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！
hearth clean swept； the light waned without； it grew dusk； became
quite dark； and still no Barnaby appeared。 Yet； though John Willet
was full of wonder and misgiving； his guest sat cross…legged in the
easy…chair； to all appearance as little ruffled in his thoughts as in
his dress—the same calm； easy； cool gentleman； without a care or
thought beyond his golden toothpick。
‘Barnaby’s late；’ John ventured to observe； as he placed a pair
of tarnished candlesticks； some three feet high； upon the table；
and snuffed the lights they held。
‘He is rather so；’ replied the guest； sipping his wine。 ‘He will not
be much longer； I dare say。’
John coughed and raked the fire together。
‘As your roads bear no very good character； if I may judge from
my son’s mishap； though；’ said Mr Chester； ‘and as I have no fancy
to be knocked on the head—which is not only disconcerting at the
moment； but places one； besides； in a ridiculous position with
respect to the people who chance to pick one up—I shall stop here
to…night。 I think you said you had a bed to spare。’
‘Such a bed； sir；’ returned John Willet； ‘ay； such a bed as few；
even of the gentry’s houses； own。 A fixter here； sir。 I’ve heard say
that bedstead is nigh two hundred years of age。 Your noble son—a
fine young gentleman—slept in it last； sir； half a year ago。’
‘Upon my life； a recommendation！’ said the guest； shrugging his
shoulders and wheeling his chair nearer to the fire。 ‘See that it be
well aired； Mr Willet； and let a blazing fire be lighted there at once。
This house is something damp and chilly。’
John raked the faggots up again； more from habit than
presence of mind； or any reference to this remark； and was about
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
… Page 127…
Barnaby Rudge 128
to withdraw； when a bounding step was heard upon the stair； and
Barnaby came panting in。
‘He’ll have his foot in the stirrup in an hour’s time；’ he cried；
advancing。 ‘He has been riding hard all day—has just come
home—but will be in the saddle again as soon as he has eat and
drank； to meet his loving friend。’
‘Was that his message？’ asked the visitor； looking up； but
without the smallest discomposure—or at least without the show
of any。
‘All but the last words；’ Barnaby rejoined。 ‘He meant those。 I
saw that； in his face。’
‘This for your pains；’ said the other； putting money in his hand；
and glancing at him steadfastly。’ This for your pains； sharp
Barnaby。’
‘For Grip； and me； and Hugh； to share among us；’ he rejoined；
putting it up； and nodding； as he counted it on his fingers。 ‘Grip
one； me two； Hugh three； the dog； the goat； the cats—well； we
shall spend it pretty soon； I warn you。 Stay。—Look。 Do you wise
men see nothing there； now？’
He bent eagerly down on one knee； and gazed intently at the
smoke； which was rolling up the chimney in a thick black cloud。
John Willet； who appeared to consider himself particularly and
chiefly referred to under the term wise men； looked that way
likewise； and with great solidity of feature。
‘Now； where do they go to； when they spring so fast up there；’
asked Barnaby； ‘eh？ Why do they tread so closely on each other’s
heels； and why are they always in a hurry—which is what you
blame me for； when I only take pattern by these busy folk about
me？ More of ’em！ catching to each other’s skirts； and as fast as
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
… Page 128…
Barnaby Rudge 129
they go； others come！ What a merry dance it is！ I would that Grip
and I could frisk like that！’
‘What has he in that basket at his back？’ asked the guest after a
few moments； during which Barnaby was still bending down to
look higher up the chimney； and earnestly watching the smoke。
‘In this？’ he answered； jumping up； before John Willet could
reply—shaking it as he spoke； and stooping his head to listen。 ‘In
this！ What is there here？ Tell him！’
‘A devil； a devil； a devil！’ cried a hoarse voice。
‘Here’s money！’ said Barnaby； chinking it in his hand； ‘money
for a treat； Grip！’
‘Hurrah！ Hurrah！ Hurrah！’ replied the raven； ‘keep up your
spirits。 Never say die。 Bow； wow； wow！’
Mr Willet； who appeared to entertain strong doubts whether a
customer in a laced coat and fine linen could be supposed to have
any acquaintance even with the existence of such unpolite gentry
as the bird claimed to belong to； took Barnaby off at this juncture；
with the view of preventing any other improper declarations； and
quitted the room with his very best bow。
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
… Page 129…
Barnaby Rudge 130
Chapter 11
here was great news that night for the regular Maypole
customers； to each of whom； as he straggled in to occupy
T
his allotted seat in the chimney…corner； John； with a most
impressive slowness of delivery； and in an apoplectic whisper；
communicated the fact that Mr Chester was alone in the large
room upstairs； and was waiting the arrival of Mr Geoffrey
Haredale； to whom he had sent a letter （doubtless of a threatening
nature） by the hands of Barnaby； then and there present。
For a little knot of smokers and solemn gossips； who had
seldom any new topics of discussion； this was a perfect Godsend。
Here was a good； dark…looking mystery progressing under that
very roof—brought home to the fireside； as it were； and enjoyable
without the smallest pains or trouble。 It is extraordinary what a
zest and relish it gave to the drink； and how it heightened the
flavour of the tobacco。 Every man smoked his pipe with a face of
grave and serious delight； and looked at his neighbour with a sort
of quiet congratulation。 Nay； it was felt to be such a holiday and
special night； that； on the motion o