barnaby rudge(巴纳比·卢杰)-第24节
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going to a little cupboard； returned with a thigh…bone； which in
former times must have been part and parcel of some individual at
least as long as himself； and placed the same in the hands of Mr
Tappertit； who； receiving it as a sceptre and staff of authority；
cocked his three…cornered hat fiercely on the top of his head； and
mounted a large table； whereon a chair of state； cheerfully
ornamented with a couple of skulls； was placed ready for his
reception。
He had no sooner assumed this position； than another young
gentleman appeared； bearing in his arms a huge clasped book；
who made him a profound obeisance； and delivering it to the long
comrade； advanced to the table； and turning his back upon it；
stood there Atlas…wise。 Then； the long comrade got upon the table
too； and seating himself in a lower chair than Mr Tappertit’s； with
much state and ceremony； placed the large book on the shoulders
of their mute companion as deliberately as if he had been a
wooden desk； and prepared to make entries therein with a pen of
corresponding size。
When the long comrade had made these preparations； he
looked towards Mr Tappertit； and Mr Tappertit； flourishing the
bone； knocked nine times therewith upon one of the skulls。 At the
ninth stroke； a third young gentleman emerged from the door
leading to the skittle ground； and bowing low； awaited his
commands。
‘’Prentice！’ said the mighty captain； ‘who waits without？’
The ’prentice made answer that a stranger was in attendance；
who claimed admission into that secret society of ’Prentice
Knights； and a free participation in their rights； privileges； and
immunities。 Thereupon Mr Tappertit flourished the bone again；
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and giving the other skull a prodigious rap on the nose； exclaimed
‘Admit him！’ At these dread words the ’prentice bowed once more；
and so withdrew as he had come。
There soon appeared at the same door； two other ’prentices；
having between them a third； whose eyes were bandaged； and who
was attired in a bag…wig； and a broad…skirted coat； trimmed with
tarnished lace； and who was girded with a sword； in compliance
with the laws of the Institution regulating the introduction of
candidates； which required them to assume this courtly dress； and
kept it constantly in lavender； for their convenience。 One of the
conductors of this novice held a rusty blunderbuss pointed
towards his ear； and the other a very ancient sabre； with which he
carved imaginary offenders as he came along in a sanguinary and
anatomical manner。
As this silent group advanced； Mr Tappertit fixed his hat upon
his head。 The novice then laid his hand upon his breast and bent
before him。 When he had humbled himself sufficiently； the captain
ordered the bandage to be removed； and proceeded to eye him
over。
‘Ha！’ said the captain； thoughtfully； when he had concluded this
ordeal。 ‘Proceed。’
The long comrade read aloud as follows：—‘Mark Gilbert。 Age；
nineteen。 Bound to Thomas Curzon； hosier； Golden Fleece；
Aldgate。 Loves Curzon’s daughter。 Cannot say that Curzon’s
daughter loves him。 Should think it probable。 Curzon pulled his
ears last Tuesday week。’
‘How！’ cried the captain； starting。
‘For looking at his daughter； please you；’ said the novice。
‘Write Curzon down； Denounced；’ said the captain。 ‘Put a black
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cross against the name of Curzon。’
‘So please you；’ said the novice； ‘that’s not the worst—he calls
his ’prentice idle dog； and stops his beer unless he works to his
liking。 He gives Dutch cheese； too； eating Cheshire； sir； himself；
and Sundays out； are only once a month。’
‘This；’ said Mr Tappertit gravely； ‘is a flagrant case。 Put two
black crosses to the name of Curzon。’
‘If the society；’ said the novice； who was an ill…looking； one…
sided； shambling lad； with sunken eyes set close together in his
head—‘if the society would burn his house down—for he’s not
insured—or beat him as he comes home from his club at night； or
help me to carry off his daughter； and marry her at the Fleet；
whether she gave consent or no—’
Mr Tappertit waved his grizzly truncheon as an admonition to
him not to interrupt； and ordered three black crosses to the name
of Curzon。
‘Which means；’ he said in gracious explanation； ‘vengeance；
complete and terrible。 ’Prentice； do you love the Constitution？’
To which the novice （being to that end instructed by his
attendant sponsors） replied ‘I do！’
‘The Church； the State； and everything established—but the
masters？’ quoth the captain。
Again the novice said ‘I do。’
Having said it； he listened meekly to the captain； who in an
address prepared for such occasions； told him how that under that
same Constitution （which was kept in a strong box somewhere；
but where exactly he could not find out； or he would have
endeavoured to procure a copy of it）； the ’prentices had； in times
gone by； had frequent holidays of right； broken people’s heads by
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scores； defied their masters； nay； even achieved some glorious
murders in the streets； which privileges had gradually been
wrested from them； and in all which noble aspirations they were
now restrained； how the degrading checks imposed upon them
were unquestionably attributable to the innovating spirit of the
times； and how they united therefore to resist all change； except
such change as would restore those good old English customs； by
which they would stand or fall。 After illustrating the wisdom of
going backward； by reference to that sagacious fish； the crab； and
the not unfrequent practice of the mule and donkey； he described
their general objects； which were briefly vengeance on their
Tyrant Masters （of whose grievous and insupportable oppression
no ’prentice could entertain a moment’s doubt） and the
restoration； as aforesaid； of their ancient rights and holidays； for
neither of which objects were they now quite ripe； being barely
twenty strong； but which they pledged themselves to pursue with
fire and sword when needful。 Then he described the oath which
every member of that small remnant of a noble body took； and
which was of a dreadful and impressive kind； binding him； at the
bidding of his chief； to resist and obstruct the Lord Mayor； sword…
bearer； and chaplain； to despise the authority of the sheriffs； and
to hold the court of aldermen as nought； but not on any account； in
case the fulness of time should bring a general rising of ’prentices；
to damage or in any way disfigure Temple Bar； which was strictly
constitutional and always to be approached with reverence。
Having gone over these several heads with great eloquence and
force； and having further informed the novice that this society had
its origin in his own teeming brain； stimulated by a swelling sense
of wrong and outrage； Mr Tappertit demanded whether he had
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strength of heart to take
