bleak house(凄凉的房子)-第217章
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“You may be assured of it。”
“Good。 And I would wish in conclusion to remind you； as a
business precaution； in case it should be necessary to recall the
fact in any communication with Sir Leicester； that throughout our
interview I have expressly stated my sole consideration to be Sir
Leicester’s feelings and honour； and the family reputation。 I
should have been happy to have made Lady Dedlock a prominent
consideration too； if the case had admitted of it； but unfortunately
it does not。”
“I can attest your fidelity； sir。”
Both before and after saying it； she remains absorbed； but at
length moves； and turns； unshaken in her natural and acquired
presence； towards the door。 Mr Tulkinghorn opens both the doors
exactly as he would have done yesterday； or as he would have
done ten years ago； and makes his old…fashioned bow as she passes
out。 It is not an ordinary look that he receives from the handsome
face as it goes into the darkness； and it is not an ordinary
movement； though a very slight one； that acknowledges his
courtesy。 But； as he reflects when he is left alone； the woman has
been putting no common constraint upon herself。
He would know it all the better； if he saw the woman pacing her
own rooms with her hair wildly thrown from her flung back face；
her hands clasped behind her head； her figure twisted as if by
pain。 He would think so all the more； if he saw the woman thus
hurrying up and down for hours； without fatigue； without
intermission； followed by the faithful step upon the Ghost’s Walk。
But he shuts out the now chilled air； draws the window…curtain；
goes to bed； and falls asleep。 And truly when the stars go out and
the wan day peeps into the turret chamber； finding him at his
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oldest； he looks as if the digger and the spade were both
commissioned； and would soon be digging。
The same wan day peeps in at Sir Leicester pardoning the
repentant country in a majestically condescending dream； and at
the cousins entering on various public employments； principally
receipt of salary； and at the chaste Volumnia； bestowing a dower
of fifty thousand pounds upon a hideous old General； with a mouth
of false teeth like a pianoforte too full of keys； long the admiration
of Bath and the terror of every other community。 Also into rooms
high in the roof； and into offices in courtyards and over stables；
where humbler ambition dreams of bliss； in keeper’s lodges and in
holy matrimony with Will or Sally。 Up comes the bright sun；
drawing everything up with it—the Wills and Sallys； the latent
vapour in the earth； the dropping leaves and flowers； the birds and
beasts and creeping things； the gardeners to sweep the dewy turf
and unfold emerald velvet where the roller passes； the smoke of
the great kitchen fire wreathing itself straight and high into the
lightsome air。 Lastly； up comes the flag over Mr Tulkinghorn’s
unconscious head； cheerfully proclaiming that Sir Leicester and
Lady Dedlock are in their happy home； and that there is
hospitality at the place in Lincolnshire。
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Chapter 42
In Mr Tulkinghorn’s Chambers
rom the verdant undulations and the spreading oaks of the
Dedlock property； Mr Tulkinghorn transfers himself to the
Fstale heat and dust of London。 His manner of coming and
going between the two places； is one of his impenetrabilities。 He
walks into Chesney Wold as if it were next door to his chambers；
and returns to his chambers as if he had never been out of
Lincoln’s Inn Fields。 He neither changes his dress before the
journey； nor talks of it afterwards。 He melted out of his turret…
room this morning； just as now； in the late twilight； he melts into
his own square。
Like a dingy London bird among the birds at roost in these
pleasant fields； where the sheep are all made into parchment； the
goats into wigs； and the pasture into chaff； the lawyer； smoke…
dried and faded； dwelling among mankind but not consorting with
them； aged without experience of genial youth； and so long used to
make his cramped nest in holes and corners of human nature that
he has forgotten its broader and better range； comes sauntering
home。 In the oven made by the hot pavements and hot buildings；
he has baked himself dryer than usual； and he has； in his thirsty
mind； his mellowed port…wine half a century old。
The lamplighter is skipping up and down his ladder on Mr
Tulkinghorn’s side of the Fields； when that high…priest of noble
mysteries arrives at his own dull courtyard。 He ascends the
doorsteps and is gliding into the dusky hall； when he encounters；
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on the top step； a bowing and propitiatory little man。
“Is that Snagsby？”
“Yes sir。 I hope you are well sir。 I was just giving you up sir； and
going home。”
“Ay？ What is it？ What do you want with me？”
“Well sir；” says Mr Snagsby； holding his hat at the side of his
head； in his deference towards his best customer。 “I was wishful to
say a word to you sir。”
“Can you say it here？”
“Perfectly sir。”
“Say it then。” The lawyer turns； leans his arms on the iron
railing at the top of the steps； and looks at the lamplighter lighting
the courtyard。
“It is relating；” says Mr Snagsby； in a mysterious low voice—“it
is relating—not to put too fine a point upon it—to the foreigner
sir。”
Mr Tulkinghorn eyes him with some surprise。 “What
foreigner？”
“The foreign female sir。 French； if I don’t mistake？ I am not
acquainted with that language myself； but I should judge from her
manners and appearance that she was French； anyways； certainly
foreign。 Her that was upstairs sir； when Mr Bucket and me had
the honour of waiting upon you with the sweeping…boy that night。”
“Oh！ yes； yes。 Mademoiselle Hortense。”
“Indeed sir？” Mr Snagsby coughs his cough of submission
behind his hat。 “I am not acquainted myself with the names of
foreigners in general； but I have no doubt it would be that。” Mr
Snagsby appears to have set out in this reply with some desperate
design of repeating the name； but on reflection coughs again to
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Bl
