little dorrit-信丽(英文版)-第123章

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straws　lately　and　tossing　them　about；　to　try　which　way　the　Merdle　wind
blew。　He　now　had　a　little　talk　on　the　subject　with　Mrs　Merdle　herself；
sidling　up　to　that　lady；　of　course；　with　his　double　eye…glass　and　his
jury　droop。

'A　certain　bird；'　said　Bar；　and　he　looked　as　if　it　could　have　been　no
other　bird　than　a　magpie；　'has　been　whispering　among　us　lawyers　lately；
that　there　is　to　be　an　addition　to　the　titled　personages　of　this　realm。'

'Really？'　said　Mrs　Merdle。

'Yes；'　said　Bar。　'Has　not　the　bird　been　whispering　in　very　different
ears　from　ours……in　lovely　ears？'　He　looked　expressively　at　Mrs　Merdle's
nearest　ear…ring。

'Do　you　mean　mine？'　asked　Mrs　Merdle。

'When　I　say　lovely；'　said　Bar；　'I　always　mean　you。'

'You　never　mean　anything；　I　think；'　returned　Mrs　Merdle　（not
displeased）。

'Oh；　cruelly　unjust！'　said　Bar。　'But；　the　bird。'

'I　am　the　last　person　in　the　world　to　hear　news；'　observed　Mrs　Merdle；
carelessly　arranging　her　stronghold。　'Who　is　it？'


'What　an　admirable　witness　you　would　make！'　said　Bar。　'No　jury　（unless
we　could　empanel　one　of　blind　men）　could　resist　you；　if　you　were　ever　so
bad　a　one；　but　you　would　be　such　a　good　one！'

'Why；　you　ridiculous　man？'　asked　Mrs　Merdle；　laughing。

Bar　waved　his　double　eye…glass　three　or　four　times　between　himself　and
the　Bosom；　as　a　rallying　ansost　insinuating
accents：

'What　am　I　to　call　the　most　elegant；　acplished　and　charming　of　women；
a　few　weeks；　or　it　may　be　a　few　days；　hence？'

'Didn't　your　bird　tell　you　what　to　call　her？'　answered　Mrs　Merdle。　'Do
ask　it　to…morrow；　and　tell　me　the　next　time　you　see　me　what　it　says。'

This　led　to　further　passages　of　similar　pleasantry　between　the　two；　but
Bar；　with　all　his　sharpness；　got　nothing　out　of　them。　Physician；　on　the
other　hand；　taking　Mrs　Merdle　down　to　her　carriage　and　attending　on　her
as　she　put　on　her　cloak；　inquired　into　the　symptoms　with　his　usual　calm
directness。

'May　I　ask；'　he　said；　'is　this　true　about　Merdle？'

'My　dear　doctor；'　she　returned；　'you　ask　me　the　very　question　that　I　was
half　disposed　to　ask　you。'　'To　ask　me！　Why　me？'

'Upon　my　honour；　I　think　Mr　Merdle　reposes　greater　confidence　in　you
than　in　any　one。'

'On　the　contrary；　he　tells　me　absolutely　nothing；　even　professionally。
You　have　heard　the　talk；　of　course？'

'Of　course　I　have。　But　you　know　what　Mr　Merdle　is；　you　know　how
taciturn　and　reserved　he　is。　I　assure　you　I　have　no　idea　what　foundation
for　it　there　may　be。　I　should　like　it　to　be　true；　why　should　I　deny　that
to　you？　You　would　know　better；　if　I　did！'

'Just　so；'　said　Physician。

'But　whether　it　is　all　true；　or　partly　true；　or　entirely　false；　I　am
wholly　unable　to　say。　It　is　a　most　provoking　situation；　a　most　absurd
situation；　but　you　know　Mr　Merdle；　and　are　not　surprised。'

Physician　was　not　surprised；　handed　her　into　her　carriage；　and　bade　her
Good　Night。　He　stood　for　a　moment　at　his　own　hall　door；　looking　sedately
at　the　elegant　equipage　as　it　rattled　away。　On　his　return　up…stairs；　the
rest　of　the　guests　soon　dispersed；　and　he　was　left　alone。　Being　a　great
reader　of　all　kinds　of　literature　（and　never　at　all　apologetic　for　that
weakness）；　he　sat　down　fortably　to　read。

The　clock　upon　his　study　table　pointed　to　a　few　minutes　short　of　twelve；
when　his　attention　was　called　to　it　by　a　ringing　at　the　door　bell。　A　man
of　plain　habits；　he　had　sent　his　servants　to　bed　and　must　needs　go　down
to　open　the　door。　He　went　down；　and　there　found　a　man　without　hat　or
coat；　whose　shirt　sleeves　were　rolled　up　tight　to　his　shoulders。　For　a
moment；　he　thought　the　man　had　been　fighting：　the　rather；　as　he　was　much
agitated　and　out　of　breath。　A　second　look；　however；　showed　him　that
the　man　was　particularly　clean；　and　not　otherwise　disposed　as　to　his
dress　than　as　it　answered　this　description。

'I　e　from　the　warm…baths；　sir；　round　in　the　neighbouring　street。'

'And　what　is　the　matter　at　the　warm…baths？'

'Would　you　please　to　e　directly；　sir。　We　found　that；　lying　on　the
table。'

He　put　into　the　physician's　hand　a　scrap　of　paper。　Physician　looked　at
it；　and　read　his　own　name　and　address　written　in　pencil；　nothing　more。
He　looked　closer　at　the　writing；　looked　at　the　man；　took　his　hat　from
its　peg；　put　the　key　of　his　door　in　his　pocket；　and　they　hurried　away
together。

When　they　came　to　the　warm…baths；　all　the　other　people　belonging　to　that
establishment　were　looking　out　for　them　at　the　door；　and　running　up　and
down　the　passages。　'Request　everybody　else　to　keep　back；　if　you　please；'
said　the　physician　aloud　to　the　master；　'and　do　you　take　me　straight　to
the　place；　my　friend；'　to　the　messenger。

The　messenger　hurried　before　him；　along　a　grove　of　little　rooms；
and　turning　into　one　at　the　end　of　the　grove；　looked　round　the　door。
Physician　was　close　upon　him；　and　looked　round　the　door　too。

There　was　a　bath　in　that　corner；　from　which　the　water　had　been　hastily
drained　off。　Lying　in　it；　as　in　a　grave　or　sarcophagus；　with　a　hurried
drapery　of　sheet　and　blanket　thrown　across　it；　was　the　body　of　a
heavily…made　man；　with　an　obtuse　head；　and　coarse；　mean；　mon
features。　A　sky…light　had　been　opened　to　release　the　steam　with　which
the　room　had　been　filled；　but　it　hung；　condensed　into　water…drops；
heavily　upon　the　walls；　and　heavily　upon　the　face　and　figure　in　the
bath。　The　room　was　still　hot；　and　the　marble　of　the　bath　still　warm；　but
the　face　and　figure　were　clammy　to　the　touch。　The　white　marble　at　the
bottom　of　the　bath　was　veined　with　a　dreadful　red。　On　the　ledge　at
the　side；　were　an　empty　laudanum…bottle　and　a　tortoise…shell　handled
penknife……soiled；　but　not　with　ink。

'Separation　of　jugular　vein……death　rapid……been　dead　at　least　half　an
hour。'　This　echo　of　the　physician's　words　ran　through　the　passages
and　little　rooms；　and　through　the　house　while　he　was　yet　straightening
himself　from　having　bent　down　to　reach　to　the　bottom　of　the　bath；　and
while　he　was　yet　dabbling　his　hands　in　water；　redly　veining　it　as　the
marble　was　veined；　before　it　mingled　into　one　tint。

He　turned　his　eyes　to　the　dress　upon　the　sofa；　and　to　the　watch；　money；
and　pocket…book　on　the　table。　A　folded　note　half　buckled　up　in　the
pocket…book；　and　half　protruding　from　it；　caught　his　observant　glance。
He　looked　at　it；　touched　it；　pulled　it　a　little　further　out　from　among
the　leaves；　said　quietly；　'This　is　addressed　to　me；'　and　opened　and　read
it。

There　were　no　directions　for　him　to　give。　The　people　of　the　house　knew
what　to　do；　the　proper　authorities　were　soon　brought；　and　they　took　an
equable　business…like　possession　of　the　deceased；　and　of　what　had　been
his　property；　with　no　greater　disturbance　of　manner　or　countenance　than
usually　attends　the　winding…up　of　a　clock。　Physician　was　glad　to　walk
out　into　the　night　air……was　even　glad；　in　spite　of　his　great　experience；
to　sit　down　upon　a　door…step　for　a　little　while：　feeling　sick　and　faint。

Bar　was　a　near　neighbour　of　his；　and；　when　he　came　to　the　house；　he　saw
a　light　in　the　room　where　he　knew　his　friend　often　sat　late　getting　up
his　work。　As　the　light　was　never　there　when　Bar　was　not；　it　gave　him
assurance　that　Bar　was　not　yet　in　bed。　In　fact；　this　busy　bee　had
a　verdict　to　get　to…morrow；　against　evidence；　and　was　improving　the
shining　hours　in　setting　snares　for　the　gentlemen　of　the　jury。

Physician's　knock　astonished　Bar；　but；　as　he　immediately　suspected　that
somebody　had　e　to　tell　him　that　somebody　else　was　robbing　him；　or
otherwise　trying　to　get　the　better　of　him；　he　came　down　promptly　and
softly。　He　had　been　clearing　his　head　with　a　lotion　of　cold　water；　as　a
good　preparative　to　providing　hot　water　for　the　heads　of　the　jury；　and
had　been　reading　with　the　neck　of　his　shirt　thrown　wide　open　that　he
might　the　more　freely　choke　the　opposite　witnesses。　In　consequence；　he
came　down；　looking　rather　wild。　Seeing　Physician；　the　least　expected　of
men；　he　looked　wilder　and　said；　'What's　the　matter？'

'You　asked　me　once　what　Merdle's　plaint　was。'

'Extraordinary　answer！　I　know　I　did。'

'I　told　you　I　had　not　found　out。'

'Yes。　I　know　you　did。'

'I　have　found　it　out。'

'My　God！'　said　Bar；　starting　back；　and　clapping　his　hand　upon　the
other's　breast。　'And　so　have　I！　I　see　it　in　your　face。'

They　went　into　the　nearest　room；　where　Physician　gave　him　the　letter　to
read。　He　read　it　through　half…a…dozen　times。　There　was　not　much　in　it
as　to　quantity；　but　it　made　a　great　demand　on　his　close　and　continuous
attention。　He　could　not　sufficiently　give　utterance　to　his　regret　that
he　had　not　himself　found　a　clue　to　this。　The　smallest　clue；　he　said；
would　have　made　him　master　of　the　case；　and　what　a　case　it　would　have
been　to　have　got　to　the　bottom　of！

Physician　had　engaged　to　break　the　intelligence　in　Harley　Street。　Bar
could　not　at　once　return　to　his　inveiglements　of　the　most　enlightened
and　remarkable　jury　he　had　ever　seen　in　that　box；　with　whom；　he　could
tell　his　learned　friend；　no　shallow　sophistry　would　go　down；　and　no
unhappily　abused　professional　tact　and　skill　prevail　（this　was　the　way
he　meant　to　begin　with　them）；　so　he　said　he　would　go　too；　and　would
loiter　to　and　fro　near　the　house　while　his　friend　was　inside。　They
walked　there；　the　better　to　recover　self…possession　in　the　air；　and　the
wings　of　day　were　fluttering　the　night　when　Physician　knocked　at　the
door。

A　footman　of　rainbow　hues；　in　the　public　eye；　was　sitting　up　for　his
master……that　is　to　say；　was　fast　asleep　in　the　kitchen　over　a　couple
of　candles　and　a　newspaper；　demonstrating　the　great　accumulation　of
mathematical　odds　against　the　probabilities　of　a　house　being　set　on　fire
by　accident　When　this　serving　man　was　roused；　Physician　had　still　to
await　the　rousing　of　the　Chief　Butler。　At　last　that　noble　creature　came
into　the　dining…room　in　a　flannel　gown　and　list　shoes；　but　with　his
cravat　on；　and　a　Chief　Butler　all　over。　It　was　morning　now。　Physician
had　opened　the　shutters　of　one　window　while　waiting；　that　he　might　see
the　light。　'Mrs　Merdle's　maid　must　be　called；　and　told　to　get　Mrs　Merdle
up；　and　prepare　her　as　gently　as　she　can　to　see　me。　I　have　dreadful　news
to　break　to　her。'

Thus　Physician　to　the　Chief　Butler。　The　latter；　who　had　a　candle　in　his
hand；　called　his　man　to　take　it　away。　Then　he　approached　the　window　with
dignity；　looking　on　at　Physician's　news　exactly　as　he　had　looked　on　at
the　dinners　in　that　very　room。

'Mr　Merdle　is　dead。'

'I　should　wish；'　said　the　Chief　Butler；　'to　give　a　month's　notice。'

'Mr　Merdle　has　destroyed　himself。'

'Sir；'　said　the　Chief　Butler；　'that　is　very　unpleasant　to　the　feelings
of　one　in　my　position；　as　calculated　to　awaken　prejudice；　and　I　should
wish　to　leave　immediately。'

'If　you　are　not　shocked；　are　you　not　surprised；　man？'　demanded　the
Physician；　warmly。

The　Chief　Butler；　erect　and　calm；　replied　in　these　memorable　words。

'Sir；　Mr　Merdle　never　was　the　gentleman；　and　no　ungentlemanly　act　on
Mr　Merdle's　part　would　surprise　me。　Is　there　anybody　else　I　can　send　to
you；　or　any　other　directions　I　can　give　before　I　leave；　respecting　what
you　would　wish　to　be　done？'

When　Physician；　after　discharging　himself　of　his　trust　up…stairs；
rejoined　Bar　in　the　street；　he　said　no　more　of　his　interview　with　Mrs
Merdle　than　that　he　had　not　yet　told　her　all；　but　that　what　he　had　told
her　she　had　borne　pretty　well。　Bar　had　devoted　his　leisure　in　the　street
to　the　construction　of　a　most　ingenious　man…trap　for　catching　the　whole
of　his　jury　at　a　blow；　having　got　that　matter　settled　in　his　mind；
it　was　lucid　on　the　late　catastrophe；　and　they　walked　home　slowly；
discussing　it　in　every　bearing。　Before　parting　at　the　Physician's　door；
they　both　looked　up　at　the　sunny　morning　sky；　into　which　the　smoke　of　a
few　early　fires　and　the　breath　and　voices　of　a　few　early　stirrers　were
peacefully　rising；　and　then　looked　round　upon　the　immense　city；　and
said；　if　all　those　hundreds　and　thousands　of　beggared　people　who　were
yet　asleep　could　only　know；　as　they　two　spoke；　the　ruin　that　impended
over　them；　what　a　fearful　cry　against　one　miserable　soul　would　go　up　to
Heaven！

The　report　that　the　great　man　was　dead；　got　about　with　astonishing
rapidity。　At　first；　he　was　dead　of　all　the　diseases　that　ever　were
known；　and　of　several　bran…new　maladies　invented　with　the　speed　of
Light　to　meet　the　demand　of　the　occasion。　He　had　concealed　a　dropsy　from
infancy；　he　had　inherited　a　large　estate　of　water　on　the　chest　from　his
grandfather；　he　had　had　an　operation　performed　upon　him　every　morning
of　his　life　for　eighteen　years；　he　had　been　subject　to　the　explosion　of
important　veins　in　his　body　after　the　manner　of　fireworks；　he　had　had
something　the　matter　with　his　lungs；　he　had　had　something　the　matter
with　his　heart；　he　had　had　something　the　matter　with　his　brain。　Five
hundred　people　who　sat　down　to　breakfast　entirely　uninformed　on　the
whole　subject；　believed　before　they　had　done　breakfast；　that　they
privately　and　personally　knew　Physician　to　have　said　to　Mr　Merdle；　'You
must　expect　to　go　out；　some　day；　like　the　snuff　of　a　candle；'　and　that
they　knew　Mr　Merdle　to　have　said　to　Physician；　'A　man　can　die　but　once。'
By　about　eleven　o'clock　in　the　forenoon；　something　the　matter　with　the
brain；　became　the　favourite　theory　against　the　field；　and　by　twe