bleak house(凄凉的房子)-第254节
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like people who were up all night； were quietly writing at a desk；
and the place seemed very quiet； altogether； except for some
beating and calling out at distant doors underground； to which
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nobody paid any attention。
A third man in uniform； whom Mr Bucket called； and to whom
he whispered his instructions； went out； and then the two others
advised together； while one wrote from Mr Bucket’s subdued
dictation。 It was a description of my mother that they were busy
with； for Mr Bucket brought it to me when it was done； and read it
in a whisper。 It was very accurate indeed。
The second officer； who had attended to it closely； then copied
it out； and called in another man in uniform （there were several in
an outer room） who took it up and went away with it。 All this was
done with the greatest despatch； and without the waste of a
moment； yet nobody was at all hurried。 As soon as the paper was
sent out upon its travels； the two officers resumed their former
quiet work of writing with neatness and care。 Mr Bucket
thoughtfully came and warmed the soles of his boots； first one and
then the other； at the fire。
“Are you well wrapped up； Miss Summerson？” he asked me； as
his eyes met mine。 “It’s a desperate sharp night for a young lady to
be out in。”
I told him I cared for no weather； and was warmly clothed。
“It may be a long job；” he observed； “but so that it ends well；
never mind； miss。”
“I pray to Heaven it may end well！” said I。
He nodded comfortingly。 “You see； whatever you do； don’t you
go and fret yourself。 You keep yourself cool； and equal for
anything that may happen； and it’ll be the better for you； the
better for me； the better for Lady Dedlock； and the better for Sir
Leicester Dedlock； Baronet。”
He was really very kind and gentle； and as he stood before the
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fire warming his boots； and rubbing his face with his forefinger； I
felt a confidence in his sagacity which reassured me。 It was not yet
a quarter to two； when I heard horses’ feet and wheels outside。
“Now； Miss Summerson；” said he； “we are off； if you please！”
He gave me his arm； and the two officers courteously bowed me
out； and we found at the door a phaeton or barouche； with a
postilion and post horses。 Mr Bucket handed me in； and took his
own seat on the box。 The man in uniform whom he had sent to
fetch this equipage； then handed him up a dark lantern at his
request； and when he had given a few directions to the driver； we
rattled away。
I was far from sure that I was not in a dream。 We rattled with
great rapidity through such a labyrinth of streets； that I soon lost
all idea where we were； except that we had crossed and recrossed
the river； and still seemed to be traversing a low…lying； water…side；
dense neighbourhood of narrow thoroughfares； chequered by
docks and basins； high piles of warehouses； swing…bridges； and
masts of ships。 At length we stopped at the corner of a little slimy
turning； which the wind from the river； rushing up it； did not
purify； and I saw my companion； by the light of his lantern； in
conference with several men； who looked like a mixture of police
and sailors。 Against the mouldering wall by which they stood；
there was a bill； on which I could discern the words； “FOUND
DROWNED；” and this； and an inscription about Drags； possessed
me with the awful suspicion shadowed forth in our visit to that
place。
I had no need to remind myself that I was not there； by the
indulgence of any feeling of mine； to increase the difficulties of the
search； or to lessen its hopes； or enhance its delays。 I remained
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quiet； but what I suffered in that dreadful spot I never can forget。
And still it was like the horror of a dream。 A man yet dark and
muddy； in long swollen sodden boots and a hat like them； was
called out of a boat； and whispered with Mr Bucket； who went
away with him down some slippery steps—as if to look at
something secret that he had to show。 They came back； wiping
their hands upon their coats； after turning over something wet；
but thank God it was not what I feared！
After some further conference； Mr Bucket （whom everybody
seemed to know and defer to） went in with the others at a door；
and left me in the carriage； while the driver walked up and down
by his horses； to warm himself。 The tide was coming in； as I judged
from the sound it made； and I could hear it break at the end of the
alley； with a little rush towards me。 It never did so—and I thought
it did so； hundreds of times； in what can have been at the most a
quarter of an hour； and probably was less—but the thought
shuddered through me that it would cast my mother at the horses’
feet。
Mr Bucket came out again； exhorting the others to be vigilant；
darkened his lantern； and once more took his seat。 “Don’t you be
alarmed； Miss Summerson； on account of our coming down here；”
he said； turning to me。 “I only want to have everything in train；
and to know that it is in train by looking after it myself。 Get on； my
lad！”
We appeared to retrace the way we had come。 Not that I had
taken note of any particular objects in my perturbed state of mind；
but judging from the general character of the streets。 We called at
another office or station for a minute； and crossed the river again。
During the whole of this time； and during the whole search； my
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companion； wrapped up on the box； never relaxed in his vigilance
a single moment； but； when we crossed the bridge he seemed； if
possible； to be more on the alert than before。 He stood up to look
over the parapet； he alighted； and went back after a shadowy
female figure that flitted past us； and he gazed into the profound
black pit of water； with a face that made my heart die within me。
The river had a fearful look； so overcast and secret； creeping away
so fast between the low flat lines of shore： so heavy with indistinct
and awful shapes； both of substance and shadow： so deathlike and
mysterious。 I have seen it many times since then； by sunlight and
by moonlight； but never free from the impressions of that journey。
In my memory； the lights upon the bridge are always burning dim；
the cutting wind is eddying round the homeless woman whom we
pass； the monotonous wheels are whirling on； and the light of the
carriage lamps reflected back； looks palely in upon me—a face；
rising out of the dreaded water。
Clattering and clattering through the empty streets； we came at
length from the pavement on to dark smooth roads； and began to
leave the houses behind us。 After a while； I recognised the familiar
way to Saint Albans。 At Barnet； fresh horses were ready for us；
and we changed and went on。 It was very cold indeed； and the
open country was white with snow； though none was falling then。
“An old acquaintance of yours； this road； Miss Summerson；”
said Mr Bucket； cheerfully。
“Yes；” I returned。 “Have you gathered any intelligence？”
“None that can be quite depended on as yet；” he answered；
“but it’s early times as yet。”
He had gone into every late or early public…house where there
was a light （there were not a few
