bleak house(凄凉的房子)-第228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！
“I was not aware of it myself；” returned Mr Woodcourt； “but I
suppose you know best。”
“Sir；” rejoined Mr Vholes； self…contained； as usual； voice and
all； “it is a part of my professional duty to know best。 It is a part of
my professional duty； to study and to understand a gentleman who
confides his interests to me。 In my professional duty I shall not be
wanting； sir； if I know it。 I may； with the best intentions； be
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
… Page 949…
Bleak House 949
wanting in it without knowing it； but not if I know it； sir。”
Mr Woodcourt again mentioned the address。
“Give me leave； sir；” said Mr Vholes。 “Bear with me for a
moment。 Sir； Mr C is playing for a considerable stake； and cannot
play without—need I say what？”
“Money； I presume？”
“Sir；” said Mr Vholes； “to be honest with you （honesty being my
golden rule； whether I gain by it or lose； and I find that I generally
lose）； money is the word。 Now； sir； upon the chances of Mr C’s
game I express to you no opinion； no opinion。 It might be highly
impolitic in Mr C； after playing so long and so high； to leave off； it
might be the reverse。 I say nothing。 No； sir；” said Mr Vholes；
bringing his hand flat down upon his desk； in a positive manner；
“nothing。”
“You seem to forget；” returned Mr Woodcourt； “that I ask you
to say nothing； and have no interest in anything you say。”
“Pardon me； sir？” retorted Mr Vholes； “you do yourself an
injustice。 No； sir！ Pardon me！ You shall not—shall not in my office；
if I know it—do yourself an injustice。 You are interested in
anything； and in everything； that relates to your friend。 I know
human nature much better； sir； than to admit for an instant that a
gentleman of your appearance is not interested in whatever
concerns his friend。”
“Well；” replied Mr Woodcourt； “that may be。 I am particularly
interested in his address。”
（“The number； sir；”） said Mr Vholes； parenthetically； “（I believe
I have already mentioned。） If Mr C is to continue to play for this
considerable stake； sir； he must have funds。 Understand me！
There are funds in hand at present。 I ask for nothing； there are
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
… Page 950…
Bleak House 950
funds in hand。 But； for the onward play； more funds must be
provided； unless Mr C is to throw away what he has already
ventured—which is wholly and solely a point for his consideration。
This； sir； I take the opportunity of stating openly to you； as the
friend of Mr C。 Without funds； I shall always be happy to appear
and act for Mr C； to the extent of all such costs as are safe to be
allowed out of the estate： not beyond that。 I could not go beyond
that； sir； without wronging some one。 I must either wrong my
three dear girls； or my venerable father； who is entirely dependent
on me—in the Vale of Taunton； or some one。 Whereas； sir； my
resolution is （call it weakness or folly if you please） to wrong no
one。”
Mr Woodcourt rather sternly rejoined that he was glad to hear
it。
“I wish； sir；” said Mr Vholes； “to leave a good name behind me。
Therefore； I take every opportunity of openly stating to a friend of
Mr C； how Mr C is situated。 As to myself； sir； the labourer is
worthy of his hire。 If I undertake to put my shoulder to the wheel；
I do it； and I earn what I get。 I am here for that purpose。 My name
is painted on the door outside； with that object。”
“And Mr Carstone’s address； Mr Vholes？”
“Sir；” returned Mr Vholes； “as I believe I have already
mentioned； it is next door。 On the second story you will find Mr C’s
apartments。 Mr C desires to be near his professional adviser； and I
am far from objecting； for I court inquiry。”
Upon this； Mr Woodcourt wished Mr Vholes good day； and
went in search of Richard； the change in whose appearance he
began to understand now but too well。
He found him in a dull room； fadedly furnished； much as I had
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
… Page 951…
Bleak House 951
found him in his barrack…room but a little while before； except that
he was not writing； but was sitting with a book before him； from
which his eyes and thoughts were far astray。 As the door chanced
to be standing open； Mr Woodcourt was in his presence for some
moments without being perceived； and he told me that he never
could forget the haggardness of his face； and the dejection of his
manner； before he was aroused from his dream。
“Woodcourt； my dear fellow！” cried Richard； starting up with
extended hands； “you come upon my vision like a ghost。”
“A friendly one；” he replied； “and only waiting； as they say
ghosts do； to be addressed。 How does the mortal world go？” They
were seated now； near together。
“Badly enough； and slowly enough；” said Richard； “speaking at
least for my part of it。”
“What part is that？”
“The Chancery part。”
“I never heard；” returned Mr Woodcourt； shaking his head； “of
its going well yet。”
“Nor I；” said Richard； moodily。 “Who ever did？”
He brightened again in a moment； and said； with his natural
openness：
“Woodcourt； I should be sorry to be misunderstood by you；
even if I gained by it in your estimation。 You must know that I
have done no good this long time。 I have not intended to do much
harm； but I seem to have been capable of nothing else。 It may be
that I should have done better by keeping out of the net into which
my destiny has worked me； but I think not； though I dare say you
will soon hear； if you have not already heard； a very different
opinion。 To make short of a long story； I am afraid I have wanted
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
… Page 952…
Bleak House 952
an object； but I have an object now—or it has me—and it is too late
to discuss it。 Take me as I am； and make the best of me。”
“A bargain；” said Mr Woodcourt。 “Do as much by me in
return。”
“Oh！ You；” returned Richard； “you can pursue your art for its
own sake； and can put your hand upon the plough； and never
turn； and can strike a purpose out of anything。 You； and I； are very
different creatures。”
He spoke regretfully； and lapsed for a moment into his weary
condition。
“Well； well！” he cried； shaking it off； “everything has an end。
We shall see！ So you will take me as I am； and make the best of
me？”
“Ay！ indeed I will。” They shook hands upon it laughingly； but in
deep earnestness。 I can answer； for one of them； with my heart of
hearts。
“You come as a godsend；” said Richard； “for I have seen
nobody here yet but Vholes。 Woodcourt； there is one subject I
should like to mention； for once and for all； in the beginning of our
treaty。 You can hardly make the best of me if I don’t。 You know； I
dare say； that I have an attachment to my cousin Ada？”
Mr Woodcourt replied that I had hinted as much to him。
“Now pray；” returned Richard； “don’t think me a heap of
selfishness。 Don’t suppose that I am splitting my head and half
breaking my heart over this miserable Chancery suit； for my own
rights and interests alone。 Ada’s are bound up with mine； they
can’t be separated； Vholes works for both of us。 Do think of that！”
He was so very solicitous on this head； that Mr Woodcourt gave
him the strongest assurances that he did him no injustice。
Charles Dickens ElecBook Clas
