bleak house(凄凉的房子)-第183节
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Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
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Bleak House 760
should hope you gentlemen of the army may find many means of
amusing yourselves； if you give your minds to it。 If you had asked
me what I was to do； during the vacation； I could have answered
you more readily。 I am to attend to your interests。 I am to be found
here； day by day； attending to your interests。 That is my duty； Mr
C； and term time or vacation makes no difference to me。 If you
wish to consult me as to your interests； you will find me here at all
times alike。 Other professional men go out of town。 I don’t。 Not
that I blame them for going； I merely say； I don’t go。 This desk is
your rock； sir！”
Mr Vholes gives it a rap； and it sounds as hollow as a coffin。 Not
to Richard； though。 There is encouragement in the sound to him。
Perhaps Mr Vholes knows there is。
“I am perfectly aware； Mr Vholes；” says Richard； more
familiarly and good…humouredly； “that you are the most reliable
fellow in the world； and that to have to do with you； is to have to
do with a man of business who is not to be hoodwinked。 But put
yourself in my case； dragging on this dislocated life； sinking
deeper and deeper into difficulty every day； continually hoping
and continually disappointed； conscious of change upon change
for the worse in myself； and of no change for the better in anything
else； and you will find it a dark…looking case sometimes； as I do。”
“You know；” says Mr Vholes； “that I never give hopes； sir。 I told
you from the first； Mr C； that I never give hopes。 Particularly in a
case like this； where the greater part of the costs comes out of the
estate； I should not be considerate of my good name； if I gave
hopes。 It might seem as if costs were my object。 Still； when you say
there is no change for the better； I must； as a bare matter of fact；
deny that。”
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
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“Aye？” returns Richard； brightening。 “But how do you make it
out？”
“Mr Carstone； you are represented by—”
“You said just now—a rock。”
“Yes； sir；” says Mr Vholes； gently shaking his head and rapping
the hollow desk； with a sound as if ashes were falling on ashes； and
dust on dust； “a rock。 That’s something。 You are separately
represented； and no longer hidden and lost in the interests of
others。 That’s something。 The suit does not sleep； we wake it up；
we air it； we walk it about。 That’s something。 It’s not all Jarndyce；
in fact as well as in name。 That’s something。 Nobody has it all his
own way now； sir。 And that’s something； surely。”
Richard； his face flushing suddenly； strikes the desk with his
clenched hand。
“Mr Vholes！ if any man had told me； when I first went to John
Jarndyce’s house； that he was anything but the disinterested
friend he seemed—that he was what he has gradually turned out
to be—I could have found no words strong enough to repel the
slander； I could not have defended him too ardently。 So little did I
know of the world！ Whereas； now； I do declare to you that he
becomes to me the embodiment of the suit； that； in place of its
being an abstraction； it is John Jarndyce； that the more I suffer；
the more indignant I am with him； that every new delay； and every
new disappointment； is only a new injury from John Jarndyce’s
hand。”
“No； no；” says Vholes。 “Don’t say so。 We ought to have patience；
all of us。 Besides； I never disparage； sir。 I never disparage。”
“Mr Vholes；” returns the angry client。 “You know as well as I；
that he would have strangled the suit if he could。”
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“He was not active in it；” Mr Vholes admits； with an appearance
of reluctance。 “He certainly was not active in it。 But however； but
however； he might have had amiable intentions。 Who can read the
heart； Mr C！”
“You can；” returns Richard。
“I； Mr C？”
“Well enough to know what his intentions were。 Are； or are not；
our interests conflicting？ Tell—me—that？” says Richard；
accompanying his last three words with three raps on his rock of
trust。
“Mr C；” returns Vholes； immovable in attitude and never
winking his hungry eyes； “I should be wanting in my duty as your
professional adviser； I should be departing from my fidelity to
your interests； if I represented those interests as identical with the
interests of Mr Jarndyce。 They are no such thing； sir。 I never
impute motives； I both have； and am； a father； and I never impute
motives。 But I must not shrink from a professional duty； even if it
sows dissension in families。 I understand you to be now consulting
me professionally； as to your interests？ You are so？ I reply then；
they are not identical with those of Mr Jarndyce。”
“Of course they are not！” cries Richard。 “You found that out；
long ago。”
“Mr C；” returns Vholes； “I wish to say no more of any third
party than is necessary。 I wish to leave my good name unsullied；
together with any little property of which I may become possessed
through industry and perseverance； to my daughters Emma； Jane；
and Caroline。 I also desire to live in amity with my professional
brethren。 When Mr Skimpole did me the honour； sir—I will not
say the very high honour； for I never stoop to flattery—of bringing
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
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Bleak House 763
us together in this room； I mentioned to you that I could offer no
opinion or advice as to your interests； while those interests were
intrusted to another member of the profession。 And I spoke in
such terms as I was bound to speak； of Kenge and Carboy’s office；
which stands high。 You； sir； thought fit to withdraw your interests
from that keeping nevertheless； and to offer them to me。 You
brought them with clean hands； sir； and I accepted them with
clean hands。 Those interests are now paramount in this office。 My
digestive functions； as you may have heard me mention； are not in
a good state； and rest might improve them； but I shall not rest； sir；
while I am your representative。 Whenever you want me； you will
find me here。 Summon me anywhere； and I will come。 During the
long vacation； sir； I shall devote my leisure to studying your
interests more and more closely； and to making arrangements for
moving heaven and earth （including； of course； the Chancellor）
after Michaelmas term； and when I ultimately congratulate you；
sir；” says Mr Vholes； with the severity of a determined man； “when
I ultimately congratulate you； sir； with all my heart； on your
accession to fortune—which； but that I never give hopes； I might
say something further about—you will owe me nothing； beyond
whatever little balance may be then outstanding of the costs as
between solicitor and client； not included in the taxed costs
allowed out of the estate。 I pretend to no claim upon you； Mr C；
but for the zealous and active discharge—not the languid and
routine discharge； sir： that much credit I stipulate for—of my
professional duty。 My duty prosperously ended； all between us is
ended。”
Vholes finally adds； by way of rider to this declaration of his
principles； that as Mr Carstone is about to rejoin his regiment；
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
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