little dorrit-信丽(英文版)-第142部分

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He　wrote　and　sent　off　a　brief　note　excusing　himself　for　that　day；　and
ordered　dinner　presently　in　his　own　rooms　at　the　hotel。　He　had　another
reason　for　this。　His　time　in　London　was　very　nearly　out；　and　was
anticipated　by　engagements；　his　plans　were　made　for　returning；　and　he
thought　it　behoved　his　importance　to　pursue　some　direct　inquiry　into　the
Blandois　disappearance；　and　be　in　a　condition　to　carry　back　to　Mr
Henry　Gowan　the　result　of　his　own　personal　investigation。　He　therefore
resolved　that　he　would　take　advantage　of　that　evening's　freedom　to　go
down　to　Clennam　and　Co。's；　easily　to　be　found　by　the　direction　set　forth
in　the　handbill；　and　see　the　place；　and　ask　a　question　or　two　there
himself。

Having　dined　as　plainly　as　the　establishment　and　the　Courier　would　let
him；　and　having　taken　a　short　sleep　by　the　fire　for　his　better　recovery
from　Mrs　Finching；　he　set　out　in　a　hackney…cabriolet　alone。　The　deep
bell　of　St　Paul's　was　striking　nine　as　he　passed　under　the　shadow　of
Temple　Bar；　headless　and　forlorn　in　these　degenerate　days。

As　he　approached　his　destination　through　the　by…streets　and　water…side
ways；　that　part　of　London　seemed　to　him　an　uglier　spot　at　such　an　hour
than　he　had　ever　supposed　it　to　be。　Many　long　years　had　passed　since　he
had　seen　it；　he　had　never　known　much　of　it；　and　it　wore　a　mysterious　and
dismal　aspect　in　his　eyes。　So　powerfully　was　his　imagination　impressed
by　it；　that　when　his　driver　stopped；　after　having　asked　the　way　more
than　once；　and　said　to　the　best　of　his　belief　this　was　the　gateway　they
wanted；　Mr　Dorrit　stood　hesitating；　with　the　coach…door　in　his　hand；
half　afraid　of　the　dark　look　of　the　place。

Truly；　it　looked　as　gloomy　that　night　as　even　it　had　ever　looked。　Two　of
the　handbills　were　posted　on　the　entrance　wall；　one　on　either　side；　and
as　the　lamp　flickered　in　the　night　air；　shadows　passed　over　them；　not
unlike　the　shadows　of　fingers　following　the　lines。　A　watch　was　evidently
kept　upon　the　place。　As　Mr　Dorrit　paused；　a　man　passed　in　from　over　the
way；　and　another　man　passed　out　from　some　dark　corner　within；　and　both
looked　at　him　in　passing；　and　both　remained　standing　about。

As　there　was　only　one　house　in　the　enclosure；　there　was　no　room　for
uncertainty；　so　he　went　up　the　steps　of　that　house　and　knocked。　There
was　a　dim　light　in　two　windows　on　the　first…floor。　The　door　gave　back
a　dreary；　vacant　sound；　as　though　the　house　were　empty；　but　it　was　not；
for　a　light　was　visible；　and　a　step　was　audible；　almost　directly。　They
both　came　to　the　door；　and　a　chain　grated；　and　a　woman　with　her　apron
thrown　over　her　face　and　head　stood　in　the　aperture。

'Who　is　it？'　said　the　woman。

Mr　Dorrit；　much　amazed　by　this　appearance；　replied　that　he　was　from
Italy；　and　that　he　wished　to　ask　a　question　relative　to　the　missing
person；　whom　he　knew。

'Hi！'　cried　the　woman；　raising　a　cracked　voice。　'Jeremiah！'

Upon　this；　a　dry　old　man　appeared；　whom　Mr　Dorrit　thought　he　identified
by　his　gaiters；　as　the　rusty　screw。　The　woman　was　Under　apprehensions
of　the　dry　old　man；　for　she　whisked　her　apron　away　as　he　approached；　and
disclosed　a　pale　affrighted　face。　'Open　the　door；　you　fool；'　said　the
old　man；　'and　let　the　gentleman　in。'

Mr　Dorrit；　not　without　a　glance　over　his　shoulder　towards　his　driver　and
the　cabriolet；　walked　into　the　dim　hall。　'Now；　sir；'　said　Mr　Flintwinch；
'you　can　ask　anything　here　you　think　proper；　there　are　no　secrets　here；
sir。'

Before　a　reply　could　be　made；　a　strong　stern　voice；　though　a　woman's；
called　from　above；　'Who　is　it？'

'Who　is　it？'　returned　Jeremiah。　'More　inquiries。　A　gentleman　from
Italy。'

'Bring　him　up　here！'

Mr　Flintwinch　muttered；　as　if　he　deemed　that　unnecessary；　but；　turning
to　Mr　Dorrit；　said；　'Mrs　Clennam。　She　will　do　as　she　likes。　I'll　show
you　the　way。'　He　then　preceded　Mr　Dorrit　up　the　blackened　staircase；
that　gentleman；　not　unnaturally　looking　behind　him　on　the　road；　saw　the
woman　following；　with　her　apron　thrown　over　her　head　again　in　her　former
ghastly　manner。

Mrs　Clennam　had　her　books　open　on　her　little　table。　'Oh！'　said　she
abruptly；　as　she　eyed　her　visitor　with　a　steady　look。　'You　are　from
Italy；　sir；　are　you。　Well？'　Mr　Dorrit　was　at　a　loss　for　any　more
distinct　rejoinder　at　the　moment　than　'Ha……well？'

'Where　is　this　missing　man？　Have　you　e　to　give　us　information　where
he　is？　I　hope　you　have？'

'So　far　from　it；　I……hum……have　e　to　seek　information。'　'Unfortunately
for　us；　there　is　none　to　be　got　here。　Flintwinch；　show　the　gentleman　the
handbill。　Give　him　several　to　take　away。　Hold　the　light　for　him　to　read
it。'

Mr　Flintwinch　did　as　he　was　directed；　and　Mr　Dorrit　read　it　through；
as　if　he　had　not　previously　seen　it；　glad　enough　of　the　opportunity　of
collecting　his　presence　of　mind；　which　the　air　of　the　house　and　of　the
people　in　it　had　a　little　disturbed。　While　his　eyes　were　on　the　paper；
he　felt　that　the　eyes　of　Mr　Flintwinch　and　of　Mrs　Clennam　were　on　him。
He　found；　when　he　looked　up；　that　this　sensation　was　not　a　fanciful　one。

'Now　you　know　as　much；'　said　Mrs　Clennam；　'as　we　know；　sir。　Is　Mr
Blandois　a　friend　of　yours？'

'No……a……hum……an　acquaintance；'　answered　Mr　Dorrit。

'You　have　no　mission　from　him；　perhaps？'

'I？　Ha。　Certainly　not。'

The　searching　look　turned　gradually　to　the　floor；　after　taking　Mr
Flintwinch's　face　in　its　way。　Mr　Dorrit；　disfited　by　finding　that
he　was　the　questioned　instead　of　the　questioner；　applied　himself　to　the
reversal　of　that　unexpected　order　of　things。

'I　am……ha……a　gentleman　of　property；　at　present　residing　in　Italy　with　my
family；　my　servants；　and……hum……my　rather　large　establishment。　Being　in
London　for　a　short　time　on　affairs　connected　with……ha……my　estate；
and　hearing　of　this　strange　disappearance；　I　wished　to　make　myself
acquainted　with　the　circumstances　at　first…hand；　because　there　is……ha
hum……an　English　gentleman　in　Italy　whom　I　shall　no　doubt　see　on　my
return；　who　has　been　in　habits　of　close　and　daily　intimacy　with　Monsieur
Blandois。　Mr　Henry　Gowan。　You　may　know　the　name。'

'Never　heard　of　it。'　Mrs　Clennam　said　it；　and　Mr　Flintwinch　echoed　it。

'Wishing　to……ha……make　the　narrative　coherent　and　consecutive　to　him；'
said　Mr　Dorrit；　'may　I　ask……say；　three　questions？'

'Thirty；　if　you　choose。'

'Have　you　known　Monsieur　Blandois　long？'

'Not　a　twelvemonth。　Mr　Flintwinch　here；　will　refer　to　the　books　and　tell
you　when；　and　by　whom　at　Paris　he　was　introduced　to　us。　If　that；'
Mrs　Clennam　added；　'should　be　any　satisfaction　to　you。　It　is　poor
satisfaction　to　us。'

'Have　you　seen　him　often？'

'No。　Twice。　Once　before；　and……'　'That　once；'　suggested　Mr　Flintwinch。

'And　that　once。'

'Pray；　madam；'　said　Mr　Dorrit；　with　a　growing　fancy　upon　him　as　he
recovered　his　importance；　that　he　was　in　some　superior　way　in　the
mission　of　the　Peace；　'pray；　madam；　may　I　inquire；　for　the　greater
satisfaction　of　the　gentleman　whom　I　have　the　honour　to……ha……retain；　or
protect　or　let　me　say　to……hum……know……to　know……Was　Monsieur　Blandois　here
on　business　on　the　night　indicated　in　this　present　sheet？'

'On　what　he　called　business；'　returned　Mrs　Clennam。

'Is……ha……excuse　me……is　its　nature　to　be　municated？'

'No。'

It　was　evidently　impracticable　to　pass　the　barrier　of　that　reply。

'The　question　has　been　asked　before；'　said　Mrs　Clennam；　'and　the　answer
has　been；　No。　We　don't　choose　to　publish　our　transactions；　however
unimportant；　to　all　the　town。　We　say；　No。'

'I　mean；　he　took　away　no　money　with　him；　for　example；'　said　Mr　Dorrit。

'He　took　away　none　of　ours；　sir；　and　got　none　here。'

'I　suppose；'　observed　Mr　Dorrit；　glancing　from　Mrs　Clennam　to　Mr
Flintwinch；　and　from　Mr　Flintwinch　to　Mrs　Clennam；　'you　have　no　way　of
accounting　to　yourself　for　this　mystery？'

'Why　do　you　suppose　so？'　rejoined　Mrs　Clennam。

Disconcerted　by　the　cold　and　hard　inquiry；　Mr　Dorrit　was　unable　to
assign　any　reason　for　his　supposing　so。

'I　account　for　it；　sir；'　she　pursued　after　an　awkward　silence　on　Mr
Dorrit's　part；　'by　having　no　doubt　that　he　is　travelling　somewhere；　or
hiding　somewhere。'

'Do　you　know……ha……why　he　should　hide　anywhere？'

'No。'

It　was　exactly　the　same　No　as　before；　and　put　another　barrier　up。　'You
asked　me　if　I　accounted　for　the　disappearance　to　myself；'　Mrs　Clennam
sternly　reminded　him；　'not　if　I　accounted　for　it　to　you。　I　do　not
pretend　to　account　for　it　to　you；　sir。　I　understand　it　to　be　no　more　my
business　to　do　that；　than　it　is　yours　to　require　that。'

Mr　Dorrit　answered　with　an　apologetic　bend　of　his　head。　As　he　stepped
back；　preparatory　to　saying　he　had　no　more　to　ask；　he　could　not　but
observe　how　gloomily　and　fixedly　she　sat　with　her　eyes　fastened　on
the　ground；　and　a　certain　air　upon　her　of　resolute　waiting；　also；
how　exactly　the　self…same　expression　was　reflected　in　Mr　Flintwinch；
standing　at　a　little　distance　from　her　chair；　with　his　eyes　also　on　the
ground；　and　his　right　hand　softly　rubbing　his　chin。

At　that　moment；　Mistress　Affery　（of　course；　the　woman　with　the　apron）
dropped　the　candlestick　she　held；　and　cried　out；　'There！　O　good　Lord！
there　it　is　again。　Hark；　Jeremiah！　Now！'

If　there　were　any　sound　at　all；　it　was　so　slight　that　she　must　have
fallen　into　a　confirmed　habit　of　listening　for　sounds；　but　Mr　Dorrit
believed　he　did　hear　a　something；　like　the　falling　of　dry　leaves。　The
woman's　terror；　for　a　very　short　space；　seemed　to　touch　the　three；　and
they　all　listened。

Mr　Flintwinch　was　the　first　to　stir。　'Affery；　my　woman；'　said　he；
sidling　at　her　with　his　fists　clenched；　and　his　elbows　quivering　with
impatience　to　shake　her；　'you　are　at　your　old　tricks。　You'll　be　walking
in　your　sleep　next；　my　woman；　and　playing　the　whole　round　of　your
distempered　antics。　You　must　have　some　physic。　When　I　have　shown　this
gentleman　out；　I'll　make　you　up　such　a　fortable　dose；　my　woman；　such
a　fortable　dose！'

It　did　not　appear　altogether　fortable　in　expectation　to　Mistress
Affery；　but　Jeremiah；　without　further　reference　to　his　healing　medicine；
took　another　candle　from　Mrs　Clennam's　table；　and　said；　'Now；　sir；　shall
I　light　you　down？'

Mr　Dorrit　professed　himself　obliged；　and　went　down。　Mr　Flintwinch　shut
him　out；　and　chained　him　out；　without　a　moment's　loss　of　time。