cranford(克兰弗德)-第33节
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before the magistrates and committed for trial … and that seemed to make
us all afraid of being robbed； and for a long time； at Miss Matty's； I
know； we used to make a regular expedition all round the kitchens and
cellars every night； Miss Matty leading the way； armed with the poker； I
following with the hearth…brush； and Martha carrying the shovel and
fire…irons with which to sound the alarm； and by the accidental hitting
together of them she often frightened us so much that we bolted
ourselves up； all three together； in the back…kitchen； or store…room； or
wherever we happened to be； till； when our affright was over； we
recollected ourselves and set out afresh with double valiance。 By day
we heard strange stories from the shopkeepers and cottagers； of carts
that went about in the dead of night； drawn by horses shod with felt；
and guarded by men in dark clothes； going round the town； no doubt in
search of some unwatched house or some unfastened door。
Miss Pole； who affected great bravery herself； was the principal
person to collect and arrange these reports so as to make them assume
their most fearful aspect。 But we discovered that she had begged one
of Mr Hoggins's worn…out hats to hang up in her lobby； and we （at least I）
had doubts as to whether she really would enjoy the little adventure of
having her house broken into； as she protested she should。 Miss Matty
made no secret of being an arrant coward； but she went regularly
through her housekeeper's duty of inspection … only the hour for this
became earlier and earlier； till at last we went the rounds at half…past six；
and Miss Matty adjourned to bed soon after seven； 〃in order to get the
night over the sooner。〃
Cranford had so long piqued itself on being an honest and moral
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town that it had grown to fancy itself too genteel and well…bred to be
otherwise； and felt the stain upon its character at this time doubly。 But
we comforted ourselves with the assurance which we gave to each other
that the robberies could never have been committed by any Cranford
person； it must have been a stranger or strangers who brought this
disgrace upon the town； and occasioned as many precautions as if we
were living among the Red Indians or the French。
This last comparison of our nightly state of defence and fortification
was made by Mrs Forrester； whose father had served under General
Burgoyne in the American war； and whose husband had fought the
French in Spain。 She indeed inclined to the idea that； in some way； the
French were connected with the small thefts； which were ascertained
facts； and the burglaries and highway robberies； which were rumours。
She had been deeply impressed with the idea of French spies at some
time in her life； and the notion could never be fairly eradicated； but
sprang up again from time to time。 And now her theory was this：… The
Cranford people respected themselves too much； and were too grateful
to the aristocracy who were so kind as to live near the town； ever to
disgrace their bringing up by being dishonest or immoral； therefore； we
must believe that the robbers were strangers … if strangers； why not
foreigners？ … if foreigners； who so likely as the French？ Signor
Brunoni spoke broken English like a Frenchman； and； though he wore a
turban like a Turk； Mrs Forrester had seen a print of Madame de Stael
with a turban on； and another of Mr Denon in just such a dress as that in
which the conjuror had made his appearance； showing clearly that the
French； as well as the Turks； wore turbans。 There could be no doubt
Signor Brunoni was a Frenchman … a French spy come to discover the
weak and undefended places of England； and doubtless he had his
accomplices。 For her part； she； Mrs Forrester； had always had her own
opinion of Miss Pole's adventure at the 〃George Inn〃 … seeing two men
where only one was believed to be。 French people had ways and
means which； she was thankful to say； the English knew nothing about；
and she had never felt quite easy in her mind about going to see that
conjuror … it was rather too much like a forbidden thing； though the
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rector was there。 In short； Mrs Forrester grew more excited than we
had ever known her before； and； being an officer's daughter and widow；
we looked up to her opinion； of course。
Really I do not know how much was true or false in the reports
which flew about like wildfire just at this time； but it seemed to me then
that there was every reason to believe that at Mardon （a small town
about eight miles from Cranford） houses and shops were entered by
holes made in the walls； the bricks being silently carried away in the
dead of the night； and all done so quietly that no sound was heard either
in or out of the house。 Miss Matty gave it up in despair when she heard
of this。 〃What was the use；〃 said she； 〃of locks and bolts； and bells to
the windows； and going round the house every night？ That last trick
was fit for a conjuror。 Now she did believe that Signor Brunoni was at
the bottom of it。〃
One afternoon； about five o'clock； we were startled by a hasty knock
at the door。 Miss Matty bade me run and tell Martha on no account to
open the door till she （Miss Matty） had reconnoitred through the window；
and she armed herself with a footstool to drop down on the head of the
visitor； in case he should show a face covered with black crape； as he
looked up in answer to her inquiry of who was there。 But it was
nobody but Miss Pole and Betty。 The former came upstairs； carrying a
little hand…basket； and she was evidently in a state of great agitation。
〃Take care of that！〃 said she to me； as I offered to relieve her of her
basket。 〃It's my plate。 I am sure there is a plan to rob my house to…
night。 I am come to throw myself on your hospitality； Miss Matty。
Betty is going to sleep with her cousin at the 'George。' I can sit up here
all night if you will allow me； but my house is so far from any
neighbours； and I don't believe we could be heard if we screamed ever
so！〃
〃But；〃 said Miss Matty； 〃what has alarmed you so much？ Have you
seen any men lurking about the house？〃
〃Oh； yes！〃 answered Miss Pole。 〃Two very bad…looking men have
gone three times past the house； very slowly； and an Irish beggar…woman
came not half…an…hour ago； and all but forced herself in past Betty；
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saying her children were starving； and she must speak to the mistress。
You see； she said 'mistress；' though there was a hat hanging up in the hall；
and it would have been more natural to have said 'master。' But Betty
shut the door in her face； and came up to me； and we got the spoons
together； and sat in
