bleak house(凄凉的房子)-第224节
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
case upon him with his fat forefinger； “duty； as you know very
well； is one thing； and conversation is another。 It’s my duty to
inform you that any observations you may make will be liable to be
used against you。 Therefore； George； be careful what you say。 You
don’t happen to have heard of a murder！”
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
… Page 931…
Bleak House 931
“Murder！”
“Now； George；” says Mr Bucket； keeping his forefinger in an
impressive state of action； “bear in mind what I’ve said to you。 I
ask you nothing。 You’ve been in low spirits this afternoon。 I say；
you don’t happen to have heard of a murder。”
“No。 Where has there been a murder？”
“Now； George；” says Mr Bucket； “don’t you go and commit
yourself。 I’m a…going to tell you what I want you for。 There has
been a murder in Lincoln’s Inn Fields—gentleman of the name of
Tulkinghorn。 He was shot last night。 I want you for that。”
The trooper sinks upon a seat behind him； and great drops start
out upon his forehead； and a deadly pallor overspreads his face。
“Bucket！ It’s not possible that Mr Tulkinghorn has been killed
and that you suspect me？”
“George；” returns Mr Bucket； keeping his forefinger going； “it
is certainly possible； because it’s the case。 This deed was done last
night at ten o’clock。 Now； you know where you were last night at
ten o’clock； and you’ll be able to prove it no doubt。”
“Last night！ Last night？” repeats the trooper； thoughtfully。
Then it flashes upon him。 “Why； great Heaven； I was there last
night！”
“So I have understood； George；” returns Mr Bucket； with great
deliberation。 “So I have understood。 Likewise you’ve been very
often there。 You’ve been seen hanging about the place； and you’ve
been heard more than once in a wrangle with him； and it’s
possible—I don’t say it’s certainly so； mind you； but it’s possible—
that he may have been heard to call you a threatening； murdering；
dangerous fellow。”
The trooper gasps as if he would admit it all； if he could speak。
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
… Page 932…
Bleak House 932
“Now； George；” continues Mr Bucket； putting his hat upon the
table； with an air of business rather in the upholstery way than
otherwise； “My wish is； as it has been all the evening； to make
things pleasant。 I tell you plainly there’s a reward out； of a
hundred guineas； offered by Sir Leicester Dedlock； Baronet。 You
and me have always been pleasant together； but I have got a duty
to discharge； and if that hundred guineas is to be made； it may as
well be made by me as by another man。 On all of which accounts； I
should hope it was clear to you that I must have you； and that I’m
damned if I don’t have you。 Am I to call in any assistance； or is the
trick done？”
Mr George has recovered himself； and stands up like a soldier。
“Come；” he says； “I am ready。”
“George；” continues Mr Bucket； “wait a bit！” With his
upholsterer manner； as if the trooper were a window to be fitted
up； he takes from his pocket a pair of handcuffs。 “This is a serious
charge； George； and such is my duty。”
The trooper flushes angrily； and hesitates a moment； but holds
out his two hands； clasped together； and says； “There！ Put them
on！”
Mr Bucket adjusts them in a moment。 “How do you find them？
Are they comfortable？ If not； say so； for I wish to make things as
pleasant as is consistent with my duty； and I’ve got another pair in
my pocket。” This remark he offers like a most respectable
tradesman； anxious to execute an order neatly and to the perfect
satisfaction of his customer。 “They’ll do as they are？ Very well！
Now； you see George；” he takes a cloak from a corner； and begins
adjusting it about the trooper’s neck； “I was mindful of your
feelings when I come out； and brought this on purpose。 There！
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
… Page 933…
Bleak House 933
Who’s the wiser？”
“Only I；” returns the trooper； “but as I know it； do me one more
good turn； and pull my hat over my eyes。”
“Really； though！ Do you mean it？ Ain’t it a pity？ It looks so。”
“I can’t look chance men in the face with these things on；” Mr
George hurriedly replies。 “Do for God’s sake； pull my hat
forward。”
So strongly entreated； Mr Bucket complies； puts his own hat
on； and conducts his prize into the streets； the trooper marching
on as steadily as usual； though with his head less erect； and Mr
Bucket steering him with his elbow over the crossings and up the
turnings。
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
… Page 934…
Bleak House 934
Chapter 50
Esther’s Narrative
t happened that when I came home from Deal； I found a note
from Caddy Jellyby （as we always continued to call her）；
I
informing me that her health； which had been for some time
very delicate； was worse； and that she would be more glad than
she could tell me if I would go to see her。 It was a note of a few
lines； written from the couch on which she lay； and inclosed to me
in another from her husband； in which he seconded her entreaty
with much solicitude。 Caddy was now the mother； and I the
godmother； of such a poor little baby—such a tiny old…faced mite；
with a countenance that seemed to be scarcely anything but cap…
border； and a little lean； long…fingered hand； always clenched
under its chin。 It would lie in this attitude all day； with its bright
specks of eyes open； wondering （as I used to imagine） how it came
to be so small and weak。 Whenever it was moved it cried； but at all
other times it was so patient； that the sole desire of its life
appeared to be； to lie quiet and think。 It had curious little dark
veins in its face； and curious little dark marks under its eyes； like
faint remembrances of poor Caddy’s inky days； and altogether； to
those who were not used to it； it was quite a piteous little sight。
But it was enough for Caddy that she was used to it。 The
projects with which she beguiled her illness； for little Esther’s
education； and little Esther’s marriage； and even for her own old
age； as the grandmother of little Esther’s little Esthers； were so
prettily expressive of devotion to this pride of her life； that I should
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
… Page 935…
Bleak House 935
be tempted to recall some of them； but for the timely
remembrance that I am getting on irregularly as it is。
To return to the letter。 Caddy had a superstition about me；
which had been strengthening in her mind ever since that night
long ago； when she had lain asleep with her head in my lap。 She
almost—I think I must say quite—believed that I did her good
whenever I was near her。 Now； although this was such a fancy of
the affectionate girl’s that I am almost ashamed to mention it； still
it might have all the force of a fact when she was really ill。
Therefore I set off to Caddy； with my Guardian’s consent； post…
haste； and she and Prince made so much of me； that there never
was anything like it。
Next day I went again to sit with her； and next day I went again。
It was a very easy journey； for I had only to rise a little earlier in
the morning； and keep my accounts； and attend to housekeeping
matters before leaving home。 But when
