登陆注册
5254100000032

第32章

Our salutation over, the venerable piece of antiquity from which we take our name is wound up in silence. The ceremony is always performed by Master Humphrey himself (in treating of the club, I may be permitted to assume the historical style, and speak of myself in the third person), who mounts upon a chair for the purpose, armed with a large key. While it is in progress, Jack Redburn is required to keep at the farther end of the room under the guardianship of Mr. Miles, for he is known to entertain certain aspiring and unhallowed thoughts connected with the clock, and has even gone so far as to state that if he might take the works out for a day or two, he thinks he could improve them. We pardon him his presumption in consideration of his good intentions, and his keeping this respectful distance, which last penalty is insisted on, lest by secretly wounding the object of our regard in some tender part, in the ardour of his zeal for its improvement, he should fill us with dismay and consternation.

This regulation afforded Mr. Pickwick the highest delight, and seemed, if possible, to exalt Jack in his good opinion.

The next ceremony is the opening of the clock-case (of which Master Humphrey has likewise the key), the taking from it as many papers as will furnish forth our evening's entertainment, and arranging in the recess such new contributions as have been provided since our last meeting. This is always done with peculiar solemnity. The deaf gentleman then fills and lights his pipe, and we once more take our seats round the table before mentioned, Master Humphrey acting as president, - if we can be said to have any president, where all are on the same social footing, - and our friend Jack as secretary. Our preliminaries being now concluded, we fall into any train of conversation that happens to suggest itself, or proceed immediately to one of our readings. In the latter case, the paper selected is consigned to Master Humphrey, who flattens it carefully on the table and makes dog's ears in the corner of every page, ready for turning over easily; Jack Redburn trims the lamp with a small machine of his own invention which usually puts it out; Mr.

Miles looks on with great approval notwithstanding; the deaf gentleman draws in his chair, so that he can follow the words on the paper or on Master Humphrey's lips as he pleases; and Master Humphrey himself, looking round with mighty gratification, and glancing up at his old clock, begins to read aloud.

Mr. Pickwick's face, while his tale was being read, would have attracted the attention of the dullest man alive. The complacent motion of his head and forefinger as he gently beat time, and corrected the air with imaginary punctuation, the smile that mantled on his features at every jocose passage, and the sly look he stole around to observe its effect, the calm manner in which he shut his eyes and listened when there was some little piece of description, the changing expression with which he acted the dialogue to himself, his agony that the deaf gentleman should know what it was all about, and his extraordinary anxiety to correct the reader when he hesitated at a word in the manuscript, or substituted a wrong one, were alike worthy of remark. And when at last, endeavouring to communicate with the deaf gentleman by means of the finger alphabet, with which he constructed such words as are unknown in any civilised or savage language, he took up a slate and wrote in large text, one word in a line, the question, 'How - do - you - like - it?' - when he did this, and handing it over the table awaited the reply, with a countenance only brightened and improved by his great excitement, even Mr. Miles relaxed, and could not forbear looking at him for the moment with interest and favour.

'It has occurred to me,' said the deaf gentleman, who had watched Mr. Pickwick and everybody else with silent satisfaction - 'it has occurred to me,' said the deaf gentleman, taking his pipe from his lips, 'that now is our time for filling our only empty chair.'

As our conversation had naturally turned upon the vacant seat, we lent a willing ear to this remark, and looked at our friend inquiringly.

'I feel sure,' said he, 'that Mr. Pickwick must be acquainted with somebody who would be an acquisition to us; that he must know the man we want. Pray let us not lose any time, but set this question at rest. Is it so, Mr. Pickwick?'

The gentleman addressed was about to return a verbal reply, but remembering our friend's infirmity, he substituted for this kind of answer some fifty nods. Then taking up the slate and printing on it a gigantic 'Yes,' he handed it across the table, and rubbing his hands as he looked round upon our faces, protested that he and the deaf gentleman quite understood each other, already.

'The person I have in my mind,' said Mr. Pickwick, 'and whom I should not have presumed to mention to you until some time hence, but for the opportunity you have given me, is a very strange old man. His name is Bamber.'

'Bamber!' said Jack. 'I have certainly heard the name before.'

'I have no doubt, then,' returned Mr. Pickwick, 'that you remember him in those adventures of mine (the Posthumous Papers of our old club, I mean), although he is only incidentally mentioned; and, if I remember right, appears but once.'

'That's it,' said Jack. 'Let me see. He is the person who has a grave interest in old mouldy chambers and the Inns of Court, and who relates some anecdotes having reference to his favourite theme, - and an odd ghost story, - is that the man?'

同类推荐
  • 清光绪朝中日交涉史料选辑

    清光绪朝中日交涉史料选辑

    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。
  • 元始天尊说太古经注

    元始天尊说太古经注

    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。
  • 医话

    医话

    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。
  • 送长史李少府入蜀

    送长史李少府入蜀

    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。
  • 衣钵名义章

    衣钵名义章

    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
  • 世界军事百科之现代空战

    世界军事百科之现代空战

    军事是一个国家和民族强大和稳定的象征,在国家生活中具有举足轻重的作用。国家兴亡,匹夫有责,全面而系统地掌握军事知识,是我们每一个人光荣的责任和义务,也是我们进行国防教育的主要内容。
  • 呼伦贝尔童谣

    呼伦贝尔童谣

    河岸向河流说道:“我不能留住你的波浪。”“让我保存你的足印在我的心里吧。”——泰戈尔。我和大兴安岭东南的阿伦河有缘分,这份缘来自于上个世纪七十年代初。当年父亲为参加一座铁矿的建设,把我们全家从大岭中部的小镇甘河带到了岭东南,准备在铁矿小镇梨子山安家。初建时期矿上没房子住,父亲便把我们的家,暂时安置在博林线起点和滨洲线两条铁路分岔处,名叫“沟口”的小山村里。我家就在小村最北端租房暂住下来。沟口是中东铁路上不能再小的小站了。
  • 夜阑惊华

    夜阑惊华

    沐悦笙再次醒来就变成了沐府的七小姐。从来不信神的她第一次信了。当她的日子过的不要太好时,半路却杀出一个靖王世子。世人都道世子清高儒雅,也因为太高冷以至于二十好几都没娶妻。她却知他不开口则已一开口气死人,那些想嫁他的女子怕是都被他怼跑了。而这高龄+毒舌+高冷的世子独独对沐悦笙看重。靖王得知这混蛋儿子终于开窍,简直老泪纵横。当沐悦笙与这高冷的世子经历各种不可知的事情后,生活还是要继续,明天依旧美好。甜文!甜文!甜文!重要的事说三遍。
  • 历史的足迹

    历史的足迹

    王世敬先生是一位善于思考和勤于动手的科学家。他享受国务院授予的特殊津贴,曾多次获得国家和省级的奖励。王世敬先生不仅发表了许多学术价值高的论文,而且还写成了一部值得反复阅读和深思的书——《历史的足迹》。从书中可以看到一位科学家、知识分子的缩影,也可以看到我们国家的一个缩影。
  • 盛世王妃之傲世天下

    盛世王妃之傲世天下

    她,智商过人,不幸就是打不过他——司陌。“就算我站着不动你也打不到我。”某王爷说着,一脸嫌弃。“滚,有点远滚多远,最好直接狗带。”白心染恶狠狠地说道。“我要滚到你怀里。”
  • 银海指南

    银海指南

    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。
  • 独步天下:哈日珠拉(下卷)

    独步天下:哈日珠拉(下卷)

    摄影师步悠然在一次古墓之旅中离奇穿越,成为历史上传奇的女真第一美女东哥。这位自出生便被预言“可兴天下,可亡天下”的女子,究竟兴的是谁家天下,亡的又是谁家天下?拥有着现代灵魂的她,该如何面对在“可兴天下,可亡天下”这一谶语的利益驱逐下,那一段段趋之若鹜的情感纠葛?这注定不凡的传奇人生为她带来的是幸运,还是灾难?大清王朝建立的背后究竟隐藏着多少秘密?历史的走向,会因为她的介入发生怎样的改变?当一切尘埃落定时,那抹跨越四百年时空的灵魂,又将何去何从?
  • 迷迭天下

    迷迭天下

    江湖一朝风云起,斩不尽几许仇怨。迷迭暗香残,世事血雨风。圣物一出西域改,利益牵连朝堂争。硝烟弥漫天涯路,红颜化作枯骨冢,更那堪情爱一夕断,生死怎由她。
  • 多想你也喜欢我

    多想你也喜欢我

    在我漫长的生命里,最好的时光,是遇见你。我走你走过的路,听你听过的歌,不是为了证明我有多爱你,只是为了离你近一些。我也许无法使你摆脱寂寞,但我至少可以陪你一起寂寞。春光这么好,多想你也喜欢我。本书是「ONE · 一个」常驻作者马叛(@天涯蝴蝶浪子)的首部短篇自选集,精选十五篇最赞故事,陪你度过每一个不眠之夜。
  • 我想和你不期而遇

    我想和你不期而遇

    异国转机时,让她认识了年轻有为的航空公司机长唐瀚文,才知身上戴的玉佩有着惊人秘密……百年古扇展览上,他才得知是她唐笑笑让他家人多年的收藏品出现在巴黎及伦敦……为了她,他愿意放弃一切,做她背后的男人。为了他,她成为是非不分的刁蛮大小姐,只为让他逃离日渐沉重的束缚。有些人,一旦遇见,便一眼万年;有些心动,一旦开始,便覆水难收。