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！
and fro； and sweepings here and there； which—saving that he
looked more jolly and more radiant after every struggle—troubled
his peace of mind no more than if he had been a straw upon the
water’s surface； he never once released his firm grasp of an arm；
drawn tight through his。 He sometimes turned to clap this friend
upon the back； or whisper in his ear a word of staunch
encouragement； or cheer him with a smile； but his great care was
to shield him from the pressure； and force a passage for him to the
Golden Key。 Passive and timid； scared； pale； and wondering； and
gazing at the throng as if he were newly risen from the dead； and
felt himself a ghost among the living； Barnaby—not Barnaby in
the spirit； but in flesh and blood； with pulses； sinews； nerves； and
beating heart； and strong affections—clung to his stout old friend；
and followed where he led。
And thus； in course of time； they reached the door； held ready
for their entrance by no unwilling hands。 Then slipping in； and
shutting out the crowd by main force； Gabriel stood between Mr
Haredale and Edward Chester； and Barnaby； rushing up the
stairs； fell upon his knees beside his mother’s bed。
‘Such is the blessed end； sir；’ cried the panting locksmith； to Mr
Haredale； ‘of the best day’s work we ever did。 The rogues！ it’s been
hard fighting to get away from ’em。 I almost thought； once or
twice； they’d have been too much for us with their kindness！’
They had striven； all the previous day； to rescue Barnaby from
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
… Page 852…
Barnaby Rudge 853
his impending fate。 Failing in their attempts； in the first quarter to
which they addressed themselves； they renewed them in another。
Failing there； likewise； they began afresh at midnight； and made
their way； not only to the judge and jury who had tried him； but to
men of influence at court； to the young Prince of Wales； and even
to the ante…chamber of the King himself。 Successful； at last； in
awakening an interest in his favour； and an inclination to inquire
more dispassionately into his case； they had had an interview with
the minister； in his bed； so late as eight o’clock that morning。 The
result of a searching inquiry （in which they； who had known the
poor fellow from his childhood； did other good service； besides
bringing it about） was； that between eleven and twelve o’clock； a
free pardon to Barnaby Rudge was made out and signed； and
entrusted to a horse…soldier for instant conveyance to the place of
execution。 This courier reached the spot just as the cart appeared
in sight； and Barnaby being carried back to jail； Mr Haredale；
assured that all was safe； had gone straight from Bloomsbury
Square to the Golden Key； leaving to Gabriel the grateful task of
bringing him home in triumph。
‘I needn’t say；’ observed the locksmith； when he had shaken
hands with all the males in the house； and hugged all the females；
five…and…forty times； at least； ‘that； except among ourselves； I
didn’t want to make a triumph of it。 But； directly we got into the
street we were known； and this hubbub began。 Of the two；’ he
added； as he wiped his crimson face； ‘and after experience of both；
I think I’d rather be taken out of my house by a crowd of enemies；
than escorted home by a mob of friends！’
It was plain enough； however； that this was mere talk on
Gabriel’s part； and that the whole proceeding afforded him the
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
… Page 853…
Barnaby Rudge 854
keenest delight； for the people continuing to make a great noise
without； and to cheer as if their voices were in the freshest order；
and good for a fortnight； he sent upstairs for Grip （who had come
home at his master’s back； and had acknowledged the favours of
the multitude by drawing blood from every finger that came
within his reach）； and with the bird upon his arm presented
himself at the first…floor window； and waved his hat again until it
dangled by a shred； between his finger and thumb。 This
demonstration having been received with appropriate shouts； and
silence being in some degree restored； he thanked them for their
sympathy； and taking the liberty to inform them that there was a
sick person in the house； proposed that they should give three
cheers for King George； three more for Old England； and three
more for nothing particular； as a closing ceremony。 The crowd
assenting； substituted Gabriel Varden for the nothing particular；
and giving him one over； for good measure； dispersed in high
good…humour。
What congratulations were exchanged among the inmates at
the Golden Key； when they were left alone； what an overflowing of
joy and happiness there was among them； how incapable it was of
expression in Barnaby’s own person； and how he went wildly from
one to another； until he became so far tranquillised； as to stretch
himself on the ground beside his mother’s couch and fall into a
deep sleep； are matters that need not be told。 And it is well they
happened to be of this class； for they would be very hard to tell；
were their narration ever so indispensable。
Before leaving this bright picture； it may be well to glance at a
dark and very different one which was presented to only a few
eyes； that same night。
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
… Page 854…
Barnaby Rudge 855
The scene was a churchyard； the time； midnight； the persons；
Edward Chester； a clergyman； a grave…digger； and the four bearers
of a homely coffin。 They stood about a grave which had been
newly dug； and one of the bearers held up a dim lantern；—the only
light there—which shed its feeble ray upon the book of prayer。 He
placed it for a moment on the coffin； when he and his companions
were about to lower it down。 There was no inscription on the lid。
The mould fell s