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Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
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Barnaby Rudge 124
‘Come hither； lad；’ said Mr Chester。 ‘You know Mr Geoffrey
Haredale？’
Barnaby laughed； and looked at the landlord as though he
would say； ‘You hear him？’ John； who was greatly shocked at this
breach of decorum； clapped his finger to his nose； and shook his
head in mute remonstrance。
‘He knows him； sir；’ said John； frowning aside at Barnaby； ‘as
well as you or I do。’
‘I haven’t the pleasure of much acquaintance with the
gentleman；’ returned his guest。 ‘You may have。 Limit the
comparison to yourself； my friend。’
Although this was said with the same easy affability； and the
same smile； John felt himself put down； and laying the indignity at
Barnaby’s door； determined to kick his raven； on the very first
opportunity。
‘Give that；’ said the guest； who had by this time sealed the note；
and who beckoned his messenger towards him as he spoke； ‘into
Mr Haredale’s own hands。 Wait for an answer； and bring it back to
me here。 If you should find that Mr Haredale is engaged just now；
tell him—can he remember a message； landlord？’
‘When he chooses； sir；’ replied John。 ‘He won’t forget this one。’
‘How are you sure of that？’
John merely pointed to him as he stood with his head bent
forward； and his earnest gaze fixed closely on his questioner’s
face； and nodded sagely。
‘Tell him then； Barnaby； should he be engaged；’ said Mr
Chester； ‘that I shall be glad to wait his convenience here； and to
see him （if he will call） at any time this evening。—At the worst I
can have a bed here； Willet； I suppose？’
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
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Barnaby Rudge 125
Old John； immensely flattered by the personal notoriety
implied in this familiar form of address； answered； with something
like a knowing look； ‘I should believe you could； sir；’ and was
turning over in his mind various forms of eulogium； with the view
of selecting one appropriate to the qualities of his best bed； when
his ideas were put to flight by Mr Chester giving Barnaby the
letter； and bidding him make all speed away。
‘Speed！’ said Barnaby； folding the little packet in his breast；
‘Speed！ If you want to see hurry and mystery； come here。 Here！’
With that； he put his hand； very much to John Willet’s horror；
on the guest’s fine broadcloth sleeve； and led him stealthily to the
back window。
‘Look down there；’ he said softly； ‘do you mark how they
whisper in each other’s ears； then dance and leap； to make believe
they are in sport？ Do you see how they stop for a moment； when
they think there is no one looking； and mutter among themselves
again； and then how they roll and gambol； delighted with the
mischief they’ve been plotting？ Look at ’em now。 See how they
whirl and plunge。 And now they stop again； and whisper；
cautiously together—little thinking； mind； how often I have lain
upon the grass and watched them。 I say what is it that they plot
and hatch？ Do you know？’
‘They are only clothes；’ returned the guest； ‘such as we wear；
hanging on those lines to dry； and fluttering in the wind。’
‘Clothes！’ echoed Barnaby； looking close into his face； and
falling quickly back。 ‘Ha ha！ Why； how much better to be silly；
than as wise as you！ You don’t see shadowy people there； like
those that live in sleep—not you。 Nor eyes in the knotted panes of
glass； nor swift ghosts when it blows hard； nor do you hear voices
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
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Barnaby Rudge 126
in the air； nor see men stalking in the sky—not you！ I lead a
merrier life than you； with all your cleverness。 You’re the dull
men。 We’re the bright ones。 Ha！ ha！ I’ll not change with you；
clever as you are；—not I！’
With that； he waved his hat above his head； and darted off。
‘A strange creature； upon my word！’ said the guest； pulling out
a handsome box； and taking a pinch of snuff。
‘He wants imagination；’ said Mr Willet； very slowly； and after a
long silence； ‘that’s what he wants。 I’ve tried to instil it into him；
many and many’s the time； but’—John added this in confidence—
‘he an’t made for it； that’s the fact。’
To record that Mr Chester smiled at John’s remark would be
little to the purpose； for he preserved the same conciliatory and
pleasant look at all times。 He drew his chair nearer to the fire
though； as a kind of hint that he would prefer to be alone； and
John； having no reasonable excuse for remaining； left him to
himself。
Very thoughtful old John Willet was； while the dinner was
preparing； and if his brain were ever less clear at one time than
another； it is but reasonable to suppose that he addled it in no
slight degree by shaking his head so much that day。 That Mr
Chester； between whom and Mr Haredale； it was notorious to all
the neighbourhood； a deep and bitter animosity existed； should
come down there for the sole purpose； as it seemed； of seeing him；
and should choose the Maypole for their place of meeting； and
should send to him express； were stumbling blocks John could not
overcome。 The only resource he had； was to consult the boiler； and
wait impatiently for Barnaby’s return。
But Barnaby delayed beyond all precedent。 The visitor’s dinner
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
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Barnaby Rudge 127
was served； removed； his wine was set； the fire replenished； the
hearth clean swept； the light waned without；