barnaby rudge(巴纳比·卢杰)-第25节
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strength of heart to take the mighty pledge required； or whether
he would withdraw while retreat was yet in his power。
To this the novice made rejoinder； that he would take the vow；
though it should choke him； and it was accordingly administered
with many impressive circumstances； among which the lighting up
of the two skulls with a candle…end inside of each； and a great
many flourishes with the bone； were chiefly conspicuous； not to
mention a variety of grave exercises with the blunderbuss and
sabre； and some dismal groaning by unseen ’prentices without。 All
these dark and direful ceremonies being at length completed； the
table was put aside； the chair of state removed； the sceptre locked
up in its usual cupboard； the doors of communication between the
three cellars thrown freely open； and the ’Prentice Knights
resigned themselves to merriment。
But Mr Tappertit； who had a soul above the vulgar herd； and
who； on account of his greatness； could only afford to be merry
now and then； threw himself on a bench with the air of a man who
was faint with dignity。 He looked with an indifferent eye； alike on
skittles； cards； and dice； thinking only of the locksmith’s daughter；
and the base degenerate days on which he had fallen。
‘My noble captain neither games； nor sings； nor dances；’ said
his host； taking a seat beside him。 ‘Drink； gallant general！’
Mr Tappertit drained the proffered goblet to the dregs； then
thrust his hands into his pockets； and with a lowering visage
walked among the skittles； while his followers （such is the
influence of superior genius） restrained the ardent ball； and held
his little shins in dumb respect。
‘If I had been born a corsair or a pirate； a brigand； genteel
highwayman or patriot—and they’re the same thing；’ thought Mr
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Tappertit； musing among the nine…pins； ‘I should have been all
right。 But to drag out a ignoble existence unbeknown to mankind
in general—patience！ I will be famous yet。 A voice within me
keeps on whispering Greatness。 I shall burst out one of these days；
and when I do； what power can keep me down？ I feel my soul
getting into my head at the idea。 More drink there！’
‘The novice；’ pursued Mr Tappertit； not exactly in a voice of
thunder； for his tones； to say the truth were rather cracked and
shrill—but very impressively； notwithstanding—‘where is he？’
‘Here； noble captain！’ cried Stagg。 ‘One stands beside me who I
feel is a stranger。’
‘Have you；’ said Mr Tappertit； letting his gaze fall on the party
indicated； who was indeed the new knight； by this time restored to
his own apparel； ‘Have you the impression of your street…door key
in wax？’
The long comrade anticipated the reply； by producing it from
the shelf on which it had been deposited。
‘Good；’ said Mr Tappertit； scrutinising it attentively； while a
breathless silence reigned around； for he had constructed secret
door…keys for the whole society； and perhaps owed something of
his influence to that mean and trivial circumstance—on such
slight accidents do even men of mind depend！—‘This is easily
made。 Come hither； friend。’
With that； he beckoned the new knight apart； and putting the
pattern in his pocket； motioned to him to walk by his side。
‘And so；’ he said； when they had taken a few turns up and
down； you—you love your master’s daughter？’
‘I do；’ said the ’prentice。 ‘Honour bright。 No chaff； you know。’
‘Have you；’ rejoined Mr Tappertit； catching him by the wrist；
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and giving him a look which would have been expressive of the
most deadly malevolence； but for an accidental hiccup that rather
interfered with it； ‘have you a—a rival？’
‘Not as I know on；’ replied the ’prentice。
‘If you had now—’ said Mr Tappertit—‘what would you—eh？—’
The ’prentice looked fierce and clenched his fists。
‘It is enough；’ cried Mr Tappertit hastily； ‘we understand each
other。 We are observed。 I thank you。’
So saying； he cast him off again； and calling the long comrade
aside after taking a few hasty turns by himself； bade him
immediately write and post against the wall； a notice； proscribing
one Joseph Willet （commonly known as Joe） of Chigwell；
forbidding all ’Prentice Knights to succour； comfort； or hold
communion with him； and requiring them； on pain of
excommunication； to molest； hurt； wrong； annoy； and pick
quarrels with the said Joseph； whensoever and wheresoever they；
or any of them； should happen to encounter him。
Having relieved his mind by this energetic proceeding； he
condescended to approach the festive board； and warming by
degrees； at length deigned to preside； and even to enchant the
company with a song。 After this； he rose to such a pitch as to
consent to regale the society with a hornpipe； which be actually
performed to the music of a fiddle （played by an ingenious
member） with such surpassing agility and brilliancy of execution；
that the spectators could not be sufficiently enthusiastic in their
admiration； and their host protested； with tears in his eyes； that he
had never truly felt his blindness until that moment。
But the host withdrawing—probably to weep in secret—soon
returned with the information that it wanted little more than an
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hour of day； and that all the cocks in Barbican had already begun
to crow； as if their lives depended on it。 At this intelligence； the
’Prentice Knights arose in haste； and marshalling into a line； filed
off one by one and dispersed with all speed to their several homes；
leaving their leader to pass the grating last。
‘Good night； noble captain；’ whispered the blind man as he held
it open for his passage out； ‘Farewell； brave general。 Bye； bye；
illustrious commander。 Good luck go with you for a—conceited；
bragging； empty…headed； duck…legged idiot。’
With which parting words； coolly added as he listened to his
receding footsteps and locked the grate upon himself； he
descended the steps； and lighting the fire below the little copper；
prepared； without any assistance； for his daily occupation； which
was to retail at the area…head above pennyworths of broth and
soup； and savoury puddings； compounded of such scraps as were
to be bought in the heap for the least money at Fleet Market in the
evening time； and for the sale of which he had need to have
depended chiefly on his private connection； for the court had no
thoroughfare； and was not that kind of place in which many
people were likely to take the air； or to frequent as an agreeable
promenade。
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Chapter 9
hronicler’s are privileged to enter where they list； to come
and go through keyholes； to ride upon the wind； to
C
overcome； in their soarings up and down； all obstacles of
distance； time； and place。 Thrice blessed be this last consideration；
since it enables
