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！
swindles that had lately perished； was the only real atonement within
his power； was a better atonement to the particular man than it would be
to many men； and was therefore the atonement he had first to make。 With
this view； his intention was to print a declaration to the foregoing
effect； which he had already drawn up； and； besides circulating it
among all who had dealings with the House； to advertise it in the public
papers。 Concurrently with this measure （the description of which cost Mr
Rugg innumerable wry faces and great uneasiness in his limbs）； he would
address a letter to all the creditors； exonerating his partner in a
solemn manner； informing them of the stoppage of the House until their
pleasure could be known and his partner municated with； and humbly
submitting himself to their direction。 If； through their consideration
for his partner's innocence； the affairs could ever be got into such
train as that the business could be profitably resumed； and its present
downfall overe； then his own share in it should revert to his
partner； as the only reparation he could make to him in money value for
the distress and loss he had unhappily brought upon him； and he himself；
at as mall a salary as he could live upon； would ask to be allowed to
serve the business as a faithful clerk。
Though Mr Rugg saw plainly there was no preventing this from being done；
still the wryness of his face and the uneasiness of his limbs so sorely
required the propitiation of a Protest； that he made one。
'I offer no objection； sir；' said he； 'I argue no point with you。 I will
carry out your views； sir； but； under protest。' Mr Rugg then stated；
not without prolixity； the heads of his protest。 These were； in effect；
because the whole town； or he might say the whole country； was in the
first madness of the late discovery； and the resentment against the
victims would be very strong： those who had not been deluded being
certain to wax exceedingly wroth with them for not having been as wise
as they were： and those who had been deluded being certain to find
excuses and reasons for themselves； of which they were equally certain
to see that other sufferers were wholly devoid： not to mention the great
probability of every individual sufferer persuading himself； to his
violent indignation； that but for the example of all the other sufferers
he never would have put himself in the way of suffering。 Because such a
declaration as Clennam's； made at such a time； would certainly draw down
upon him a storm of animosity； rendering it impossible to calculate on
forbearance in the creditors； or on unanimity among them； and exposing
him a solitary target to a straggling cross…fire； which might bring him
down from half…a…dozen quarters at once。
To all this Clennam merely replied that； granting the whole protest；
nothing in it lessened the force； or could lessen the force； of the
voluntary and public exoneration of his partner。 He therefore； once
and for all； requested Mr Rugg's immediate aid in getting the business
despatched。 Upon that； Mr Rugg fell to work； and Arthur； retaining no
property to himself but his clothes and books； and a little loose
money； placed his small private banker's…account with the papers of the
business。
The disclosure was made； and the storm raged fearfully。 Thousands of
people were wildly staring about for somebody alive to heap reproaches
on； and this notable case； courting publicity； set the living somebody
so much wanted； on a scaffold。 When people who had nothing to do with
the case were so sensible of its flagrancy； people who lost money by it
could scarcely be expected to deal mildly with it。 Letters of reproach
and invective showered in from the creditors； and Mr Rugg； who sat upon
the high stool every day and read them all； informed his client within a
week that he feared there were writs out。
'I must take the consequences of what I have done；' said Clennam。 'The
writs will find me here。'
On the very next morning； as he was turning in Bleeding Heart Yard by
Mrs Plornish's corner； Mrs Plornish stood at the door waiting for him；
and mysteriously besought him to step into Happy Cottage。 There he found
Mr Rugg。
'I thought I'd wait for you here。 I wouldn't go on to the Counting…house
this morning if I was you； sir。'
'Why not； Mr Rugg？'
'There are as many as five out； to my knowledge。'
'It cannot be too soon over；' said Clennam。 'Let them take me at once。'
'Yes； but；' said Mr Rugg； getting between him and the door； 'hear
reason； hear reason。 They'll take you soon enough； Mr Clennam； I don't
doubt； but； hear reason。 It almost always happens； in these cases；
that some insignificant matter pushes itself in front and makes much
of itself。 Now； I find there's a little one out……a mere Palace Court
jurisdiction……and I have reason to believe that a caption may be made
upon that。 I wouldn't be taken upon that。'
'Why not？' asked Clennam。
'I'd be taken on a full…grown one； sir；' said Mr Rugg。 'It's as well to
keep up appearances。 As your professional adviser； I should prefer your
being taken on a writ from one of the Superior Courts； if you have no
objection to do me that favour。 It looks better。'
'Mr Rugg；' said Arthur； in his dejection； 'my only wish is； that it
should be over。 I will go on； and take my chance。'
'Another word of reason； sir！' cried Mr Rugg。 'Now； this is reason。
The other may be taste； but this is reason。 If you should be taken on a
little one； sir； you would go to the Marshalsea。 Now； you know what the
Marshalsea is。 Very close。 Excessively confined。 Whereas in the King's
Bench……' Mr Rugg waved his right hand freely； as expressing abundance of
space。 'I would rather；' said Clennam； 'be taken to the Marshalsea than
to any other prison。'
'Do you say so indeed； sir？' returned Mr Rugg。 'Then this is taste； too；
and we may be walking。'
He was a little offended at first； but he soon overlooked it。 They
walked through the Yard to the other end。 The Bleeding Hearts were more
interested in Arthur since his reverses than formerly； now regarding him
as one who was true to the place and had taken up his freedom。 Many of