bleak house(凄凉的房子)-第276节
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large exception—in my mind。 When you came in； I was full of it。
When shall we give Bleak House its mistress； little woman？”
“When you please。”
“Next month！”
“Next month； dear Guardian。”
“The day on which I take the happiest and best step of my life—
the day on which I shall be a man more exulting and more
enviable than any other man in the world—the day on which I give
Bleak House its little mistress—shall be next month； then；” said
my Guardian。
I put my arms round his neck and kissed him； just as I had done
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Bleak House 1150
on the day when I brought my answer。
A servant came to the door to announce Mr Bucket； which was
quite unnecessary； for Mr Bucket was already looking in over the
servant’s shoulder。 “Mr Jarndyce and Miss Summerson；” said he
rather out of breath； “with all apologies for intruding； will you
allow me to order up a person that’s on the stairs； and that objects
to being left there in case of becoming the subject of observation in
his absence？ Thank you。 Be so good as chair that there Member in
this direction； will you？” said Mr Bucket； beckoning over the
banisters。
This singular request produced an old man in a black skull…cap；
unable to walk； who was carried up by a couple of bearers； and
deposited in the room near the door。 Mr Bucket immediately got
rid of the bearers； mysteriously shut the door； and bolted it。
“Now you see； Mr Jarndyce；” he then began； putting down his
hat； and opening his subject with a flourish of his well…
remembered finger； “you know me； and Miss Summerson knows
me。 This gentleman likewise knows me； and his name is
Smallweed。 The discounting line is his line principally； and he’s
what you may call a dealer in bills。 That’s about what you are； you
know； ain’t you？” said Mr Bucket； stopping a little to address the
gentleman in question； who was exceedingly suspicious of him。
He seemed about to dispute this designation of himself； when
he was seized with a violent fit of coughing。
“Now； Moral； you know！” said Mr Bucket； improving the
accident。 “Don’t you contradict when there ain’t no occasion； and
you won’t be took in that way。 Now； Mr Jarndyce； I address myself
to you。 I’ve been negotiating with this gentleman on behalf of Sir
Leicester Dedlock； Baronet； and one way and another I’ve been in
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Bleak House 1151
and out and about his premises a deal。 His premises are the
premises formerly occupied by Krook； Marine Store Dealer—a
relation of this gentleman’s； that you saw in his lifetime； if I don’t
mistake？”
My Guardian replied “Yes。”
“Well！ You are to understand；” said Mr Bucket； “that this
gentleman he come into Krook’s property； and a good deal of
magpie property there was。 Vast lots of waste paper among the
rest。 Lord bless you； of no use to nobody！”
The cunning of Mr Bucket’s eye； and the masterly manner in
which he contrived； without a look or a word against which his
watchful auditor could protest； to let us know that he stated the
case according to previous agreement； and could say much more
of Mr Smallweed if he thought it advisable； deprived us of any
merit in quite understanding him。 His difficulty was increased by
Mr Smallweed’s being deaf as well as suspicious； and watching his
face with the closest attention。
“Among them odd heaps of old papers； this gentleman； when he
comes into the property； naturally begins to rummage； don’t you
see？” said Mr Bucket。
“To which？ Say that again；” cried Mr Smallweed； in a shrill
sharp voice。
“To rummage；” repeated Mr Bucket。 “Being a prudent man；
and being accustomed to take care of your own affairs； you begin
to rummage among the papers as you have come into； don’t you？”
“Of course I do；” cried Mr Smallweed。
“Of course you do；” said Mr Bucket； conversationally； “and
much to blame you would be if you didn’t。 And so you chance to
find； you know；” Mr Bucket went on； stooping over him with an air
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Bleak House 1152
of cheerful raillery which Mr Smallweed by no means
reciprocated； “and so you chance to find； you know； a paper with
the signature of Jarndyce to it。 Don’t you？”
Mr Smallweed glanced with a troubled eye at us； and
grudgingly nodded assent。
“And coming to look at the paper； at your full leisure and
convenience—all in good time； for you’re not curious to read it；
and why should you be！—what do you find it to be but a Will； you
see。 That’s the drollery of it；” said Mr Bucket； with the same lively
air of recalling a joke for the enjoyment of Mr Smallweed； who still
had the same crestfallen appearance of not enjoying it at all； “what
do you find it to be but a Will？”
“I don’t know that it’s good as a will； or as anything else；”
snarled Smallweed。
Mr Bucket eyed the old man for a moment—he had slipped and
shrunk down in his chair into a mere bundle—as if he were much
disposed to pounce upon him； nevertheless； he continued to bend
over him with the same agreeable air； keeping the corner of one of
his eyes upon us。
“Notwithstanding which；” said Mr Bucket； “you get a little
doubtful and uncomfortable in your mind about it； having a very
tender mind of your own。”
“Eh？ What do you say I have got of my own？” asked Mr
Smallweed； with his hand to his ear。
“A very tender mind。”
“Ho！ Well； go on；” said Mr Smallweed。
“And as you’ve heard a good deal mentioned regarding a
celebrated Chancery will case； of the same name； and as you know
what a card Krook was for buying all manner of old pieces of
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Bleak House 1153
furniter； and books； and papers； and what not； and never liking to
part with ’em； and always a going to teach himself to read； you
begin to think—and you never was more correct in your born
days—’Ecod； if I don’t look about me； I may get into trouble
regarding this will。’”
“Now； mind how you put it； Bucket；” cried the old man
anxiously； with his hand at his ear。 “Speak up； none of your
brimstone tricks。 Pick me up； I want to hear better。 O Lord； I am
shaken to bits！”
Mr Bucket had certainly picked him up at a dart。 However； as
soon as he could be heard through Mr Smallweed’s coughing； and
his vicious ejaculations of “O my bones！ O dear！ I’ve no breath in
my body！ I’m worse than the chattering； clattering； brimstone pig
at home！” Mr Bucket proceeded； in the same convivial manner as
before。
“So； as I happen to be in the habit of coming about your
premises； you take me into your confidence； don’t you？”
I think it would be impossible to make an admission with more
ill…will； and a worse grace； than Mr Smallweed displayed when he
admitted this； rendering it perfectly evident that Mr Bucket was
the very last person he would have thought of taking into his
confidence； if he could by any possibility have kept him out of it。
“And I go into the business with you；—very pleasant we are
over it； and I confirm you in your well…founded fears； that you will…
get…yourself…in…to…a…most precious line if you don’t come out with
that there will；” said Mr Bucket； emphatically； “and accordingly
you arrange with m
