登陆注册
4606900000178

第178章

Nearly all the time while John looked on at this bewildering scene, Hugh kept near him; and though he was the loudest, wildest, most destructive villain there, he saved his old master's bones a score of times. Nay, even when Mr Tappertit, excited by liquor, came up, and in assertion of his prerogative politely kicked John Willet on the shins, Hugh bade him return the compliment; and if old John had had sufficient presence of mind to understand this whispered direction, and to profit by it, he might no doubt, under Hugh's protection, have done so with impunity.

At length the band began to reassemble outside the house, and to call to those within, to join them, for they were losing time.

These murmurs increasing, and attaining a high pitch, Hugh, and some of those who yet lingered in the bar, and who plainly were the leaders of the troop, took counsel together, apart, as to what was to be done with John, to keep him quiet until their Chigwell work was over. Some proposed to set the house on fire and leave him in it; others, that he should be reduced to a state of temporary insensibility, by knocking on the head; others, that he should be sworn to sit where he was until to-morrow at the same hour; others again, that he should be gagged and taken off with them, under a sufficient guard. All these propositions being overruled, it was concluded, at last, to bind him in his chair, and the word was passed for Dennis.

'Look'ee here, Jack!' said Hugh, striding up to him: 'We are going to tie you, hand and foot, but otherwise you won't be hurt. D'ye hear?'

John Willet looked at another man, as if he didn't know which was the speaker, and muttered something about an ordinary every Sunday at two o'clock.

'You won't be hurt I tell you, Jack--do you hear me?' roared Hugh, impressing the assurance upon him by means of a heavy blow on the back. 'He's so dead scared, he's woolgathering, I think. Give him a drop of something to drink here. Hand over, one of you.'

A glass of liquor being passed forward, Hugh poured the contents down old John's throat. Mr Willet feebly smacked his lips, thrust his hand into his pocket, and inquired what was to pay; adding, as he looked vacantly round, that he believed there was a trifle of broken glass--

'He's out of his senses for the time, it's my belief,' said Hugh, after shaking him, without any visible effect upon his system, until his keys rattled in his pocket. 'Where's that Dennis?'

The word was again passed, and presently Mr Dennis, with a long cord bound about his middle, something after the manner of a friar, came hurrying in, attended by a body-guard of half-a-dozen of his men.

'Come! Be alive here!' cried Hugh, stamping his foot upon the ground. 'Make haste!'

Dennis, with a wink and a nod, unwound the cord from about his person, and raising his eyes to the ceiling, looked all over it, and round the walls and cornice, with a curious eye; then shook his head.

'Move, man, can't you!' cried Hugh, with another impatient stamp of his foot. 'Are we to wait here, till the cry has gone for ten miles round, and our work's interrupted?'

'It's all very fine talking, brother,' answered Dennis, stepping towards him; 'but unless--' and here he whispered in his ear--

'unless we do it over the door, it can't be done at all in this here room.'

'What can't?' Hugh demanded.

'What can't!' retorted Dennis. 'Why, the old man can't.'

'Why, you weren't going to hang him!' cried Hugh.

'No, brother?' returned the hangman with a stare. 'What else?'

Hugh made no answer, but snatching the rope from his companion's hand, proceeded to bind old John himself; but his very first move was so bungling and unskilful, that Mr Dennis entreated, almost with tears in his eyes, that he might be permitted to perform the duty. Hugh consenting, be achieved it in a twinkling.

'There,' he said, looking mournfully at John Willet, who displayed no more emotion in his bonds than he had shown out of them.

'That's what I call pretty and workmanlike. He's quite a picter now. But, brother, just a word with you--now that he's ready trussed, as one may say, wouldn't it be better for all parties if we was to work him off? It would read uncommon well in the newspapers, it would indeed. The public would think a great deal more on us!'

Hugh, inferring what his companion meant, rather from his gestures than his technical mode of expressing himself (to which, as he was ignorant of his calling, he wanted the clue), rejected this proposition for the second time, and gave the word 'Forward!' which was echoed by a hundred voices from without.

'To the Warren!' shouted Dennis as he ran out, followed by the rest. 'A witness's house, my lads!'

A loud yell followed, and the whole throng hurried off, mad for pillage and destruction. Hugh lingered behind for a few moments to stimulate himself with more drink, and to set all the taps running, a few of which had accidentally been spared; then, glancing round the despoiled and plundered room, through whose shattered window the rioters had thrust the Maypole itself,--for even that had been sawn down,--lighted a torch, clapped the mute and motionless John Willet on the back, and waving his light above his head, and uttering a fierce shout, hastened after his companions.

同类推荐
  • The Cloister and the Hearth

    The Cloister and the Hearth

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 双灯记

    双灯记

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 台海恩恸录

    台海恩恸录

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 天平天国御制千字诏

    天平天国御制千字诏

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 华严经骨目

    华严经骨目

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
热门推荐
  • 艺术眼系列:卢浮宫原来可以这样看(修订版)

    艺术眼系列:卢浮宫原来可以这样看(修订版)

    本书精选卢浮宫31件馆藏艺术珍品,完全以孩子的视角、孩子的问题、孩子的语言对经典艺术发问,是第一本真正写给孩子看的艺术书!本书分为三个部分,文前介绍了什么是艺术杰作?什么是博物馆?第一部分讲述了卢浮宫的点点滴滴,以及如何能轻松而有效地游览卢浮宫;第二部分是作品赏析,针对三个年龄阶段的孩子设置了不同程度的问答,很容易就找到适合不同年龄孩子的解答;第三部分则是参观卢浮宫的实用建议。
  • 丛林历险

    丛林历险

    小男孩被狼妈妈收养,由狼妈妈的乳汁喂养大,棕熊教给他“丛林法规”和各种鸟兽的“要语”,黑豹传授给他捕猎技能和生活经验。狼孩机灵敏捷、善良勇敢……
  • 古龙经典:三少爷的剑

    古龙经典:三少爷的剑

    《三少爷的剑》中登场的经典人物:谢晓峰、燕十三、小弟、没用的阿吉、慕容秋荻、铁开诚。不管你想做“天下神剑”谢晓峰,还是隐姓埋名,化身“没用的阿吉”,你都离不开江湖。一个人究竟是个什么样的人,究竟要做个什么样的人,通常都是由他自己决定。
  • 战神王爷狂宠倾城医妃

    战神王爷狂宠倾城医妃

    夏依依是一名军医、特种兵。在一次对抗境外恐怖分子时牺牲,当她醒来的时候发现自己穿越到了东朔国,成为了护国公府的嫡小姐。被庶妹陷害,夏依依被迫嫁给了如阎王般残暴冷血的还残疾重病的轩王,在大婚当日居然不露面,拿一只公鸡代替与依依拜堂,还当夜就将依依迁入偏冷的后院。此处不留爷自有留爷处,依依出了王府,爱情事业风生水起,此时轩王想起来吃醋了,想重得美人归?门都没有,不,连窗户都没有,本姑娘做得了手术,上得了战场,本姑娘瞧不上你。某人说“本王保证后院只有你一个女主人”。多年以后,看着整个后宫就那么一个嚣张跋扈的女人整日颐指气使的时候,后悔也来不及了。
  • 总是会说再见

    总是会说再见

    每个人从出生的那一刻起,就注定会走向死亡。我们都不知道何时会面临死亡,亲人朋友也会与你别离,也许是你送别他们到另外一个美好世界,也许是他们送别你。所以请在你有限的生命里,珍惜与亲人的每一分每一秒,父母在,不远游,记得要常回家看看!
  • 这个皇后我不当

    这个皇后我不当

    意外穿越,竟拥有了不死之超强魂魄,王馨听从仙界老祖的劝说,修仙觅路!王馨说:开什么丹田、识海,凝什么心力啊,你有我的本事大么?萧逸:......王馨说:《虚无功》《大衍数》《涅盘功》......这都什么东西呀,有我力量大么?萧逸:......王馨说:这个皇后我不当,我要......回家!萧逸:你不能走!
  • 千戒

    千戒

    魑魅魍魉本是心中之魔,琴瑟琵琶不过一时贪望,人们向往着美好的生活,为此甘愿做一些不太美好的事情。
  • 佛说三品弟子经

    佛说三品弟子经

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 我们必将知道

    我们必将知道

    我们必须知道,我们必将知道。——大卫·希尔伯特平成二十四年七月,十九岁的挂谷邦彦离开东京,回到京都的家里度暑假。虽然名义上说是度假,但其实主要是在帮家里做工。挂谷家经营着一家小小的家庭旅舍,虽然规模并不算大,但经过三代长辈的苦心经营,在京都府中也算小小有些名气。本来七月盛夏既不是赏山樱之时,也并非看红叶之季,但前来投宿的旅客仍然颇多,大都是为了京都著名的祗园祭而来。因此挂谷家的旅舍每日都忙碌异常,尽管家中雇了二十几个雇工,却仍然有忙不过来的感觉。对于将在日后放弃工作继承旅舍这件事,邦彦并没有太多抵触的情绪。
  • 育儿宝典(家庭健康生活)

    育儿宝典(家庭健康生活)

    《育儿宝典》从现代学科中的诸多方面,如婚恋、生理、心理、教育、营养、卫生等方面入手,为新世纪的每一对夫妻提供优生优育所需要的知识和技能,使每一对夫妻都能拥有自己最满意的宝宝。《育儿宝典》内容系统全面深入浅出,某些问题您只要看一眼,读一下,用几分钟时间就可以掌握。它全面、科学地介绍了从结婚、受孕、育儿到宝宝上幼儿园为止的这一期间所有育儿内容,内容丰富,是帮助每一位妈妈、爸爸实现“望子成龙”、“望女成凤”的必备读物。