little dorrit-信丽(英文版)-第26部分

快捷操作: 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! 如果本书没有阅读完，想下次继续接着阅读，可使用上方 "收藏到我的浏览器" 功能 和 "加入书签" 功能！

position……than　all　the　others；　I　was　going　to　say。'

'I　don't　know　that　I　should　find　that　a　consolation；　if　it　were　my　case；
but　I　am　very　glad　that　you　do。'

'Understand　me！　I　don't　say；'　he　replied　in　his　steady；　planning
way；　and　looking　into　the　distance　before　him　as　if　his　grey　eye　were
measuring　it；　'that　it's　repense　for　a　man's　toil　and　hope；　but　it's
a　certain　sort　of　relief　to　know　that　I　might　have　counted　on　this。'

He　spoke　in　that　quiet　deliberate　manner；　and　in　that　undertone；　which
is　often　observable　in　mechanics　who　consider　and　adjust　with　great
nicety。　It　belonged　to　him　like　his　suppleness　of　thumb；　or　his　peculiar
way　of　tilting　up　his　hat　at　the　back　every　now　and　then；　as　if　he　were
contemplating　some　half…finished　work　of　his　hand　and　thinking　about　it。

'Disappointed？'　he　went　on；　as　he　walked　between　them　under　the　trees。
'Yes。　No　doubt　I　am　disappointed。　Hurt？　Yes。　No　doubt　I　am　hurt。　That's
only　natural。　But　what　I　mean　when　I　say　that　people　who　put　themselves
in　the　same　position　are　mostly　used　in　the　same　way……'

'In　England；'　said　Mr　Meagles。

'Oh！　of　course　I　mean　in　England。　When　they　take　their　inventions　into
foreign　countries；　that's　quite　different。　And　that's　the　reason　why　so
many　go　there。'

Mr　Meagles　very　hot　indeed　again。

'What　I　mean　is；　that　however　this　es　to　be　the　regular　way　of　our
government；　it　is　its　regular　way。　Have　you　ever　heard　of　any　projector
or　inventor　who　failed　to　find　it　all　but　inaccessible；　and　whom　it　did
not　discourage　and　ill…treat？'

'I　cannot　say　that　I　ever　have。'

'Have　you　ever　known　it　to　be　beforehand　in　the　adoption　of　any　useful
thing？　Ever　known　it　to　set　an　example　of　any　useful　kind？'

'I　am　a　good　deal　older　than　my　friend　here；'　said　Mr　Meagles；　'and　I'll
answer　that。　Never。'

'But　we　all　three　have　known；　I　expect；'　said　the　inventor；　'a　pretty
many　cases　of　its　fixed　determination　to　be　miles　upon　miles；　and　years
upon　years；　behind　the　rest　of　us；　and　of　its　being　found　out　persisting
in　the　use　of　things　long　superseded；　even　after　the　better　things　were
well　known　and　generally　taken　up？'

They　all　agreed　upon　that。

'Well　then；'　said　Doyce；　with　a　sigh；　'as　I　know　what　such　a　metal　will
do　at　such　a　temperature；　and　such　a　body　under　such　a　pressure；　so　I
may　know　（if　I　will　only　consider）；　how　these　great　lords　and　gentlemen
will　certainly　deal　with　such　a　matter　as　mine。

I　have　no　right　to　be　surprised；　with　a　head　upon　my　shoulders；　and
memory　in　it；　that　I　fall　into　the　ranks　with　all　who　came　before　me。　I
ought　to　have　let　it　alone。　I　have　had　warning　enough；　I　am　sure。'


With　that　he　put　up　his　spectacle…case；　and　said　to　Arthur；　'If　I　don't
plain；　Mr　Clennam；　I　can　feel　gratitude；　and　I　assure　you　that　I
feel　it　towards　our　mutual　friend。　Many's　the　day；　and　many's　the　way　in
which　he　has　backed　me。'

'Stuff　and　nonsense；'　said　Mr　Meagles。

Arthur　could　not　but　glance　at　Daniel　Doyce　in　the　ensuing　silence。

Though　it　was　evidently　in　the　grain　of　his　character；　and　of　his
respect　for　his　own　case；　that　he　should　abstain　from　idle　murmuring；
it　was　evident　that　he　had　grown　the　older；　the　sterner；　and　the　poorer；
for　his　long　endeavour。　He　could　not　but　think　what　a　blessed　thing
it　would　have　been　for　this　man；　if　he　had　taken　a　lesson　from　the
gentlemen　who　were　so　kind　as　to　take　a　nation's　affairs　in　charge；　and
had　learnt　How　not　to　do　it。

Mr　Meagles　was　hot　and　despondent　for　about　five　minutes；　and　then　began
to　cool　and　clear　up。

'e；　e！'　said　he。　'We　shall　not　make　this　the　better　by　being　grim。
Where　do　you　think　of　going；　Dan？'

'I　shall　go　back　to　the　factory；'　said　Dan。　'Why　then；　we'll　all　go
back　to　the　factory；　or　walk　in　that　direction；'　returned　Mr　Meagles
cheerfully。　'Mr　Clennam　won't　be　deterred　by　its　being　in　Bleeding　Heart
Yard。'

'Bleeding　Heart　Yard？'　said　Clennam。　'I　want　to　go　there。'

'So　much　the　better；'　cried　Mr　Meagles。　'e　along！'

As　they　went　along；　certainly　one　of　the　party；　and　probably　more　than
one；　thought　that　Bleeding　Heart　Yard　was　no　inappropriate　destination
for　a　man　who　had　been　in　official　correspondence　with　my　lords　and　the
Barnacles……and　perhaps　had　a　misgiving　also　that　Britannia　herself　might
e　to　look　for　lodgings　in　Bleeding　Heart　Yard　some　ugly　day　or　other；
if　she　over…did　the　Circumlocution　Office。



CHAPTER　11。　Let　Loose


A　late；　dull　autumn　night　was　closing　in　upon　the　river　Saone。　The
stream；　like　a　sullied　looking…glass　in　a　gloomy　place；　reflected　the
clouds　heavily；　and　the　low　banks　leaned　over　here　and　there；　as　if　they
were　half　curious；　and　half　afraid；　to　see　their　darkening　pictures　in
the　water。　The　flat　expanse　of　country　about　Chalons　lay　a　long　heavy
streak；　occasionally　made　a　little　ragged　by　a　row　of　poplar　trees
against　the　wrathful　sunset。　On　the　banks　of　the　river　Saone　it　was　wet；
depressing；　solitary；　and　the　night　deepened　fast。

One　man　slowly　moving　on　towards　Chalons　was　the　only　visible　figure　in
the　landscape。　Cain　might　have　looked　as　lonely　and　avoided。　With　an　old
sheepskin　knapsack　at　his　back；　and　a　rough；　unbarked　stick　cut　out　of
some　wood　in　his　hand；　miry；　footsore；　his　shoes　and　gaiters　trodden
out；　his　hair　and　beard　untrimmed；　the　cloak　he　carried　over　his
shoulder；　and　the　clothes　he　wore；　sodden　with　wet；　limping　along　in
pain　and　difficulty；　he　looked　as　if　the　clouds　were　hurrying　from　him；
as　if　the　wail　of　the　wind　and　the　shuddering　of　the　grass　were　directed
against　him；　as　if　the　low　mysterious　plashing　of　the　water　murmured　at
him；　as　if　the　fitful　autumn　night　were　disturbed　by　him。

He　glanced　here；　and　he　glanced　there；　sullenly　but　shrinkingly；　and
sometimes　stopped　and　turned　about；　and　looked　all　round　him。　Then　he
limped　on　again；　toiling　and　muttering。

'To　the　devil　with　this　plain　that　has　no　end！　To　the　devil　with　these
stones　that　cut　like　knives！　To　the　devil　with　this　dismal　darkness；
wrapping　itself　about　one　with　a　chill！　I　hate　you！'

And　he　would　have　visited　his　hatred　upon　it　all　with　the　scowl　he　threw
about　him；　if　he　could。　He　trudged　a　little　further；　and　looking　into
the　distance　before　him；　stopped　again。　'I；　hungry；　thirsty；　weary。　You；
imbeciles；　where　the　lights　are　yonder；　eating　and　drinking；　and　warming
yourselves　at　fires！　I　wish　I　had　the　sacking　of　your　town；　I　would
repay　you；　my　children！'

But　the　teeth　he　set　at　the　town；　and　the　hand　he　shook　at　the　town；
brought　the　town　no　nearer；　and　the　man　was　yet　hungrier；　and　thirstier；
and　wearier；　when　his　feet　were　on　its　jagged　pavement；　and　he　stood
looking　about　him。

There　was　the　hotel　with　its　gateway；　and　its　savoury　smell　of　cooking；
there　was　the　cafe　with　its　bright　windows；　and　its　rattling　of
dominoes；　there　was　the　dyer's　with　its　strips　of　red　cloth　on　the
doorposts；　there　was　the　silversmith's　with　its　earrings；　and　its
offerings　for　altars；　there　was　the　tobacco　dealer's　with　its　lively
group　of　soldier　customers　ing　out　pipe　in　mouth；　there　were　the　bad
odours　of　the　town；　and　the　rain　and　the　refuse　in　the　kennels；　and
the　faint　lamps　slung　across　the　road；　and　the　huge　Diligence；　and　its
mountain　of　luggage；　and　its　six　grey　horses　with　their　tails　tied　up；
getting　under　weigh　at　the　coach　office。　But　no　small　cabaret　for　a
straitened　traveller　being　within　sight；　he　had　to　seek　one　round　the
dark　corner；　where　the　cabbage　leaves　lay　thickest；　trodden　about　the
public　cistern　at　which　women　had　not　yet　left　off　drawing　water。　There；
in　the　back　street　he　found　one；　the　Break　of　Day。　The　curtained　windows
clouded　the　Break　of　Day；　but　it　seemed　light　and　warm；　and　it　announced
in　legible　inscriptions　with　appropriate　pictorial　embellishment
of　billiard　cue　and　ball；　that　at　the　Break　of　Day　one　could　play
billiards；　that　there　one　could　find　meat；　drink；　and　lodgings；　whether
one　came　on　horseback；　or　came　on　foot；　and　that　it　kept　good　wines；
liqueurs；　and　brandy。　The　man　turned　the　handle　of　the　Break　of　Day
door；　and　limped　in。

He　touched　his　discoloured　slouched　hat；　as　he　came　in　at　the　door；　to
a　few　men　who　occupied　the　room。　Two　were　playing　dominoes　at　one　of　the
little　tables；　three　or　four　were　seated　round　the　stove；　conversing
as　they　smoked；　the　billiard…table　in　the　centre　was　left　alone　for　the
time；　the　landlady　of　the　Daybreak　sat　behind　her　little　counter　among
her　cloudy　bottles　of　syrups；　baskets　of　cakes；　and　leaden　drainage　for
glasses；　working　at　her　needle。

Making　his　way　to　an　empty　little　table　in　a　corner　of　the　room　behind
the　stove；　he　put　down　his　knapsack　and　his　cloak　upon　the　ground。　As
he　raised　his　head　from　stooping　to　do　so；　he　found　the　landlady　beside
him。

'One　can　lodge　here　to…night；　madame？'

'Perfectly！'　said　the　landlady　in　a　high；　sing…song；　cheery　voice。

'Good。　One　can　dine……sup……what　you　please　to　call　it？'

'Ah；　perfectly！'　cried　the　landlady　as　before。　'Dispatch　then；　madame；
if　you　please。　Something　to　eat；　as　quickly　as　you　can；　and　some　wine　at
once。　I　am　exhausted。'

'It　is　very　bad　weather；　monsieur；'　said　the　landlady。

'Cursed　weather。'

'And　a　very　long　road。'

'A　cursed　road。'

His　hoarse　voice　failed　him；　and　he　rested　his　head　upon　his　hands　until
a　bottle　of　wine　was　brought　from　the　counter。　Having　filled　and　emptied
his　little　tumbler　twice；　and　having　broken　off　an　end　from　the　great
loaf　that　was　set　before　him　with　his　cloth　and　napkin；　soup…plate；
salt；　pepper；　and　oil；　he　rested　his　back　against　the　corner　of　the
wall；　made　a　couch　of　the　bench　on　which　he　sat；　and　began　to　chew
crust；　until　such　time　as　his　repast　should　be　ready。　There　had　been
that　momentary　interruption　of　the　talk　about　the　stove；　and　that
temporary　inattention　to　and　distraction　from　one　another；　which　is
usually　inseparable　in　such　a　pany　from　the　arrival　of　a　stranger。　It
had　passed　over　by　this　time；　and　the　men　had　done　glancing　at　him；　and
were　talking　again。

'That's　the　true　reason；'　said　one　of　them；　bringing　a　story　he　had
been　telling；　to　a　close；　'that's　the　true　reason　why　they　said　that　the
devil　was　let　loose。'　The　speaker　was　the　tall　Swiss　belonging　to　the
church；　and　he　brought　something　of　the　authority　of　the　church　into　the
discussion……especially　as　the　devil　was　in　question。

The　landlady　having　given　her　directions　for　the　new　guest's
entertainment　to　her　husband；　who　acted　as　cook　to　the　Break　of　Day；　had
resumed　her　needlework　behind　her　counter。　She　was　a　smart；　neat；　bright
little　woman；　with　a　good　deal　of　cap　and　a　good　deal　of　stocking；　and
she　struck　into　the　conversation　with　several　laughing　nods　of　her　head；
but　without　looking　up　from　her　work。

'Ah　Heaven；　then；'　said　she。　'When　the　boat　came　up　from　Lyons；　and
brought　the　news　that　the　devil　was　actually　let　loose　at　Marseilles；
some　fly…catchers　swallowed　it。　But　I？　No；　not　I。'

'Madame；　you　are　always　right；'　returned　the　tall　Swiss。　'Doubtless　you
were　enraged　against　that　man；　madame？'

'Ay；　yes；　then！'　cried　the　landlady；　raising　her　eyes　from　her　work；
opening　them　very　wide；　and　tossing　her　head　on　one　side。　'Naturally；
yes。'

'He　was　a　bad　subject。'

'He　was　a　wic