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incomprehensible。’
‘Since when； sir；’ said the locksmith after a pause； ‘has this
uneasy feeling been upon you？’
Mr Haredale hesitated for some moments； and then replied：
‘Since the night of the storm。 In short； since the last nineteenth of
March。’
As though he feared that Varden might express surprise； or
reason with him； he hastily went on：
‘You will think； I know； I labour under some delusion。 Perhaps
I do。 But it is not a morbid one； it is a wholesome action of the
mind； reasoning on actual occurrences。 You know the furniture
remains in Mrs Rudge’s house； and that it has been shut up； by my
orders； since she went away； save once a…week or so； when an old
neighbour visits it to scare away the rats。 I am on my way there
now。’
‘For what purpose？’ asked the locksmith。
‘To pass the night there；’ he replied； ‘and not to…night alone； but
many nights。 This is a secret which I trust to you in case of any
unexpected emergency。 You will not come； unless in case of strong
necessity； to me； from dusk to broad day I shall be there。 Emma；
your daughter； and the rest； suppose me out of London； as I have
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been until within this hour。 Do not undeceive them。 This is the
errand I am bound upon。 I know I may confide it to you； and I rely
upon your questioning me no more at this time。’
With that； as if to change the theme； he led the astounded
locksmith back to the night of the Maypole highwayman； to the
robbery of Edward Chester； to the reappearance of the man at Mrs
Rudge’s house； and to all the strange circumstances which
afterwards occurred。 He even asked him carelessly about the
man’s height； his face； his figure； whether he was like any one he
had ever seen—like Hugh； for instance； or any man he had known
at any time—and put many questions of that sort； which the
locksmith； considering them as mere devices to engage his
attention and prevent his expressing the astonishment he felt；
answered pretty much at random。
At length； they arrived at the corner of the street in which the
house stood； where Mr Haredale； alighting； dismissed the coach。
‘If you desire to see me safely lodged；’ he said； turning to the
locksmith with a gloomy smile； ‘you can。’
Gabriel； to whom all former marvels had been nothing in
comparison with this； followed him along the narrow pavement in
silence。 When they reached the door； Mr Haredale softly opened it
with a key he had about him； and closing it when Varden entered；
they were left in thorough darkness。
They groped their way into the ground…floor room。 Here Mr
Haredale struck a light； and kindled a pocket taper he had brought
with him for the purpose。 It was then； when the flame was full
upon him； that the locksmith saw for the first time how haggard；
pale； and changed he looked； how worn and thin he was； how
perfectly his whole appearance coincided with all that he had said
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Barnaby Rudge 457
so strangely as they rode along。 It was not an unnatural impulse in
Gabriel； after what he had heard； to note curiously the expression
of his eyes。 It was perfectly collected and rational；—so much so；
indeed； that he felt ashamed of his momentary suspicion； and
drooped his own when Mr Haredale looked towards him； as if he
feared they would betray his thoughts。
‘Will you walk through the house？’ said Mr Haredale； with a
glance towards the window； the crazy shutters of which were
closed and fastened。 ‘Speak low。’
There was a kind of awe about the place； which would have
rendered it difficult to speak in any other manner。 Gabriel
whispered ‘Yes；’ and followed him upstairs。
Everything was just as they had seen it last。 There was a sense
of closeness from the exclusion of fresh air； and a gloom and
heaviness around； as though long imprisonment had made the
very silence sad。 The homely hangings of the beds and windows
had begun to droop； the dust lay thick upon their dwindling folds；
and damps had made their way through ceiling； wall； and floor。
The boards creaked beneath their tread； as if resenting the
unaccustomed intrusion； nimble spiders； paralysed by the taper’s
glare； checked the motion of their hundred legs upon the wall； or
dropped like lifeless things upon the ground； the death…watch
ticked； and the scampering feet of rats and mice rattled behind the
wainscot。
As they looked about them on the decaying furniture； it was
strange to find how vividly it presented those to whom it had
belonged； and with whom it was once familiar。 Grip seemed to
perch again upon his high…backed chair； Barnaby to crouch in his
old favourite corner by the fire； the mother to resume her usual
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seat； and watch him as of old。 Even when they could separate
these objects from the phantoms of the mind which they invoked；
the latter only glided out of sight； but lingered near them still； for
then they seemed to lurk in closets and behind the doors； ready to
start out and suddenly accost them in well…remembered tones。
They went downstairs； and again into the room they had just
now left。 Mr Haredale unbuckled his sword and laid it on the
table； with a pair of pocket pistols； then told the locksmith he
would light him to the door。
‘But this is a dull place； sir；’ said Gabriel lingering； ‘may no one
share your watch？’
He shook his head； and so plainly evinced his wish to be alone；
that Gabriel could say no more。 In another