按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
boy—Say！ Is it not？” Mademoiselle Hortense makes another
spring。
“You are a vixen； a vixen！” Mr Tulkinghorn seems to meditate；
as he looks distrustfully at her； then he replies； “Well； wench； well。
I paid you。”
“You paid me！” she repeats； with fierce disdain。 “Two
sovereign！ I have not change them； I ref…use them； I des…pise them；
I throw them from me！” Which she literally does； taking them out
of her bosom as she speaks； and flinging them with such violence
on the floor； that they jerk up again into the light before they roll
away into corners； and slowly settle down there after spinning
vehemently。
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
… Page 809…
Bleak House 809
“Now！” says Mademoiselle Hortense； darkening her large eyes
again。 “You have paid me？ Eh； my God； O yes！”
Mr Tulkinghorn rubs his head with the key； while she
entertains herself with a sarcastic laugh。
“You must be rich； my fair friend；” he composedly observes； “to
throw money about in that way！”
“I am rich；” she returns； “I am very rich in hate。 I hate my
Lady； of all my heart。 You know that。”
“Know it？ How should I know it？”
“Because you have known it perfectly； before you prayed me to
give you that information。 Because you have known perfectly that
I was en…r…r…r…raged！” It appears impossible for Mademoiselle to
roll the letter r sufficiently in this word； notwithstanding that she
assists her energetic delivery； by clenching both her hands； and
setting all her teeth。
“Oh！ I knew that； did I？” says Mr Tulkinghorn； examining the
wards of the key。
“Yes； without doubt。 I am not blind。 You have made sure of me
because you knew that。 You had reason！ I det…est her。”
Mademoiselle Hortense folds her arms； and throws this last
remark at him over one of her shoulders。
“Having said this； have you anything else to say；
Mademoiselle？”
“I am not yet placed。 Place me well。 Find me a good condition！
If you cannot； or do not choose to do that； employ me to pursue
her； to chase her； to disgrace and to dishonour her。 I will help you
well； and with a good will。 It is what you do。 Do I not know that？”
“You appear to know a good deal；” Mr Tulkinghorn retorts。
“Do I not？ Is it that I am so weak as to believe； like a child； that
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
… Page 810…
Bleak House 810
I come here in that dress to receive that boy； only to decide a little
bet； a wager？—Eh my God； O yes！” In this reply； down to the word
“wager” inclusive； Mademoiselle has been ironically polite and
tender； then； has suddenly dashed into the bitterest and most
defiant scorn； with her black eyes in one and the same moment
very nearly shut； and staringly wide open。
“Now let us see；” says Mr Tulkinghorn； tapping his chin with
the key； and looking imperturbably at her； “how this matter
stands。”
“Ha！ Let us see；” Mademoiselle assents； with many angry and
tight nods of her head。
“You come here to make a remarkably modest demand； which
you have just stated； and it not being conceded； you will come
again。”
“And again；” says Mademoiselle； with more tight and angry
nods。 “And yet again。 And yet again。 And many times again。 In
effect； for ever！”
“And not only here； but you will go to Mr Snagsby’s； too；
perhaps？ That visit not succeeding either； you will go again
perhaps？”
“And again；” repeats Mademoiselle； cataleptic with
determination。 “And yet again。 And yet again。 And many times
again。 In effect； for ever！”
“Very well。 Now Mademoiselle Hortense； let me recommend
you to take the candle and pick up that money of yours。 I think
you will find it behind the clerk’s partition in the corner yonder。”
She merely throws a laugh over her shoulder； and stands her
ground with folded arms。
“You will not； eh？”
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
… Page 811…
Bleak House 811
“No； I will not！”
“So much the poorer you； so much the richer I！ Look； mistress；
this is the key of my wine…cellar。 It is a large key； but the keys of
prisons are larger。 In this city； there are houses of correction
（where the treadmills are； for women） the gates of which are very
strong and heavy； and no doubt the keys too。 I am afraid a lady of
your spirit and activity would find it an inconvenience to have one
of those keys turned upon her for any length of time。 What do you
think？”
“I think；” Mademoiselle replies； without any action； and in a
clear obliging voice； “that you are a miserable wretch。”
“Probably；” returns Mr Tulkinghorn； quietly blowing his nose。
“But I don’t ask what you think of myself； I ask what you think of
the prison。”
“Nothing。 What does it matter to me？”
“Why it matters this much； mistress；” says the lawyer；
deliberately putting away his handkerchief； and adjusting his frill；
“the law is so despotic here； that it interferes to prevent any of our
good English citizens from being troubled； even by a lady’s visits；
against his desire。 And； on his complaining that he is so troubled；
it takes hold of the troublesome lady； and shuts her up in prison
under hard discipline。 Turns the key upon her； mistress。”
Illustrating with the cellar key。
“Truly？” returns Mademoiselle； in the same pleasant voice。
“That is droll！ But—my faith！—still what does it matter to me！”
“My fair friend；” says Mr Tulkinghorn； “make another visit
here； or at Mr Snagsby’s； and you shall learn。”
“In that case you will send Me to the prison； perhaps？”
“Perhaps。”
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
… Page 812…
Bleak House 812
It would be contradictory for one in Mademoiselle’s state of
agreeable jocularity to foam at the mouth； otherwise a tigerish
expansion thereabouts might look as if a very little more would
make her do it。
“In a word； mistress；” says Mr Tulkinghorn； “I am sorry to be
unpolite； but if you ever present yourself uninvited here—or
there—again； I will give you over to the police。 Their gallantry is
great； but they carry troublesome people through the streets in an
ignominious manner； strapped down on a board； my good wench。”
“I will prove you；” whispers Mademoiselle； stretching out her
hand； “I will try if you dare to do it！”
“And if；” pursues the lawyer； without minding her； “I place you
in that good condition of being locked up in jail； it will be some
time before you find yourself at l