barnaby rudge(巴纳比·卢杰)-第113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！
Then one voice said； ‘Down with the Papists！’ and there was a
pretty general cheer； but nothing more。 After a lull of a few
moments； one man cried out； ‘Stone him；’ another； ‘Duck him；’
another； in a stentorian voice； ‘No Popery！’ This favourite cry the
rest re…echoed； and the mob； which might have been two hundred
strong； joined in a general shout。
Mr Haredale had stood calmly on the brink of the steps； until
they made this demonstration； when he looked round
contemptuously； and walked at a slow pace down the stairs。 He
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
… Page 470…
Barnaby Rudge 471
was pretty near the boat； when Gashford； as if without intention；
turned about； and directly afterwards a great stone was thrown by
some hand； in the crowd； which struck him on the head； and made
him stagger like a drunken man。
The blood sprung freely from the wound； and trickled down his
coat。 He turned directly； and rushing up the steps with a boldness
and passion which made them all fall back； demanded：
‘Who did that？ Show me the man who hit me。’
Not a soul moved； except some in the rear who slunk off； and；
escaping to the other side of the way； looked on like indifferent
spectators。
‘Who did that？’ he repeated。 ‘Show me the man who did it。 Dog；
was it you？ It was your deed； if not your hand—I know you。’
He threw himself on Gashford as he said the words； and hurled
him to the ground。 There was a sudden motion in the crowd； and
some laid hands upon him； but his sword was out； and they fell off
again。
‘My lord—Sir John；’—he cried； ‘draw； one of you—you are
responsible for this outrage； and I look to you。 Draw； if you are
gentlemen。’ With that he struck Sir John upon the breast with the
flat of his weapon； and with a burning face and flashing eyes stood
upon his guard； alone； before them all。
For an instant； for the briefest space of time the mind can
readily conceive； there was a change in Sir John’s smooth face；
such as no man ever saw there。 The next moment； he stepped
forward； and laid one hand on Mr Haredale’s arm； while with the
other he endeavoured to appease the crowd。
‘My dear friend； my good Haredale； you are blinded with
passion—it’s very natural； extremely natural—but you don’t know
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
… Page 471…
Barnaby Rudge 472
friends from foes。’
‘I know them all； sir； I can distinguish well—’ he retorted；
almost mad with rage。 ‘Sir John； Lord George—do you hear me？
Are you cowards？’
‘Never mind； sir；’ said a man； forcing his way between and
pushing him towards the stairs with friendly violence； ‘never mind
asking that。 For God’s sake； get away。 What can you do against
this number？ And there are as many more in the next street；
who’ll be round directly；’—indeed they began to pour in as he said
the words—‘you’d be giddy from that cut； in the first heat of a
scuffle。 Now do retire； sir； or take my word for it you’ll be worse
used than you would be if every man in the crowd was a woman；
and that woman Bloody Mary。 Come； sir； make haste—as quick as
you can。’
Mr Haredale； who began to turn faint and sick； felt how sensible
this advice was； and descended the steps with his unknown
friend’s assistance。 John Grueby （for John it was） helped him into
the boat； and giving her a shove off； which sent her thirty feet into
the tide； bade the waterman pull away like a Briton； and walked
up again as composedly as if he had just landed。
There was at first a slight disposition on the part of the mob to
resent this interference； but John looking particularly strong and
cool； and wearing besides Lord George’s livery； they thought
better of it； and contented themselves with sending a shower of
small missiles after the boat； which plashed harmlessly in the
water； for she had by this time cleared the bridge； and was darting
swiftly down the centre of the stream。
From this amusement； they proceeded to giving Protestant
knocks at the doors of private houses； breaking a few lamps； and
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
… Page 472…
Barnaby Rudge 473
assaulting some stray constables。 But； it being whispered that a
detachment of Life Guards had been sent for； they took to their
heels with great expedition； and left the street quite clear。
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
… Page 473…
Barnaby Rudge 474
Chapter 44
hen the concourse separated； and； dividing into chance
Wclusters； drew off in various directions； there still
remained upon the scene of the late disturbance； one
man。 This man was Gashford； who； bruised by his late fall； and
hurt in a much greater degree by the indignity he had undergone；
and the exposure of which he had been the victim； limped up and
down； breathing curses and threats of vengeance。
It was not the secretary’s nature to waste his wrath in words。
While he vented the froth of his malevolence in those effusions； he
kept a steady eye on two men； who； having disappeared with the
rest when the alarm was spread； had since returned； and were
now visible in the moonlight； at no great distance； as they walked
to and fro； and talked together。
He made no move towards them； but waited patiently on the
dark side of the street； until they were tired of strolling backwards
and forwards and walked away in company。 Then he followed； but
at some distance： keeping them in view； without appearing to have
that object； or being seen by them。
They went up Parliament Street； past Saint Martin’s church；
and away by Saint Giles’s to Tottenham Court Road； at the back of
which； upon the western side； was then a place called the Green
Lanes。 This was a retired spot； not of the choicest kind； leading
into the fields。 Great heaps of ashes； stagnant pools； overgrown
with rank grass and duckweed； broken turnstiles； and the upright
posts of palings long since carried off for firewood； which menaced
all heedless walkers with their jagged and rusty nails； were the
leading features of the landscape： while here and there a donkey；
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
… Page 474…
Barnaby Rudge 475
or a ragged horse； tethered to a stake； and cropping off a wretched
meal from the coarse stunted turf； were quite in keeping with the
scene； and would have suggested （if the houses had not done so；
sufficiently； of themselves） how very poor the people were who
lived in the crazy huts adjacent； and how foolhardy it might prove
for one who carried money； or wore decent clothes； to walk that
way alone； unless by daylight。
Poverty has its whims and shows of taste； as wealth has。 Some
of these cabins were turreted； some had false windows painted on
their rotten walls； one had a mimic clock； upon a crazy tower of
four feet high； which screened the chimney； each in its little patch
of ground had a rude seat or arbour。 The population dealt in
bones； in rags； in broken glass； in old wheels； in birds； and dogs。
These； in their several ways of stowage； filled the gardens； and
shedding a perfume； not of the most delicious nature； in the air；
filled it besides with yelps； and screams； and howling。
Into this retreat； the secretary followed the two men whom he
had held in sight； and h
