barnaby rudge(巴纳比·卢杰)-第132节
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after glancing at her with a smile of ineffable disdain； ’excepting
Mrs V。 I have come here； sir； for her sake； this night。 Mrs Varden；
take this piece of paper。 It’s a protection； ma’am。 You may need it。’
With these words he held out at arm’s length； a dirty； crumpled
scrap of writing。 The locksmith took it from him； opened it； and
read as follows：
‘All good friends to our cause； I hope will be particular； and do
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no injury to the property of any true Protestant。 I am well assured
that the proprietor of this house is a staunch and worthy friend to
the cause。
GEORGE GORDON。’
‘What’s this！’ said the locksmith； with an altered face。
‘Something that’ll do you good service； young feller；’ replied his
journeyman； ‘as you’ll find。 Keep that safe； and where you can lay
your hand upon it in an instant。 And chalk “No Popery” on your
door to…morrow night； and for a week to come—that’s all。’
‘This is a genuine document；’ said the locksmith； ‘I know； for I
have seen the hand before。 What threat does it imply？ What devil
is abroad？’
‘A fiery devil；’ retorted Sim； ‘a flaming； furious devil。 Don’t you
put yourself in its way； or you’re done for； my buck。 Be warned in
time； G。 Varden。 Farewell！’
But here the two women threw themselves in his way—
especially Miss Miggs； who fell upon him with such fervour that
she pinned him against the wall—and conjured him in moving
words not to go forth till he was sober； to listen to reason； to think
of it； to take some rest； and then determine。
‘I tell you；’ said Mr Tappertit； ‘that my mind is made up。 My
bleeding country calls me and I go！ Miggs； if you don’t get out of
the way； I’ll pinch you。’
Miss Miggs； still clinging to the rebel； screamed once
vociferously—but whether in the distraction of her mind； or
because of his having executed his threat； is uncertain。
‘Release me；’ said Simon； struggling to free himself from her
chaste； but spider…like embrace。 ‘Let me go！ I have made
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arrangements for you in an altered state of society； and mean to
provide for you comfortably in life—there！ Will that satisfy you？’
‘Oh Simmun！’ cried Miss Miggs。 ‘Oh my blessed Simmun！ Oh
mim！ what are my feelings at this conflicting moment！’
Of a rather turbulent description； it would seem； for her
nightcap had been knocked off in the scuffle； and she was on her
knees upon the floor； making a strange revelation of blue and
yellow curl…papers； straggling locks of hair； tags of staylaces； and
strings of it’s impossible to say what； panting for breath； clasping
her hands； turning her eyes upwards； shedding abundance of
tears； and exhibiting various other symptoms of the acutest mental
suffering。
‘I leave；’ said Simon； turning to his master； with an utter
disregard of Miggs’s maidenly affliction； ‘a box of things upstairs。
Do what you like with ’em。 I don’t want ’em。 I’m never coming
back here； any more。 Provide yourself； sir； with a journeyman； I’m
my country’s journeyman； henceforward that’s my line of
business。’
‘Be what you like in two hours’ time； but now go up to bed；’
returned the locksmith； planting himself in the doorway。 ‘Do you
hear me？ Go to bed！’
‘I hear you； and defy you； Varden；’ rejoined Simon Tappertit。
‘This night； sir； I have been in the country； planning an expedition
which shall fill your bell…hanging soul with wonder and dismay。
The plot demands my utmost energy。 Let me pass！’
‘I’ll knock you down if you come near the door；’ replied the
locksmith。 ‘You had better go to bed！’
Simon made no answer； but gathering himself up as straight as
he could； plunged head foremost at his old master； and the two
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went driving out into the workshop together； plying their hands
and feet so briskly that they looked like half…a…dozen； while Miggs
and Mrs Varden screamed for twelve。
It would have been easy for Varden to knock his old ’prentice
down； and bind him hand and foot； but as he was loth to hurt him
in his then defenceless state； he contented himself with parrying
his blows when he could； taking them in perfect good part when
he could not； and keeping between him and the door； until a
favourable opportunity should present itself for forcing him to
retreat up…stairs； and shutting him up in his own room。 But； in the
goodness of his heart； he calculated too much upon his adversary’s
weakness； and forgot that drunken men who have lost the power
of walking steadily； can often run。 Watching his time； Simon
Tappertit made a cunning show of falling back； staggered
unexpectedly forward； brushed past him； opened the door （he
knew the trick of that lock well）； and darted down the street like a
mad dog。 The locksmith paused for a moment in the excess of his
astonishment； and then gave chase。
It was an excellent season for a run； for at that silent hour the
streets were deserted； the air was cool； and the flying figure before
him distinctly visible at a great distance； as it sped away； with a
long gaunt shadow following at its heels。 But the short…winded
locksmith had no chance against a man of Sim’s youth and spare
figure； though the day had been when he could have run him
down in no time。 The space between them rapidly increased； and
as the rays of the rising sun streamed upon Simon in the act of
turning a distant corner； Gabriel Varden was fain to give up； and
sit down on a doorstep to fetch his breath。 Simon meanwhile；
without once stopping； fled at the same degree of swiftness to The
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Boot； where； as he well knew； some of his company were lying；
and at which respectable hostelry—for he had already acquired
the distinction of being in great peril of the law—a friendly watch
had been expecting him all night； and was even now on the look…
out for his coming。
‘Go thy ways； Sim； go thy ways；’ said the locksmith； as soon as
he could speak。 ‘I have done my best for thee； poor lad； and would
have saved thee； but the rope is round thy neck； I fear。’
So saying； and shaking his head in a very sorrowful and
disconsolate manner； he turned back； and soon re…entered his own
house； where Mrs Varden and the faithful Miggs had been
anxiously expecting his return。
Now Mrs Varden （and by consequence Miss Miggs likewise）
was impressed with a secret misgiving that she had done wrong；
that she had； to the utmost of her small means； aided and abetted
the growth of disturbances； the end of which it was impossible to
foresee； that she had led remotely to the scene which had just
passed； and that the locksmith’s time for triumph and reproach
had now arrived indeed。 And so strongly did Mrs Varden feel this；
and so crestfallen was she in consequence； that while her husband
was pursuing their lost journeyman； she secreted under her chair
the little red…brick dwelling…house with the yellow roof； lest it
should furnish new occasion for reference to the painful theme；
and now hid the same still more； with the
