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Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
… Page 141…
Barnaby Rudge 142
‘Pray who；’ said Mr Haredale； ‘have aided Emma； or your son？
Who are their go…betweens； and agents—do you know？’
‘All the good people hereabouts—the neighbourhood in
general； I think；’ returned the other； with his most affable smile。
‘The messenger I sent to you to…day； foremost among them all。’
‘The idiot？ Barnaby？’
‘You are surprised？ I am glad of that； for I was rather so myself。
Yes。 I wrung that from his mother—a very decent sort of woman—
from whom； indeed； I chiefly learnt how serious the matter had
become； and so determined to ride out here to…day； and hold a
parley with you on this neutral ground。—You’re stouter than you
used to be； Haredale； but you look extremely well。’
‘Our business； I presume； is nearly at an end；’ said Mr
Haredale； with an expression of impatience he was at no pains to
conceal。 ‘Trust me； Mr Chester； my niece shall change from this
time。 I will appeal；’ he added in a lower tone； ‘to her woman’s
heart； her dignity； her pride； her duty—’
‘I shall do the same by Ned；’ said Mr Chester； restoring some
errant faggots to their places in the grate with the toe of his boot。
‘If there is anything real in this world； it is those amazingly fine
feelings and those natural obligations which must subsist between
father and son。 I shall put it to him on every ground of moral and
religious feeling。 I shall represent to him that we cannot possibly
afford it—that I have always looked forward to his marrying well；
for a genteel provision for myself in the autumn of life—that there
are a great many clamorous dogs to pay； whose claims are
perfectly just and right； and who must be paid out of his wife’s
fortune。 In short； that the very highest and most honourable
feelings of our nature； with every consideration of filial duty and
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
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Barnaby Rudge 143
affection； and all that sort of thing； imperatively demand that he
should run away with an heiress。’
‘And break her heart as speedily as possible？’ said Mr
Haredale； drawing on his glove。
‘There Ned will act exactly as he pleases；’ returned the other；
sipping his wine； ‘that’s entirely his affair。 I wouldn’t for the world
interfere with my son； Haredale； beyond a certain point。 The
relationship between father and son； you know； is positively quite
a holy kind of bond。—Won’t you let me persuade you to take one
glass of wine？ Well！ as you please； as you please；’ he added；
helping himself again。
‘Chester；’ said Mr Haredale； after a short silence； during which
he had eyed his smiling face from time to time intently； ‘you have
the head and heart of an evil spirit in all matters of deception。’
‘Your health！’ said the other； with a nod。 ‘But I have interrupted
you—’
‘If now；’ pursued Mr Haredale； ‘we should find it difficult to
separate these young people； and break off their intercourse—if；
for instance； you find it difficult on your side； what course do you
intend to take？’
‘Nothing plainer； my good fellow； nothing easier；’ returned the
other； shrugging his shoulders and stretching himself more
comfortably before the fire。 ‘I shall then exert those powers on
which you flatter me so highly—though； upon my word； I don’t
deserve your compliments to their full extent—and resort to a few
little trivial subterfuges for rousing jealousy and resentment。 You
see？’
‘In short； justifying the means by the end； we are； as a last
resource for tearing them asunder； to resort to treachery and—
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
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Barnaby Rudge 144
and lying；’ said Mr Haredale。
‘Oh dear no。 Fie； fie！’ returned the other； relishing a pinch of
snuff extremely。 ‘Not lying。 Only a little management； a little
diplomacy； a little—intriguing； that’s the word。’
‘I wish；’ said Mr Haredale； moving to and fro； and stopping； and
moving on again； like one who was ill at ease； ‘that this could have
been foreseen or prevented。 But as it has gone so far； and it is
necessary for us to act； it is of no use shrinking or regretting。 Well！
I shall second your endeavours to the utmost of my power。 There
is one topic in the whole wide range of human thoughts on which
we both agree。 We shall act in concert； but apart。 There will be no
need； I hope； for us to meet again。’
‘Are you going？’ said Mr Chester； rising with a graceful
indolence。 ‘Let me light you down the stairs。’
‘Pray keep your seat；’ returned the other drily； ‘I know the way。
So； waving his hand slightly； and putting on his hat as he turned
upon his heel； he went clanking out as he had come； shut the door
behind him； and tramped down the echoing stairs。
‘Pah！ A very coarse animal； indeed！’ said Mr Chester；
composing himself in the easy…chair again。 ‘A rough brute。 Quite a
human badger！’
John Willet and his friends； who had been listening intently for
the clash of swords； or firing of pistols in the great room； and had
indeed settled the order in which they should rush in when
summoned—in which procession old John had carefully arranged
that he should bring up the rear—were very much astonished to
see Mr Haredale come down without a scratch； call for his horse；
and ride away thoughtfully at a footpace。 After some
consideration； it was decided that he had left the gentleman above；
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
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Barnaby Rudge 145
for dead； and had adopted this stratagem to divert suspicion or
pursuit。
As this conclusion involved the necessity of their going upstairs
forthwith； they were about to ascend in the order they had agreed
upon； when a smart ringing at the guest’s bell； as if he had pulled
it vigorously； overthrew all their speculations； and involved them
in great uncertainty and doubt。 At length Mr Willet agreed to go
upstairs himself； escorted by Hugh and Barnaby； as the strongest
and stoutest fellows on the premises； who were to make their
appearance under pretence of clearing away the glasses。
Under this protection； the brave and broad…faced John boldly
entered the room； half a foot in advance； and received an order for
a boot…jack without trembling。 But when it was brought； and he
leant his sturdy shoulder to the guest； Mr Willet was observed to
look very hard into his boots as he pulled them off； and； by
opening his eyes much wider than usual； to appear to express
some surprise and disappointment at not finding them full of
blood。 He took occasion； too； to examine the gentleman as closely
as he could； expecting to discover sundry loopholes in his person；
pierced by his adversary’s sword。 Finding none； however； and
observing in course of time that his guest was as cool and
unruffled； both in his dress and temper； as he had been all day； old
John at last heaved a deep sigh； and began to think no duel had
been fought that night。
‘And now； Willet；’ said Mr Chester； ‘if the room’s well aired； I’ll
try the merits of that famous bed。’
‘The room； sir；’ returned John； taking up a candle； and nudging
Barnaby and Hugh to accompany them； in case the gentleman
should unexpectedly drop down faint or dead from some internal
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
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