bleak house(凄凉的房子)-第186节
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dust from it first。 Nor are they desirous to prolong their visit：
packing the few movables with all possible speed； and never
speaking above a whisper。
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“Look here；” says Tony； recoiling。 “Here’s that horrible cat
coming in！”
Mr Guppy retreats behind a chair。 “Small told me of her。 She
went leaping and bounding and tearing about； that night； like a
Dragon； and got out on the house…top； and roamed about up there
for a fortnight； and then came tumbling down the chimney very
thin。 Did you ever see such a brute？ Looks as if she knew all about
it； don’t she？ Almost looks as if she was Krook。 Shoohoo！ Get out；
you goblin！”
Lady Jane in the doorway； with her tiger…snarl from ear to ear；
and her club of a tail； shows no intention of obeying； but Mr
Tulkinghorn stumbling over her； she spits at his rusty legs； and
swearing wrathfully； takes her arched back upstairs。 Possibly to
roam the house…tops again； and return by the chimney。
“Mr Guppy；” says Mr Tulkinghorn； “could I have a word with
you？”
Mr Guppy is engaged in collecting the Galaxy Gallery of British
Beauty from the wall； and depositing those works of art in their
old ignoble band…box。 “Sir；” he returns； reddening； “I wish to act
with courtesy towards every member of the profession； and
especially； I am sure； towards a member of it so well known as
yourself—I will truly add； sir； so distinguished as yourself。 Still； Mr
Tulkinghorn； sir； I must stipulate that if you have any word with
me； that word is spoken in the presence of my friend。”
“Oh； indeed？” says Mr Tulkinghorn。
“Yes； sir。 My reasons are not of a personal nature at all； but
they are amply sufficient for myself。”
“No doubt； no doubt。” Mr Tulkinghorn is as imperturbable as
the hearthstone to which he has quietly walked。 “The matter is not
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of that consequence that I need put you to the trouble of making
any conditions； Mr Guppy。” He pauses here to smile； and his smile
is as dull and rusty as his pantaloons。 “You are to be
congratulated； Mr Guppy； you are a fortunate young man； sir。”
“Pretty well so； Mr Tulkinghorn； I don’t complain。”
“Complain？ High friends； free admission to great houses； and
access to elegant ladies！ Why； Mr Guppy； there are people in
London who would give their ears to be you。”
Mr Guppy； looking as if he would give his own reddening and
still reddening ears to be one of those people at present instead of
himself； replies； “Sir； if I attend to my profession； and do what is
right by Kenge and Carboy； my friends and acquaintances are of
no consequence to them； nor to any member of the profession； not
excepting Mr Tulkinghorn of the Fields。 I am not under any
obligation to explain myself further； and with all respect for you；
sir； and without offence—I repeat； without offence—”
“Oh； certainly！”
“—I don’t intend to do it。”
“Quite so；” says Mr Tulkinghorn； with a calm nod。 “Very good： I
see by these portraits that you take a strong interest in the
fashionable great； sir？”
He addresses this to the astounded Tony； who admits the soft
impeachment。
“A virtue in which few Englishmen are deficient；” observes Mr
Tulkinghorn。 He has been standing on the hearth…stone； with his
back to the smoked chimney…piece； and now turns round； with his
glasses to his eyes。 “Who is this？ ‘Lady Dedlock。’ Ha！ A very good
likeness in its way； but it wants force of character。 Good day to
you； gentlemen； good day！”
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When he has walked out； Mr Guppy； in a great perspiration；
nerves himself to the hasty completion of the taking down of the
Galaxy Gallery； concluding with Lady Dedlock。
“Tony；” he says hurriedly to his astonished companion； “let us
be quick in putting the things together； and in getting out of this
place。 It were in vain longer to conceal from you； Tony； that
between myself and one of the members of a swanlike aristocracy
whom I now hold in my hand； there has been undivulged
communication and association。 The time might have been； when
I might have revealed it to you。 It never will be more。 It is due
alike to the oath I have taken； alike to the shattered idol； and alike
to circumstances over which I have no control； that the whole
should be buried in oblivion。 I charge you as a friend； by the
interest you have ever testified in the fashionable intelligence； and
by any little advances with which I may have been able to
accommodate you； so to bury it without a word of inquiry！”
This charge Mr Guppy delivers in a state little short of forensic
lunacy； while his friend shows a dazed mind in his whole head of
hair； and even in his cultivated whiskers。
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Chapter 40
National And Domestic
ngland has been in a dreadful state for some weeks。 Lord
ECoodle would go out； Sir Thomas Doodle wouldn’t come
in； and there being nobody in Great Britain （to speak of）
except Coodle and Doodle； there has been no Government。 It is a
mercy that the hostile meeting between those two great men；
which at one time seemed inevitable； did not come off； because if
both pistols had taken effect； and Coodle and Doodle had killed
each other； it is to be presumed that England must have waited to
be governed until young Coodle and young Doodle； now in frocks
and long stockings； were grown up。 This stupendous national
calamity； however； was averted by Lord Coodle’s making the
timely discovery； that if in the heat of debate he had said that he
scorned and despised the whole ignoble career of Sir Thomas
Doodle； he had merely meant to say that party differences should
never induce him to withhold from it the tribute of his warmest
admiration； while it as opportunely turned out； on the other hand；
that Sir Thomas Doodle had in his own bosom expressly booked
Lord Coodle to go down to posterity as the mirror of virtue and
honour。 Still England has been some weeks in the dismal strait of
having no pilot （as was well observed by Sir Leicester Dedlock） to
weather the storm； and the marvellous part of the matter is； that
England has not appeared to care very much about it； but has
gone on eating and drinking and marrying and giving in marriage；
as the old world did in the days before the flood。 But Coodle knew
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the danger； and Doodle knew the danger； and all their followers
and hangers…on had the clearest possible perception of the danger。
At last Sir Thomas Doodle has not only condescended to come in；
but has done it handsomely； bringing in with him all his nephews；
all his male cousins； and all his brothers…in…law。 So there is hope
for the old ship yet。
Doodle has found that he must throw himself upon the
country—chiefly in the form of sovereigns and beer。 In this
metamorphosed state he is available in a good many places
simultaneously； and can throw himself upon a consid
