Barnaby Rudge: A Tale of the Riots of 'Eighty by Charles Dickens (classic books for 7th graders .txt) π
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- Author: Charles Dickens
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βMy name is Gabriel Varden, sir.β
βVarden, of course, Varden,β returned Sir John, tapping his forehead. βDear me, how very defective my memory becomes! Varden to be sureβMr Varden the locksmith. You have a charming wife, Mr Varden, and a most beautiful daughter. They are well?β
Gabriel thanked him, and said they were.
βI rejoice to hear it,β said Sir John. βCommend me to them when you return, and say that I wished I were fortunate enough to convey, myself, the salute which I entrust you to deliver. And what,β he asked very sweetly, after a momentβs pause, βcan I do for you? You may command me freely.β
βI thank you, Sir John,β said Gabriel, with some pride in his manner, βbut I have come to ask no favour of you, though I come on business.βPrivate,β he added, with a glance at the man who stood looking on, βand very pressing business.β
βI cannot say you are the more welcome for being independent, and having nothing to ask of me,β returned Sir John, graciously, βfor I should have been happy to render you a service; still, you are welcome on any terms. Oblige me with some more chocolate, Peak, and donβt wait.β
The man retired, and left them alone.
βSir John,β said Gabriel, βI am a working-man, and have been so, all my life. If I donβt prepare you enough for what I have to tell; if I come to the point too abruptly; and give you a shock, which a gentleman could have spared you, or at all events lessened very much; I hope you will give me credit for meaning well. I wish to be careful and considerate, and I trust that in a straightforward person like me, youβll take the will for the deed.β
βMr Varden,β returned the other, perfectly composed under this exordium; βI beg youβll take a chair. Chocolate, perhaps, you donβt relish? Well! it IS an acquired taste, no doubt.β
βSir John,β said Gabriel, who had acknowledged with a bow the invitation to be seated, but had not availed himself of it. βSir Johnββhe dropped his voice and drew nearer to the bedββI am just now come from Newgateββ
βGood Gad!β cried Sir John, hastily sitting up in bed; βfrom Newgate, Mr Varden! How could you be so very imprudent as to come from Newgate! Newgate, where there are jail-fevers, and ragged people, and bare-footed men and women, and a thousand horrors! Peak, bring the camphor, quick! Heaven and earth, Mr Varden, my dear, good soul, how COULD you come from Newgate?β
Gabriel returned no answer, but looked on in silence while Peak (who had entered with the hot chocolate) ran to a drawer, and returning with a bottle, sprinkled his masterβs dressing-gown and the bedding; and besides moistening the locksmith himself, plentifully, described a circle round about him on the carpet. When he had done this, he again retired; and Sir John, reclining in an easy attitude upon his pillow, once more turned a smiling face towards his visitor.
βYou will forgive me, Mr Varden, I am sure, for being at first a little sensitive both on your account and my own. I confess I was startled, notwithstanding your delicate exordium. Might I ask you to do me the favour not to approach any nearer?βYou have really come from Newgate!β
The locksmith inclined his head.
βIn-deed! And now, Mr Varden, all exaggeration and embellishment apart,β said Sir John Chester, confidentially, as he sipped his chocolate, βwhat kind of place IS Newgate?β
βA strange place, Sir John,β returned the locksmith, βof a sad and doleful kind. A strange place, where many strange things are heard and seen; but few more strange than that I come to tell you of. The case is urgent. I am sent here.β
βNotβno, noβnot from the jail?β
βYes, Sir John; from the jail.β
βAnd my good, credulous, open-hearted friend,β said Sir John, setting down his cup, and laughing,ββby whom?β
βBy a man called Dennisβfor many years the hangman, and to-morrow morning the hanged,β returned the locksmith.
Sir John had expectedβhad been quite certain from the firstβthat he would say he had come from Hugh, and was prepared to meet him on that point. But this answer occasioned him a degree of astonishment, which, for the moment, he could not, with all his command of feature, prevent his face from expressing. He quickly subdued it, however, and said in the same light tone:
βAnd what does the gentleman require of me? My memory may be at fault again, but I donβt recollect that I ever had the pleasure of an introduction to him, or that I ever numbered him among my personal friends, I do assure you, Mr Varden.β
βSir John,β returned the locksmith, gravely, βI will tell you, as nearly as I can, in the words he used to me, what he desires that you should know, and what you ought to know without a momentβs loss of time.β
Sir John Chester settled himself in a position of greater repose, and looked at his visitor with an expression of face which seemed to say, βThis is an amusing fellow! Iβll hear him out.β
βYou may have seen in the newspapers, sir,β said Gabriel, pointing to the one which lay by his side, βthat I was a witness against this man upon his trial some days since; and that it was not his fault I was alive, and able to speak to what I knew.β
βMAY have seen!β cried Sir John. βMy dear Mr Varden, you are quite a public character, and live in all menβs thoughts most deservedly. Nothing can exceed the interest with which I read your testimony, and remembered that I had the pleasure of a slight acquaintance with you.β-I hope we shall have your portrait published?β
βThis morning, sir,β said the locksmith, taking no notice of these compliments, βearly this morning, a message was brought to me from Newgate, at this manβs request, desiring that I would go and see him, for he had something particular to communicate. I neednβt tell you that he is no friend of mine, and that I had never seen him, until the rioters beset my house.β
Sir John fanned himself gently with the newspaper, and nodded.
βI knew, however, from the general report,β resumed Gabriel, βthat the order for his execution to-morrow, went down to the prison last night; and looking upon him as a dying man, I complied with his request.β
βYou are quite a Christian, Mr Varden,β said Sir John; βand in that amiable capacity, you increase my desire that you should take a chair.β
βHe said,β continued Gabriel, looking steadily at the knight, βthat he had sent to me, because he had no friend or companion in the whole world (being the common hangman), and because he believed, from the way in which I had given my evidence, that I was an honest man, and would act truly by him. He said that, being shunned by every one who knew his calling, even
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