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lavengro-第52部分

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'Did you ever see Big Ben?'



'No; why do you ask?'  But here we heard a noise; like that of a 

gig driving up to the door; which was immediately succeeded by a 

violent knocking and ringing; and after a little time the servant 

who had admitted me made his appearance in the room。  'Sir;' said 

he; with a certain eagerness of manner; 'here are two gentlemen 

waiting to speak to you。'



'Gentlemen waiting to speak to me! who are they?'



'I don't know; sir;' said the servant; 'but they look like sporting 

gentlemen; and … and' … here he hesitated; 'from a word or two they 

dropped; I almost think that they come about the fight。'



'About the fight!' said the magistrate。  'No; that can hardly be; 

however; you had better show them in。'



Heavy steps were now heard ascending the stairs; and the servant 

ushered two men into the apartment。  Again there was a barking; but 

louder than that which had been directed against myself; for here 

were two intruders; both of them were remarkable…looking men; but 

to the foremost of them the most particular notice may well be 

accorded:  he was a man somewhat under thirty; and nearly six feet 

in height。  He was dressed in a blue coat; white corduroy breeches; 

fastened below the knee with small golden buttons; on his legs he 

wore white lamb's…wool stockings; and on his feet shoes reaching to 

the ankles; round his neck was a handkerchief of the blue and 

bird's eye pattern; he wore neither whiskers nor moustaches; and 

appeared not to delight in hair; that of his head; which was of a 

light brown; being closely cropped; the forehead was rather high; 

but somewhat narrow; the face neither broad nor sharp; perhaps 

rather sharp than broad; the nose was almost delicate; the eyes 

were gray; with an expression in which there was sternness blended 

with something approaching to feline; his complexion was 

exceedingly pale; relieved; however; by certain pock…marks; which 

here and there studded his countenance; his form was athletic; but 

lean; his arms long。  In the whole appearance of the man there was 

a blending of the bluff and the sharp。  You might have supposed him 

a bruiser; his dress was that of one in all its minutiae; something 

was wanting; however; in his manner … the quietness of the 

professional man; he rather looked like one performing the part … 

well … very well … but still performing a part。  His companion! … 

there; indeed; was the bruiser … no mistake about him:  a tall 

massive man; with a broad countenance and a flattened nose; dressed 

like a bruiser; but not like a bruiser going into the ring; he wore 

white…topped boots; and a loose brown jockey coat。



As the first advanced towards the table; behind which the 

magistrate sat; he doffed a white castor from his head; and made 

rather a genteel bow; looking at me; who sat somewhat on one side; 

he gave a kind of nod of recognition。



'May I request to know who you are; gentlemen?' said the 

magistrate。



'Sir;' said the man in a deep; but not unpleasant voice; 'allow me 

to introduce to you my friend; Mr。 …; the celebrated pugilist'; and 

he motioned with his hand towards the massive man with the 

flattened nose。



'And your own name; sir?' said the magistrate。



'My name is no matter;' said the man; 'were I to mention it to you; 

it would awaken within you no feeling of interest。  It is neither 

Kean nor Belcher; and I have as yet done nothing to distinguish 

myself like either of those individuals; or even like my friend 

here。  However; a time may come … we are not yet buried; and 

whensoever my hour arrives; I hope I shall prove myself equal to my 

destiny; however high …





'Like bird that's bred amongst the Helicons。'





And here a smile half theatrical passed over his features。



'In what can I oblige you; sir?' said the magistrate。



'Well; sir; the soul of wit is brevity; we want a place for an 

approaching combat between my friend here and a brave from town。  

Passing by your broad acres this fine morning we saw a pightle; 

which we deemed would suit。  Lend us that pightle; and receive our 

thanks; 'twould be a favour; though not much to grant:  we neither 

ask for Stonehenge nor for Tempe。'



My friend looked somewhat perplexed; after a moment; however; he 

said; with a firm but gentlemanly air; 'Sir; I am sorry that I 

cannot comply with your request。'



'Not comply!' said the man; his brow becoming dark as midnight; and 

with a hoarse and savage tone; 'Not comply! why not?'



'It is impossible; sir; utterly impossible!'



'Why so?'



'I am not compelled to give my reasons to you; sir; nor to any 

man。'



'Let me beg of you to alter your decision;' said the man; in a tone 

of profound respect。



'Utterly impossible; sir; I am a magistrate。'



'Magistrate! then fare ye well; for a green…coated buffer and a 

Harmanbeck。'



'Sir!' said the magistrate; springing up with a face fiery with 

wrath。



But; with a surly nod to me; the man left the apartment; and in a 

moment more the heavy footsteps of himself and his companion were 

heard descending the staircase。



'Who is that man?' said my friend; turning towards me。



'A sporting gentleman; well known in the place from which I come。'



'He appeared to know you。'



'I have occasionally put on the gloves with him。'



'What is his name?'







CHAPTER XXV







Doubts … Wise king of Jerusalem … Let me see … A thousand years … 

Nothing new … The crowd … The hymn … Faith … Charles Wesley … There 

he stood … Farewell; brother … Death … Sun; moon; and stars … Wind 

on the heath。



THERE was one question which I was continually asking myself at 

this period; and which has more than once met the eyes of the 

reader who has followed me through the last chapter:  'What is 

truth?'  I had involved myself imperceptibly in a dreary labyrinth 

of doubt; and; whichever way I turned; no reasonable prospect of 

extricating myself appeared。  The means by which I had brought 

myself into this situation may be very briefly told; I had inquired 

into many matters; in order that I might become wise; and I had 

read and pondered over the words of the wise; so called; till I had 

made myself master of the sum of human wisdom; namely; that 

everything is enigmatical and that man is an enigma to himself; 

thence the cry of 'What is truth?'  I had ceased to believe in the 

truth of that in which I had hitherto trusted; and yet could find 

nothing in which I could put any fixed or deliberate belief … I 

was; indeed; in a labyrinth!  In what did I not doubt?  With 

respect to crime and virtue I was in doubt; I doubted that the one 

was blamable and the other praiseworthy。  Are not all things 

subjected to the law of necessity?  Assuredly time and chance 

govern all things:  Yet how can this be? alas!



Then there was myself; for what was I born?  Are not all things 
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