little dorrit-信丽(英文版)-第36章

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the　landscape。　Cain　might　have　looked　as　lonely　and　avoided。　With　an　old
sheepskin　knapsack　at　his　back；　and　a　rough；　unbarked　stick　cut　out　of
some　wood　in　his　hand；　miry；　footsore；　his　shoes　and　gaiters　trodden
out；　his　hair　and　beard　untrimmed；　the　cloak　he　carried　over　his
shoulder；　and　the　clothes　he　wore；　sodden　with　wet；　limping　along　in
pain　and　difficulty；　he　looked　as　if　the　clouds　were　hurrying　from　him；
as　if　the　wail　of　the　wind　and　the　shuddering　of　the　grass　were　directed
against　him；　as　if　the　low　mysterious　plashing　of　the　water　murmured　at
him；　as　if　the　fitful　autumn　night　were　disturbed　by　him。

He　glanced　here；　and　he　glanced　there；　sullenly　but　shrinkingly；　and
sometimes　stopped　and　turned　about；　and　looked　all　round　him。　Then　he
limped　on　again；　toiling　and　muttering。

'To　the　devil　with　this　plain　that　has　no　end！　To　the　devil　with　these
stones　that　cut　like　knives！　To　the　devil　with　this　dismal　darkness；
wrapping　itself　about　one　with　a　chill！　I　hate　you！'

And　he　would　have　visited　his　hatred　upon　it　all　with　the　scowl　he　threw
about　him；　if　he　could。　He　trudged　a　little　further；　and　looking　into
the　distance　before　him；　stopped　again。　'I；　hungry；　thirsty；　weary。　You；
imbeciles；　where　the　lights　are　yonder；　eating　and　drinking；　and　warming
yourselves　at　fires！　I　wish　I　had　the　sacking　of　your　town；　I　would
repay　you；　my　children！'

But　the　teeth　he　set　at　the　town；　and　the　hand　he　shook　at　the　town；
brought　the　town　no　nearer；　and　the　man　was　yet　hungrier；　and　thirstier；
and　wearier；　when　his　feet　were　on　its　jagged　pavement；　and　he　stood
looking　about　him。

There　was　the　hotel　with　its　gateway；　and　its　savoury　smell　of　cooking；
there　was　the　cafe　with　its　bright　windows；　and　its　rattling　of
dominoes；　there　was　the　dyer's　with　its　strips　of　red　cloth　on　the
doorposts；　there　was　the　silversmith's　with　its　earrings；　and　its
offerings　for　altars；　there　was　the　tobacco　dealer's　with　its　lively
group　of　soldier　customers　ing　out　pipe　in　mouth；　there　were　the　bad
odours　of　the　town；　and　the　rain　and　the　refuse　in　the　kennels；　and
the　faint　lamps　slung　across　the　road；　and　the　huge　Diligence；　and　its
mountain　of　luggage；　and　its　six　grey　horses　with　their　tails　tied　up；
getting　under　weigh　at　the　coach　office。　But　no　small　cabaret　for　a
straitened　traveller　being　within　sight；　he　had　to　seek　one　round　the
dark　corner；　where　the　cabbage　leaves　lay　thickest；　trodden　about　the
public　cistern　at　which　women　had　not　yet　left　off　drawing　water。　There；
in　the　back　street　he　found　one；　the　Break　of　Day。　The　curtained　windows
clouded　the　Break　of　Day；　but　it　seemed　light　and　warm；　and　it　announced
in　legible　inscriptions　with　appropriate　pictorial　embellishment
of　billiard　cue　and　ball；　that　at　the　Break　of　Day　one　could　play
billiards；　that　there　one　could　find　meat；　drink；　and　lodgings；　whether
one　came　on　horseback；　or　came　on　foot；　and　that　it　kept　good　wines；
liqueurs；　and　brandy。　The　man　turned　the　handle　of　the　Break　of　Day
door；　and　limped　in。

He　touched　his　discoloured　slouched　hat；　as　he　came　in　at　the　door；　to
a　few　men　who　occupied　the　room。　Two　were　playing　dominoes　at　one　of　the
little　tables；　three　or　four　were　seated　round　the　stove；　conversing
as　they　smoked；　the　billiard…table　in　the　centre　was　left　alone　for　the
time；　the　landlady　of　the　Daybreak　sat　behind　her　little　counter　among
her　cloudy　bottles　of　syrups；　baskets　of　cakes；　and　leaden　drainage　for
glasses；　working　at　her　needle。

Making　his　way　to　an　empty　little　table　in　a　corner　of　the　room　behind
the　stove；　he　put　down　his　knapsack　and　his　cloak　upon　the　ground。　As
he　raised　his　head　from　stooping　to　do　so；　he　found　the　landlady　beside
him。

'One　can　lodge　here　to…night；　madame？'

'Perfectly！'　said　the　landlady　in　a　high；　sing…song；　cheery　voice。

'Good。　One　can　dine……sup……what　you　please　to　call　it？'

'Ah；　perfectly！'　cried　the　landlady　as　before。　'Dispatch　then；　madame；
if　you　please。　Something　to　eat；　as　quickly　as　you　can；　and　some　wine　at
once。　I　am　exhausted。'

'It　is　very　bad　weather；　monsieur；'　said　the　landlady。

'Cursed　weather。'

'And　a　very　long　road。'

'A　cursed　road。'

His　hoarse　voice　failed　him；　and　he　rested　his　head　upon　his　hands　until
a　bottle　of　wine　was　brought　from　the　counter。　Having　filled　and　emptied
his　little　tumbler　twice；　and　having　broken　off　an　end　from　the　great
loaf　that　was　set　before　him　with　his　cloth　and　napkin；　soup…plate；
salt；　pepper；　and　oil；　he　rested　his　back　against　the　corner　of　the
wall；　made　a　couch　of　the　bench　on　which　he　sat；　and　began　to　chew
crust；　until　such　time　as　his　repast　should　be　ready。　There　had　been
that　momentary　interruption　of　the　talk　about　the　stove；　and　that
temporary　inattention　to　and　distraction　from　one　another；　which　is
usually　inseparable　in　such　a　pany　from　the　arrival　of　a　stranger。　It
had　passed　over　by　this　time；　and　the　men　had　done　glancing　at　him；　and
were　talking　again。

'That's　the　true　reason；'　said　one　of　them；　bringing　a　story　he　had
been　telling；　to　a　close；　'that's　the　true　reason　why　they　said　that　the
devil　was　let　loose。'　The　speaker　was　the　tall　Swiss　belonging　to　the
church；　and　he　brought　something　of　the　authority　of　the　church　into　the
discussion……especially　as　the　devil　was　in　question。

The　landlady　having　given　her　directions　for　the　new　guest's
entertainment　to　her　husband；　who　acted　as　cook　to　the　Break　of　Day；　had
resumed　her　needlework　behind　her　counter。　She　was　a　smart；　neat；　bright
little　woman；　with　a　good　deal　of　cap　and　a　good　deal　of　stocking；　and
she　struck　into　the　conversation　with　several　laughing　nods　of　her　head；
but　without　looking　up　from　her　work。

'Ah　Heaven；　then；'　said　she。　'When　the　boat　came　up　from　Lyons；　and
brought　the　news　that　the　devil　was　actually　let　loose　at　Marseilles；
some　fly…catchers　swallowed　it。　But　I？　No；　not　I。'

'Madame；　you　are　always　right；'　returned　the　tall　Swiss。　'Doubtless　you
were　enraged　against　that　man；　madame？'

'Ay；　yes；　then！'　cried　the　landlady；　raising　her　eyes　from　her　work；
opening　them　very　wide；　and　tossing　her　head　on　one　side。　'Naturally；
yes。'

'He　was　a　bad　subject。'

'He　was　a　wicked　wretch；'　said　the　landlady；　'and　well　merited　what　he
had　the　good　fortune　to　escape。　So　much　the　worse。'

'Stay；　madame！　Let　us　see；'　returned　the　Swiss；　argumentatively　turning
his　cigar　between　his　lips。　'It　may　have　been　his　unfortunate　destiny。
He　may　have　been　the　child　of　circumstances。　It　is　always　possible　that
he　had；　and　has；　good　in　him　if　one　did　but　know　how　to　find　it　out。
Philosophical　philanthropy　teaches……'

The　rest　of　the　little　knot　about　the　stove　murmured　an　objection　to
the　introduction　of　that　threatening　expression。　Even　the　two　players
at　dominoes　glanced　up　from　their　game；　as　if　to　protest　against
philosophical　philanthropy　being　brought　by　name　into　the　Break　of　Day。

'Hold　there；　you　and　your　philanthropy；'　cried　the　smiling　landlady；
nodding　her　head　more　than　ever。　'Listen　then。　I　am　a　woman；　I。　I　know
nothing　of　philosophical　philanthropy。　But　I　know　what　I　have　seen；　and
what　I　have　looked　in　the　face　in　this　world　here；　where　I　find　myself。
And　I　tell　you　this；　my　friend；　that　there　are　people　（men　and　women
both；　unfortunately）　who　have　no　good　in　them……none。　That　there　are
people　whom　it　is　necessary　to　detest　without　promise。　That　there　are
people　who　must　be　dealt　with　as　enemies　of　the　human　race。　That　there
are　people　who　have　no　human　heart；　and　who　must　be　crushed　like　savage
beasts　and　cleared　out　of　the　way。　They　are　but　few；　I　hope；　but　I　have
seen　（in　this　world　here　where　I　find　myself；　and　even　at　the　little
Break　of　Day）　that　there　are　such　people。　And　I　do　not　doubt　that　this
man……whatever　they　call　him；　I　forget　his　name……is　one　of　them。'

The　landlady's　lively　speech　was　received　with　greater　favour　at
the　Break　of　Day；　than　it　would　have　elicited　from　certain　amiable
whitewashers　of　the　class　she　so　unreasonably　objected　to；　nearer　Great
Britain。

'My　faith！　If　your　philosophical　philanthropy；'　said　the　landlady；
putting　down　her　work；　and　rising　to　take　the　stranger's　soup　from　her
husband；　who