barnaby rudge(巴纳比·卢杰)-第163节
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Hugh reminded them； in answer； that they wanted his services；
and must have them。
‘So； tell him what we want；’ he said to Simon Tappertit； ‘and
quickly。 And open your ears； master； if you would ever use them
after to…night。’
Gabriel folded his arms； which were now at liberty； and eyed
his old ’prentice in silence。
‘Lookye； Varden；’ said Sim； ‘we’re bound for Newgate。’
‘I know you are；’ returned the locksmith。 ‘You never said a
truer word than that。’
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‘To burn it down； I mean；’ said Simon； ‘and force the gates； and
set the prisoners at liberty。 You helped to make the lock of the
great door。’
‘I did；’ said the locksmith。 ‘You owe me no thanks for that—as
you’ll find before long。’
‘Maybe；’ returned his journeyman； ‘but you must show us how
to force it。’
‘Must I！’
‘Yes； for you know； and I don’t。 You must come along with us；
and pick it with your own hands。’
‘When I do；’ said the locksmith quietly； ‘my hands shall drop off
at the wrists； and you shall wear them； Simon Tappertit； on your
shoulders for epaulettes。’
‘We’ll see that；’ cried Hugh； interposing； as the indignation of
the crowd again burst forth。 ‘You fill a basket with the tools he’ll
want； while I bring him downstairs。 Open the doors below； some of
you。 And light the great captain； others！ Is there no business afoot；
my lads； that you can do nothing but stand and grumble？’
They looked at one another； and quickly dispersing； swarmed
over the house； plundering and breaking； according to their
custom； and carrying off such articles of value as happened to
please their fancy。 They had no great length of time for these
proceedings； for the basket of tools was soon prepared and slung
over a man’s shoulders。 The preparations being now completed；
and everything ready for the attack； those who were pillaging and
destroying in the other rooms were called down to the workshop。
They were about to issue forth； when the man who had been last
upstairs； stepped forward； and asked if the young woman in the
garret （who was making a terrible noise； he said； and kept on
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screaming without the least cessation） was to be released？
For his own part； Simon Tappertit would certainly have replied
in the negative； but the mass of his companions； mindful of the
good service she had done in the matter of the gun； being of a
different opinion； he had nothing for it but to answer； Yes。 The
man； accordingly； went back again to the rescue； and presently
returned with Miss Miggs； limp and doubled up； and very damp
from much weeping。
As the young lady had given no tokens of consciousness on
their way downstairs； the bearer reported her either dead or
dying； and being at some loss what to do with her； was looking
round for a convenient bench or heap of ashes on which to place
her senseless form； when she suddenly came upon her feet by
some mysterious means； thrust back her hair； stared wildly at Mr
Tappertit； cried； ‘My Simmuns’s life is not a wictim！’ and dropped
into his arms with such promptitude that he staggered and reeled
some paces back； beneath his lovely burden。
‘Oh bother！’ said Mr Tappertit。 ‘Here。 Catch hold of her；
somebody。 Lock her up again； she never ought to have been let
out。’
‘My Simmun！’ cried Miss Miggs； in tears； and faintly。 ‘My for
ever； ever blessed Simmun！’
‘Hold up； will you；’ said Mr Tappertit； in a very unresponsive
tone； ‘I’ll let you fall if you don’t。 What are you sliding your feet off
the ground for？’
‘My angel Simmuns！’ murmured Miggs—‘he promised—’
‘Promised！ Well； and I’ll keep my promise；’ answered Simon；
testily。 ‘I mean to provide for you； don’t I？ Stand up！’
‘Where am I to go？ What is to become of me after my actions of
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this night！’ cried Miggs。 ‘What resting…places now remains but in
the silent tombses！’
‘I wish you was in the silent tombses； I do；’ cried Mr Tappertit；
‘and boxed up tight； in a good strong one。 Here；’ he cried to one of
the bystanders； in whose ear he whispered for a moment： ‘Take
her off； will you。 You understand where？’
The fellow nodded； and taking her in his arms； notwithstanding
her broken protestations； and her struggles （which latter species
of opposition； involving scratches； was much more difficult of
resistance）； carried her away。 They who were in the house poured
out into the street； the locksmith was taken to the head of the
crowd； and required to walk between his two conductors； the
whole body was put in rapid motion； and without any shouts or
noise they bore down straight on Newgate； and halted in a dense
mass before the prison…gate。
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Chapter 64
reaking the silence they had hitherto preserved； they
Braised a great cry as soon as they were ranged before the
jail； and demanded to speak to the governor。 This visit
was not wholly unexpected； for his house； which fronted the street；
was strongly barricaded； the wicket…gate of the prison was closed
up； and at no loophole or grating was any person to be seen。
Before they had repeated their summons many times； a man
appeared upon the roof of the governor’s house； and asked what it
was they wanted。
Some said one thing； some another； and some only groaned and
hissed。 It being now nearly dark； and the house high； many
persons in the throng were not aware that any one had come to
answer them； and continued their clamour until the intelligence
was gradually diffused through the whole concourse。 Ten minutes
or more elapsed before any one voice could be heard with
tolerable distinctness； during which interval the figure remained
perched alone； against the summer…evening sky； looking down
into the troubled street。
‘Are you；’ said Hugh at length； ‘Mr Akerman； the head jailer
here？’
‘Of course he is； brother；’ whispered Dennis。 But Hugh； without
minding him； took his answer from the man himself。
‘Yes；’ he said。 ‘I am。’
‘You have got some friends of ours in your custody； master。’
‘I have a good many people in my custody。’ He glanced
downward； as he spoke； into the jail： and the feeling that he could
see into the different yards； and that he overlooked everything
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which was hidden from their view by the rugged walls； so lashed
and goaded the mob； that they howled like wolves。
‘Deliver up our friends；’ said Hugh； ‘and you may keep the rest。’
‘It’s my duty to keep them all。 I shall do my duty。’
‘If you don’t throw the doors open； we shall break ’em down；’
said Hugh； ‘for we will have the rioters out。’
‘All I can do； good people；’ Akerman replied； ‘is to exhort you to
disperse； and to remind you that the consequences of any
disturbance in this place；
