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Barnaby Rudge 287
‘You’re a good fellow； Varden；’ said Mr Haredale； ‘and are quite
right。 I have brooded on that subject so long； that every breath of
suspicion carries me back to it。 You are quite right。’
‘It isn’t； sir；’ cried the locksmith with brightened eyes； and
sturdy； honest voice； ‘it isn’t because I courted her before Rudge；
and failed； that I say she was too good for him。 She would have
been as much too good for me。 But she was too good for him； he
wasn’t free and frank enough for her。 I don’t reproach his memory
with it； poor fellow； I only want to put her before you as she really
was。 For myself； I’ll keep her old picture in my mind； and thinking
of that； and what has altered her； I’ll stand her friend； and try to
win her back to peace。 And damme； sir；’ cried Gabriel； ‘with your
pardon for the word； I’d do the same if she had married fifty
highwaymen in a twelvemonth； and think it in the Protestant
Manual too； though Martha said it wasn’t； tooth and nail； till
doomsday！’
If the dark little parlour had been filled with a dense fog； which；
clearing away in an instant； left it all radiance and brightness； it
could not have been more suddenly cheered than by this outbreak
on the part of the hearty locksmith。 In a voice nearly as full and
round as his own； Mr Haredale cried ‘Well said！’ and bade him
come away without more parley。 The locksmith complied right
willingly； and both getting into a hackney coach which was waiting
at the door； drove off straightway。
They alighted at the street corner； and dismissing their
conveyance； walked to the house。 To their first knock at the door
there was no response。 A second met with the like result。 But in
answer to the third； which was of a more vigorous kind； the
parlour window…sash was gently raised； and a musical voice cried：
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Barnaby Rudge 288
‘Haredale； my dear fellow； I am extremely glad to see you。 How
very much you have improved in your appearance since our last
meeting！ I never saw you looking better。 How do you do？’
Mr Haredale turned his eyes towards the casement whence the
voice proceeded； though there was no need to do so； to recognise
the speaker； and Mr Chester waved his hand； and smiled a
courteous welcome。
‘The door will be opened immediately；’ he said。 ‘There is
nobody but a very dilapidated female to perform such offices。 You
will excuse her infirmities？ If she were in a more elevated station
of society； she would be gouty。 Being but a hewer of wood and
drawer of water； she is rheumatic。 My dear Haredale； these are
natural class distinctions； depend upon it。’
Mr Haredale； whose face resumed its lowering and distrustful
look the moment he heard the voice； inclined his head stiffly； and
turned his back upon the speaker。
‘Not opened yet；’ said Mr Chester。 ‘Dear me！ I hope the aged
soul has not caught her foot in some unlucky cobweb by the way。
She is there at last！ Come in； I beg！’
Mr Haredale entered； followed by the locksmith。 Turning with a
look of great astonishment to the old woman who had opened the
door； he inquired for Mrs Rudge—for Barnaby。 They were both
gone； she replied； wagging her ancient head； for good。 There was a
gentleman in the parlour； who perhaps could tell them more。 That
was all she knew。
‘Pray； sir；’ said Mr Haredale； presenting himself before this new
tenant； ‘where is the person whom I came here to see？’
‘My dear friend；’ he returned； ‘I have not the least idea。’
‘Your trifling is ill…timed；’ retorted the other in a suppressed
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Barnaby Rudge 289
tone and voice； ‘and its subject ill…chosen。 Reserve it for those who
are your friends； and do not expend it on me。 I lay no claim to the
distinction； and have the self…denial to reject it。’
‘My dear； good sir；’ said Mr Chester； ‘you are heated with
walking。 Sit down； I beg。 Our friend is—’
‘Is but a plain honest man；’ returned Mr Haredale； ‘and quite
unworthy of your notice。’
‘Gabriel Varden by name； sir；’ said the locksmith bluntly。
‘A worthy English yeoman！’ said Mr Chester。 ‘A most worthy
yeoman； of whom I have frequently heard my son Ned—darling
fellow—speak； and have often wished to see。 Varden； my good
friend； I am glad to know you。 You wonder now；’ he said； turning
languidly to Mr Haredale； ‘to see me here。 Now； I am sure you do。’
Mr Haredale glanced at him—not fondly or admiringly—smiled；
and held his peace。
‘The mystery is solved in a moment；’ said Mr Chester； ‘in a
moment。 Will you step aside with me one instant。 You remember
our little compact in reference to Ned； and your dear niece；
Haredale？ You remember the list of assistants in their innocent
intrigue？ You remember these two people being among them？ My
dear fellow； congratulate yourself； and me。 I have bought them
off。’
‘You have done what？’ said Mr Haredale。
‘Bought them off；’ returned his smiling friend。 ‘I have found it
necessary to take some active steps towards setting this boy and
girl attachment quite at rest； and have begun by removing these
two agents。 You are surprised？ Who can withstand the influence
of a little money！ They wanted it； and have been bought off。 We
have nothing more to fear from them。 They are gone。’
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‘Gone！’ echoed Mr Haredale。 ‘Where？’
‘My dear fellow—and you must permit me to say again； that you
never looked so young； so positively boyish as you do to…night—the
Lord knows where； I believe Columbus himself wouldn’t find
them。 Between you and me they