bleak house(凄凉的房子)-第156节
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instructions are positive。 Therefore he sulkily supposes that the
young man must come up into the library。 There he leaves the
young man in a large room； not overlight； while he makes report of
him。
Mr Guppy looks into the shade in all directions； discovering
everywhere a certain charred and whitened little heap of coal or
wood。 Presently he hears a rustling。 Is it —？ No； it’s no ghost； but
fair flesh and blood； most brilliantly dressed。
“I have to beg your ladyship’s pardon；” Mr Guppy stammers；
very downcast。 “This is an inconvenient time—”
“I told you； you could come at any time。” She takes a chair；
looking straight at him as on the last occasion。
“Thank your ladyship。 Your ladyship is very affable。”
“You can sit down。” There is not much affability in her tone。
“I don’t know； your ladyship； that it’s worth while my sitting
down and detaining you； for I—I have not got the letters that I
mentioned when I had the honour of waiting on your ladyship。”
“Have you come merely to say so？”
“Merely to say so； your ladyship。” Mr Guppy besides being
depressed； disappointed； and uneasy； is put at a further
disadvantage by the splendour and beauty of her appearance。 She
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knows its influence perfectly； has studied it too well to miss a grain
of its effect on any one。 As she looks at him so steadily and coldly；
he not only feels conscious that he has no guide； in the least
perception of what is really the complexion of her thoughts； but
also that he is being every moment； as it were； removed further
and further from her。
She will not speak it is plain。 So he must。
“In short； your ladyship；” says Mr Guppy； like a meanly
penitent thief； “the person I was to have had the letters of； has
come to a sudden end； and—” He stops。 Lady Dedlock calmly
finishes the sentence。
“And the letters are destroyed with the person？”
Mr Guppy would say no； if he could—as he is unable to hide。
“I believe so； your ladyship。”
If he could see the least sparkle of relief in her face now？ No； he
could see no such thing； even if that brave outside did not utterly
put him away； and he were not looking beyond it and about it。
He falters an awkward excuse or two for his failure。
“Is this all you have to say？” inquires Lady Dedlock； having
heard him out—or as nearly out as he can stumble。
Mr Guppy thinks that’s all。
“You had better be sure that you wish to say nothing more to
me； this being the last time you will have the opportunity。”
Mr Guppy is quite sure。 And indeed he has no such wish at
present； by any means。
“That is enough。 I will dispense with excuses。 Good evening to
you！” and she rings for Mercury to show the young man of the
name of Guppy out。
But in that house； in that same moment； there happens to be an
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Bleak House 650
old man of the name of Tulkinghorn。 And that old man； coming
with his quiet footstep to the library； has his hand at that moment
on the handle of the door—comes in—and comes face to face with
the young man as he is leaving the room。
One glance between the old man and the lady； and for an
instant the blind that is always down flies up。 Suspicion； eager and
sharp； looks out。 Another instant； close again。
“I beg your pardon； Lady Dedlock。 I beg your pardon a
thousand times。 It is so very unusual to find you here at this hour。
I supposed the room was empty。 I beg your pardon！”
“Stay！” She negligently calls him back。 “Remain here； I beg。 I
am going out to dinner。 I have nothing more to say to this young
man！”
The disconcerted young man bows； as he goes out； and
cringingly hopes that Mr Tulkinghorn of the Fields is well。
“Ay； ay？” says the lawyer； looking at him from under his bent
brows； though he has no need to look again—not he。 “From Kenge
and Carboy’s； surely？”
“Kenge and Carboy’s； Mr Tulkinghorn。 Name of Guppy； sir。”
“To be sure。 Why； thank you； Mr Guppy； I am very well！”
“Happy to hear it； sir。 You can’t be too well； sir； for the credit of
the profession。”
“Thank you； Mr Guppy！”
Mr Guppy sneaks away。 Mr Tulkinghorn； such a foil in his old…
fashioned rusty black to Lady Dedlock’s brightness； hands her
down the staircase to her carriage。 He returns rubbing his chin；
and rubs it a good deal in the course of the evening。
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Chapter 34
A Turn Of The Screw
ow； what；” says Mr George； “may this be？ Is it blank
cartridge； or ball？ A flash in the pan； or a shot？”
“N An open letter is the subject of the trooper’s
speculations； and it seems to perplex him mightily。 He looks at it
at arm’s length； brings it close to him； holds it in his right hand；
holds it in his left hand； reads it with his head on this side； with his
head on that side； contracts his eyebrows； elevates them； still；
cannot satisfy himself。 He smooths it out upon the table with his
heavy palm； and thoughtfully walking up and down the gallery；
makes a halt before it every now and then； to come upon it with a
fresh eye。 Even that won’t do。 “Is it；” Mr George muses； “blank
cartridge or ball？”
Phil Squod； with the aid of a brush and paint…pot； is employed
in the distance whitening the targets； softly whistling； in quick…
march time； and in drum…and…fife manner； that he must and he
will go back again to the girl he left behind him。
“Phil！” The trooper beckons as he calls him。
Phil approaches in his usual way； sidling off at first as if he were
going anywhere else； and then bearing down upon his commander
like a bayonet…charge。 Certain splashes of white show in high
relief upon his dirty face； and he scrapes his one eyebrow with the
handle of his brush。
“Attention； Phil！ Listen to this。”
“Steady； commander； steady。”
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“‘Sir。 Allow me to remind you （though there is no legal
necessity for my doing so； as you are aware） that the bill at two
months’ date； drawn on yourself by Mr Matthew Bagnet； and by
you accepted； for the sum of ninety…seven pounds four shillings
and ninepence； will become due tomorrow； when you will please
be prepared to take up the same on presentation。 Yours； JOSHUA
SMALLWEED。’—What do you make of that； Phil？”
“Mischief； guv’ner。”
“Why？”
“I think；” replies Phil； after pensively tracing out a cross…
wrinkle in his forehead with the brush handle； “that mischeevious
consequences is always meant when money’s asked for。”
“Lookye； Phil；” says the trooper； sitting on the table。 “First and
last； I have paid； I may say； half as much again as this principal； in
interest and one thing and another。”
Phil intimates； by sidling back a pace or two； with a very
unaccountable wrench of his wry face； that he does not regard the
transaction as being made more promising by this incident。
“And lookye further； Phil；” says the trooper； staying his
premature conclusions with a wave of his hand。 “There has always
been an understanding that this bill was to be what they call
Renewed。 And it has been r
