little dorrit-信丽(英文版)-第134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！


crossed　arms　into　the　breast　of　his　waistcoat；　and　with　his　chin　very
near　one　of　his　elbows　stood　in　a　corner；　watching　Rigaud　in　the　oddest
attitude。　Rigaud；　for　his　part；　arose　from　his　chair；　and　seated　himself
on　the　table　with　his　legs　dangling。　In　this　easy　attitude；　he　met　Mrs
Clennam's　set　face；　with　his　moustache　going　up　and　his　nose　ing
down。

'Madame；　I　am　a　gentleman……'

'Of　whom；'　she　interrupted　in　her　steady　tones；　'I　have　heard
disparagement；　in　connection　with　a　French　jail　and　an　accusation　of
murder。'

He　kissed　his　hand　to　her　with　his　exaggerated　gallantry。

'Perfectly。　Exactly。　Of　a　lady　too！　What　absurdity！　How　incredible！　I
had　the　honour　of　making　a　great　success　then；　I　hope　to　have　the
honour　of　making　a　great　success　now。　I　kiss　your　hands。　Madame；　I　am　a
gentleman　（I　was　going　to　observe）；　who　when　he　says；　〃I　will　definitely
finish　this　or　that　affair　at　the　present　sitting；〃　does　definitely
finish　it。　I　announce　to　you　that　we　are　arrived　at　our　last　sitting　on
our　little　business。　You　do　me　the　favour　to　follow；　and　to　prehend？'

She　kept　her　eyes　fixed　upon　him　with　a　frown。　'Yes。'

'Further；　I　am　a　gentleman　to　whom　mere　mercenary　trade…bargains　are
unknown；　but　to　whom　money　is　always　acceptable　as　the　means　of　pursuing
his　pleasures。　You　do　me　the　favour　to　follow；　and　to　prehend？'

'Scarcely　necessary　to　ask；　one　would　say。　Yes。'

'Further；　I　am　a　gentleman　of　the　softest　and　sweetest　disposition；
but　who；　if　trifled　with；　bees　enraged。　Noble　natures　under　such
circumstances　bee　enraged。　I　possess　a　noble　nature。　When　the　lion
is　awakened……that　is　to　say；　when　I　enrage……the　satisfaction　of　my
animosity　is　as　acceptable　to　me　as　money。　You　always　do　me　the　favour
to　follow；　and　to　prehend？'

'Yes；'　she　answered；　somewhat　louder　than　before。

'Do　not　let　me　derange　you；　pray　be　tranquil。　I　have　said　we　are　now
arrived　at　our　last　sitting。　Allow　me　to　recall　the　two　sittings　we　have
held。'

'It　is　not　necessary。'

'Death；　madame；'　he　burst　out；　'it's　my　fancy！　Besides；　it　clears　the
way。　The　first　sitting　was　limited。　I　had　the　honour　of　making　your
acquaintance……of　presenting　my　letter；　I　am　a　Knight　of　Industry；　at
your　service；　madame；　but　my　polished　manners　had　won　me　so　much　of
success；　as　a　master　of　languages；　among　your　patriots　who　are　as
stiff　as　their　own　starch　is　to　one　another；　but　are　ready　to　relax　to
a　foreign　gentleman　of　polished　manners……and　of　observing　one　or　two
little　things；'　he　glanced　around　the　room　and　smiled；　'about　this
honourable　house；　to　know　which　was　necessary　to　assure　me；　and
to　convince　me　that　I　had　the　distinguished　pleasure　of　making　the
acquaintance　of　the　lady　I　sought。　I　achieved　this。　I　gave　my　word
of　honour　to　our　dear　Flintwinch　that　I　would　return。　I　gracefully
departed。'

Her　face　neither　acquiesced　nor　demurred。　The　same　when　he　paused；　and
when　he　spoke；　it　as　yet　showed　him　always　the　one　attentive　frown；
and　the　dark　revelation　before　mentioned　of　her　being　nerved　for　the
occasion。

'I　say；　gracefully　departed；　because　it　was　graceful　to　retire　without
alarming　a　lady。　To　be　morally　graceful；　not　less　than　physically；　is
a　part　of　the　character　of　Rigaud　Blandois。　It　was　also　politic；　as
leaving　you　with　something　overhanging　you；　to　expect　me　again　with　a
little　anxiety　on　a　day　not　named。　But　your　slave　is　politic。　By　Heaven；
madame；　politic！　Let　us　return。　On　the　day　not　named；　I　have　again　the
honour　to　render　myself　at　your　house。　I　intimate　that　I　have　something
to　sell；　which；　if　not　bought；　will　promise　madame　whom　I　highly
esteem。　I　explain　myself　generally。　I　demand……I　think　it　was　a　thousand
pounds。　Will　you　correct　me？'

Thus　forced　to　speak；　she　replied　with　constraint；　'You　demanded　as　much
as　a　thousand　pounds。'

'I　demand　at　present；　Two。　Such　are　the　evils　of　delay。　But　to　return
once　more。　We　are　not　accordant；　we　differ　on　that　occasion。　I　am
playful；　playfulness　is　a　part　of　my　amiable　character。　Playfully；　I
bee　as　one　slain　and　hidden。　For；　it　may　alone　be　worth　half　the　sum
to　madame；　to　be　freed　from　the　suspicions　that　my　droll　idea　awakens。
Accident　and　spies　intermix　themselves　against　my　playfulness；　and　spoil
the　fruit；　perhaps……who　knows？　only　you　and　Flintwinch……when　it　is　just
ripe。　Thus；　madame；　I　am　here　for　the　last　time。　Listen！　Definitely　the
last。'

As　he　struck　his　straggling　boot…heels　against　the　flap　of　the　table；
meeting　her　frown　with　an　insolent　gaze；　he　began　to　change　his　tone　for
a　fierce　one。

'Bah！　Stop　an　instant！　Let　us　advance　by　steps。　Here　is　my　Hotel…note　to
be　paid；　according　to　contract。　Five　minutes　hence　we　may　be　at　daggers'
points。　I'll　not　leave　it　till　then；　or　you'll　cheat　me。　Pay　it！　Count
me　the　money！'

'Take　it　from　his　hand　and　pay　it；　Flintwinch；'　said　Mrs　Clennam。

He　spirted　it　into　Mr　Flintwinch's　face　when　the　old　man　advanced　to
take　it；　and　held　forth　his　hand；　repeating　noisily；　'Pay　it！　Count　it
out！　Good　money！'　Jeremiah　picked　the　bill　up；　looked　at　the　total　with
a　bloodshot　eye；　took　a　small　canvas　bag　from　his　pocket；　and　told　the
amount　into　his　hand。

Rigaud　chinked　the　money；　weighed　it　in　his　hand；　threw　it　up　a　little
way　and　caught　it；　chinked　it　again。

'The　sound　of　it；　to　the　bold　Rigaud　Blandois；　is　like　the　taste　of
fresh　meat　to　the　tiger。　Say；　then；　madame。　How　much？'

He　turned　upon　her　suddenly　with　a　menacing　gesture　of　the　weighted　hand
that　clenched　the　money；　as　if　he　were　going　to　strike　her　with　it。

'I　tell　you　again；　as　I　told　you　before；　that　we　are　not　rich　here；　as
you　suppose　us　to　be；　and　that　your　demand　is　excessive。　I　have　not　the
present　means　of　plying　with　such　a　demand；　if　I　had　ever　so　great　an
inclination。'

'If！'　cried　Rigaud。　'Hear　this　lady　with　her　If！　Will　you　say　that　you
have　not　the　inclination？'

'I　will　say　what　presents　itself　to　me；　and　not　what　presents　itself　to
you。'

'Say　it　then。　As　to　the　inclination。　Quick！　e　to　the　inclination；　and
I　know　what　to　do。'

She　was　no　quicker；　and　no　slower；　in　her　reply。　'It　would　seem　that
you　have　obtained　possession　of　a　paper……or　of　papers……which　I　assuredly
have　the　inclination　to　recover。'

Rigaud；　with　a　loud　laugh；　drummed　his　heels　against　the　table；　and
chinked　his　money。　'I　think　so！　I　believe　you　there！'

'The　paper　might　be　worth；　to　me；　a　sum　of　money。　I　cannot　say　how　much；
or　how　little。'

'What　the　Devil！'　he　asked　savagely。'Not　after　a　week's　grace　to
consider？'

'No！　I　will　not　out　of　my　scanty　means……for　I　tell　you　again；　we　are
poor　here；　and　not　rich……I　will　not　offer　any　price　for　a　power　that　I
do　not　know　the　worst　and　the　fullest　extent　of。　This　is　the　third　time
of　your　hinting　and　threatening。　You　must　speak　explicitly；　or　you　may
go　where　you　will；　and　do　what　you　will。　It　is　better　to　be　torn　to
pieces　at　a　spring；　than　to　be　a　mouse　at　the　caprice　of　such　a　cat。'

He　looked　at　her　so　hard　with　those　eyes　too　near　together　that　the
sinister　sight　of　each；　crossing　that　of　the　other；　seemed　to　make　the
bridge　of　his　hooked　nose　crooked。　After　a　long　survey；　he　said；　with
the　further　setting　off　of　his　internal　smile：

'You　are　a　bold　woman！'

'I　am　a　resolved　woman。'

'You　always　were。　What？　She　always　was；　is　it　not　so；　my　little
Flintwinch？'

'Flintwinch；　say　nothing　to　him。　It　is　for　him　to　say；　here　and　now；
all　he　can；　or　to　go　hence；　and　do　all　he　can。　You　know　this　to　be　our
determination。　Leave　him　to　his　action　on　it。'

She　did　not　shrink　under　his　evil　leer；　or　avoid　it。　He　turned　it　upon
her　again；　but　she　remained　steady　at　the　point　to　which　she　had　fixed
herself。　He　got　off　the　table；　placed　a　chair　near　the　sofa；　sat　down　in
it；　and　leaned　an　arm　upon　the　sofa　close　to　her　own；　which　he　touched
with　his　hand。　Her　face　was　ever　frowning；　attentive；　and　settled。

'It　is　your　pleasure　then；　madame；　that　I　shall　relate　a　morsel　of
family　history　in　this　little　family　society；'　said　Rigaud；　with　a
warning　play　of　his　lithe　fingers　on　her　arm。　'I　am　something　of　a
doctor。　Let　me　touch　your　pulse。'

She　suffered　him　to　take　her　wrist　in　his　hand。　Holding　it；　he　proceeded
to　say：

'A　history　of　a　strange　marriage；　and　a　strange　mother；　and　a　revenge；
and　a　suppression。……Aye；　aye；　aye？　this　pulse　is　beating　curiously！
It　appears　to　me　that　it　doubles　while　I　touch　it。　Are　these　the　usual
changes　of　your　malady；　madame？'

There　was　a　struggle　in　her　maimed　arm　as　she　twisted　it　away；　but　there
was　none　in　her　face。　On　his　face　there　was　his　own　smile。

'I　have　lived　an　adventurous　life。　I　am　an　adventurous　character。　I　have
known　many　adventurers；　interesting　spirits……amiable　society！　To　one
of　them　I　owe　my　knowledge　and　my　proofs……I　repeat　it；　estimable
lady……proofs……of　the　ravishing　little　family　history　I　go　to　mence。
You　will　be　charmed　with　it。　But；　bah！　I　forget。　One　should　name　a
history。　Shall　I　name　it　the　history　of　a　house？　But；　bah；　again。　There
are　so　many　houses。　Shall　I　name　it　the　history　of　this　house？'

Leaning　over　the　sofa；　poised　on　two　legs　of　his　chair　and　his　left
elbow；　that　hand　often　tapping　her　arm　to　beat　his　words　home；　his
legs　crossed；　his　right　hand　sometimes　arranging　his　hair；　sometimes
smoothing　his　moustache；　sometimes　striking　his　nose；　always　threatening
her　whatever　it　did；　coarse；　insolent；　rapacious；　cruel；　and　powerful；
he　pursued　his　narrative　at　his　ease。

'In　fine；　then；　I　name　it　the　history　of　this　house。　I　mence　it。
There　live　here；　let　us　suppose；　an　uncle　and　nephew。　The　uncle；　a
rigid　old　gentleman　of　strong　force　of　character；　the　nephew；　habitually
timid；　repressed；　and　under　constraint。'

Mistress　Affery；　fixedly　attentive　in　the　window…seat；　biting　the
rolled　up　end　of　her　apron；　and　trembling　from　head　to　foot；　here　cried
out；'Jeremiah；　keep　off　from　me！　I've　heerd；　in　my　dreams；　of　Arthur's
father　and　his　uncle。　He's　a　talking　of　them。　It　was　before　my　time
here；　but　I've　heerd　in　my　dreams　that　Arthur's　father　was　a　poor；
irresolute；　frightened　chap；　who　had　had　everything　but　his　orphan　life
scared　out　of　him　when　he　was　young；　and　that　he　had　no　voice　in　the
choice　of　his　wife　even；　but　his　uncle　chose　her。　There　she　sits！　I
heerd　it　in　my　dreams；　and　you　said　it　to　her　own　self。'

As　Mr　Flintwinch　shook　his　fist　at　her；　and　as　Mrs　Clennam　gazed　upon
her；　Rigaud　kissed　his　hand　to　her。　'Perfectly　right；　dear　Madame
Flintwinch。　You　have　a　genius　for　dreaming。'


'I　don't　want　none　of　your　praises；'　returned　Affery。　'I　don't　want　to
have　nothing　at　all　to　say　to　you。　But　Jeremiah　said　they　was　dreams；
and　I'll　tell　'em　as　such！'　Here　she　put　her　apron　in　her　mouth　again；
as　if　she　were　stopping　somebody　else's　mouth……perhaps　jeremiah's；　which
was　chattering　with　threats　as　if　he　were　grimly　cold。

'Our　beloved　Madame　Flintwinch；'　said　Rigaud；　'developing　all　of　a
sudden　a　fine　susceptibility　and　spirituality；　is　right　to　a　marvel。
Yes。　So　runs　the　history。　Monsieur；　the　uncle；　mands　the　nephew　to
marry。　Monsieur　says　to　him　in　effect；　〃My　nephew；　I　introduce　to　you　a
lady　of　strong　force　of　character；　like　myself……a　resolved　lady；　a　stern
lady；　a　lady　who　has　a　will　that　can　break　the　weak　to　powder：　a　lady
without　pity；　without　love；　implacable；　revengeful；　cold　as　the　stone；
but　raging　as　the　fire。〃

Ah！　what　fortitude！　Ah；　what　superiority　of　intellectual　strength！
Truly；　a　proud　and　noble　character　that　I　describe　in　the　supposed　words
of　Monsieur；　the　uncle。　Ha；　ha；　ha！　Death　of　my　soul；　I　love　the　sweet
lady！'

Mrs　Clennam's　face　had　changed。　There　was　a　remarkable　darkness　of
colour　on　it；　and　the　brow　was　more　contracted。　'Madame；　madame；'　said
Rigaud；　tapping　her　on　the　arm；　as　if　his　cruel　hand　were　sounding　a
musical　instrument；　'I　perceive　I　interest　you。　I　perceive　I　awaken　your
sympathy。　Let　us　go　on。'

The　drooping　nose　and　the　ascending　moustache　had；　however；　to　be　hidden
for　a　moment　with　the　white　hand；　before　he　could　go　on；　he　enjoyed　the
effect　he　made　so　much。

'The　nephew；　being；　as　the　lucid　Madame　Flintwinch　has　remarked；　a　poor
devil　who　has　had　everything　but　his　orphan　life　frightened　and　famished
out　of　him……the　nephew　abases　his　head；　and　makes　response：　〃My　uncle；
it　is　to　you　to　mand。　Do　as　you　will！〃　Monsieur；　the　uncle；　does　as
he　will。　It　is　what　he　always　does。　The　auspicious　nuptials　take　place；
the　newly　married　e　home　to　this　charming　mansion；　the　lady　is
received；　let　us　suppose；　by　Flintwinch。　Hey；　old　intriguer？'

Jeremiah；　with　his　eyes　upon　his　mistress；　made　no　reply。　Rigaud　looked
from　one　to　the　other；　struck　his　ugly　nose；　and　made　a　clucking　with
his　tongue。

'Soon　the　lady　makes　a　singular　and　exciting　discovery。　Thereupon；
full　of　anger；　full　of　jealousy；　full　of　vengeance；　she　forms……see　you；
madame！……a　scheme　of　retribution；　the　weight　of　which　she　ingeniously
forces　her　crushed　husband　to　bear　himself；　as　well　as　execute　upon　her
enemy。　What　superior　intelligence！'

'Keep　off；　Jeremiah！'　cried　the　palpitating　Affery；　taking　her　apron
from　her　mouth　again。　'But　it　was　one　of　my　dreams；　that　you　told　her；
when　you　quarrelled　with　her　one　winter　evening　at　dusk……there　she　sits
and　you