bleak house(凄凉的房子)-第277节
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that there will；” said Mr Bucket； emphatically； “and accordingly
you arrange with me that it shall be delivered up to this present
Mr Jarndyce； on no conditions。 If it should prove to be valuable；
you trusting yourself to him for your reward； that’s about where it
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is； ain’t it？”
“That’s what was agreed；” Mr Smallweed assented； with the
same bad grace。
“In consequence of which；” said Mr Bucket； dismissing his
agreeable manner all at once； and becoming strictly business…like；
“you’ve got that will upon your person at present time； and the
only thing that remains for you to do is； just to Out with it！”
Having given us one glance out of the watching corner of his
eye； and having given his nose one triumphant rub with his
forefinger； Mr Bucket stood with his eyes fastened on his
confidential friend； and his hand stretched forth ready to take the
paper and present it to my Guardian。 It was not produced without
much reluctance； and many declarations on the part of Mr
Smallweed that he was a poor industrious man； and that he left it
to Mr Jarndyce’s honour not to let him lose by his honesty。 Little
by little； he very slowly took from a breast…pocket a stained
discoloured paper； which was much singed upon the outside； and
a little burnt at the edges； as if it had long ago been thrown upon a
fire； and hastily snatched off again。 Mr Bucket lost no time in
transferring this paper； with the dexterity of a conjuror； from Mr
Smallweed to Mr Jarndyce。 As he gave it to my Guardian； he
whispered behind his fingers：—
“Hadn’t settled how to make their market of it。 Quarrelled and
hinted about it。 I laid out twenty pound upon it。 First； the
avaricious grandchildren split upon him； on account of their
objections to his living so unreasonably long； and then they split
on one another。 Lord！ there ain’t one of the family that wouldn’t
sell the other for a pound or two； except the old lady—and she’s
only out of it because she’s too weak in her mind to drive a
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bargain。”
“Mr Bucket；” said my Guardian aloud； “whatever the worth of
this paper may be to any one； my obligations are great to you； and
if it be of any worth； I hold myself bound to see Mr Smallweed
remunerated accordingly。”
“Not according to your merits； you know；” said Mr Bucket； in
friendly explanation to Mr Smallweed； “Don’t you be afraid of
that。 According to its value。”
“That is what I mean；” said my Guardian。 “You may observe；
Mr Bucket； that I abstain from examining this paper myself。 The
plain truth is； I have forsworn and abjured the whole business
these many years； and my soul is sick of it。 But Miss Summerson
and I will immediately place the paper in the hands of my solicitor
in the cause； and its existence shall be made known without delay
to all other parties interested。”
“Mr Jarndyce can’t say fairer than that； you understand；”
observed Mr Bucket to his fellow visitor。 “And it being now made
clear to you that nobody’s a…going to be wronged—which must be
a great relief to your mind—we may proceed with the ceremony of
chairing you home again。”
He unbolted the door； called in the bearers； wished us good
morning； and with a look full of meaning； and a crook of his finger
at parting； went his way。
We went our way too； which was to Lincoln’s Inn； as quickly as
possible。 Mr Kenge was disengaged； and we found him at his table
in his dusty room； with the inexpressive…looking books； and the
piles of papers。 Chairs having been placed for us by Mr Guppy； Mr
Kenge expressed the surprise and gratification he felt at the
unusual sight of Mr Jarndyce in his office。 He turned over his
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double eyeglass as he spoke； and was more Conversation Kenge
than ever。
“I hope；” said Mr Kenge； “that the genial influence of Miss
Summerson；” he bowed to me； “may have induced Mr Jarndyce；”
he bowed to him； “to forego some little of his animosity towards a
Cause and towards a Court which are—shall I say； which take
their place in the stately vista of the pillars of our profession？”
“I am inclined to think；” returned my Guardian； “that Miss
Summerson has seen too much of the effects of the Court and the
Cause to exert any influence in their favour。 Nevertheless； they are
a part of the occasion of my being here。 Mr Kenge； before I lay this
paper on your desk and have done with it； let me tell you how it
has come into my hands。”
He did so shortly and distinctly。
“It could not； sir；” said Mr Kenge； “have been stated more
plainly and to the purpose； if it had been a case at law。”
“Did you ever know English law； or equity either； plain and to
the purpose？” said my Guardian。
“O fie！” said Mr Kenge。
At first he had not seemed to attach much importance to the
paper； but when he saw it he appeared more interested； and when
he had opened and read a little of it through his eyeglass； he
became amazed。 “Mr Jarndyce；” he said； looking off it； “you have
perused this？”
“Not I！” returned my Guardian。
“But my dear sir；” said Mr Kenge； “it is a Will of later date than
any in the suit。 It appears to be all in the Testator’s handwriting。 It
is duly executed and attested。 And even if intended to be
cancelled； as might possibly be supposed to be denoted by these
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marks of fire； it is not cancelled。 Here it is； a perfect instrument！”
“Well！” said my Guardian。 “What is that to me？”
“Mr Guppy！” cried Mr Kenge； raising his voice。—“I beg your
pardon； Mr Jarndyce。”
“Sir。”
“Mr Vholes of Symond’s Inn。 My compliments。 Jarndyce and
Jarndyce。 Glad to speak with him。”
Mr Guppy disappeared。
“You ask me what is this to you； Mr Jarndyce。 If you had
perused this document； you would have seen that it reduces your
interest considerably； though still leaving it a very handsome one；
still leaving it a very handsome one；” said Mr Kenge； waving his
hand persuasively and blandly。 “You would further have seen；
that the interests of Mr Richard Carstone； and of Miss Ada Clare；
now Mrs Richard Carstone； are very materially advanced by it。”
“Kenge；” said my Guardian； “if all the flourishing wealth that
the suit brought into this vile court of Chancery could fall to my
two young cousins； I should be well contented。 But do you ask me
to believe that any good is to come of Jarndyce and Jarndyce？”
“O really； Mr Jarndyce！ Prejudice； prejudice。 My dear sir； this is
a very great country； a very great country。 Its system of equity is a
very great system； a very great system。 Really； really！”
My Guardian said no more； and Mr Vholes arrived。 He was
modestly impressed by Mr Kenge’s professional eminence。
“How do you do； Mr Vholes？ Will you be so good as to take a
chair here by me； and look over this paper？”
Mr Vholes did as he was asked； and seemed to read it every
word。 He was not excited by it； but he was not excited by anything。
When he had well examined it； he retired with Mr Kenge into a
Charles Dickens
