按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
her bedside。 Our talk was not a long one； for she was weak； and
there being people near I was not quite easy。 But I told her all that
you and I agreed upon； and pointed out the young gentleman’s
position； in strong terms。 She tried to soften me； but that； of
course （as I told her）； was lost time。 She cried and moaned； you
may be sure； all women do。 Then； of a sudden； she found her voice
and strength； and said that Heaven would help her and her
innocent son； and that to Heaven she appealed against us—which
she did； in really very pretty language； I assure you。 I advised her；
as a friend； not to count too much on assistance from any such
distant quarter—recommended her to think of it—told her where I
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
… Page 741…
Barnaby Rudge 742
lived—said I knew she would send to me before noon； next day—
and left her； either in a faint or shamming。’
When he had concluded this narration； during which he had
made several pauses； for the convenience of cracking and eating
nuts； of which he seemed to have a pocketful； the blind man pulled
a flask from his pocket； took a draught himself； and offered it to
his companion。
‘You won’t； won’t you？’ he said； feeling that he pushed it from
him。 ‘Well！ Then the gallant gentleman who’s lodging with you；
will。 Hallo； bully！’
‘Death！’ said the other； holding him back。 ‘Will you tell me what
I am to do！’
‘Do！ Nothing easier。 Make a moonlight flitting in two hours’
time with the young gentleman （he’s quite ready to go； I have been
giving him good advice as we came along）； and get as far from
London as you can。 Let me know where you are； and leave the rest
to me。 She must come round； she can’t hold out long； and as to the
chances of your being retaken in the meanwhile； why it wasn’t one
man who got out of Newgate； but three hundred。 Think of that； for
your comfort。’
‘We must support life。 How？’
‘How！’ repeated the blind man。 ‘By eating and drinking。 And
how get meat and drink； but by paying for it！ Money！’ he cried；
slapping his pocket。 ‘Is money the word？ Why； the streets have
been running money。 Devil send that the sport’s not over yet； for
these are jolly times； golden； rare； roaring； scrambling times。
Hallo； bully！ Hallo！ Hallo！ Drink； bully； drink。 Where are ye there！
Hallo！’
With such vociferations； and with a boisterous manner which
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
… Page 742…
Barnaby Rudge 743
bespoke his perfect abandonment to the general licence and
disorder； he groped his way towards the shed； where Hugh and
Barnaby were sitting on the ground。
‘Put it about！’ he cried； handing his flask to Hugh。 ‘The kennels
run with wine and gold。 Guineas and strong water flow from the
very pumps。 About with it； don’t spare it！’
Exhausted； unwashed； unshorn； begrimed with smoke and
dust； his hair clotted with blood； his voice quite gone； so that he
spoke in whispers； his skin parched up by fever； his whole body
bruised and cut； and beaten about； Hugh still took the flask； and
raised it to his lips。 He was in the act of drinking； when the front of
the shed was suddenly darkened； and Dennis stood before them。
‘No offence； no offence；’ said that personage in a conciliatory
tone； as Hugh stopped in his draught； and eyed him； with no
pleasant look； from head to foot。 ‘No offence； brother。 Barnaby
here too； eh？ How are you； Barnaby？ And two other gentlemen！
Your humble servant； gentlemen。 No offence to you either； I hope。
Eh； brothers？’
Notwithstanding that he spoke in this very friendly and
confident manner； he seemed to have considerable hesitation
about entering； and remained outside the roof。 He was rather
better dressed than usual： wearing the same suit of threadbare
black； it is true； but having round his neck an unwholesome…
looking cravat of a yellowish white； and； on his hands； great
leather gloves； such as a gardener might wear in following his
trade。 His shoes were newly greased； and ornamented with a pair
of rusty iron buckles； the packthread at his knees had been
renewed； and where he wanted buttons； he wore pins。 Altogether；
he had something the look of a tipstaff； or a bailiff’s follower；
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
… Page 743…
Barnaby Rudge 744
desperately faded； but who had a notion of keeping up the
appearance of a professional character； and making the best of the
worst means。
‘You’re very snug here；’ said Mr Dennis； pulling out a mouldy
pocket…handkerchief； which looked like a decomposed halter； and
wiping his forehead in a nervous manner。
‘Not snug enough to prevent your finding us； it seems；’ Hugh
answered； sulkily。
‘Why I’ll tell you what； brother；’ said Dennis； with a friendly
smile； ‘when you don’t want me to know which way you’re riding；
you must wear another sort of bells on your horse。 Ah！ I know the
sound of them you wore last night； and have got quick ears for
’em； that’s the truth。 Well； but how are you； brother？’
He had by this time approached； and now ventured to sit down
by him。
‘How am I？’ answered Hugh。 ‘Where were you yesterday？
Where did you go when you left me in the jail？ Why did you leave
me？ And what did you mean by rolling your eyes and shaking
your fist at me； eh？’
‘I shake my fist！—at you； brother！’ said Dennis； gently checking
Hugh’s uplifted hand； which looked threatening。
‘Your stick； then； it’s all one。’
‘Lord love you； brother； I meant nothing。 You don’t understand
me by half。 I shouldn’t wonder now；’ he added； in the tone