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！
'I suppose I have no resource but to see him；' sighed Clennam； wearily。
'Then it IS your good pleasure； sir？' retorted Rugg。 'Am I honoured by
your instructions to mention as much to the gentleman； as I pass out？ I
am？ Thank you； sir。 I take my leave。' His leave he took accordingly； in
dudgeon。
The gentleman of military exterior had so imperfectly awakened Clennam's
curiosity； in the existing state of his mind； that a half…forgetfulness
of such a visitor's having been referred to； was already creeping over
it as a part of the sombre veil which almost always dimmed it now； when
a heavy footstep on the stairs aroused him。 It appeared to ascend them；
not very promptly or spontaneously； yet with a display of stride and
clatter meant to be insulting。 As it paused for a moment on the
landing outside his door； he could not recall his association with the
peculiarity of its sound； though he thought he had one。 Only a moment
was given him for consideration。 His door was immediately swung open
by a thump； and in the doorway stood the missing Blandois； the cause of
many anxieties。
'Salve； fellow jail…bird！' said he。 'You want me； it seems。 Here I am！'
Before Arthur could speak to him in his indignant wonder； Cavalletto
followed him into the room。 Mr Pancks followed Cavalletto。 Neither of
the two had been there since its present occupant had had possession of
it。 Mr Pancks； breathing hard； sidled near the window； put his hat on
the ground； stirred his hair up with both hands； and folded his arms；
like a man who had e to a pause in a hard day's work。 Mr Baptist；
never taking his eyes from his dreaded chum of old； softly sat down on
the floor with his back against the door and one of his ankles in
each hand： resuming the attitude （except that it was now expressive of
unwinking watchfulness） in which he had sat before the same man in the
deeper shade of another prison； one hot morning at Marseilles。 'I have
it on the witnessing of these two madmen；' said Monsieur Blandois；
otherwise Lagnier； otherwise Rigaud； 'that you want me； brother…bird。
Here I am！' Glancing round contemptuously at the bedstead； which was
turned up by day； he leaned his back against it as a resting…place；
without removing his hat from his head； and stood defiantly lounging
with his hands in his pockets。
'You villain of ill…omen！' said Arthur。 'You have purposely cast a
dreadful suspicion upon my mother's house。 Why have you done it？
What prompted you to the devilish invention？'
Monsieur Rigaud； after frowning at him for a moment； laughed。 'Hear this
noble gentleman！ Listen； all the world； to this creature of Virtue！ But
take care； take care。 It is possible； my friend； that your ardour is a
little promising。 Holy Blue！ It is possible。'
'Signore！' interposed Cavalletto； also addressing Arthur： 'for to
mence； hear me！ I received your instructions to find him； Rigaud； is
it not？'
'It is the truth。'
'I go； consequentementally；'……it would have given Mrs Plornish great
concern if she could have been persuaded that his occasional lengthening
of an adverb in this way； was the chief fault of his English；……'first
among my countrymen。 I ask them what news in Londra； of foreigners
arrived。 Then I go among the French。 Then I go among the Germans。 They
all tell me。 The great part of us know well the other； and they all tell
me。 But！……no person can tell me nothing of him； Rigaud。 Fifteen times；'
said Cavalletto； thrice throwing out his left hand with all its fingers
spread； and doing it so rapidly that the sense of sight could hardly
follow the action； 'I ask of him in every place where go the foreigners；
and fifteen times；' repeating the same swift performance； 'they know
nothing。 But！……' At this significant Italian rest on the word 'But；' his
backhanded shake of his right forefinger came into play； a very little；
and very cautiously。
'But！……After a long time when I have not been able to find that he
is here in Londra； some one tells me of a soldier with white
hair……hey？……not hair like this that he carries……white……who lives retired
secrettementally； in a certain place。 But！……' with another rest upon
the word； 'who sometimes in the after…dinner； walks； and smokes。 It is
necessary； as they say in Italy （and as they know； poor people）； to
have patience。 I have patience。 I ask where is this certain place。 One。
believes it is here； one believes it is there。 Eh well！ It is not here；
it is not there。 I wait patientissamentally。 At last I find it。 Then I
watch； then I hide； until he walks and smokes。 He is a soldier with grey
hair……But！……' a very decided rest indeed； and a very vigorous play from
side to side of the back…handed forefinger……'he is also this man that
you see。'
It was noticeable； that； in his old habit of submission to one who had
been at the trouble of asserting superiority over him； he even then
bestowed upon Rigaud a confused bend of his head； after thus pointing
him out。
'Eh well； Signore！' he cried in conclusion； addressing Arthur again。 'I
waited for a good opportunity。 I writed some words to Signor Panco；' an
air of novelty came over Mr Pancks with this designation； 'to e and
help。 I showed him； Rigaud； at his window； to Signor Panco； who was
often the spy in the day。 I slept at night near the door of the house。
At last we entered； only this to…day； and now you see him！ As he would
not e up in presence of the illustrious Advocate；' such was Mr
Baptist's honourable mention of Mr Rugg； 'we waited down below there；
together； and Signor Panco guarded the street。'
At the close of this recital； Arthur turned his eyes upon the impudent
and wicked face。 As it met his； the nose came down over the moustache
and the moustache went up under the nose。 When nose and moustache had
settled into their places again； Monsieur Rigaud loudly snapped his
fingers half…a…dozen times； bending forward to jerk the snaps at Arthur；
as if they were palpable missiles which he jerked into his face。
'Now； Philosopher！' said Rigaud。'What do you want with me？'
'I want to know；' returned Arthur； without disguising his abhorrence；
'how you dare direct a suspicion of murder against my mother's house？'
'Dare！' cried Rigaud。 'Ho； ho！ Hear him！ Dare？ Is it dare？ By Heaven； my
small boy； but you are a little imprudent！'
'I want that suspicion to be cleared away；' said Arthur。 'You shall
be taken there； and be publicly seen。 I want to know； moreover；
what business you had there when I had a burning desire to fling you
down…stairs。 Don't frown at me； man！ I have seen enough of you to know
that you are a bully and coward。 I need no revival of my spirits from
the effects of this wretched place to tell you so plain a fact； and one
that you know so well。'
White to the lips； Rigaud stroked his moustache； muttering； 'By Heaven；
my small boy； but you are a little promising of my lady； your
respectable mother'……and seemed for a minute undecided how to act。
His indecision was soon gone。 He sat himself down with a threatening
swagger； and said：
'Give me a bottle of wine。 You can buy wine here。 Send one of your
madmen to get me a bottle of wine。 I won't talk to you without wine。
e！ Yes or no？'
'Fetch him what he wants； Cavalletto；' said Arthur； scornfully；
producing the money。
'Contraband beast；' added Rigaud； 'bring Port wine！ I'll drink nothing
but Porto…Porto。'
The contraband beast； however； assuring all present； with his
significant finger； that he peremptorily declined to leave his post at
the door； Signor Panco offered his services。 He soon returned with the
bottle of wine： which； according to the custom of the place； originating
in a scarcity of corkscrews among the Collegians （in mon with a
scarcity of much else）； was already opened for use。
'Madman！ A large glass；' said Rigaud。
Signor Panco put a tumbler before him； not without a visible conflict of
feeling on the question of throwing it at his head。
'Haha！' boasted Rigaud。 'Once a gentleman； and always a gentleman。
A gentleman from the beginning； and a gentleman to the end。 What
the Devil！ A gentleman must be waited on； I hope？ It's a part of my
character to be waited on！'
He half filled th