bleak house(凄凉的房子)-第273节
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boy left Bleak House； and that you accepted a present on that
occasion。 I have not mentioned it to my Guardian； for I fear it
would hurt him unnecessarily； but I may say to you that I was
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much surprised。”
“No？ Really surprised； my dear Miss Summerson？” he
returned； inquiringly； raising his pleasant eyebrows。
“Greatly surprised。”
He thought about it for a little while； with a highly agreeable
and whimsical expression of face； then quite gave it up； and said；
in his most engaging manner：
“You know what a child I am。 Why surprised？”
I was reluctant to enter minutely into that question； but as he
begged I would； for he was really curious to know； I gave him to
understand； in the gentlest words I could use； that his conduct
seemed to involve a disregard of several moral obligations。 He was
much amused and interested when he heard this； and said； “No；
really？” with ingenuous simplicity。 “You know I don’t pretend to
be responsible。 I never could do it。 Responsibility is a thing that
has always been above me—or below me；” said Mr Skimpole； “I
don’t even know which； but； as I understand the way in which my
dear Miss Summerson （always remarkable for her practical good
sense and clearness） puts this case； I should imagine it was chiefly
a question of money； do you know？”
I incautiously gave a qualified assent to this。
“Ah！ Then you see；” said Mr Skimpole； shaking his head； “I am
hopeless of understanding it。”
I suggested； as I rose to go； that it was not right to betray my
Guardian’s confidence for a bribe。
“My dear Miss Summerson；” he returned； with a candid hilarity
that was all his own； “I can’t be bribed。”
“Not by Mr Bucket？” said I。
“No；” said he。 “Not by anybody。 I don’t attach any value to
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money。 I don’t care about it； I don’t know about it； I don’t want it； I
don’t keep it—it goes away from me directly。 How can I be
bribed？”
I showed that I was of a different opinion； though I had not the
capacity for arguing the question。
“On the contrary；” said Mr Skimpole； “I am exactly the man to
be placed in a superior position； in such a case as that。 I am above
the rest of mankind； in such a case as that。 I can act with
philosophy； in such a case as that。 I am not warped by prejudices；
as an Italian baby is by bandages。 I am as free as the air。 I feel
myself as far above suspicion as Caesar’s wife。”
Anything to equal the lightness of his manner； and the playful
impartiality with which he seemed to convince himself； as he
tossed the matter about like a ball of feathers； was surely never
seen in anybody else！
“Observe the case； my dear Miss Summerson。 Here is a boy
received into the house and put to bed； in a state that I strongly
object to。 The boy being in bed； a man arrives—like the house that
Jack built。 Here is the man who demands the boy who is received
into the house and put to bed in a state that I strongly object to。
Here is a banknote produced by the man who demands the boy
who is received into the house and put to bed in a state that I
strongly object to。 Here is the Skimpole who accepts the banknote
produced by the man who demands the boy who is received into
the house and put to bed in a state that I strongly object to。 Those
are the facts。 Very well。 Should the Skimpole have refused the
note？ Why should the Skimpole have refused the note？ Skimpole
protests to Bucket； ‘what’s this for？ I don’t understand it； it is of
no use to me； take it away。’ Bucket still entreats Skimpole to
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accept it。 Are there reasons why Skimpole； not being warped by
prejudices； should accept it？ Yes。 Skimpole； perceives them。 What
are they？ Skimpole reasons with himself； this is a tamed； lynx； an
active police officer； an intelligent man； a person of a peculiarly
directed energy and great subtlety both of conception and
execution； who discovers our friends and enemies for us when
they run away； recovers our property for us when we are robbed；
avenges us comfortably when were are murdered。 This active
police officer and intelligent man has acquired； in the exercise of
his art； a strong faith in money； he finds it very useful to him； and
he makes it very useful to society。 Shall I shake that faith in
Bucket； because I want it myself； shall I deliberately blunt one of
Bucket’s weapons； shall I possibly paralyse Bucket； in his next
detective operation？ And again。 If it is blameable in Skimpole to
take the note； it is blameable in Bucket to offer the note—much
more blameable in Bucket； because he is the knowing man。 Now；
Skimpole wishes to think well of Bucket； Skimpole deems it
essential； in its little place； to the general cohesion of things； that
he should think well of Bucket。 The State expressly asks him to
trust to Bucket。 And he does。 And that’s all he does！”
I had nothing to offer in reply to this exposition； and therefore
took my leave。 Mr Skimpole； however； who was in excellent
spirits； would not hear of my returning home attended only by
“Little Coavinses；” and accompanied me himself。 He entertained
me； on the way； with a variety of delightful conversation； and
assured me； at parting； that he should never forget the fine tact
with which I had found that out for him about our young friends。
As it so happened that I never saw Mr Skimpole again； I may at
once finish what I know of his history。 A coolness arose between
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him and my Guardian； based chiefly on the foregoing grounds；
and on his having heartlessly disregarded my Guardian’s
entreaties （as we afterwards learned from Ada） in reference to
Richard。 His being heavily in my Guardian’s debt； had nothing to
do with their separation。 He died some five years afterwards； and
left a diary behind him； with letters and other materials towards
his Life； which was published； and which showed him to have
been the victim of a combination on the part of mankind against
an amiable child。 It was considered very pleasant reading； but I
never read more of it myself than the sentence on which I chanced
to light on opening the book。 It was this。 “Jarndyce； in common
with most other men I have known； is the Incarnation of
Selfishness。”
And now I come to a part of my story； touching myself very
nearly indeed； and for which I was quite unprepared when the
circumstance occurred。 Whatever little lingerings may have now
and then revived in my mind； associated with my poor old face；
had only revived as belonging to a part of my life that was gone—
gone like my infancy or my childhood。 I have suppressed none of
my many weaknesses on that subject； but have written them as
faithfully as my memory has recalled them。 And I hope to do； and
mean to do； the same down to the last words of these pages； which
I see now； not so very far before me。
The months were gliding away； and my dear girl； sustained by
the hopes she had confided to me； was th
