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little dorrit-信丽(英文版)-第222部分

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till this gentleman favoured us with his first visit。 Of course; I began
to suspect how it was; then; and I don't want his word for it now to
understand how he gets his knowledge from my papers; and your paper; and
my brother's cognac and tobacco talk (I wish he'd had to gag himself)。
Now; I have only one thing more to say; you hammer…headed woman; and
that is; that I haven't altogether made up my mind whether I might; or
might not; have ever given you any trouble about the codicil。 I think
not; and that I should have been quite satisfied with knowing I had got
the better of you; and that I held the power over you。 In the present
state of circumstances; I have no more explanation to give you till
this time to…morrow night。 So you may as well;' said Mr Flintwinch;
terminating his oration with a screw; 'keep your eyes open at somebody
else; for it's no use keeping 'em open at me。'

She slowly withdrew them when he had ceased; and dropped her forehead
on her hand。 Her other hand pressed hard upon the table; and again the
curious stir was observable in her; as if she were going to rise。

'This box can never bring; elsewhere; the price it will bring here。

This knowledge can never be of the same profit to you; sold to any other
person; as sold to me。 But I have not the present means of raising the
sum you have demanded。 I have not prospered。 What will you take now; and
what at another time; and how am I to be assured of your silence?'

'My angel;' said Rigaud; 'I have said what I will take; and time
presses。 Before ing here; I placed copies of the most important of
these papers in another hand。 Put off the time till the Marshalsea
gate shall be shut for the night; and it will be too late to treat。 The
prisoner will have read them。'

She put her two hands to her head again; uttered a loud exclamation; and
started to her feet。 She staggered for a moment; as if she would have
fallen; then stood firm。

'Say what you mean。 Say what you mean; man!'

Before her ghostly figure; so long unused to its erect attitude; and so
stiffened in it; Rigaud fell back and dropped his voice。 It was; to all
the three; almost as if a dead woman had risen。

'Miss Dorrit;' answered Rigaud; 'the little niece of Monsieur Frederick;
whom I have known across the water; is attached to the prisoner。 Miss
Dorrit; little niece of Monsieur Frederick; watches at this moment over
the prisoner; who is ill。 For her I with my own hands left a packet
at the prison; on my way here; with a letter of instructions; 〃FOR HIS
SAKE〃……she will do anything for his sake……to keep it without breaking
the seal; in case of its being reclaimed before the hour of shutting up
to…night……if it should not be reclaimed before the ringing of the prison
bell; to give it to him; and it encloses a second copy for herself;
which he must give to her。 What! I don't trust myself among you; now we
have got so far; without giving my secret a second life。 And as to its
not bringing me; elsewhere; the price it will bring here; say then;
madame; have you limited and settled the price the little niece will
give……for his sake……to hush it up? Once more I say; time presses。 The
packet not reclaimed before the ringing of the bell to…night; you cannot
buy。 I sell; then; to the little girl!'

Once more the stir and struggle in her; and she ran to a closet; tore
the door open; took down a hood or shawl; and wrapped it over her head。
Affery; who had watched her in terror; darted to her in the middle of
the room; caught hold of her dress; and went on her knees to her。

'Don't; don't; don't! What are you doing? Where are you going? You're a
fearful woman; but I don't bear you no ill…will。 I can do poor Arthur
no good now; that I see; and you needn't be afraid of me。 I'll keep your
secret。 Don't go out; you'll fall dead in the street。 Only promise me;
that; if it's the poor thing that's kept here secretly; you'll let me
take charge of her and be her nurse。 Only promise me that; and never be
afraid of me。'

Mrs Clennam stood still for an instant; at the height of her rapid
haste; saying in stern amazement:

'Kept here? She has been dead a score of years or more。 Ask
Flintwinch……ask HIM。 They can both tell you that she died when Arthur
went abroad。'

'So much the worse;' said Affery; with a shiver; 'for she haunts the
house; then。 Who else rustles about it; making signals by dropping
dust so softly? Who else es and goes; and marks the walls with
long crooked touches when we are all a…bed? Who else holds the door
sometimes? But don't go out……don't go out! Mistress; you'll die in the
street!'

Her mistress only disengaged her dress from the beseeching hands; said
to Rigaud; 'Wait here till I e back!' and ran out of the room。 They
saw her; from the window; run wildly through the court…yard and out at
the gateway。

For a few moments they stood motionless。 Affery was the first to move;
and she; wringing her hands; pursued her mistress。 Next; Jeremiah
Flintwinch; slowly backing to the door; with one hand in a pocket; and
the other rubbing his chin; twisted himself out in his reticent way;
speechlessly。 Rigaud; left alone; posed himself upon the window…seat
of the open window; in the old Marseilles…jail attitude。 He laid his
cigarettes and fire…box ready to his hand; and fell to smoking。

'Whoof! Almost as dull as the infernal old jail。 Warmer; but almost as
dismal。 Wait till she es back? Yes; certainly; but where is she gone;
and how long will she be gone? No matter! Rigaud Lagnier Blandois; my
amiable subject; you will get your money。 You will enrich yourself。 You
have lived a gentleman; you will die a gentleman。 You triumph; my little
boy; but it is your character to triumph。 Whoof!' In the hour of his
triumph; his moustache went up and his nose came down; as he ogled a
great beam over his head with particular satisfaction。




CHAPTER 31。 Closed


The sun had set; and the streets were dim in the dusty twilight; when
the figure so long unused to them hurried on its way。 In the immediate
neighbourhood of the old house it attracted little attention; for there
were only a few straggling people to notice it; but; ascending from the
river by the crooked ways that led to London Bridge; and passing into
the great main road; it became surrounded by astonishment。

Resolute and wild of look; rapid of foot and yet weak and uncertain;
conspicuously dressed in its black garments and with its hurried
head…covering; gaunt and of an unearthly paleness; it pressed forward;
taking no more heed of the throng than a sleep…walker。 More remarkable
by being so removed from the crowd it was among than if it had been
lifted on a pedestal to be seen; the figure attracted all eyes。
Saunterers pricked up their attention to observe it; busy people;
crossing it; slackened their pace and turned their heads; panions
pausing and standing aside; whispered one another to look at this
spectral woman who was ing by; and the sweep of the figure as it
passed seemed to create a vortex; drawing the most idle and most curious
after it。

Made giddy by the turbulent irruption of this multitude of staring faces
into her cell of years; by the confusing sensation of being in the air;
and the yet more confusing sensation of being afoot; by the unexpected
changes in half…remembered objects; and the want of likeness between the
controllable pictures her imagination had often drawn of the life from
which she was secluded and the overwhelming rush of the reality; she
held her way as if she were environed by distracting thoughts; rather
than by external humanity and observation。 But; having crossed the
bridge and gone some distance straight onward; she remembered that she
must ask for a direction; and it was only then; when she stopped and
turned to look about her for a promising place of inquiry; that she
found herself surrounded by an eager glare of faces。

'Why are you encircling me?' she asked; trembling。

None of those who were nearest answered; but from the outer ring there
arose a shrill cry of ''Cause you're mad!'

'I am sure as sane as any one here。 I want to find the Marshalsea
prison。'

The shrill outer circle again reto
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