little dorrit-信丽(英文版)-第62章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


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　slight　a　lady　would　be　to　be　deficient　in　chivalry
towards　the　sex；　and　chivalry　towards　the　sex　is　a　part　of　my
character！'　Thus　expressing　himself；　he　threw　the　draggled　skirt　of　his
cloak　over　his　shoulder；　and　acpanied　Mr　Flintwinch　to　the　tavern；
taking　up　on　the　road　a　porter　who　was　waiting　with　his　portmanteau　on
the　outer　side　of　the　gateway。

The　house　was　kept　in　a　homely　manner；　and　the　condescension　of　Mr
Blandois　was　infinite。　It　seemed　to　fill　to　inconvenience　the　little　bar
in　which　the　widow　landlady　and　her　two　daughters　received　him；　it　was
much　too　big　for　the　narrow　wainscoted　room　with　a　bagatelle…board　in
it；　that　was　first　proposed　for　his　reception；　it　perfectly　swamped　the
little　private　holiday　sitting…room　of　the　family；　which　was　finally
given　up　to　him。　Here；　in　dry　clothes　and　scented　linen；　with　sleeked
hair；　a　great　ring　on　each　forefinger　and　a　massive　show　of　watch…chain；
Mr　Blandois　waiting　for　his　dinner；　lolling　on　a　window…seat　with　his
knees　drawn　up；　looked　（for　all　the　difference　in　the　setting　of　the
jewel）　fearfully　and　wonderfully　like　a　certain　Monsieur　Rigaud　who　had
once　so　waited　for　his　breakfast；　lying　on　the　stone　ledge　of　the　iron
grating　of　a　cell　in　a　villainous　dungeon　at　Marseilles。

His　greed　at　dinner；　too；　was　closely　in　keeping　with　the　greed　of
Monsieur　Rigaud　at　breakfast。　His　avaricious　manner　of　collecting　all
the　eatables　about　him；　and　devouring　some　with　his　eyes　while　devouring
others　with　his　jaws；　was　the　same　manner。　His　utter　disregard　of
other　people；　as　shown　in　his　way　of　tossing　the　little　womanly　toys
of　furniture　about；　flinging　favourite　cushions　under　his　boots　for　a
softer　rest；　and　crushing　delicate　coverings　with　his　big　body　and　his
great　black　head；　had　the　same　brute　selfishness　at　the　bottom　of　it。
The　softly　moving　hands　that　were　so　busy　among　the　dishes　had　the　old
wicked　facility　of　the　hands　that　had　clung　to　the　bars。　And　when　he
could　eat　no　more；　and　sat　sucking　his　delicate　fingers　one　by　one　and
wiping　them　on　a　cloth；　there　wanted　nothing　but　the　substitution　of
vine…leaves　to　finish　the　picture。

On　this　man；　with　his　moustache　going　up　and　his　nose　ing　down　in
that　most　evil　of　smiles；　and　with　his　surface　eyes　looking　as　if　they
belonged　to　his　dyed　hair；　and　had　had　their　natural　power　of　reflecting
light　stopped　by　some　similar　process；　Nature；　always　true；　and　never
working　in　vain；　had　set　the　mark；　Beware！　It　was　not　her　fault；　if　the
warning　were　fruitless。　She　is　never　to　blame　in　any　such　instance。

Mr　Blandois；　having　finished　his　repast　and　cleaned　his　fingers；　took
a　cigar　from　his　pocket；　and；　lying　on　the　window…seat　again；　smoked　it
out　at　his　leisure；　occasionally　apostrophising　the　smoke　as　it　parted
from　his　thin　lips　in　a　thin　stream：

'Blandois；　you　shall　turn　the　tables　on　society；　my　little　child。　Haha！
Holy　blue；　you　have　begun　well；　Blandois！　At　a　pinch；　an　excellent
master　in　English　or　French；　a　man　for　the　bosom　of　families！　You　have
a　quick　perception；　you　have　humour；　you　have　ease；　you　have　insinuating
manners；　you　have　a　good　appearance；　in　effect；　you　are　a　gentleman！　A
gentleman　you　shall　live；　my　small　boy；　and　a　gentleman　you　shall　die。
You　shall　win；　however　the　game　goes。　They　shall　all　confess　your　merit；
Blandois。　You　shall　subdue　the　society　which　has　grievously　wronged
you；　to　your　own　high　spirit。　Death　of　my　soul！　You　are　high　spirited　by
right　and　by　nature；　my　Blandois！'

To　such　soothing　murmurs　did　this　gentleman　smoke　out　his　cigar　and
drink　out　his　bottle　of　wine。　Both　being　finished；　he　shook　himself　into
a　sitting　attitude；　and　with　the　concluding　serious　apostrophe；　'Hold；
then！　Blandois；　you　ingenious　one；　have　all　your　wits　about　you！'　arose
and　went　back　to　the　house　of　Clennam　and　Co。

He　was　received　at　the　door　by　Mistress　Affery；　who；　under　instructions
from　her　lord；　had　lighted　up　two　candles　in　the　hall　and　a　third　on　the
staircase；　and　who　conducted　him　to　Mrs　Clennam's　room。　Tea　was　prepared
there；　and　such　little　pany　arrangements　had　been　made　as　usually
attended　the　reception　of　expected　visitors。　They　were　slight　on　the
greatest　occasion；　never　extending　beyond　the　production　of　the　China
tea…service；　and　the　covering　of　the　bed　with　a　sober　and　sad　drapery。
For　the　rest；　there　was　the　bier…like　sofa　with　the　block　upon　it；　and
the　figure　in　the　widow's　dress；　as　if　attired　for　execution；　the　fire
topped　by　the　mound　of　damped　ashes；　the　grate　with　its　second　little
mound　of　ashes；　the　kettle　and　the　smell　of　black　dye；　all　as　they　had
been　for　fifteen　years。

Mr　Flintwinch　presented　the　gentleman　mended　to　the　consideration　of
Clennam　and　Co。　Mrs　Clennam；　who　had　the　letter　lying　before　her；　bent
her　head　and　requested　him　to　sit。　They　looked　very　closely　at　one
another。　That　was　but　natural　curiosity。　'I　thank　you；　sir；　for　thinking
of　a　disabled　woman　like　me。　Few　who　e　here　on　business　have　any
remembrance　to　bestow　on　one　so　removed　from　observation。　It　would　be
idle　to　expect　that　they　should　have。　Out　of　sight；　out　of　mind。　While　I
am　grateful　for　the　exception；　I　don't　plain　of　the　rule。'

Mr　Blandois；　in　his　most　gentlemanly　manner；　was　afraid　he　had　disturbed
her　by　unhappily　presenting　himself　at　such　an　unconscionable　time。　For
which　he　had　already　offered　his　best　apologies　to　Mr……he　begged
pardon……but　by　name　had　not　the　distinguished　honour……'Mr　Flintwinch
has　been　connected　with　the　House　many　years。'

Mr　Blandois　was　Mr　Flintwinch's　most　obedient　humble　servant。　He
entreated　Mr　Flintwinch　to　receive　the　assurance　of　his　profoundest
consideration。

'My　husband　being　dead；'　said　Mrs　Clennam；　'and　my　son　preferring
another　pursuit；　our　old　House　has　no　other　representative　in　these　days
than　Mr　Flintwinch。'


'What　do　you　call　yourself？'　was　the　surly　demand　of　that　gentleman。
'You　have　the　head　of　two　men。'

'My　sex　disqualifies　me；'　she　proceeded　with　merely　a　slight　turn　of
her　eyes　in　jeremiah's　direction；　'from　taking　a　responsible　part　in
the　business；　even　if　I　had　the　ability；　and　therefore　Mr　Flintwinch
bines　my　interest　with　his　own；　and　conducts　it。　It　is　not　what　it
used　to　be；　but　some　of　our　old　friends　（principally　the　writers　of　this
letter）　have　the　kindness　not　to　forget　us；　and　we　retain　the　power
of　doing　what　they　entrust　to　us　as　efficiently　as　we　ever　did。　This
however　is　not　interesting　to　you。　You　are　English；　sir？'

'Faith；　madam；　no；　I　am　neither　born　nor　bred　in　England。　In　effect；　I
am　of　no　country；'　said　Mr　Blandois；　stretching　out　his　leg　and　smiting
it：　'I　descend　from　half…a…dozen　countries。'

'You　have　been　much　about　the　world？'

'It　is　true。　By　Heaven；　madam；　I　have　been　here　and　there　and
everywhere！'

'You　have　no　ties；　probably。　Are　not　married？'

'Madam；'　said　Mr　Blandois；　with　an　ugly　fall　of　his　eyebrows；　'I　adore
your　sex；　but　I　am　not　married……never　was。'

Mistress　Affery；　who　stood　at　the　table　near　him；　pouring　out　the　tea；
happened　in　her　dreamy　state　to　look　at　him　as　he　said　these　words；　and
to　fancy　that　she　caught　an　expression　in　his　eyes　which　attracted　her
own　eyes　so　that　she　could　not　get　them　away。　The　effect　of　this　fancy
was　to　keep　her　staring　at　him　with　the　tea…pot　in　her　hand；　not　only　to
her　own　great　uneasiness；　but　manifestly　to　his；　too；　and；　through　them
both；　to　Mrs　Clennam's　and　Mr　Flintwinch's。　Thus　a　few　ghostly　moments
supervened；　when　they　were　all　confusedly　staring　without　knowing　why。

'Affery；'　her　mistress　was　the　first　to　say；　'what　is　the　matter　with
you？'

'I　don't　know；'　said　Mistress　Affery；　with　her　disengaged　left　hand
extended　towards　the　visitor。　'It　ain't　me。　It's　him！'

'What　does　this　good　woman　mean？'　cried　Mr　Blandois；　turning　white；　hot；
and　slowly　rising　with　a　look　of　such　deadly　wrath　that　it　contrasted
surprisingly　with　the　slight　force　of　his　words。　'How　is　it　possible　to
understand　this　good　creature？'

'It's　NOT　possible；'　said　Mr　Flintwinch；　screwing　himself　rapidly
in　that　direction。　'She　don't　know　what　she　means。　She's　an　idiot；　a
wanderer　in　her　mind。　She　shall　have　a　dose；　she　shall　have　such　a　dose！
Get　along　with　you；　my　woman；'　he　added　in　her　ear；　'get　along　with　you；
while　you　know　you're　Affery；　and　before　you're　shaken　to　yeast。'

Mistress　Affery；　sensible　of　the　danger　in　which　her　identity　stood；
relinquished　the　tea…pot　as　her　husband　seized　it；　put　her　apron　over
her　head；　and　in　a　twinkling　vanished。　The　visitor　gradually　broke　into
a　smile；　and　sat　down　again。

'You'll　excuse　her；　Mr　Blandois；'　said　Jeremiah；　pouring　out　the　tea
himself；　'she's　failing　and　breaking　up；　that's　what　she's　about。　Do　you
take　sugar；　sir？'

'Thank　you；　no　tea　for　me。……Pardon　my　observing　it；　but　that's　a　very
remarkable　watch！'

The　tea…table　was　drawn　up　near　the　sofa；　with　a　small　interval　between
it　and　Mrs　Clennam's　own　particular　table。　Mr　Blandois　in　his　gallantry
had　risen　to　hand　that　lady　her　tea　（her　dish　of　toast　was　already
there）；　and　it　was　in　placing　the　cup　conveniently　within　her　reach　that
the　watch；　lying　before　her　as　it　always　did；　attracted　his　attention。
Mrs　Clennam　looked　suddenly　up　at　him。

'May　I　be　permitted？　Thank　you。　A　fine　old…fashioned　watch；'　he　said；
taking　it　in　his　hand。　'Heavy　for　use；　but　massive　and　genuine。　I　have
a　partiality　for　everything　genuine。　Such　as　I　am；　I　am　genuine　myself。
Hah！　A　gentleman's　watch　with　two　cases　in　the　old　fashion。　May　I　remove
it　from　the　outer　case？　Thank　you。　Aye？　An　old　silk　watch…lining；　worked
with　beads！　I　have　often　seen　these　among　old　Dutch　people　and　Belgians。
Quaint　things！'

'They　are　old…fashioned；　too；'　said　Mrs　Clennam。　'Very。　But　this　is　not
so　old　as　the　watch；　I　think？'

'I　think　not。'

'Extraordinary　how　they　used　to　plicate　these　cyphers！'　remarked　Mr
Blandois；　glancing　up　with　his　own　smile　again。　'Now　is　this　D。　N。　F。？
It　might　be　almost　anything。'

'Those　are　the　letters。'

Mr　Flintwinch；　who　had　been　observantly　pausing　all　this　time　with　a　cup
of　tea　in　his　hand；　and　his　mouth　open　ready　to　swallow　the　contents；
began　to　do　so：　always　entirely　filling　his　mouth　before　he　emptied　it
at　a　gulp；　and　always　deliberating　again　before　he　refilled　it。

'D。　N。　F。　was　some　tender；　lovely；　fascinating　fair…creature；　I　make　no
doubt；'　observed　Mr　Blandois；　as　he　snapped　on　the　case　again。　'I　adore
her　memory　on　the　assumption。　Unfortunately　for　my　peace　of　mind；
I　adore　but　too　readily。　It　may　be　a　vice；　it　may　be　a　virtue；　but
adoration　of　female　beauty　and　merit　constitutes　three　parts　of　my
character；　madam。'

Mr　Flintwinch　had　by　this　time　poured　himself　out　another　cup　of　tea；
which　he　was　swallowing　in　gulps　as　before；　with　his　eyes　directed　to
the　invalid。

'You　may　be　heart…free　here；　sir；'　she　returned　to　Mr　Blandois。　'Those
letters　are　not　intended；　I　believe；　for　the　initials　of　any　name。'

'Of　a　motto；　perhaps；'　said　Mr　Blandois；　casually。

'Of　a　sentence。　They　have　always　stood；　I　believe；　for　Do　Not　Forget！'

'And　naturally；'　said　Mr　Blandois；　replacing　the　watch　a