little dorrit-信丽(英文版)-第123章

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One　of　his　customary　evenings　for　repairing　thither　now　ing　round；
he　left　his　dwelling　and　his　partner　at　nearly　nine　o'clock；　and　slowly
walked　in　the　direction　of　that　grim　home　of　his　youth。

It　always　affected　his　imagination　as　wrathful；　mysterious；　and　sad；
and　his　imagination　was　sufficiently　impressible　to　see　the　whole
neighbourhood　under　some　tinge　of　its　dark　shadow。　As　he　went　along；
upon　a　dreary　night；　the　dim　streets　by　which　he　went；　seemed　all
depositories　of　oppressive　secrets。　The　deserted　counting…houses；　with
their　secrets　of　books　and　papers　locked　up　in　chests　and　safes；　the
banking…houses；　with　their　secrets　of　strong　rooms　and　wells；　the
keys　of　which　were　in　a　very　few　secret　pockets　and　a　very　few　secret
breasts；　the　secrets　of　all　the　dispersed　grinders　in　the　vast　mill；
among　whom　there　were　doubtless　plunderers；　forgers；　and　trust…betrayers
of　many　sorts；　whom　the　light　of　any　day　that　dawned　might　reveal；　he
could　have　fancied　that　these　things；　in　hiding；　imparted　a　heaviness
to　the　air。　The　shadow　thickening　and　thickening　as　he　approached　its
source；　he　thought　of　the　secrets　of　the　lonely　church…vaults；　where　the
people　who　had　hoarded　and　secreted　in　iron　coffers　were　in　their　turn
similarly　hoarded；　not　yet　at　rest　from　doing　harm；　and　then　of　the
secrets　of　the　river；　as　it　rolled　its　turbid　tide　between　two　frowning
wildernesses　of　secrets；　extending；　thick　and　dense；　for　many　miles；　and
warding　off　the　free　air　and　the　free　country　swept　by　winds　and　wings
of　birds。

The　shadow　still　darkening　as　he　drew　near　the　house；　the　melancholy
room　which　his　father　had　once　occupied；　haunted　by　the　appealing　face
he　had　himself　seen　fade　away　with　him　when　there　was　no　other　watcher
by　the　bed；　arose　before　his　mind。　Its　close　air　was　secret。　The　gloom；
and　must；　and　dust　of　the　whole　tenement；　were　secret。　At　the　heart　of
it　his　mother　presided；　inflexible　of　face；　indomitable　of　will；　firmly
holding　all　the　secrets　of　her　own　and　his　father's　life；　and　austerely
opposing　herself；　front　to　front；　to　the　great　final　secret　of　all　life。

He　had　turned　into　the　narrow　and　steep　street　from　which　the　court　of
enclosure　wherein　the　house　stood　opened；　when　another　footstep　turned
into　it　behind　him；　and　so　close　upon　his　own　that　he　was　jostled　to　the
wall。　As　his　mind　was　teeming　with　these　thoughts；　the　encounter　took
him　altogether　unprepared；　so　that　the　other　passenger　had　had　time　to
say；　boisterously；　'Pardon！　Not　my　fault！'　and　to　pass　on　before　the
instant　had　elapsed　which　was　requisite　to　his　recovery　of　the　realities
about　him。

When　that　moment　had　flashed　away；　he　saw　that　the　man　striding　on
before　him　was　the　man　who　had　been　so　much　in　his　mind　during　the　last
few　days。　It　was　no　casual　resemblance；　helped　out　by　the　force　of
the　impression　the　man　made　upon　him。　It　was　the　man；　the　man　he　had
followed　in　pany　with　the　girl；　and　whom　he　had　overheard　talking　to
Miss　Wade。

The　street　was　a　sharp　descent　and　was　crooked　too；　and　the　man　（who
although　not　drunk　had　the　air　of　being　flushed　with　some　strong　drink）
went　down　it　so　fast　that　Clennam　lost　him　as　he　looked　at　him。　With
no　defined　intention　of　following　him；　but　with　an　impulse　to　keep　the
figure　in　view　a　little　longer；　Clennam　quickened　his　pace　to　pass　the
twist　in　the　street　which　hid　him　from　his　sight。　On　turning　it；　he　saw
the　man　no　more。

Standing　now；　close　to　the　gateway　of　his　mother's　house；　he　looked
down　the　street：　but　it　was　empty。　There　was　no　projecting　shadow　large
enough　to　obscure　the　man；　there　was　no　turning　near　that　he　could　have
taken；　nor　had　there　been　any　audible　sound　of　the　opening　and　closing
of　a　door。　Nevertheless；　he　concluded　that　the　man　must　have　had　a　key
in　his　hand；　and　must　have　opened　one　of　the　many　house…doors　and　gone
in。

Ruminating　on　this　strange　chance　and　strange　glimpse；　he　turned　into
the　court…yard。　As　he　looked；　by　mere　habit；　towards　the　feebly　lighted
windows　of　his　mother's　room；　his　eyes　encountered　the　figure　he　had
just　lost；　standing　against　the　iron　railings　of　the　little　waste
enclosure　looking　up　at　those　windows　and　laughing　to　himself。　Some　of
the　many　vagrant　cats　who　were　always　prowling　about　there　by　night；
and　who　had　taken　fright　at　him；　appeared　to　have　stopped　when　he　had
stopped；　and　were　looking　at　him　with　eyes　by　no　means　unlike　his　own
from　tops　of　walls　and　porches；　and　other　safe　points　of　pause。　He　had
only　halted　for　a　moment　to　entertain　himself　thus；　he　immediately　went
forward；　throwing　the　end　of　his　cloak　off　his　shoulder　as　he　went；
ascended　the　unevenly　sunken　steps；　and　knocked　a　sounding　knock　at　the
door。

Clennam's　surprise　was　not　so　absorbing　but　that　he　took　his　resolution
without　any　incertitude。　He　went　up　to　the　door　too；　and　ascended　the
steps　too。　His　friend　looked　at　him　with　a　braggart　air；　and　sang　to
himself。

　　　　　'Who　passes　by　this　road　so　late？
　　　　　　　　　　pagnon　de　la　Majolaine；
　　　　　Who　passes　by　this　road　so　late？
　　　　　　　　　　Always　gay！'


After　which　he　knocked　again。

'You　are　impatient；　sir；'　said　Arthur。

'I　am；　sir。　Death　of　my　life；　sir；'　returned　the　stranger；　'it's　my
character　to　be　impatient！'　The　sound　of　Mistress　Affery　cautiously
chaining　the　door　before　she　opened　it；　caused　them　both　to　look　that
way。　Affery　opened　it　a　very　little；　with　a　flaring　candle　in　her　hands
and　asked　who　was　that；　at　that　time　of　night；　with　that　knock！　'Why；
Arthur！'　she　added　with　astonishment；　seeing　him　first。　'Not　you　sure？
Ah；　Lord　save　us！　No；'　she　cried　out；　seeing　the　other。　'Him　again！'

'It's　true！　Him　again；　dear　Mrs　Flintwinch；'　cried　the　stranger。　'Open
the　door；　and　let　me　take　my　dear　friend　Jeremiah　to　my　arms！　Open　the
door；　and　let　me　hasten　myself　to　embrace　my　Flintwinch！'

'He's　not　at　home；'　cried　Affery。

'Fetch　him！'　cried　the　stranger。　'Fetch　my　Flintwinch！　Tell　him　that　it
is　his　old　Blandois；　who　es　from　arriving　in　England；　tell　him　that
it　is　his　little　boy　who　is　here；　his　cabbage；　his　well…beloved！　Open
the　door；　beautiful　Mrs　Flintwinch；　and　in　the　meantime　let　me　to　pass
upstairs；　to　present　my　pliments……homage　of　Blandois……to　my　lady！　My
lady　lives　always？　It　is　well。

Open　then！'

To　Arthur's　increased　surprise；　Mistress　Affery；　stretching　her　eyes
wide　at　himself；　as　if　in　warning　that　this　was　not　a　gentleman　for
him　to　interfere　with；　drew　back　the　chain；　and　opened　the　door。　The
stranger；　without　ceremony；　walked　into　the　hall；　leaving　Arthur　to
follow　him。

'Despatch　then！　Achieve　then！　Bring　my　Flintwinch！　Announce　me　to　my
lady！'　cried　the　stranger；　clanking　about　the　stone　floor。

'Pray　tell　me；　Affery；'　said　Arthur　aloud　and　sternly；　as　he　surveyed
him　from　head　to　foot　with　indignation；　'who　is　this　gentleman？'

'Pray　tell　me；　Affery；'　the　stranger　repeated　in　his　turn；　'who……ha；　ha；
ha！……who　is　this　gentleman？'

The　voice　of　Mrs　Clennam　opportunely　called　from　her　chamber　above；
'Affery；　let　them　both　e　up。　Arthur；　e　straight　to　me！'

'Arthur？'　exclaimed　Blandois；　taking　off　his　hat　at　arm's　length；
and　bringing　his　heels　together　from　a　great　stride　in　making　him　a
flourishing　bow。　'The　son　of　my　lady？　I　am　the　all…devoted　of　the　son　of
my　lady！'

Arthur　looked　at　him　again　in　no　more　flattering　manner　than　before；
and；　turning　on　his　heel　without　acknowledgment；　went　up…stairs。　The
visitor　followed　him　up…stairs。　Mistress　Affery　took　the　key　from　behind
the　door；　and　deftly　slipped　out　to　fetch　her　lord。

A　bystander；　informed　of　the　previous　appearance　of　Monsieur　Blandois
in　that　room；　would　have　observed　a　difference　in　Mrs　Clennam's　present
reception　of　him。　Her　face　was　not　one　to　betray　it；　and　her　suppressed
manner；　and　her　set　voice；　were　equally　under　her　control。　It　wholly
consisted　in　her　never　taking　her　eyes　off　his　face　from　the　moment　of
his　entrance；　and　in　her　twice　or　thrice；　when　he　was　being　noisy；
swaying　herself　a　very　little　forward　in　the　chair　in　which　she　sat
upright；　with　her　hands　immovable　upon　its　elbows；　as　if　she　gave　him
the　assurance　that　he　should　be　presently　heard　at　any　length　he　would。
Arthur　did　not　fail　to　observe　this；　though　the　difference　between　the
present　occasion　and　the　former　was　not　within　his　power　of　observation。

'Madame；'　said　Blandois；　'do　me　the　honour　to　present　me　to　Monsieur；
your　son。　It　appears　to　me；　madame；　that　Monsieur；　your　son；　is　disposed
to　plain　of　me。　He　is　not　polite。'

'Sir；'　said　Arthur；　striking　in　expeditiously；　'whoever　you　are；　and
however　you　e　to　be　here；　if　I　were　the　master　of　this　house　I　would
lose　no　time　in　placing　you　on　the　outside　of　it。'

'But　you　are　not；'　said　his　mother；　without　looking　at　him。
'Unfortunately　for　the　gratification　of　your　unreasonable　temper；　you
are　not　the　master；　Arthur。'

'I　make　no　claim　to　be；　mother。　If　I　object　to　this　person's　manner　of
conducting　himself　here；　and　object　to　it　so　much；　that　if　I　had　any
authority　here　I　certainly　would　not　suffer　him　to　remain　a　minute；　I
object　on　your　account。'

'In　the　case　of　objection　being　necessary；'　she　returned；　'I　could
object　for　myself。　And　of　course　I　should。'

The　subject　of　their　dispute；　who　had　seated　himself；　laughed　aloud；　and
rapped　his　legs　with　his　hand。

'You　have　no　right；'　said　Mrs　Clennam；　always　intent　on　Blandois；
however　directly　she　addressed　her　son；　'to　speak　to　the　prejudice　of
any　gentleman　（least　of　all　a　gentleman　from　another　country）；　because
he　does　not　conform　to　your　standard；　or　square　his　behaviour　by　your
rules。　It　is　possible　that　the　gentleman　may；　on　similar　grounds；　object
to　you。'

'I　hope　so；'　returned　Arthur。

'The　gentleman；'　pursued　Mrs　Clennam；　'on　a　former　occasion　brought
a　letter　of　remendation　to　us　from　highly　esteemed　and　responsible
correspondents。　I　am　perfectly　unacquainted　with　the　gentleman's　object
in　ing　here　at　present。　I　am　entirely　ignorant　of　it；　and　cannot　be
supposed　likely　to　be　able　to　form　the　remotest　guess　at　its　nature；'
her　habitual　frown　became　stronger；　as　she　very　slowly　and　weightily
emphasised　those　words；　'but；　when　the　gentleman　proceeds　to　explain
his　objec