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！
from him。 ‘But I’m cunning； I’m silent。 I only say so much to you—
are you ready？’ As he spoke； he caught up the light； and waved it
with a wild laugh above his head。
‘Softly—gently；’ said the locksmith； exerting all his influence to
keep him calm and quiet。 ‘I thought you had been asleep。’
‘So I have been asleep；’ he rejoined； with widely…opened eyes。
‘There have been great faces coming and going—close to my face；
and then a mile away—low places to creep through； whether I
would or no—high churches to fall down from—strange creatures
crowded up together neck and heels； to sit upon the bed—that’s
sleep； eh？’
‘Dreams； Barnaby； dreams；’ said the locksmith。
‘Dreams！’ he echoed softly； drawing closer to him。 ‘Those are
not dreams。’
‘What are；’ replied the locksmith； ‘if they are not？’
‘I dreamed；’ said Barnaby； passing his arm through Varden’s；
and peering close into his face as he answered in a whisper； ‘I
dreamed just now that something—it was in the shape of a man—
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
… Page 78…
Barnaby Rudge 79
followed me—came softly after me—wouldn’t let me be—but was
always hiding and crouching； like a cat in dark corners； waiting till
I should pass； when it crept out and came softly after me。—Did
you ever see me run？’
‘Many a time； you know。’
‘You never saw me run as I did in this dream。 Still it came
creeping on to worry me。 Nearer； nearer； nearer—I ran faster—
leaped—sprung out of bed； and to the window—and there； in the
street below—but he is waiting for us。 Are you coming？’
‘What in the street below； Barnaby？’ said Varden； imagining
that he traced some connection between this vision and what had
actually occurred。
Barnaby looked into his face； muttered incoherently； waved the
light above his head again； laughed； and drawing the locksmith’s
arm more tightly through his own； led him up the stairs in silence。
They entered a homely bedchamber； garnished in a scanty way
with chairs； whose spindle…shanks bespoke their age； and other
furniture of very little worth； but clean and neatly kept。 Reclining
in an easy…chair before the fire； pale and weak from waste of
blood； was Edward Chester； the young gentleman who had been
the first to quit the Maypole on the previous night； and who；
extending his hand to the locksmith； welcomed him as his
preserver and friend。
‘Say no more； sir； say no more；’ said Gabriel。 ‘I hope I would
have done at least as much for any man in such a strait； and most
of all for you； sir。 A certain young lady；’ he added； with some
hesitation； ‘has done us many a kind turn； and we naturally feel—I
hope I give you no offence in saying this； sir？’
The young man smiled and shook his head； at the same time
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
… Page 79…
Barnaby Rudge 80
moving in his chair as if in pain。
‘It’s no great matter；’ he said； in answer to the locksmith’s
sympathising look； ‘a mere uneasiness arising at least as much
from being cooped up here； as from the slight wound I have； or
from the loss of blood。 Be seated； Mr Varden。’
‘If I may make so bold； Mr Edward； as to lean upon your chair；’
returned the locksmith； accommodating his action to his speech；
and bending over him； ‘I’ll stand here for the convenience of
speaking low。 Barnaby is not in his quietest humour to…night； and
at such times talking never does him good。’
They both glanced at the subject of this remark； who had taken
a seat on the other side of the fire； and； smiling vacantly； was
making puzzles on his fingers with a skein of string。
‘Pray； tell me； sir；’ said Varden； dropping his voice still lower；
‘exactly what happened last night。 I have my reason for inquiring。
You left the Maypole； alone？’
‘And walked homeward alone； until I had nearly reached the
place where you found me； when I heard the gallop of a horse。’
‘Behind you？’ said the locksmith。
‘Indeed； yes—behind me。 It was a single rider； who soon
overtook me； and checking his horse； inquired the way to London。’
‘You were on the alert； sir； knowing how many highwaymen
there are； scouring the roads in all directions？’ said Varden。
‘I was； but I had only a stick； having imprudently left my pistols
in their holster…case with the landlord’s son。 I directed him as he
desired。 Before the words had passed my lips； he rode upon me
furiously； as if bent on trampling me down beneath his horse’s
hoofs。 In starting aside； I slipped and fell。 You found me with this
stab and an ugly bruise or two； and without my purse—in which
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
… Page 80…
Barnaby Rudge 81
he found little enough for his pains。 And now； Mr Varden；’ he
added； shaking the locksmith by the hand； ‘saving the extent of my
gratitude to you； you know as much as I。’
‘Except；’ said Gabriel； bending down yet more； and looking
cautiously towards their silent neighbour； ‘except in respect of the
robber himself。 What like was he； sir？ Speak low； if you please。
Barnaby means no harm； but I have watched him oftener than
you； and I know； little as you would think it； that he’s listening
now。’
It required a strong confidence in the locksmith’s veracity to
lead any one to this belief； for every sense and faculty that
Barnaby possessed； seemed to be fixed upon his game； to the
exclusion of all other things。 Something in the young man’s face
expressed this opinion； for Gabriel repeated what he had just said；
more earnestly than before； and with another glance towards
Barnaby； again asked what like the man was。
‘The night was so dark；’ said Edward； ‘the attack so sudden；
and he so wrapped and muffled up； that I can hardly say。 It seems
that—’
‘Don’t mention his name； sir；’ returned the locksmith； following
his look towards Barnaby； ‘I know he saw him。 I want to know
what you saw。’
‘All I remember is；’ said Edward； ‘that as he checked his horse
his hat was blown off。 He caught it； and replaced it on his head；
which I observed was bound with a dark handkerchief。 A stranger
entered the Maypole while I was there； whom I had not seen—for I
had sat apart for reasons of my own—and when I rose to leave the
room and glanced round； he was in the shadow of the chimney
and hidden from my sight。 But； if he and the robber were two
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
… Page 81…
Barnaby Rudge 82
different persons； their voices were strangely and most
remarkably alike； for directly the man addressed me in the road； I
recognised his speech again。’
‘It is as I feared。 The very man was here to…night；’ thought the
locksmith； changing colour。 ‘What dark history is this！’
‘Halloa！’ cried a hoarse voice in his ear。 ‘Halloa； halloa； halloa！
Bow wow wow。 What’s the matter here！ Hal…loa！’
The speaker—who made the locksmith start as if he had been
some supernatural agent—was a large raven； who had perched
upon the top of the easy…chair； unseen by him and Edward； and
listened with a polite attention and a most extraordinary
appearance of comprehending every word； to all they had said up
to this point； turning his head from one to the other； as if his office
were to