bleak house(凄凉的房子)-第272章
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wife； advance！”
Mrs Chadband； more than ready； so advances as to jostle her
husband into the background； and confronts Mr Bucket with a
hard frowning smile。
“Since you want to know what we know；” says she； “I’ll tell you。
I helped to bring up Miss Hawdon； her Ladyship’s daughter。 I was
in the service of her Ladyship’s sister； who was very sensitive to
the disgrace her Ladyship brought upon her； and gave out； even to
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her Ladyship； that the child was dead—she was very nearly so—
when she was born。 But she’s alive； and I know her。” With these
words； and a laugh； and laying a bitter stress on the word
“Ladyship；” Mrs Chadband folds her arms； and looks implacably
at Mr Bucket。
“I suppose now；” returns that officer； “you will be expecting a
twenty…pound note； or a present of about that figure？”
Mrs Chadband merely laughs； and contemptuously tells him he
can “offer” twenty pence。
“My friend the law…stationer’s good lady over there；” says Mr
Bucket； luring Mrs Snagsby forward with the finger。 “What may
your game be； ma’am？”
Mrs Snagsby is at first prevented； by tears and lamentations；
from stating the nature of her game： but by degrees it confusedly
comes to light； that she is a woman overwhelmed with injuries and
wrongs； whom Mr Snagsby has habitually deceived； abandoned；
and sought to keep in darkness； and whose chief comfort； under
her afflictions； has been the sympathy of the late Mr Tulkinghorn；
who showed so much commiseration for her； on one occasion of
his calling in Cook’s Court in the absence of her perjured husband；
that she has of late habitually carried to him all her woes。
Everybody it appears； the present company excepted； has plotted
against Mrs Snagsby’s peace。 There is Mr Guppy； clerk to Kenge
and Carboy； who was at first as open as the sun at noon； but who
suddenly shut up as close as midnight； under the influence—no
doubt—of Mr Snagsby’s suborning and tampering。 There is There
was Mr Weevle； friend of Mr Guppy； who lived mysteriously up a
court； owing to the like coherent causes。 There was Krook；
deceased； there was Nimrod； deceased； and there was Jo；
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deceased； and they were “all in it。” In what； Mrs Snagsby does not
with particularity express； but she knows that Jo was Mr
Snagsby’s son； “as well as if a trumpet had spoken it；” and she
followed Mr Snagsby when he went on his last visit to the boy； and
if he was not his son why did he go？ The one occupation of her life
has been； for some time back； to follow Mr Snagsby to and fro； and
up and down； and to piece suspicious circumstances together—
and every circumstance that has happened has been most
suspicious； and in this way she has pursued her object of detecting
and confounding her false husband； night and day。 Thus did it
come to pass that she brought the Chadbands and Mr Tulkinghorn
together； and conferred with Mr Tulkinghorn on the change in Mr
Guppy； and helped to turn up the circumstances in which the
present company are interested； casually； by the wayside； being
still； and ever； on the great high road that is to terminate in Mr
Snagsby’s full exposure and a matrimonial separation。 All this；
Mrs Snagsby； as an injured woman； and the friend of Mrs
Chadband； and the follower of Mr Chadband； and the mourner of
the late Mr Tulkinghorn； is here to certify under the seal of
confidence； with very possible confusion and involvement possible
and impossible； having no pecuniary motive whatever； no scheme
or project but the one mentioned； and bringing here； and taking
everywhere； her own dense atmosphere of dust； arising from the
ceaseless working of her mill of jealousy。
While this exordium is in hand—and it takes some time—Mr
Bucket； who has seen through the transparency of Mrs Snagsby’s
vinegar at a glance； confers with his familiar demon； and bestows
his shrewd attention on the Chadbands and Mr Smallweed。 Sir
Leicester Dedlock remains immoveable； with the same icy surface
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upon him： except that he once or twice looks towards Mr Bucket；
as relying on that officer alone of all mankind。
“Very good；” says Mr Bucket。 “Now I understand you； you
know； and； being deputed by Sir Leicester Dedlock； Baronet； to
look into this little matter；” again Sir Leicester mechanically bows
in confirmation of the statement； “can give it my fair and full
attention。 Now I won’t allude to conspiring to extort money； or
anything of that sort； because we are men and women of the world
here； and our object is to make things pleasant。 But I will tell you
what I do wonder at； I am surprised that you should think of
making a noise below in the hall。 It was so opposed to your
interests。 That’s what I look at。”
“We wanted to get in；” pleads Mr Smallweed。
“Why； of course； you wanted to get in；” Mr Bucket assents with
cheerfulness： “but for a old gentleman at your time of life—what I
call truly venerable； mind you！—with his wits sharpened； as I have
no doubt they are； by the loss of the use of his limbs； which
occasions all his animation to mount up into his head—not to
consider that if he don’t keep such a business as the present as
close as possible it can’t be worth a mag to him； is so curious！ You
see your temper got the better of you； that’s where you lost
ground；” says Mr Bucket； in an argumentative and friendly way。
“I only said I wouldn’t go； without one of the servants came up
to Sir Leicester Dedlock；” returns Mr Smallweed。
“That’s it！ That’s where your temper got the better of you。 Now；
you keep it under another time； and you’ll make money by it。 Shall
I ring for them to carry you down？”
“When are we to hear more of this？” Mrs Chadband sternly
demands。
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“Bless your heart for a true woman！ Always curious； your
delightful sex is！” replies Mr Bucket； with gallantry。 “I shall have
the pleasure of giving you a call tomorrow or next day—not
forgetting Mr Smallweed and his proposal of two fifty。”
“Five hundred！” exclaims Mr Smallweed。
“All right！ Nominally five hundred；” Mr Bucket has his hand on
the bell…rope； “shall I wish you good day for the
