little dorrit-信丽(英文版)-第185章

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with　a　shallow　break　of　sea　over　it；　looked　like　a　lazy　marine　monster
just　risen　to　the　surface；　whose　form　was　indistinctly　shown　as　it　lay
asleep。　The　meagre　lighthouse　all　in　white；　haunting　the　seaboard　as　if
it　were　the　ghost　of　an　edifice　that　had　once　had　colour　and　rotundity；
dropped　melancholy　tears　after　its　late　buffeting　by　the　waves。　The　long
rows　of　gaunt　black　piles；　slimy　and　wet　and　weather…worn；　with　funeral
garlands　of　seaweed　twisted　about　them　by　the　late　tide；　might
have　represented　an　unsightly　marine　cemetery。　Every　wave…dashed；
storm…beaten　object；　was　so　low　and　so　little；　under　the　broad　grey　sky；
in　the　noise　of　the　wind　and　sea；　and　before　the　curling　lines　of　surf；
making　at　it　ferociously；　that　the　wonder　was　there　was　any　Calais　left；
and　that　its　low　gates　and　low　wall　and　low　roofs　and　low　ditches　and
low　sand…hills　and　low　ramparts　and　flat　streets；　had　not　yielded
long　ago　to　the　undermining　and　besieging　sea；　like　the　fortifications
children　make　on　the　sea…shore。

After　slipping　among　oozy　piles　and　planks；　stumbling　up　wet　steps　and
encountering　many　salt　difficulties；　the　passengers　entered　on　their
fortless　peregrination　along　the　pier；　where　all　the　French　vagabonds
and　English　outlaws　in　the　town　（half　the　population）　attended　to
prevent　their　recovery　from　bewilderment。　After　being　minutely　inspected
by　all　the　English；　and　claimed　and　reclaimed　and　counter…claimed　as
prizes　by　all　the　French　in　a　hand…to…hand　scuffle　three　quarters　of　a
mile　long；　they　were　at　last　free　to　enter　the　streets；　and　to　make　off
in　their　various　directions；　hotly　pursued。

Clennam；　harassed　by　more　anxieties　than　one；　was　among　this　devoted
band。　Having　rescued　the　most　defenceless　of　his　patriots　from
situations　of　great　extremity；　he　now　went　his　way　alone；　or　as　nearly
alone　as　he　could　be；　with　a　native　gentleman　in　a　suit　of　grease　and
a　cap　of　the　same　material；　giving　chase　at　a　distance　of　some　fifty
yards；　and　continually　calling　after　him；　'Hi！　Ice…say！　You！　Seer！
Ice…say！　Nice　Oatel！'

Even　this　hospitable　person；　however；　was　left　behind　at　last；　and
Clennam　pursued　his　way；　unmolested。　There　was　a　tranquil　air　in　the
town　after　the　turbulence　of　the　Channel　and　the　beach；　and　its　dulness
in　that　parison　was　agreeable。　He　met　new　groups　of　his　countrymen；
who　had　all　a　straggling　air　of　having　at　one　time　overblown　themselves；
like　certain　unfortable　kinds　of　flowers；　and　of　being　now　mere
weeds。　They　had　all　an　air；　too；　of　lounging　out　a　limited　round；　day
after　day；　which　strongly　reminded　him　of　the　Marshalsea。　But；　taking
no　further　note　of　them　than　was　sufficient　to　give　birth　to　the
reflection；　he　sought　out　a　certain　street　and　number　which　he　kept　in
his　mind。

'So　Pancks　said；'　he　murmured　to　himself；　as　he　stopped　before　a　dull
house　answering　to　the　address。　'I　suppose　his　information　to　be　correct
and　his　discovery；　among　Mr　Casby's　loose　papers；　indisputable；　but；
without　it；　I　should　hardly　have　supposed　this　to　be　a　likely　place。'

A　dead　sort　of　house；　with　a　dead　wall　over　the　way　and　a　dead　gateway
at　the　side；　where　a　pendant　bell…handle　produced　two　dead　tinkles；　and
a　knocker　produced　a　dead；　flat；　surface…tapping；　that　seemed　not　to
have　depth　enough　in　it　to　perate　even　the　cracked　door。　However；　the
door　jarred　open　on　a　dead　sort　of　spring；　and　he　closed　it　behind　him
as　he　entered　a　dull　yard；　soon　brought　to　a　close　by　another　dead　wall；
where　an　attempt　had　been　made　to　train　some　creeping　shrubs；　which　were
dead；　and　to　make　a　little　fountain　in　a　grotto；　which　was　dry；　and　to
decorate　that　with　a　little　statue；　which　was　gone。

The　entry　to　the　house　was　on　the　left；　and　it　was　garnished　as　the
outer　gateway　was；　with　two　printed　bills　in　French　and　English；
announcing　Furnished　Apartments　to　let；　with　immediate　possession。　A
strong　cheerful　peasant　woman；　all　stocking；　petticoat；　white　cap；　and
ear…ring；　stood　here　in　a　dark　doorway；　and　said　with　a　pleasant　show　of
teeth；　'Ice…say！　Seer！　Who？'

Clennam；　replying　in　French；　said　the　English　lady；　he　wished　to　see
the　English　lady。　'Enter　then　and　ascend；　if　you　please；'　returned　the
peasant　woman；　in　French　likewise。　He　did　both；　and　followed　her　up　a
dark　bare　staircase　to　a　back　room　on　the　first…floor。　Hence；　there　was
a　gloomy　view　of　the　yard　that　was　dull；　and　of　the　shrubs　that　were
dead；　and　of　the　fountain　that　was　dry；　and　of　the　pedestal　of　the
statue　that　was　gone。

'Monsieur　Blandois；'　said　Clennam。

'With　pleasure；　Monsieur。'

Thereupon　the　woman　withdrew　and　left　him　to　look　at　the　room。　It　was
the　pattern　of　room　always　to　be　found　in　such　a　house。　Cool；　dull；　and
dark。　Waxed　floor　very　slippery。　A　room　not　large　enough　to　skate　in；
nor　adapted　to　the　easy　pursuit　of　any　other　occupation。　Red　and
white　curtained　windows；　little　straw　mat；　little　round　table　with　a
tumultuous　assemblage　of　legs　underneath；　clumsy　rush…bottomed　chairs；
two　great　red　velvet　arm…chairs　affording　plenty　of　space　to　be
unfortable　in；　bureau；　chimney…glass　in　several　pieces　pretending　to
be　in　one　piece；　pair　of　gaudy　vases　of　very　artificial　flowers；　between
them　a　Greek　warrior　with　his　helmet　off；　sacrificing　a　clock　to　the
Genius　of　France。

After　some　pause；　a　door　of　munication　with　another　room　was　opened；
and　a　lady　entered。　She　manifested　great　surprise　on　seeing　Clennam；　and
her　glance　went　round　the　room　in　search　of　some　one　else。

'Pardon　me；　Miss　Wade。　I　am　alone。'

'It　was　not　your　name　that　was　brought　to　me。'

'No；　I　know　that。　Excuse　me。　I　have　already　had　experience　that　my　name
does　not　predispose　you　to　an　interview；　and　I　ventured　to　mention　the
name　of　one　I　am　in　search　of。'

'Pray；'　she　returned；　motioning　him　to　a　chair　so　coldly　that　he
remained　standing；　'what　name　was　it　that　you　gave？'

'I　mentioned　the　name　of　Blandois。'

'Blandois？'

'A　name　you　are　acquainted　with。'

'It　is　strange；'　she　said；　frowning；　'that　you　should　still　press　an
undesired　interest　in　me　and　my　acquaintances；　in　me　and　my　affairs；　Mr
Clennam。　I　don't　know　what　you　mean。'

'Pardon　me。　You　know　the　name？'

'What　can　you　have　to　do　with　the　name？　What　can　I　have　to　do　with　the
name？　What　can　you　have　to　do　with　my　knowing　or　not　knowing　any　name？
I　know　many　names　and　I　have　forgotten　many　more。　This　may　be　in　the
one　class；　or　it　may　be　in　the　other；　or　I　may　never　have　heard　it。　I　am
acquainted　with　no　reason　for　examining　myself；　or　for　being　examined；
about　it。'

'If　you　will　allow　me；'　said　Clennam；　'I　will　tell　you　my　reason　for
pressing　the　subject。　I　admit　that　I　do　press　it；　and　I　must　beg　you　to
forgive　me　if　I　do　so；　very　earnestly。　The　reason　is　all　mine；　I　do　not
insinuate　that　it　is　in　any　way　yours。'

'Well；　sir；'　she　returned；　repeating　a　little　less　haughtily　than　before
her　former　invitation　to　him　to　be　seated：　to　which　he　now　deferred；　as
she　seated　herself。　'I　am　at　least　glad　to　know　that　this　is　not　another
bondswoman　of　some　friend　of　yours；　who　is　bereft　of　free　choice；　and
whom　I　have　spirited　away。　I　will　hear　your　reason；　if　you　please。'

'First；　to　identify　the　person　of　whom　we　speak；'　said　Clennam；　'let　me
observe　that　it　is　the　person　you　met　in　London　some　time　back。　You　will
remember　meeting　him　near　the　river……in　the　Adelphi！'

'You　mix　yourself　most　unaccountably　with　my　business；'　she　replied；
looking　full　at　him　with　stern　displeasure。　'How　do　you　know　that？'

'I　entreat　you　not　to　take　it　ill。　By　mere　accident。'　'What　accident？'

'Solely　the　accident　of　ing　upon　you　in　the　street　and　seeing　the
meeting。'

'Do　you　speak　of　yourself；　or　of　some　one　else？'

'Of　myself。　I　saw　it。'

'To　be　sure　it　was　in　the　open　street；'　she　observed；　after　a　few
moments　of　less　and　less　angry　reflection。　'Fifty　people　might　have　seen
it。　It　would　have　signified　nothing　if　they　had。'

'Nor　do　I　make　my　having　seen　it　of　any　moment；　nor　（otherwise　than　as
an　explanation　of　my　ing　here）　do　I　connect　my　visit　with　it　or　the
favour　that　I　have　to　ask。'

'Oh！　You　have　to　ask　a　favour！　It　occurred　to　me；'　and　the　handsome　face
looked　bitterly　at　him；　't