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lavengro-第83部分

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went to several shops; and asked if Bibles were to be had:  I found 

that there were plenty。  When; however; I informed the people that 

I came to barter; they looked blank; and declined treating with me; 

saying that they did not do business in that way。  At last I went 

into a shop over the window of which I saw written; 'Books bought 

and exchanged':  there was a smartish young fellow in the shop; 

with black hair and whiskers; 'You exchange?' said I。  'Yes;' said 

he; 'sometimes; but we prefer selling; what book do you want?'  'A 

Bible;' said I。  'Ah;' said he; 'there's a great demand for Bibles 

just now; all kinds of people are become very pious of late;' he 

added; grinning at me; 'I am afraid I can't do business with you; 

more especially as the master is not at home。  What book have you 

brought?'  Taking the book out of my pocket; I placed it on the 

counter:  the young fellow opened the book; and inspecting the 

title…page; burst into a loud laugh。  'What do you laugh for?' said 

I; angrily; and half clenching my fist。  'Laugh!' said the young 

fellow; 'laugh! who could help laughing?'  'I could;' said I; 'I 

see nothing to laugh at; I want to exchange this book for a Bible。'  

'You do?' said the young fellow; 'well; I daresay there are plenty 

who would be willing to exchange; that is; if they dared。  I wish 

master were at home; but that would never do; either。  Master's a 

family man; the Bibles are not mine; and master being a family man; 

is sharp; and knows all his stock; I'd buy it of you; but; to tell 

you the truth; I am quite empty here;' said he; pointing to his 

pocket; 'so I am afraid we can't deal。'



Whereupon; looking anxiously at the young man; 'What am I to do?' 

said I; 'I really want a Bible。'



'Can't you buy one?' said the young man; 'have you no money?'



'Yes;' said I; 'I have some; but I am merely the agent of another; 

I came to exchange; not to buy; what am I to do?'



'I don't know;' said the young man; thoughtfully laying down the 

book on the counter; 'I don't know what you can do; I think you 

will find some difficulty in this bartering job; the trade are 

rather precise。'  All at once he laughed louder than before; 

suddenly stopping; however; he put on a very grave look。  'Take my 

advice;' said he; 'there is a firm established in this 

neighbourhood which scarcely sells any books but Bibles; they are 

very rich; and pride themselves on selling their books at the 

lowest possible price; apply to them; who knows but what they will 

exchange with you?'



Thereupon I demanded with some eagerness of the young man the 

direction to the place where he thought it possible that I might 

effect the exchange … which direction the young fellow cheerfully 

gave me; and; as I turned away; had the civility to wish me 

success。



I had no difficulty in finding the house to which the young fellow 

directed me; it was a very large house; situated in a square; and 

upon the side of the house was written in large letters; 'Bibles; 

and other religious books。'



At the door of the house were two or three tumbrils; in the act of 

being loaded with chests; very much resembling tea…chests; one of 

the chests falling down; burst; and out flew; not tea; but various 

books; in a neat; small size; and in neat leather covers; Bibles; 

said I; … Bibles; doubtless。  I was not quite right; nor quite 

wrong; picking up one of the books; I looked at it for a moment; 

and found it to be the New Testament。  'Come; young lad;' said a 

man who stood by; in the dress of a porter; 'put that book down; it 

is none of yours; if you want a book; go in and deal for one。'



Deal; thought I; deal; … the man seems to know what I am coming 

about; … and going in; I presently found myself in a very large 

room。  Behind a counter two men stood with their backs to a 

splendid fire; warming themselves; for the weather was cold。



Of these men one was dressed in brown; and the other was dressed in 

black; both were tall men … he who was dressed in brown was thin; 

and had a particularly ill…natured countenance; the man dressed in 

black was bulky; his features were noble; but they were those of a 

lion。



'What is your business; young man?' said the precise personage; as 

I stood staring at him and his companion。



'I want a Bible;' said I。



'What price; what size?' said the precise…looking man。



'As to size;' said I; 'I should like to have a large one … that is; 

if you can afford me one … I do not come to buy。'



'Oh; friend;' said the precise…looking man; 'if you come here 

expecting to have a Bible for nothing; you are mistaken … we … '



'I would scorn to have a Bible for nothing;' said I; 'or anything 

else; I came not to beg; but to barter; there is no shame in that; 

especially in a country like this; where all folks barter。'



'Oh; we don't barter;' said the precise man; 'at least Bibles; you 

had better depart。'



'Stay; brother;' said the man with the countenance of a lion; 'let 

us ask a few questions; this may be a very important case; perhaps 

the young man has had convictions。'



'Not I;' I exclaimed; 'I am convinced of nothing; and with regard 

to the Bible … I don't believe … '



'Hey!' said the man with the lion countenance; and there he 

stopped。  But with that 'Hey' the walls of the house seemed to 

shake; the windows rattled; and the porter whom I had seen in front 

of the house came running up the steps; and looked into the 

apartment through the glass of the door。



There was silence for about a minute … the same kind of silence 

which succeeds a clap of thunder。



At last the man with the lion countenance; who had kept his eyes 

fixed upon me; said calmly; 'Were you about to say that you don't 

believe in the Bible; young man?'



'No more than in anything else;' said I; 'you were talking of 

convictions … I have no convictions。  It is not easy to believe in 

the Bible till one is convinced that there is a Bible。'



'He seems to be insane;' said the prim…looking man; 'we had better 

order the porter to turn him out。'



'I am by no means certain;' said I; 'that the porter could turn me 

out; always provided there is a porter; and this system of ours be 

not a lie; and a dream。'



'Come;' said the lion…looking man; impatiently; 'a truce with this 

nonsense。  If the porter cannot turn you out; perhaps some other 

person can; but to the point … you want a Bible?'



'I do;' said I; 'but not for myself; I was sent by another person 

to offer something in exchange for one。'



'And who is that person?'



'A poor old woman; who has had what you call convictions; … heard 

voices; or thought she heard them … I forgot to ask her whether 

they were loud ones。'



'What has she sent to offer in exchange?' said the man; without 

taking any notice of the concluding part of my speech。



'A book;' said I。



'Let me see it。'



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