bleak house(凄凉的房子)-第94节
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
life； otherwise than as he has become the victim of a tender sorrow
of the heart。
“Jobling；” says Mr Guppy； “myself and our mutual friend
Smallweed—”
（Mr Smallweed modestly observes “Gentlemen both！” and
drinks。）
“Have had a little conversation on this matter more than once；
since you—”
“Say； got the sack！” cries Mr Jobling； bitterly。 “Say it； Guppy。
You mean it。”
“N…o…o！ Left the Inn；” Mr Smallweed delicately suggests。
“Since you left the Inn； Jobling；” says Mr Guppy； “and I have
mentioned； to our mutual friend Smallweed； a plan I have lately
thought of proposing。 You know Snagsby the stationer？”
“I know there is such a stationer；” returns Mr Jobling。 “He was
not ours； and I am not acquainted with him。”
“He is ours； Jobling； and I am acquainted with him；” Mr Guppy
retorts。 “Well； sir！ I have lately become better acquainted with
him； through some accidental circumstances that have made me a
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
… Page 390…
Bleak House 390
visitor of his in private life。 Those circumstances it is not necessary
to offer in argument。 They may—or they may not—have some
reference to a subject； which may—or may not—have cast its
shadow on my existence。”
As it is Mr Guppy’s perplexing way； with boastful misery to
tempt his particular friends into this subject； and the moment they
touch it； to turn on them with that trenchant severity about the
chords in the human mind； both Mr Jobling and Mr Smallweed
decline the pitfall； by remaining silent。
“Such things may be；” repeats Mr Guppy； “or they may not be。
They are no part of the case。 It is enough to mention； that both Mr
and Mrs Snagsby are very willing to oblige me； and that Snagsby
has； in busy times； a good deal of copying work to give out。 He has
all Tulkinghorn’s； and an excellent business besides。 I believe； if
our mutual friend Smallweed were put into the box； he could
prove this？”
Mr Smallweed nods； and appears greedy to be sworn。
“Now； gentlemen of the jury；” says Mr Guppy； “—I mean； now
Jobling—you may say this is a poor prospect of a living。 Granted。
But it’s better than nothing； and better than enlistment。 You want
time。 There must be time for these late affairs to blow over。 You
might live through it on much worse terms than by writing for
Snagsby。”
Mr Jobling is about to interrupt； when the sagacious Smallweed
checks him with a dry cough； and the words； “Hem！
Shakespeare！”
“There are two branches to this subject； Jobling；” says Mr
Guppy。 “That is the first。 I come to the second。 You know Krook；
the Chancellor； across the lane。 Come； Jobling；” says Mr Guppy； in
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
… Page 391…
Bleak House 391
his encouraging cross…examination…tone； “I think you know Krook；
the Chancellor； across the lane？”
“I know him by sight；” says Mr Jobling。
“You know him by sight。 Very well。 And you know little Flite？”
“Everybody knows her；” says Mr Jobling。
“Everybody knows her。 Very well。 Now it has been one of my
duties of late； to pay Flite a certain weekly allowance； deducting
from it the amount of her weekly rent； which I have paid （in
consequence of instructions I have received） to Krook himself；
regularly； in her presence。 This has brought me into
communication with Krook； and into a knowledge of his house and
his habits。 I know he has a room to let。 You may live there； at a
very low charge； under any name you like； as quietly as if you were
a hundred miles off。 He’ll ask no questions； and would accept you
as a tenant； at a word from me—before the clock strikes； if you
chose。 And I’ll tell you another thing； Jobling；” says Mr Guppy；
who has suddenly lowered his voice； and become familiar again；
“he’s an extraordinary old chap—always rummaging among a
litter of papers； and grubbing away at teaching himself to read and
write； without getting on a bit； as it seems to me。 He is a most
extraordinary old chap； sir。 I don’t know but what it might be
worth a fellow’s while to look him up a bit。”
“You don’t mean —？” Mr Jobling begins。
“I mean；” returns Mr Guppy； shrugging his shoulders with
becoming modesty； “that I can’t make him out。 I appeal to our
mutual friend Smallweed whether he has or has not heard me
remark； that I can’t make him out。”
Mr Smallweed bears the concise testimony； “A few！”
“I have seen something of the profession； and something of life；
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
… Page 392…
Bleak House 392
Tony；” says Mr Guppy； “and it’s seldom I can’t make a man out；
more or less。 But such an old card as this； so deep； so sly； and
secret （though I don’t believe he is ever sober）； I never came
across。 Now； he must be precious old； you know； and he has not a
soul about him； and he is reported to be immensely rich； and
whether he is a smuggler； or a receiver； or an unlicensed
pawnbroker； or a money…lender—all of which I have thought likely
at different times—it might pay you to knock up a sort of
knowledge of him。 I don’t see why you shouldn’t go in for it； when
everything else suits。”
Mr Jobling； Mr Guppy； and Mr Smallweed； all lean their elbows
on the table； and their chins upon their hands； and look at the
ceiling。 After a time； they all drink； slowly lean back； put their
hands in their pockets； and look at one another。
“If I had the energy I once possessed； Tony！” says Mr Guppy；
with a sigh。 “But there are chords in the human mind—”
Expressing the remainder of the desolate sentiment in rum…and…
water； Mr Guppy concludes by resigning the adventure to Tony
Jobling； and informing him that during the vacation and while
things are slack； his purse； “as far as three or four or even five
pound goes；” will be at his disposal。 “For never shall it be said；”
Mr Guppy adds with emphasis； “that William Guppy turned his
back upon his friend！”
The latter part of the proposal is so directly to the purpose； that
Mr Jobling says with emotion； “Guppy； my trump； your fist！” Mr
Guppy presents it； saying； “Jobling； my boy； there it is！” Mr
Jobling returns； “Guppy； we have been pals now for some years！”
Mr Guppy replies； “Jobling； we have。”
They then shake hands； and Mr Jobling adds in a feeling
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
… Page 393…
Bleak House 393
manner； “Thank you； Guppy； I don’t know but what I will take
another glass； for old acquaintance sake。”
“Krook’s last lodger died there；” observes Mr Guppy； in an
incidental way。
“Did he； though！” says Mr Jobling。
“There was a verdict。 Accidental death。 You don’t mind that？”
“No；” says Mr Jobling； “I don’t mind it； but he might as well
have died somewhere else。 It’s devilish odd that he need go and
die at my place！” Mr Jobling quite resents this liberty； several
times returning to it with such remarks as； “There are places
enough to die in； I should think！” or； “He wouldn’t have liked my
dying at his place； I dare say！”
However；
