little dorrit-信丽(英文版)-第99部分

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trembling　lips　had　turned　colourless。　After　listening　a　few　moments；　he
made　light　of　it。

'Bah！　Nothing！　Now；　my　dear　madam；　I　think　you　spoke　of　some　clever
personage。　Will　you　be　so　good　as　to　confront　me　with　that　genius？'　He
held　the　door　in　his　hand；　as　though　he　were　quite　ready　to　shut　her　out
again　if　she　failed。

'Don't　you　say　anything　about　the　door　and　me；　then；'　whispered　Affery。

'Not　a　word。'

'And　don't　you　stir　from　here；　or　speak　if　she　calls；　while　I　run　round
the　corner。'

'Madam；　I　am　a　statue。'

Affery　had　so　vivid　a　fear　of　his　going　stealthily　up…stairs　the　moment
her　back　was　turned；　that　after　hurrying　out　of　sight；　she　returned　to
the　gateway　to　peep　at　him。　Seeing　him　still　on　the　threshold；　more　out
of　the　house　than　in　it；　as　if　he　had　no　love　for　darkness　and　no
desire　to　probe　its　mysteries；　she　flew　into　the　next　street；　and　sent　a
message　into　the　tavern　to　Mr　Flintwinch；　who　came　out　directly。　The
two　returning　together……the　lady　in　advance；　and　Mr　Flintwinch　ing　up
briskly　behind；　animated　with　the　hope　of　shaking　her　before　she　could
get　housed……saw　the　gentleman　standing　in　the　same　place　in　the　dark；
and　heard　the　strong　voice　of　Mrs　Clennam　calling　from　her　room；　'Who　is
it？　What　is　it？　Why　does　no　one　answer？　Who　is　that；　down　there？'




CHAPTER　30。　The　Word　of　a　Gentleman


When　Mr　and　Mrs　Flintwinch　panted　up　to　the　door　of　the　old　house　in　the
twilight；　Jeremiah　within　a　second　of　Affery；　the　stranger　started　back。
'Death　of　my　soul！'　he　exclaimed。　'Why；　how　did　you　get　here？'

Mr　Flintwinch；　to　whom　these　words　were　spoken；　repaid　the　stranger's
wonder　in　full。　He　gazed　at　him　with　blank　astonishment；　he　looked　over
his　own　shoulder；　as　expecting　to　see　some　one　he　had　not　been　aware　of
standing　behind　him；　he　gazed　at　the　stranger　again；　speechlessly；　at
a　loss　to　know　what　he　meant；　he　looked　to　his　wife　for　explanation；
receiving　none；　he　pounced　upon　her；　and　shook　her　with　such　heartiness
that　he　shook　her　cap　off　her　head；　saying　between　his　teeth；　with　grim
raillery；　as　he　did　it；　'Affery；　my　woman；　you　must　have　a　dose；　my
woman！　This　is　some　of　your　tricks！　You　have　been　dreaming　again；
mistress。　What's　it　about？　Who　is　it？　What　does　it　mean！　Speak　out　or　be
choked！　It's　the　only　choice　I'll　give　you。'

Supposing　Mistress　Affery　to　have　any　power　of　election　at　the　moment；
her　choice　was　decidedly　to　be　choked；　for　she　answered　not　a　syllable
to　this　adjuration；　but；　with　her　bare　head　wagging　violently　backwards
and　forwards；　resigned　herself　to　her　punishment。　The　stranger；　however；
picking　up　her　cap　with　an　air　of　gallantry；　interposed。

'Permit　me；'　said　he；　laying　his　hand　on　the　shoulder　of　Jeremiah；　who
stopped　and　released　his　victim。　'Thank　you。　Excuse　me。　Husband　and
wife　I　know；　from　this　playfulness。　Haha！　Always　agreeable　to　see　that
relation　playfully　maintained。　Listen！　May　I　suggest　that　somebody
up…stairs；　in　the　dark；　is　being　energetically　curious　to　know　what
is　going　on　here？'

This　reference　to　Mrs　Clennam's　voice　reminded　Mr　Flintwinch　to　step
into　the　hall　and　call　up　the　staircase。　'It's　all　right；　I　am　here；
Affery　is　ing　with　your　light。'　Then　he　said　to　the　latter
flustered　woman；　who　was　putting　her　cap　on；　'Get　out　with　you；　and　get
up…stairs！'　and　then　turned　to　the　stranger　and　said　to　him；　'Now；　sir；
what　might　you　please　to　want？'

'I　am　afraid；'　said　the　stranger；　'I　must　be　so　troublesome　as　to
propose　a　candle。'

'True；'　assented　Jeremiah。　'I　was　going　to　do　so。　Please　to　stand　where
you　are　while　I　get　one。'

The　visitor　was　standing　in　the　doorway；　but　turned　a　little　into　the
gloom　of　the　house　as　Mr　Flintwinch　turned；　and　pursued　him　with　his
eyes　into　the　little　room；　where　he　groped　about　for　a　phosphorus　box。
When　he　found　it；　it　was　damp；　or　otherwise　out　of　order；　and　match
after　match　that　he　struck　into　it　lighted　sufficiently　to　throw　a　dull
glare　about　his　groping　face；　and　to　sprinkle　his　hands　with　pale　little
spots　of　fire；　but　not　sufficiently　to　light　the　candle。　The　stranger；
taking　advantage　of　this　fitful　illumination　of　his　visage；　looked
intently　and　wonderingly　at　him。　Jeremiah；　when　he　at　last　lighted
the　candle；　knew　he　had　been　doing　this；　by　seeing　the　last　shade　of
a　lowering　watchfulness　clear　away　from　his　face；　as　it　broke　into　the
doubtful　smile　that　was　a　large　ingredient　in　its　expression。

'Be　so　good；'　said　Jeremiah；　closing　the　house　door；　and　taking　a　pretty
sharp　survey　of　the　smiling　visitor　in　his　turn；　'as　to　step　into　my
counting…house。……It's　all　right；　I　tell　you！'　petulantly　breaking　off　to
answer　the　voice　up…stairs；　still　unsatisfied；　though　Affery　was　there；
speaking　in　persuasive　tones。　'Don't　I　tell　you　it's　all　right？　Preserve
the　woman；　has　she　no　reason　at　all　in　her！'

'Timorous；'　remarked　the　stranger。

'Timorous？'　said　Mr　Flintwinch；　turning　his　head　to　retort；　as　he　went
before　with　the　candle。　'More　courageous　than　niy　men　in　a　hundred；
sir；　let　me　tell　you。'

'Though　an　invalid？'

'Many　years　an　invalid。　Mrs　Clennam。　The　only　one　of　that　name　left
in　the　House　now。　My　partner。'　Saying　something　apologetically　as　he
crossed　the　hall；　to　the　effect　that　at　that　time　of　night　they　were
not　in　the　habit　of　receiving　any　one；　and　were　always　shut　up；
Mr　Flintwinch　led　the　way　into　his　own　office；　which　presented　a
sufficiently　business…like　appearance。　Here　he　put　the　light　on　his
desk；　and　said　to　the　stranger；　with　his　wryest　twist　upon　him；　'Your
mands。'

'MY　name　is　Blandois。'

'Blandois。　I　don't　know　it；'　said　Jeremiah。

'I　thought　it　possible；'　resumed　the　other；　'that　you　might　have　been
advised　from　Paris……'

'We　have　had　no　advice　from　Paris　respecting　anybody　of　the　name　of
Blandois；'　said　Jeremiah。

'No？'

'No。'

Jeremiah　stood　in　his　favourite　attitude。　The　smiling　Mr　Blandois；
opening　his　cloak　to　get　his　hand　to　a　breast…pocket；　paused　to　say；
with　a　laugh　in　his　glittering　eyes；　which　it　occurred　to　Mr　Flintwinch
were　too　near　together：

'You　are　so　like　a　friend　of　mine！　Not　so　identically　the　same　as　I
supposed　when　I　really　did　for　the　moment　take　you　to　be　the　same　in　the
dusk……for　which　I　ought　to　apologise；　permit　me　to　do　so；　a　readiness
to　confess　my　errors　is；　I　hope；　a　part　of　the　frankness　of　my
character……still；　however；　unmonly　like。'

'Indeed？'　said　Jeremiah；　perversely。　'But　I　have　not　received　any　letter
of　advice　from　anywhere　respecting　anybody　of　the　name　of　Blandois。'

'Just　so；'　said　the　stranger。

'JUST　so；'　said　Jeremiah。

Mr　Blandois；　not　at　all　put　out　by　this　omission　on　the　part　of　the
correspondents　of　the　house　of　Clennam　and　Co。；　took　his　pocket…book
from　his　breast…pocket；　selected　a　letter　from　that　receptacle；　and
handed　it　to　Mr　Flintwinch。　'No　doubt　you　are　well　acquainted　with　the
writing。　Perhaps　the　letter　speaks　for　itself；　and　requires　no　advice。
You　are　a　far　more　petent　judge　of　such　affairs　than　I　am。　It　is　my
misfortune　to　be；　not　so　much　a　man　of　business；　as　what　the　world　calls
（arbitrarily）　a　gentleman。'

Mr　Flintwinch　took　the　letter；　and　read；　under　date　of　Paris；　'We　have
to　present　to　you；　on　behalf　of　a　highly　esteemed　correspondent　of　our
Firm；　M。　Blandois；　of　this　city；'　&c。　&c。　'Such　facilities　as　he　may
require　and　such　attentions　as　may　lie　in　your　power；'　&c。　&c。　'Also
have　to　add　that　if　you　will　honour　M。　Blandois'　drafts　at　sight　to　the
extent　of；　say　Fifty　Pounds　sterling　（150）；'　&c。　&c。

'Very　good；　sir；'　said　Mr　Flintwinch。　'Take　a　chair。　To　the　extent　of
anything　that　our　House　can　do……we　are　in　a　retired；　old…fashioned；
steady　way　of　business；　sir……we　shall　be　happy　to　render　you　our　best
assistance。　I　observe；　from　the　date　of　this；　that　we　could　not　yet　be
advised　of　it。　Probably　you　came　over　with　the　delayed　mail　that　brings
the　advice。'

'That　I　came　over　with　the　delayed　mail；　sir；'　returned　Mr　Blandois；
passing　his　white　hand　down　his　high…hooked　nose；　'I　know　to　the　cost
of　my　head　and　stomach：　the　detestable　and　intolerable　weather　having
racked　them　both。　You　see　me　in　the　plight　in　which　I　came　out　of　the
packet　within　this　hal