mind to understand
this whispered direction； and to profit by it； he might no doubt；
under Hugh’s protection； have done so with impunity。
At length the band began to reassemble outside the house； and
to call to those within； to join them； for they were losing time。
These murmurs increasing； and attaining a high pitch； Hugh； and
some of those who yet lingered in the bar； and who plainly were
the leaders of the troop； took counsel together； apart； as to what
was to be done with John； to keep him quiet until their Chigwell
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
… Page 583…
Barnaby Rudge 584
work was over。 Some proposed to set the house on fire and leave
him in it； others； that he should be reduced to a state of temporary
insensibility； by knocking on the head； others； that he should be
sworn to sit where he was until to…morrow at the same hour；
others again； that he should be gagged and taken off with them；
under a sufficient guard。 All these propositions being overruled； it
was concluded； at last； to bind him in his chair； and the word was
passed for Dennis。
‘Look’ee here； Jack！’ said Hugh； striding up to him： ‘We are
going to tie you； hand and foot； but otherwise you won’t be hurt。
D’ye hear？’
John Willet looked at another man； as if he didn’t know which
was the speaker； and muttered something about an ordinary every
Sunday at two o’clock。
‘You won’t be hurt I tell you； Jack—do you hear me？’ roared
Hugh； impressing the assurance upon him by means of a heavy
blow on the back。 ‘He’s so dead scared； he’s woolgathering； I
think。 Give him a drop of something to drink here。 Hand over； one
of you。’
A glass of liquor being passed forward； Hugh poured the
contents down old John’s