little dorrit-信丽(英文版)-第53部分

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at？'

'At　you；'　panted　Affery。

'Me；　madam？'

'And　the　dismal　evening；　and……and　everything；'　said　Affery。　'And　here！
The　wind　has　been　and　blown　the　door　to；　and　I　can't　get　in。'

'Hah！'　said　the　gentleman；　who　took　that　very　coolly。　'Indeed！　Do　you
know　such　a　name　as　Clennam　about　here？'

'Lord　bless　us；　I　should　think　I　did；　I　should　think　I　did！'　cried
Affery；　exasperated　into　a　new　wringing　of　hands　by　the　inquiry。

'Where　about　here？'

'Where！'　cried　Affery；　goaded　into　another　inspection　of　the　keyhole。
'Where　but　here　in　this　house？　And　she's　all　alone　in　her　room；　and　lost
the　use　of　her　limbs　and　can't　stir　to　help　herself　or　me；　and　t'other
clever　one's　out；　and　Lord　forgive　me！'　cried　Affery；　driven　into　a
frantic　dance　by　these　accumulated　considerations；　'if　I　ain't　a…going
headlong　out　of　my　mind！'

Taking　a　warmer　view　of　the　matter　now　that　it　concerned　himself；　the
gentleman　stepped　back　to　glance　at　the　house；　and　his　eye　soon　rested
on　the　long　narrow　window　of　the　little　room　near　the　hall…door。

'Where　may　the　lady　be　who　has　lost　the　use　of　her　limbs；　madam？'　he
inquired；　with　that　peculiar　smile　which　Mistress　Affery　could　not
choose　but　keep　her　eyes　upon。

'Up　there！'　said　Affery。　'Them　two　windows。'

'Hah！　I　am　of　a　fair　size；　but　could　not　have　the　honour　of　presenting
myself　in　that　room　without　a　ladder。　Now；　madam；　frankly……frankness　is
a　part　of　my　character……shall　I　open　the　door　for　you？'

'Yes；　bless　you；　sir；　for　a　dear　creetur；　and　do　it　at　once；'　cried
Affery；　'for　she　may　be　a…calling　to　me　at　this　very　present　minute；　or
may　be　setting　herself　a　fire　and　burning　herself　to　death；　or　there's
no　knowing　what　may　be　happening　to　her；　and　me　a…going　out　of　my　mind
at　thinking　of　it！'

'Stay；　my　good　madam！'　He　restrained　her　impatience　with　a　smooth　white
hand。　'Business…hours；　I　apprehend；　are　over　for　the　day？'　'Yes；　yes；
yes；'　cried　Affery。　'Long　ago。'

'Let　me　make；　then；　a　fair　proposal。　Fairness　is　a　part　of　my　character。
I　am　just　landed　from　the　packet…boat；　as　you　may　see。'

He　showed　her　that　his　cloak　was　very　wet；　and　that　his　boots
were　saturated　with　water；　she　had　previously　observed　that　he　was
dishevelled　and　sallow；　as　if　from　a　rough　voyage；　and　so　chilled　that
he　could　not　keep　his　teeth　from　chattering。　'I　am　just　landed　from　the
packet…boat；　madam；　and　have　been　delayed　by　the　weather：　the　infernal
；　some　necessary　business　that
I　should　otherwise　have　transacted　here　within　the　regular　hours
（necessary　business　because　money…business）；　still　remains　to　be　done。
Now；　if　you　will　fetch　any　authorised　neighbouring　somebody　to　do　it　in
return　for　my　opening　the　door；　I'll　open　the　door。　If　this　arrangement
should　be　objectionable；　I'll……'　and　with　the　same　smile　he　made　a
significant　feint　of　backing　away。

Mistress　Affery；　heartily　glad　to　effect　the　proposed　promise；　gave
in　her　willing　adhesion　to　it。　The　gentleman　at　once　requested　her　to
do　him　the　favour　of　holding　his　cloak；　took　a　short　run　at　the　narrow
window；　made　a　leap　at　the　sill；　clung　his　way　up　the　bricks；　and　in
a　moment　had　his　hand　at　the　sash；　raising　it。　His　eyes　looked　so　very
sinister；　as　he　put　his　leg　into　the　room　and　glanced　round　at　Mistress
Affery；　that　she　thought　with　a　sudden　coldness；　if　he　were　to　go
straight　up…stairs　to　murder　the　invalid；　what　could　she　do　to　prevent
him？

Happily　he　had　no　such　purpose；　for　he　reappeared；　in　a　moment；　at　the
house　door。　'Now；　my　dear　madam；'　he　said；　as　he　took　back　his　cloak　and
threw　it　on；　'if　you　have　the　goodness　to……what　the　Devil's　that！'

The　strangest　of　sounds。　Evidently　close　at　hand　from　the　peculiar
shock　it　municated　to　the　air；　yet　subdued　as　if　it　were　far　off。　A
tremble；　a　rumble；　and　a　fall　of　some　light　dry　matter。

'What　the　Devil　is　it？'

'I　don't　know　what　it　is；　but　I've　heard　the　like　of　it　over　and　over
again；'　said　Affery；　who　had　caught　his　arm。　He　could　hardly　be　a　very
brave　man；　even　she　thought　in　her　dreamy　start　and　fright；　for　his
trembling　lips　had　turned　colourless。　After　listening　a　few　moments；　he
made　light　of　it。

'Bah！　Nothing！　Now；　my　dear　madam；　I　think　you　spoke　of　some　clever
personage。　Will　you　be　so　good　as　to　confront　me　with　that　genius？'　He
held　the　door　in　his　hand；　as　though　he　were　quite　ready　to　shut　her　out
again　if　she　failed。

'Don't　you　say　anything　about　the　door　and　me；　then；'　whispered　Affery。

'Not　a　word。'

'And　don't　you　stir　from　here；　or　speak　if　she　calls；　while　I　run　round
the　corner。'

'Madam；　I　am　a　statue。'

Affery　had　so　vivid　a　fear　of　his　going　stealthily　up…stairs　the　moment
her　back　was　turned；　that　after　hurrying　out　of　sight；　she　returned　to
the　gateway　to　peep　at　him。　Seeing　him　still　on　the　threshold；　more　out
of　the　house　than　in　it；　as　if　he　had　no　love　for　darkness　and　no
desire　to　probe　its　mysteries；　she　flew　into　the　next　street；　and　sent　a
message　into　the　tavern　to　Mr　Flintwinch；　who　came　out　directly。　The
two　returning　together……the　lady　in　advance；　and　Mr　Flintwinch　ing　up
briskly　behind；　animated　with　the　hope　of　shaking　her　before　she　could
get　housed……saw　the　gentleman　standing　in　the　same　place　in　the　dark；
and　heard　the　strong　voice　of　Mrs　Clennam　calling　from　her　room；　'Who　is
it？　What　is　it？　Why　does　no　one　answer？　Who　is　that；　down　there？'




CHAPTER　30。　The　Word　of　a　Gentleman


When　Mr　and　Mrs　Flintwinch　panted　up　to　the　door　of　the　old　house　in　the
twilight；　Jeremiah　within　a　second　of　Affery；　the　stranger　started　back。
'Death　of　my　soul！'　he　exclaimed。　'Why；　how　did　you　get　here？'

Mr　Flintwinch；　to　whom　these　words　were　spoken；　repaid　the　stranger's
wonder　in　full。　He　gazed　at　him　with　blank　astonishment；　he　looked　over
his　own　shoulder；　as　expecting　to　see　some　one　he　had　not　been　aware　of
standing　behind　him；　he　gazed　at　the　stranger　again；　speechlessly；　at
a　loss　to　know　what　he　meant；　he　looked　to　his　wife　for　explanation；
receiving　none；　he　pounced　upon　her；　and　shook　her　with　such　heartiness
that　he　shook　her　cap　off　her　head；　saying　between　his　teeth；　with　grim
raillery；　as　he　did　it；　'Affery；　my　woman；　you　must　have　a　dose；　my
woman！　This　is　some　of　your　tricks！　You　have　been　dreaming　again；
mistress。　What's　it　about？　Who　is　it？　What　does　it　mean！　Speak　out　or　be
choked！　It's　the　only　choice　I'll　give　you。'

Supposing　Mistress　Affery　to　have　any　power　of　election　at　the　moment；
her　choice　was　decidedly　to　be　choked；　for　she　answered　not　a　syllable
to　this　adjuration；　but；　with　her　bare　head　wagging　violently　backwards
and　forwards；　resigned　herself　to　her　punishment。　The　stranger；　however；
picking　up　her　cap　with　an　air　of　gallantry；　interposed。

'Permit　me；'　said　he；　laying　his　hand　on　the　shoulder　of　Jeremiah；　who
stopped　and　released　his　victim。　'Thank　you。　Excuse　me。　Husband　and
wife　I　know；　from　this　playfulness。　Haha！　Always　agreeable　to　see　that
relation　playfully　maintained。　Listen！　May　I　suggest　that　somebody
up…stairs；　in　the　dark；　is　being　energetically　curious　to　know　what
is　going　on　here？'

This　reference　to　Mrs　Clennam's　voice　reminded　Mr　Flintwinch　to　step
into　the　hall　and　call　up　the　staircase。　'It's　all　right；　I　am　here；
Affery　is　ing　with　your　light。'　Then　he　said　to　the　latter
flustered　woman；　who　was　putting　her　cap　on；　'Get　out　with　you；　and　get
up…stairs！'　and　then　turned　to　the　stranger　and　said　to　him；　'Now；　sir；
what　might　you　please　to　want？'

'I　am　afraid；'　said　the　stranger；　'I　must　be　so　troublesome　as　to
propose　a　candle。'

'True；'　assented　Jeremiah。　'I　was　going　to　do　so。　Please　to　stand　where
you　are　while　I　get　one。'

The　visitor　was　standing　in　the　doorway；　but　turned　a　little　into　the
gloom　of　the　house　as　Mr　Flintwinch　turned；　and　pursued　him　with　his
eyes　into　the　little　room；　where　he　groped　about　for　a　phosphorus　box。
When　he　found　it；　it　was　damp；　or　otherwise　out　of　order；　and　match
after　match　that　he　struck　into　it　lighted　sufficiently　to　throw　a　dull
glare　about　his　groping　face；　and　to　sprinkle　his　hands　with　pale　little
spots　of　fire；　but　not　sufficiently　to　light　the　candle。　The　stranger；
taking　advantage　of　this　fitful　illumination　of　his　visage；　looked
intently　and　wonderingly　at　him。　Jeremiah；　when　he　at　last　lighted
the　candle；　knew　he　had　been　doing　this；　by　seeing　the　last　shade　of
a　lowering　watchfulness　clear　away　from　his　face；　as　it　broke　into　the
doubtful　smile　that　was　a　large　ingredient　in　its　expression。

'Be　so　good；'　said　Jeremiah；　closing　the　house　door；　and　taking　a　pretty
sharp　survey　of　the　smiling　visitor　in　his　turn；　'as　to　step　into　my
counting…house。……It's　all　right；　I　tell　you！'　petulantly　breaking　off　to
answer　the　voice　up…stairs；　still　unsatisfied；　though　Affery　was　there；
speaking　in　persuasive　tones。　'Don't　I　tell　you　it's　all　right？　Preserve
the　woman；　has　she　no　reason　at　all　in　her！'

'Timorous；'　remarked　the　stranger。

'Timorous？'　said　Mr　Flintwinch；　turning　his　head　to　retort；　as　he　went
before　with　the　candle。　'More　courageous　than　niy　men　in　a　hundred；
sir；　let　me　tell　you。'

'Though　an　invalid？'

'Many　years　an　invalid。　Mrs　Clennam。　The　only　one　of　that　name　left
in　the　House　now。　My　partner。'　Saying　something　apologetically　as　he
crossed　the　hall；　to　the　effect　that　at　that　time　of　night　they　were
not　in　the　habit　of　receiving　any　one；　and　were　always　shut　up；
Mr　Flintwinch　led　the　way　into　his　own　office；　which　presented　a
sufficiently　business…like　appearance。　Here　he　put　the　light　on　his
desk；　and　said　to　the　stranger；　with　his　wryest　twist　upon　him；　'Your
mands。'

'MY　name　is　Blandois。'

'Blandois。　I　don't　know　it；'　said　Jeremiah。

'I　thought　it　possible；'　resumed　the　other；　'that　you　might　have　been
advised　from　Paris……'

'We　have　had　no　advice　from　Paris　respecting　anybody　of　the　name　of
Blandois；'　said　Jeremiah。

'No？'

'No。'

Jeremiah　stood　in　his　favourite　attitude。　The　smiling　Mr　Blandois；
opening　his　cloak　to　get　his　hand　to　a　breast…pocket；　paused　to　say；
with　a　laugh　in　his　glittering　eyes；　which　it　occurred　to　Mr　Flintwinch
were　too　near　together：

'You　are　so　like　a　friend　of　mine！　Not　so　identically　the　same　as　I
supposed　when　I　really　did　for　the　moment　take　you　to　be　the　same　in　the
dusk……for　which　I　ought　to　apologise；　permit　me　to　do　so；　a　readiness
to　confess　my　errors　is；　I　hope；　a　part　of　the　frankness　of　my
character……still；　however；　unmonly　like。'

'Indeed？'　said　Jeremiah；　perversely。　'But　I　have　not　received　any　letter
of　advice　from　anywhere　respecting　anybody　of　the　name　of　Blandois。'

'Just　so；'　said　the　stranger。

'JUST　so；'　said　Jeremiah。

Mr　Blandois；　not　at　all　put　out　by　this　omission　on　the　part　of　the
correspondents　of　the　house　of　Clennam　and　Co。；　took　his　pocket…book
from　his　breast…pocket；　selected　a　letter　from　that　receptacle；　and
handed　it　to　Mr　Flintwinch。　'No　doubt　you　are　well　acquainted　with　the
writing。　Perhaps　the　letter　speaks　for　itself；　and　requires　no　advice。
You　are　a　far　more　petent　judge　of　such　affairs　than　I　am。　It　is　my
misfortune　to　be；　not　so　much　a　man　of　business；　as　what　the　world　calls
（arbitrarily）　a　gentleman。'

Mr　Flintwinch　took　the　letter；　and　read；　under　date　of　Paris；　'We　have
to　present　to　you；　on　behalf　of　a　highly　esteemed　correspondent　of　our
Firm；　M。　Blandois；　of　this　city；'　&c。　&c。　'Such　facilities　as　he　may
require　and　such　attentions　as　may　lie　in　your　power；'　&c。　&c。　'Also
have　to　add　that　if　you　will　honour　M。　Blandois'　drafts　at　sight　to　the
extent　of；　say　Fifty　Pounds　sterling　（150）；'　&c。　&c。

'Very　good；　sir；'　said　Mr　Flintwinch。　'Take　a　chair。　To　the　extent　of
anything　that　our　House　can　do……we　are　in　a　retired；　old…fashioned；
steady　way　of　business；　sir……we　shall　be　happy　to　render　you　our　best
assistance。　I　observe；　from　the　date　of　this；　that　we　could　not　yet　be
advised　of　it。　Probably　you　came　over　with　the　delayed　mail　that　brings
the　advice。'

'That　I　came　over　with　the　delayed　mail；　sir；'　returned　Mr　Blandois；
passing　his　white　hand　down　his　high…hooked　nose；　'I　know　to　the　cost
of　my　head　and　stomach：　the　detestable　and　intolerable　weather　having
racked　them　both。　You　see　me　in　the　plight　in　which　I　came　out　of　the
packet　within　this　half…hour。　I　ought　to　have　been　here　hours　ago；
and　then　I　should　not　have　to　apologise……permit　me　to　apologise……for
presenting　myself　so　unreasonably；　and　frightening……no；　by…the…bye；　you
said　not　frightening；　permit　me　to　apologise　again……the　esteemed　lady；
Mrs　Clennam；　in　her　invalid　chamber　above　stairs。'

Swagger　and　an　air　of　authorised　condescension　do　so　much；　that
Mr　Flintwinch　had　already　begun　to　think　this　a　highly　gentlemanly
personage。　Not　the　less　unyielding　with　him　on　that　account；　he　scraped
his　chin　and　said；　what　could　he　have　the　honour　of　doing　for　Mr
Blandois　to…night；　out　of　business　hours？

'Faith！'　returned　that　gentleman；　shrugging　his　cloaked　shoulders；
'I　must　change；　and　eat　and　drink；　and　be　lodged　somewhere。　Have　the
kindness　to　advise　me；　a　total　stranger；　where；　and　money　is　a　matter　of
perfect　indifference　until　to…morrow。　The　nearer　the　place；　the　better。
Next　door；　if　that's　all。'

Mr　Flintwinch　was　slowly　beginning；　'For　a　gentleman　of　your　habits；
there　is　not　in　this　immediate　neighbourhood　any　hotel……'　when　Mr
Blandois　took　him　up。

'So　much　for　my　habits！　my　dear　sir；'　snapping　his　fingers。　'A　citizen
of　the　world　has　no　habits。　That　I　am；　in　my　poor　way；　a　gentleman；
by　Heaven！　I　will　not　deny；　but　I　have　no　unacmodating　prejudiced
habits。　A　clean　room；　a　hot　dish　for　dinner；　and　a　bottle　of　not
absolutely　poisonous　wine；　are　all　I　want　tonight。　But　I　want　that　much
without　the　trouble　of　going　one　unnecessary　inch　to　get　it。'

'There　is；'　said　Mr　Flintwinch；　with　more　than　his　usual　deliberation；
as　he　met；　for　a　moment；　Mr　Blandois'　shining　eyes；　which　were　restless；
'there　is　a　coffee…house　and　tavern　close　here；　which；　so　far；　I　can
remend；　but　there's　no　style　about　it。'

'I　dispense　with　style！'　said　Mr　Blandois；　waving　his　hand。　'Do　me　the
honour　to　show　me　the　house；　and　introduce　me　there　（if　I　am　not　too
troublesome）；　and　I　shall　be　infinitely　obliged。'　Mr　Flintwinch；　upon
this；　looked　up　his　hat；　and　lighted　Mr　Blandois　across　the　hall　again。
As　he　put　the　candle　on　a　bracket；　where　the　dark　old　panelling　almost
served　as　an　extinguisher　for　it；　he　bethought　himself　of　going　up　to
tell　the　invalid　that　he　would　not　be　absent　five　minutes。　'Oblige　me；'
said　the　visitor；　on　his　saying　so；　'by　presenting　my　card　of　visit。　Do
me　the　favour　to　add　that　I　shall　be　happy　to　wait　on　Mrs　Clennam；　to
offer　my　personal　pliments；　and　to　apologise　for　having　occasioned
any　agitation　in　this　tranquil　corner；　if　it　should　suit　her　convenience
to　endure　the　presence　of　a　stranger　for　a　few　minutes；　after　he　shall
have　changed　his　wet　clothes　and　fortified　himself　with　something　to　eat
and　drink。'

Jeremiah　made　all　despatch；　and　said；　on　his　return；　'She'll　be　glad
to　see　you；　sir；　but；　being　conscious　that　her　sick　room　has　no
attractions；　wishes　me　to　say　that　she　won't　hold　you　to　your　offer；　in
case　you　should　think　better　of　it。'

'To　think　better　of　it；'　returned　the　gallant　Blandois；　'would　be　to
slight　a　lady；　to　sl