bleak house(凄凉的房子)-第253节
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else。 I want Miss Summerson。”
Mr Jarndyce in a troubled voice； repeats “Miss Summerson？”
“Now； Mr Jarndyce；”—Mr Bucket has read his face with the
greatest attention all along—“I speak to you as a gentleman of a
humane heart； and under such pressing circumstances as don’t
often happen。 If ever delay was dangerous； it’s dangerous now；
and if ever you couldn’t afterwards forgive yourself for causing it；
this is the time。 Eight or ten hours； worth； as I tell you； a hundred
pound a…piece at least； have been lost since Lady Dedlock
disappeared。 I am charged to find her。 I am Inspector Bucket。
Besides all the rest that’s heavy on her； she has upon her； as she
believes； suspicion of murder。 If I follow her alone； she； being in
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ignorance of what Sir Leicester Dedlock； Baronet； has
communicated to me； may be driven to desperation。 But if I follow
her in company with a young lady； answering to the description of
a young lady that she has a tenderness for—I ask no question； and
I say no more than that—she will give me credit for being friendly。
Let me come up with her； and he able to have the hold upon her of
putting that young lady for’ard； and I’ll save her and prevail with
her if she is alive。 Let me come up with her alone —a harder
matter—and I’ll do my best； but I don’t answer for what the best
may be。 Time flies； it’s getting on for one o’clock。 When one
strikes； there’s another hour gone； and it’s worth a thousand
pound now； instead of a hundred。”
This is all true； and the pressing nature of the case cannot he
questioned。 Mr Jarndyce begs him to remain there； while he
speaks to Miss Summerson。 Mr Bucket says he will； but acting on
his usual principle； does no such thing—following upstairs instead；
and keeping his man in sight。 So he remains； dodging and lurking
about in the gloom of the staircase； while they confer。 In a very
little time； Mr Jarndyce comes down； and tells him that Miss
Summerson will join him directly； and place herself under his
protection； to accompany him where he pleases。 Mr Bucket；
satisfied； expresses high approval； and awaits her coming at the
door。
There； he mounts a high tower in his mind； and looks out； far
and wide。 Many solitary figures he perceives； creeping through the
streets； many solitary figures out on heaths； and roads； and lying
under haystacks。 But the figure that he seeks； is not among them。
Other solitaries he perceives； in nooks of bridges； looking over；
and in shadowed places down by the river’s level； and a dark；
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dark； shapeless object drifting with the tide； more solitary than all；
clings with a drowning hold on his attention。
Where is she？ Living or dead； where is she？ If； as he folds the
handkerchief and carefully puts it up； it were able； with an
enchanted power； to bring before him the place where she found
it； and the night landscape near the cottage where it covered the
little child； would he descry her there？ On the waste； where the
brick…kilns are burning with a pale blue flare； where the straw…
roofs of the wretched huts in which the bricks are made； are being
scattered by the wind； where the clay and water are hard frozen；
and the mill in which the gaunt blind horse goes round all day；
looks like an instrument of human torture；—traversing this
deserted blighted spot； there is a lonely figure with the sad world
to itself； pelted by the snow and driven by the wind； and cast out； it
would seem； from all companionship。 It is the figure of a woman；
too； but it is miserably dressed； and no such clothes ever came
through the hall； and out at the great door； of the Dedlock
mansion。
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Chapter 57
Esther’s Narrative
had gone to bed and fallen asleep； when my Guardian
knocked at the door of my room and begged me to get up
Idirectly。 On my hurrying to speak to him and learn what had
happened； he told me； after a word or two of preparation； that
there had been a discovery at Sir Leicester Dedlock’s。 That my
mother had fled。 That a person was now at our door who was
empowered to convey to her the fullest assurances of affectionate
protection and forgiveness； if he could possibly find her； and that I
was sought for to accompany him； in the hope that my entreaties
might prevail upon her； if his failed。 Something to this general
purpose I made out； but I was thrown into such a tumult of alarm；
and hurry； and distress； that in spite of every effort I could make to
subdue my agitation； I did not seem； to myself； fully to recover my
right mind until hours had passed。
But I dressed and wrapped up expeditiously without waking
Charley； or any one； and went down to Mr Bucket； who was the
person entrusted with the secret。 In taking me to him my
Guardian told me this； and also explained how it was that he had
come to think of me。 Mr Bucket； in a low voice； by the light of my
Guardian’s candle； read to me； in the hall； a letter that my mother
had left upon her table； and； I suppose within ten minutes of my
having been aroused； I was sitting beside him； rolling swiftly
through the streets。
His manner was very keen； and yet considerate when he
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explained to me that a great deal might depend on my being able
to answer； without confusion； a few questions that he wished to
ask me。 These were； chiefly； whether I had had much
communication with my mother （to whom he only referred as
Lady Dedlock）； when and where I had spoken with her last； and
how she had become possessed of my handkerchief。 When I had
satisfied him on these points； he asked me particularly to
consider—taking time to think—whether； within my knowledge；
there was any one； no matter where； in whom she might be at all
likely to confide； under circumstances of the last necessity。 I could
think of no one but my Guardian。 But； by…and…by； I mentioned Mr
Boythorn。 He came into my mind； as connected with his old
chivalrous manner of mentioning my mother’s name； and with
what my Guardian had informed me of his engagement to her
sister； and his unconscious connection with her unhappy story。
My companion had stopped the driver while we held this
conversation； that we might the better hear each other。 He now
told him to go on again； and said to me； after considering within
himself for a few moments； that he had made up his mind how to
proceed。 He was quite willing to tell me what his plan was； but I
did not feel clear enough to understand it。
We had not driven very far from our lodgings； when we stopped
in a bye street； at a public…looking place lighted up with gas。 Mr
Bucket took me in and sat me in an armchair； by a bright fire。 It
was now past one； as I saw by the clock against the wall。 Two
police officers； looking in their perfectly neat uniform not at all
like people who were up all night； were quietly writing
