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！
wended home alone at midnight； to keep the middle of the road；
the better to guard against surprise from lurking footpads； few
would venture to repair at a late hour to Kentish Town or
Hampstead； or even to Kensington or Chelsea； unarmed and
unattended； while he who had been loudest and most valiant at
the supper…table or the tavern； and had but a mile or so to go； was
glad to fee a link…boy to escort him home。
There were many other characteristics—not quite so
disagreeable—about the thoroughfares of London then； with
which they had been long familiar。 Some of the shops； especially
those to the eastward of Temple Bar； still adhered to the old
practice of hanging out a sign； and the creaking and swinging of
these boards in their iron frames on windy nights； formed a
strange and mournful concert for the ears of those who lay awake
in bed or hurried through the streets。 Long stands of hackney…
chairs and groups of chairmen； compared with whom the
coachmen of our day are gentle and polite； obstructed the way and
filled the air with clamour； night…cellars； indicated by a little
stream of light crossing the pavement； and stretching out half…way
into the road； and by the stifled roar of voices from below； yawned
for the reception and entertainment of the most abandoned of
both sexes； under every shed and bulk small groups of link…boys
gamed away the earnings of the day； or one more weary than the
rest； gave way to sleep； and let the fragment of his torch fall
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
… Page 182…
Barnaby Rudge 183
hissing on the puddled ground。
Then there was the watch with staff and lantern crying the
hour； and the kind of weather； and those who woke up at his voice
and turned them round in bed； were glad to hear it rained； or
snowed； or blew； or froze； for very comfort’s sake。 The solitary
passenger was startled by the chairmen’s cry of ‘By your leave
there！’ as two came trotting past him with their empty vehicle—
carried backwards to show its being disengaged—and hurried to
the nearest stand。 Many a private chair； too； inclosing some fine
lady； monstrously hooped and furbelowed； and preceded by
running…footmen bearing flambeaux—for which extinguishers are
yet suspended before the doors of a few houses of the better sort—
made the way gay and light as it danced along； and darker and
more dismal when it had passed。 It was not unusual for these
running gentry； who carried it with a very high hand； to quarrel in
the servants’ hall while waiting for their masters and mistresses；
and； falling to blows either there or in the street without； to strew
the place of skirmish with hair…powder； fragments of bag…wigs； and
scattered nosegays。 Gaming； the vice which ran so high among all
classes （the fashion being of course set by the upper）； was
generally the cause of these disputes； for cards and dice were as
openly used； and worked as much mischief； and yielded as much
excitement below stairs； as above。 While incidents like these；
arising out of drums and masquerades and parties at quadrille；
were passing at the west end of the town； heavy stagecoaches and
scarce heavier waggons were lumbering slowly towards the city；
the coachmen； guard； and passengers； armed to the teeth； and the
coach—a day or so perhaps behind its time； but that was
nothing—despoiled by highwaymen； who made no scruple to
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
… Page 183…
Barnaby Rudge 184
attack； alone and single…handed； a whole caravan of goods and
men； and sometimes shot a passenger or two； and were sometimes
shot themselves； as the case might be。 On the morrow； rumours of
this new act of daring on the road yielded matter for a few hours’
conversation through the town； and a Public Progress of some fine
gentleman （half…drunk） to Tyburn； dressed in the newest fashion；
and damning the ordinary with unspeakable gallantry and grace；
furnished to the populace； at once a pleasant excitement and a
wholesome and profound example。
Among all the dangerous characters who； in such a state of
society； prowled and skulked in the metropolis at night； there was
one man from whom many as uncouth and fierce as he； shrunk
with an involuntary dread。 Who he was； or whence he came； was a
question often asked； but which none could answer。 His name was
unknown； he had never been seen until within about eight days or
thereabouts； and was equally a stranger to the old ruffians； upon
whose haunts he ventured fearlessly； as to the young。 He could be
no spy； for he never removed his slouched hat to look about him；
entered into conversation with no man； heeded nothing that
passed； listened to no discourse； regarded nobody that came or
went。 But so surely as the dead of night set in； so surely this man
was in the midst of the loose concourse in the night…cellar where
outcasts of every grade resorted； and there he sat till morning。
He was not only a spectre at their licentious feasts； a something
in the midst of their revelry and riot that chilled and haunted
them； but out of doors he was the same。 Directly it was dark； he
was abroad—never in company with any one； but always alone；
never lingering or loitering； but always walking swiftly； and
looking （so they said who had seen him） over his shoulder from
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
… Page 184…
Barnaby Rudge 185
time to time； and as he did so quickening his pace。 In the fields；
the lanes； the roads； in all quarters of the town—east； west； north；
and south—that man was seen gliding on