bleak house(凄凉的房子)-第155节
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about the property。 My solicitor will be here presently to protect
the property。 Transportation or the gallows for anybody who shall
touch the property！” As his dutiful grandchildren set him up；
panting； and putting him through the usual restorative process of
shaking and punching； he still repeats like an echo； “the—the
property！ The property！—property！”
Mr Weevle and Mr Guppy look at each other； the former as
having relinquished the whole affair； the latter with a discomfited
countenance； as having entertained some lingering expectations
yet。 But there is nothing to be done in opposition to the
Smallweed interest。 Mr Tulkinghorn’s clerk comes down from his
official pew in the chambers； to mention to the police that Mr
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Tulkinghorn is answerable for its being all correct about the next
of kin； and that the papers and effects will be formally taken
possession of in due time and course。 Mr Smallweed is at once
permitted so far to assert his supremacy as to be carried on a visit
of sentiment into the next house； and upstairs into Miss Flite’s
deserted room； where he looks like a hideous bird of prey newly
added to her aviary。
The arrival of this unexpected heir soon taking wind in the
court； still makes good for the Sol； and keeps the court upon its
mettle。 Mrs Piper and Mrs Perkins think it hard upon the young
man if there really is no will； and consider that a handsome
present ought to be made him out of the estate。 Young Piper and
Young Perkins； as members of that restless juvenile circle which is
the terror of the foot…passengers in Chancery Lane； crumble into
ashes behind the pump and under the archway； all day long；
where wild yells and hootings take place over their remains。 Little
Swills and Miss M。 Melvilleson entered into affable conversation
with their patrons； feeling that these unusual occurrences level the
barriers between professionals and non…professionals。 Mr Bogsby
puts up “The popular song of KING DEATH！ with chorus by the
whole strength of the company；” as the great harmonic feature of
the week； and announces in the bill that “J。 G。 B。 is induced to do
so at a considerable extra expense； in consequence of a wish which
has been very generally expressed at the bar by a large body of
respectable individuals and in homage to a late melancholy event
which has aroused so much sensation。” There is one point
connected with the deceased； upon which the court is particularly
anxious； namely； that the fiction of a full…sized coffin should be
preserved； though there is so little to put in it。 Upon the
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undertaker’s stating in the Sol’s bar in the course of the day； that
he has received orders to construct “a six…footer；” the general
solicitude is much relieved； and it is considered that Mr
Smallweed’s conduct does him great honour。
Out of the court； and a long way out of it； there is considerable
excitement too； for men of science and philosophy come to look；
and carriages set down doctors at the corner who arrive with the
same intent； and there is more learned talk about inflammable
gases and phosphuretted hydrogen than the court has ever
imagined。 Some of these authorities （of course the wisest） hold
with indignation that the deceased had no business to die in the
alleged manner； and being reminded by other authorities of a
certain inquiry into the evidence for such deaths； reprinted in the
sixth volume of the Philosophical Transactions； and also of a book
not quite unknown； on English Medical Jurisprudence； and
likewise of the Italian case of the Countess Cornelia Baudi as set
forth in detail by one Bianchini； prebendary of Verona； who wrote
a scholarly work or so； and was occasionally heard of in his time as
having gleams of reason in him； and also of the testimony of
Messrs。 Foderé and Mere； two pestilent Frenchmen who would
investigate the subject； and further； of the corroborative testimony
of Monsieur Le Cat； a rather celebrated French surgeon once
upon a time； who had the unpoliteness to live in a house where
such a case occurred； and even to write an account of it；—still they
regard the late Mr Krook’s obstinacy； in going out of the world by
any such by…way； as wholly unjustifiable and personally offensive。
The less the court understands of all this； the more the court likes
it； and the greater enjoyment it has in the stock in trade of the
Sol’s Arms。 Then； there comes the artist of a picture newspaper；
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with a foreground and figures ready drawn for anything； from a
wreck on the Cornish coast to a review in Hyde Park； or a meeting
at Manchester；—and in Mrs Perkins’s own room； memorable
evermore； he then and there throws in upon the block； Mr Krook’s
house； as large as life； in fact considerably larger； making a very
temple of it。 Similarly； being permitted to look in at the door of the
fatal chamber； he depicts that apartment as three quarters of a
mile long； by fifty yards high； at which the court is particularly
charmed。 All this time； the two gentlemen before mentioned pop
in and out of every house； and assist at the philosophical
disputations—go everywhere； and listen to everybody；—and yet
are always diving into the Sol’s parlour； and writing with the
ravenous little pens on the tissue…paper。
At last come the coroner and his inquiry； like as before； except
that the coroner cherishes this case as being out of the common
way； and tells the gentlemen of the Jury； in his private capacity；
that “that would seem to be an unlucky house next door；
gentlemen； a destined house； but so we sometimes find it； and
these are mysteries we can’t account for！” After which the six…
footer comes into action； and is much admired。
In all these proceedings Mr Guppy has so slight a part； except
when he gives his evidence； that he is moved on like a private
individual； and can only haunt the secret house on the outside；
where he has the mortification of seeing Mr Smallweed
padlocking the door。 But before these proceedings draw to a close；
that is to say； on the night next after the catastrophe； Mr Guppy
has a thing to say that must be said to Lady Dedlock。
For which reason； with a sinking heart； and with that hang…dog
sense of guilt upon him； which dread and watching； enfolded in
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the Sol’s Arms； have produced； the young man of the name of
Guppy presents himself at the town mansion at about seven
o’clock in the evening； and requests to see her ladyship。 Mercury
replies that she is going out to dinner； don’t he see the carriage at
the door？ Yes； he does see the carriage at the door； but he wants
to see my lady too。
Mercury is disposed； as he will presently declare to a fellow
gentleman in waiting； “to pitch into the young man；” but his
instructions are positive。 Therefore he sulkily supposes that the
young man
