登陆注册
5170000000072

第72章 I BECOME THE OWNER OF A CLARET-COLOURED CHAISE(2)

To the beginnings of virile common sense he adds the last lights of the child's imagination; and he can fling himself into business with that superior earnestness that properly belongs to play.And Rowley was a boy made to my hand.He had a high sense of romance, and a secret cultus for all soldiers and criminals.His travelling library consisted of a chap-book life of Wallace and some sixpenny parts of the 'Old Bailey Sessions Papers' by Gurney the shorthand writer; and the choice depicts his character to a hair.You can imagine how his new prospects brightened on a boy of this disposition.To be the servant and companion of a fugitive, a soldier, and a murderer, rolled in one - to live by stratagems, disguises, and false names, in an atmosphere of midnight and mystery so thick that you could cut it with a knife - was really, I believe, more dear to him than his meals, though he was a great trencherman, and something of a glutton besides.For myself, as the peg by which all this romantic business hung, I was simply idolised from that moment; and he would rather have sacrificed his hand than surrendered the privilege of serving me.

We arranged the terms of our campaign, trudging amicably in the snow, which now, with the approach of morning, began to fall to purpose.I chose the name of Ramornie, I imagine from its likeness to Romaine; Rowley, from an irresistible conversion of ideas, I dubbed Gammon.His distress was laughable to witness: his own choice of an unassuming nickname had been Claude Duval! We settled our procedure at the various inns where we should alight, rehearsed our little manners like a piece of drill until it seemed impossible we should ever be taken unprepared; and in all these dispositions, you maybe sure the despatch-box was not forgotten.Who was to pick it up, who was to set it down, who was to remain beside it, who was to sleep with it - there was no contingency omitted, all was gone into with the thoroughness of a drill-sergeant on the one hand and a child with a new plaything on the other.

'I say, wouldn't it look queer if you and me was to come to the post-house with all this luggage?' said Rowley.

'I dare say,' I replied.'But what else is to be done?'

'Well, now, sir - you hear me,' says Rowley.'I think it would look more natural-like if you was to come to the post-house alone, and with nothing in your 'ands - more like a gentleman, you know.

And you might say that your servant and baggage was a-waiting for you up the road.I think I could manage, somehow, to make a shift with all them dratted things - leastways if you was to give me a 'and up with them at the start.'

'And I would see you far enough before I allowed you to try, Mr.

Rowley!' I cried.'Why, you would be quite defenceless! A footpad that was an infant child could rob you.And I should probably come driving by to find you in a ditch with your throat cut.But there is something in your idea, for all that; and I propose we put it in execution no farther forward than the next corner of a lane.'

Accordingly, instead of continuing to aim for Aylesbury, we headed by cross-roads for some point to the northward of it, whither I might assist Rowley with the baggage, and where I might leave him to await my return in the post-chaise.

It was snowing to purpose, the country all white, and ourselves walking snowdrifts, when the first glimmer of the morning showed us an inn upon the highwayside.Some distance off, under the shelter of a corner of the road and a clump of trees, I loaded Rowley with the whole of our possessions, and watched him till he staggered in safety into the doors of the GREEN DRAGON, which was the sign of the house.Thence I walked briskly into Aylesbury, rejoicing in my freedom and the causeless good spirits that belong to a snowy morning; though, to be sure, long before I had arrived the snow had again ceased to fall, and the eaves of Aylesbury were smoking in the level sun.There was an accumulation of gigs and chaises in the yard, and a great bustle going forward in the coffee-room and about the doors of the inn.At these evidences of so much travel on the road I was seized with a misgiving lest it should be impossible to get horses, and I should be detained in the precarious neighbourhood of my cousin.Hungry as I was, I made my way first of all to the postmaster, where he stood - a big, athletic, horsey-looking man, blowing into a key in the corner of the yard.

On my making my modest request, he awoke from his indifference into what seemed passion.

'A po'-shay and 'osses!' he cried.'Do I look as if I 'ad a po'-

shay and 'osses? Damn me, if I 'ave such a thing on the premises.

I don't MAKE 'osses and chaises - I 'IRE 'em.You might be God Almighty!' said he; and instantly, as if he had observed me for the first time, he broke off, and lowered his voice into the confidential.'Why, now that I see you are a gentleman,' said he, 'I'll tell you what! If you like to BUY, I have the article to fit you.Second-'and shay by Lycett, of London.Latest style; good as new.Superior fittin's, net on the roof, baggage platform, pistol 'olsters - the most com-plete and the most gen-teel turn-out I ever see! The 'ole for seventy-five pound! It's as good as givin' her away!'

'Do you propose I should trundle it myself, like a hawker's barrow?' said I.'Why, my good man, if I had to stop here, anyway, I should prefer to buy a house and garden!'

'Come and look at her!' he cried; and, with the word, links his arm in mine and carries me to the outhouse where the chaise was on view.

同类推荐
  • 佛说缘生初胜分法本经

    佛说缘生初胜分法本经

    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。
  • 文心雕龙张立斋考异

    文心雕龙张立斋考异

    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。
  • 双龙传

    双龙传

    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。
  • 洞天福地岳渎名山记

    洞天福地岳渎名山记

    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。
  • 真仙秘传火候法

    真仙秘传火候法

    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
  • 坚定信心(影响你一生的成功励志书)

    坚定信心(影响你一生的成功励志书)

    心态决定一切!智慧创造一切!这是一个人人追求成功的时代,心智的力量具有创造成功态势的无穷魔力!即具有成功暗示的随着灵感牵引的成功力。
  • 狐狸十三段

    狐狸十三段

    本书收入作家林白的中短篇小说代表作《西北偏北之二三》《长江为何如此远》《北流往事》《去往银角》等和入围茅盾文学奖的长篇小说《北去来辞》及代表作《妇女闲聊录》的精彩篇章,全面展示了这位中国当代“女性化写作”开创者的创作风貌。
  • 胡乔木与毛泽东邓小平

    胡乔木与毛泽东邓小平

    胡乔木自1941年到毛泽东身边工作,到1981年起草《关于建国以来党的若干历史问题的决议》做出对毛泽东历史功过的评价,与毛泽东直接渊源有40年。他最初是毛泽东的学徒,后成为其得力助手,并且是可以诗词唱和的文友。胡乔木也是邓小平开辟中国特色社会主义道路的得力助手。在1975—1982年这个历史转折年代,胡乔木大力协助邓小平做了许多工作。
  • 其实时光易老

    其实时光易老

    正值青春年华的我们,血气方刚,敢爱敢恨,初中,高中,大学!唉时光,旧时光在不知不觉中慢慢远去,我们不在那么冲动,我们可是怀疑,背叛,互相伤害,最好的年华奉献给了狗——其实,时光易老:我们,不再是我们,却还是我们。
  • 渡亡人

    渡亡人

    相传忘川河上有一名摆渡人,可送心怀执念的亡者转世并不忘前尘。而我,则是世间最后一名摆渡人,人称渡亡人。
  • 正妻攻略

    正妻攻略

    红云想尽了办法也不能逃过这一劫,她跟这货前世好似怨家不清不楚,如今才导致两人是纠缠不清。豪门恩怨事非多,婆婆是填房,小姑是阴毒,小叔又风流……总之这是小家碧玉如何成为一位豪门小霸正妻的故事!
  • 网游之橙萌厚爱

    网游之橙萌厚爱

    因为心里装着你,所以沿途风景如此美好。这已经是一个十分老土的哲理了。其实这就是个在讲述什么叫做“一日夫妻百日恩,日白夫妻靠脚蹬”的逗逼故事。
  • 娱乐直播教父

    娱乐直播教父

    主播·2016最受瞩目的职业!以一名主播的第一视角,看遍主播职业生涯。貌美如花的美女主播,魅力四射的舞蹈主播,但他们集中在一座主播楼,会发生怎样的故事?看世间百态,观红尘纷扰。。。
  • 圣无能胜金刚火陀罗尼经

    圣无能胜金刚火陀罗尼经

    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。
  • 总裁宠妻上瘾

    总裁宠妻上瘾

    “长得那么白,不是小白脸是什么?对你我没兴趣,那边那个还差不多!”木子指着他旁边的另一个皮肤黑点的男人。从来没有哪个女人对我没兴趣的,从小到老都不会!可眼前这个女人,长得也不怎么样,还戴着一副那么土的眼镜,真是被气炸了!