the people of the abyss(深渊居民)-第4章
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to…do as to keep a 〃slavey。〃 Johnny Upright keeps one； as I well know；
she being my first acquaintance in this particular portion of the world。
To Johnny Upright's house I came； and to the door came the 〃slavey。〃
Now； mark you； her position in life was pitiable and contemptible； but it
was with pity and contempt that she looked at me。 She evinced a plain
desire that our conversation should be short。 It was Sunday； and Johnny
Upright was not at home； and that was all there was to it。 But I lingered；
discussing whether or not it was all there was to it； till Mrs。 Johnny
Upright was attracted to the door； where she scolded the girl for not
having closed it before turning her attention to me。
No； Mr。 Johnny Upright was not at home； and further； he saw nobody
on Sunday。 It is too bad； said I。 Was I looking for work？ No； quite
the contrary； in fact； I had come to see Johnny Upright on business which
might be profitable to him。
A change came over the face of things at once。 The gentleman in
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question was at church； but would be home in an hour or thereabouts；
when no doubt he could be seen。
Would I kindly step in？no； the lady did not ask me； though I fished
for an invitation by stating that I would go down to the corner and wait in
a public…house。 And down to the corner I went； but； it being church time；
the 〃pub〃 was closed。 A miserable drizzle was falling； and； in lieu of
better； I took a seat on a neighbourly doorstep and waited。
And here to the doorstep came the 〃slavey；〃 very frowzy and very
perplexed； to tell me that the missus would let me come back and wait in
the kitchen。
〃So many people come 'ere lookin' for work；〃 Mrs。 Johnny Upright
apologetically explained。 〃So I 'ope you won't feel bad the way I spoke。〃
〃Not at all； not at all；〃 I replied in my grandest manner； for the nonce
investing my rags with dignity。 〃I quite understand； I assure you。 I
suppose people looking for work almost worry you to death？〃
〃That they do；〃 she answered； with an eloquent and expressive glance；
and thereupon ushered me into； not the kitchen； but the dining rooma
favour； I took it； in recompense for my grand manner。
This dining…room； on the same floor as the kitchen； was about four feet
below the level of the ground； and so dark （it was midday） that I had to
wait a space for my eyes to adjust themselves to the gloom。 Dirty light
filtered in through a window； the top of which was on a level with a
sidewalk； and in this light I found that I was able to read newspaper print。
And here； while waiting the coming of Johnny Upright； let me explain
my errand。 While living； eating； and sleeping with the people of the East
End； it was my intention to have a port of refuge； not too far distant； into
which could run now and again to assure myself that good clothes and
cleanliness still existed。 Also in such port I could receive my mail； work
up my notes； and sally forth occasionally in changed garb to civilisation。
But this involved a dilemma。 A lodging where my property would be
safe implied a landlady apt to be suspicious of a gentleman leading a
double life； while a landlady who would not bother her head over the
double life of her lodgers would imply lodgings where property was
unsafe。 To avoid the dilemma was what had brought me to Johnny
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Upright。 A detective of thirty…odd years' continuous service in the East
End； known far and wide by a name given him by a convicted felon in the
dock； he was just the man to find me an honest landlady； and make her rest
easy concerning the strange comings and goings of which I might be
guilty。
His two daughters beat him home from churchand pretty girls they
were in their Sunday dresses； withal it was the certain weak and delicate
prettiness which characterises the Cockney lasses； a prettiness which is no
more than a promise with no grip on time； and doomed to fade quickly
away like the colour from a sunset sky。
They looked me over with frank curiosity； as though I were some sort
of a strange animal； and then ignored me utterly for the rest of my wait。
Then Johnny Upright himself arrived； and I was summoned upstairs to
confer with him。
〃Speak loud；〃 he interrupted my opening words。 〃I've got a bad cold；
and I can't hear well。〃
Shades of Old Sleuth and Sherlock Holmes！ I wondered as to where
the assistant was located whose duty it was to take down whatever
information I might loudly vouchsafe。 And to this day； much as I have
seen of Johnny Upright and much as I have puzzled over the incident； I
have never been quite able to make up my mind as to whether or not he
had a cold； or had an assistant planted in the other room。 But of one
thing I am sure： though I gave Johnny Upright the facts concerning
myself and project； he withheld judgment till next day； when I dodged into
his street conventionally garbed and in a hansom。 Then his greeting was
cordial enough； and I went down into the dining…room to join the family at
tea。
〃We are humble here；〃 he said； 〃not given to the flesh； and you must
take us for what we are； in our humble way。〃
The girls were flushed and embarrassed at greeting me； while he did
not make it any the easier for them。
〃Ha！ ha！〃 he roared heartily； slapping the table with his open hand till
the dishes rang。 〃The girls thought yesterday you had come to ask for a
piece of bread！ Ha！ ha！ ho！ ho！ ho！〃
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This they indignantly denied； with snapping eyes and guilty red cheeks；
as though it were an essential of true refinement to be able to discern
under his rags a man who had no need to go ragged。
And then； while I ate bread and marmalade； proceeded a play at cross
purposes； the daughters deeming it an insult to me that I should have been
mistaken for a beggar； and the father considering it as the highest
compliment to my cleverness to succeed in being so mistaken。 All of
which I enjoyed； and the bread； the marmalade； and the tea； till the time
came for Johnny Upright to find me a lodging； which he did； not half…a…
dozen doors away； in his own respectable and opulent street； in a house as
like to his own as a pea to its mate。
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CHAPTER IIIMY LODGING
AND SOME OTHERS
From an East London standpoint； the room I rented for six shillings； or
a dollar and a half； per week； was a most comfortable affair。 From the
American standpoint； on the other hand； it was rudely furnished；
uncomfortable； and small。 By the time I had adde
