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！
shivered from head to foot； and evidently experienced an ecstasy
of terror。
This accomplished； and the wounded man being covered with
Varden’s own greatcoat which he took off for the purpose； they
proceeded onward at a brisk pace： Barnaby gaily counting the
stars upon his fingers； and Gabriel inwardly congratulating
himself upon having an adventure now； which would silence Mrs
Varden on the subject of the Maypole； for that night； or there was
no faith in woman。
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
… Page 53…
Barnaby Rudge 54
Chapter 4
n the venerable suburb—it was a suburb once—of
IClerkenwell； towards that part of its confines which is nearest
to the Charter House； and in one of those cool； shady Streets；
of which a few； widely scattered and dispersed； yet remain in such
old parts of the metropolis；—each tenement quietly vegetating like
an ancient citizen who long ago retired from business； and dozing
on in its infirmity until in course of time it tumbles down； and is
replaced by some extravagant young heir； flaunting in stucco and
ornamental work； and all the vanities of modern days；—in this
quarter； and in a street of this description； the business of the
present chapter lies。
At the time of which it treats； though only six…and…sixty years
ago； a very large part of what is London now had no existence。
Even in the brains of the wildest speculators； there had sprung up
no long rows of streets connecting Highgate with Whitechapel； no
assemblages of palaces in the swampy levels； nor little cities in the
open fields。 Although this part of town was then； as now； parcelled
out in streets； and plentifully peopled； it wore a different aspect。
There were gardens to many of the houses； and trees by the
pavement side； with an air of freshness breathing up and down；
which in these days would be sought in vain。 Fields were nigh at
hand； through which the New River took its winding course； and
where there was merry haymaking in the summer time。 Nature
was not so far removed； or hard to get at； as in these days； and
although there were busy trades in Clerkenwell； and working
jewellers by scores； it was a purer place； with farm…houses nearer
to it than many modern Londoners would readily believe； and
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
… Page 54…
Barnaby Rudge 55
lovers’ walks at no great distance； which turned into squalid
courts； long before the lovers of this age were born； or； as the
phrase goes； thought of。
In one of these streets； the cleanest of them all； and on the
shady side of the way—for good housewives know that sunlight
damages their cherished furniture； and so choose the shade rather
than its intrusive glare—there stood the house with which we have
to deal。 It was a modest building； not very straight； not large； not
tall； not bold…faced； with great staring windows； but a shy； blinking
house； with a conical roof going up into a peak over its garret
window of four small panes of glass； like a cocked hat on the head
of an elderly gentleman with one eye。 It was not built of brick or
lofty stone； but of wood and plaster； it was not planned with a dull
and wearisome regard to regularity； for no one window matched
the other； or seemed to have the slightest reference to anything
besides itself。
The shop—for it had a shop—was； with reference to the first
floor； where shops usually are； and there all resemblance between
it and any other shop stopped short and ceased。 People who went
in and out didn’t go up a flight of steps to it； or walk easily in upon
a level with the street； but dived down three steep stairs； as into a
cellar。 Its floor was paved with stone and brick； as that of any
other cellar might be； and in lieu of window framed and glazed it
had a great black wooden flap or shutter； nearly breast high from
the ground； which turned back in the day…time； admitting as much
cold air as light； and very often more。 Behind this shop was a
wainscoted parlour； looking first into a paved yard； and beyond
that again into a little terrace garden； raised some feet above it。
Any stranger would have supposed that this wainscoted parlour；
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
… Page 55…
Barnaby Rudge 56
saving for the door of communication by which he had entered；
was cut off and detached from all the world； and indeed most
strangers on their first entrance were observed to grow extremely
thoughtful； as weighing and pondering in their minds whether the
upper rooms were only approachable by ladders from without；
never suspecting that two of the most unassuming and unlikely
doors in existence； which the most ingenious mechanician on
earth must of necessity have supposed to be the doors of closets；
opened out of this room—each without the smallest preparation；
or so much as a quarter of an inch of passage—upon two dark
winding flights of stairs； the one upward； the other downward；
which were the sole means of communication between that
chamber and the other portions of the house。
With all these oddities； there was not a neater； more
scrupulously tidy； or more punctiliously ordered house； in
Clerkenwell； in London； in all England。 There were not cleaner
windows； or whiter floors； or brighter Stoves； or more highly
shining articles of furniture in old mahogany； there was not more
rubbing； scrubbing； burnishing and polishing； in the whole street
put together。 Nor was this excellence attained without some cost
and trouble and great expenditure of voice； as the neighbours
were frequently reminded when the good lady of the house
overlooked and assisted in its being put to rights on cleaning
days—which were usually from Monday morning till Saturday
night； both days inclusive。
Leaning against the door…post of this； his dwelling； the
locksmith stood early on the morning after he had met with the
wounded man； gazing disconsolately at a great wooden emblem of
a key； painted in vivid yellow to resemble gold； which dangled
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
… Page 56…
Barnaby Rudge 57
from the house…front； and swung to and fro with a mournful
creaking noise； as if complaining that it had nothing to unlock。
Sometimes； he looked over his shoulder into the shop； which was
so dark and dingy with numerous tokens of his trade； and so
blackened by the smoke of a little forge； near which his ’prentice
was at work； that it would have been difficult for one unused to
such espials to have distinguished anything but various tools of
uncouth make and shape； great bunches of rusty keys； fragments
of iron； half…finished locks； and such like things； which garnished
the walls and hung in clusters from the ceiling。
After a long and patient contemplation of the golden key； and
many such backward glances； Gabriel stepped into the road； and
stole a look at the upper windows。 One of them chanced to be
thrown open at the moment； and a roguish face met his； a face
lighted up by the loveliest pair of sparkling eyes that ever
locksmith looked upon； the