barnaby rudge(巴纳比·卢杰)-第137节
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Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
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Barnaby Rudge 572
took his station at the door； beyond their hearing。
‘You might have spoiled our plans； master；’ said Hugh。 ‘You；
too； of all men！’
‘Who would have supposed that he would be so quick？’ urged
Gashford。
‘He’s as quick sometimes—I don’t mean with his hands； for that
you know； but with his head—as you or any man；’ said Hugh。
‘Dennis； it’s time we were going； they’re waiting for us； I came to
tell you。 Reach me my stick and belt。 Here！ Lend a hand； master。
Fling this over my shoulder； and buckle it behind； will you？’
‘Brisk as ever！’ said the secretary； adjusting it for him as he
desired。
‘A man need be brisk to…day； there’s brisk work a…foot。’
‘There is； is there？’ said Gashford。 He said it with such a
provoking assumption of ignorance； that Hugh； looking over his
shoulder and angrily down upon him； replied：
‘Is there！ You know there is！ Who knows better than you；
master； that the first great step to be taken is to make examples of
these witnesses； and frighten all men from appearing against us or
any of our body； any more？’
‘There’s one we know of；’ returned Gashford； with an
expressive smile； ‘who is at least as well informed upon that
subject as you or I。’
‘If we mean the same gentleman； as I suppose we do；’ Hugh
rejoined softly； ‘I tell you this—he’s as good and quick information
about everything as—’ here he paused and looked round； as if to
make sure that the person in question was not within hearing； ‘as
Old Nick himself。 Have you done that； master？ How slow you are！’
‘It’s quite fast now；’ said Gashford； rising。 ‘I say—you didn’t find
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that your friend disapproved of to…day’s little expedition？ Ha ha
ha！ It is fortunate it jumps so well with the witness policy； for； once
planned； it must have been carried out。 And now you are going；
eh？’
‘Now we are going； master！’ Hugh replied。 ‘Any parting words？’
‘Oh dear； no；’ said Gashford sweetly。 ‘None！’
‘You’re sure？’ cried Hugh； nudging the grinning Dennis。
‘Quite sure； eh； Muster Gashford？’ chuckled the hangman。
Gashford paused a moment； struggling with his caution and his
malice； then putting himself between the two men； and laying a
hand upon the arm of each； said； in a cramped whisper：
‘Do not； my good friends—I am sure you will not—forget our
talk one night—in your house； Dennis—about this person。 No
mercy； no quarter； no two beams of his house to be left standing
where the builder placed them！ Fire； the saying goes； is a good
servant； but a bad master。 Makes it his master； he deserves no
better。 But I am sure you will be firm； I am sure you will be very
resolute； I am sure you will remember that he thirsts for your
lives； and those of all your brave companions。 If you ever acted
like staunch fellows； you will do so to…day。 Won’t you； Dennis—
won’t you； Hugh？’
The two looked at him； and at each other； then bursting into a
roar of laughter； brandished their staves above their heads； shook
hands； and hurried out。
When they had been gone a little time； Gashford followed。 They
were yet in sight； and hastening to that part of the adjacent fields
in which their fellows had already mustered； Hugh was looking
back； and flourishing his hat to Barnaby； who； delighted with his
trust； replied in the same way； and then resumed his pacing up
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and down before the stable…door； where his feet had worn a path
already。 And when Gashford himself was far distant； and looked
back for the last time； he was still walking to and fro； with the
same measured tread； the most devoted and the blithest champion
that ever maintained a post； and felt his heart lifted up with a
brave sense of duty； and determination to defend it to the last。
Smiling at the simplicity of the poor idiot； Gashford betook
himself to Welbeck Street by a different path from that which he
knew the rioters would take； and sitting down behind a curtain in
one of the upper windows of Lord George Gordon’s house； waited
impatiently for their coming。 They were so long； that although he
knew it had been settled they should come that way； he had a
misgiving they must have changed their plans and taken some
other route。 But at length the roar of voices was heard in the
neighbouring fields； and soon afterwards they came thronging
past； in a great body。
However； they were not all； nor nearly all； in one body； but
were； as he soon found； divided into four parties； each of which
stopped before the house to give three cheers； and then went on；
the leaders crying out in what direction they were going； and
calling on the spectators to join them。 The first detachment；
carrying； by way of banners； some relics of the havoc they had
made in Moorfields； proclaimed that they were on their way to
Chelsea； whence they would return in the same order； to make of
the spoil they bore； a great bonfire； near at hand。 The second gave
out that they were bound for Wapping； to destroy a chapel； the
third； that their place of destination was East Smithfield； and their
object the same。 All this was done in broad； bright； summer day。
Gay carriages and chairs stopped to let them pass； or turned back
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to avoid them； people on foot stood aside in doorways； or perhaps
knocked and begged permission to stand at a window； or in the
hall； until the rioters had passed： but nobody interfered with them；
and when they had gone by； everything went on as usual。
There still remained the fourth body； and for that the secretary
looked with a most intense eagerness。 At last it came up。 It was
numerous； and composed of picked men； for as he gazed down
among them； he recognised many upturned faces which he knew
well—those of Simon Tappertit； Hugh； and Dennis in the front； of
course。 They halted and cheered； as the others had done； but
when they moved again； they did not； like them； proclaim what
design they had。 Hugh merely raised his hat upon the bludgeon he
carried； and glancing at a spectator on the opposite side of the
way； was gone。
Gashford followed the direction of his glance instinctively； and
saw； standing on the pavement； and wearing the blue cockade； Sir
John Chester。 He held his hat an inch or two above his head； to
propitiate the mob； and； resting gracefully on his cane； smiling
pleasantly； and displaying his dress and person to the very best
advantage； looked on in the most tranquil state imaginable。 For all
that； and quick and dexterous as he was； Gashford had seen him
recognise Hugh with the air of a patron。 He had no longer any
eyes for the crowd； but fixed his keen regards upon Sir John。
He stood in the same place and posture until the last man in the
concourse had turned the corner of the street； then very
deliberately took the blue cockade out of his hat； put it carefully in
his pocket； ready for the next emergency； refreshed himself with a
pinch of snuff； put up his box； and was walking slowly off； when a
passing carriage stopped
