Chapter 49 (第1/2页)

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MONKSANDMR。BROWNLOWATLENGTHMEET。THEIRCONVERSATION，ANDTHEINTELLIGENCETHATINTERRUPTSIT

Thetwilightwasbeginningtoclosein，whenMr。Brownlowalightedfromahackney-coachathisowndoor，andknockedsoftly。Thedoorbeingopened，asturdymangotoutofthecoachandstationedhimselfononesideofthesteps，whileanotherman，whohadbeenseatedonthebox，dismountedtoo，andstoodupontheotherside。AtasignfromMr。Brownlow，theyhelpedoutathirdman，andtakinghimbetweenthem，hurriedhimintothehouse。ThismanwasMonks。

Theywalkedinthesamemannerupthestairswithoutspeaking，andMr。Brownlow，precedingthem，ledthewayintoaback-room。Atthedoorofthisapartment，Monks，whohadascendedwithevidentreluctance，stopped。Thetwomenlookedattheoldgentlemanasifforinstructions。

‘Heknowsthealternative，’saidMr。Browlow。‘Ifhehesitatesormovesafingerbutasyoubidhim，draghimintothestreet，callfortheaidofthepolice，andimpeachhimasafeloninmyname。’

‘Howdareyousaythisofme？’askedMonks。

‘Howdareyouurgemetoit，youngman？’repliedMr。Brownlow，confrontinghimwithasteadylook。‘Areyoumadenoughtoleavethishouse？Unhandhim。There，sir。Youarefreetogo，andwetofollow。ButIwarnyou，byallIholdmostsolemnandmostsacred，thatinstantwillhaveyouapprehendedonachargeoffraudandrobbery。Iamresoluteandimmoveable。Ifyouaredeterminedtobethesame，yourbloodbeuponyourownhead！’

‘BywhatauthorityamIkidnappedinthestreet，andbroughtherebythesedogs？’askedMonks，lookingfromonetotheotherofthemenwhostoodbesidehim。

‘Bymine，’repliedMr。Brownlow。‘Thosepersonsareindemnifiedbyme。Ifyoucomplainofbeingdeprivedofyourliberty--youhadpowerandopportunitytoretrieveitasyoucamealong，butyoudeemeditadvisabletoremainquiet--Isayagain，throwyourselfforprotectiononthelaw。Iwillappealtothelawtoo；butwhenyouhavegonetoofartorecede，donotsuetomeforleniency，whenthepowerwillhavepassedintootherhands；anddonotsayIplungedyoudownthegulfintowhichyourushed，yourself。’

Monkswasplainlydisconcerted，andalarmedbesides。Hehesitated。

‘Youwilldecidequickly，’saidMr。Brownlow，withperfectfirmnessandcomposure。‘Ifyouwishmetoprefermychargespublicly，andconsignyoutoapunishmenttheextentofwhich，althoughIcan，withashudder，foresee，Icannotcontrol，oncemore，Isay，foryouknowtheway。Ifnot，andyouappealtomyforbearance，andthemercyofthoseyouhavedeeplyinjured，seatyourself，withoutaword，inthatchair。Ithaswaitedforyoutwowholedays。’

Monksmutteredsomeunintelligiblewords，butwaveredstill。

‘Youwillbeprompt，’saidMr。Brownlow。‘Awordfromme，andthealternativehasgoneforever。’

Stillthemanhesitated。

‘Ihavenottheinclinationtoparley，’saidMr。Brownlow，‘and，asIadvocatethedearestinterestsofothers，Ihavenottheright。’

‘Isthere--’demandedMonkswithafalteringtongue，--‘isthere--nomiddlecourse？’

‘None。’

Monkslookedattheoldgentleman，withananxiouseye；but，readinginhiscountenancenothingbutseverityanddetermination，walkedintotheroom，and，shrugginghisshoulders，satdown。

‘Lockthedoorontheoutside，’saidMr。Brownlowtotheattendants，‘andcomewhenIring。’

Themenobeyed，andthetwowereleftalonetogether。

‘Thisisprettytreatment，sir，’saidMonks，throwingdownhishatandcloak，‘frommyfather'soldestfriend。’

‘ItisbecauseIwasyourfather'soldestfriend，youngman，’returnedMr。Brownlow；‘itisbecausethehopesandwishesofyoungandhappyyearswereboundupwithhim，andthatfaircreatureofhisbloodandkindredwhorejoinedherGodinyouth，andleftmehereasolitary，lonelyman：itisbecausehekneltwithmebesidehisonlysisters’death-bedwhenhewasyetaboy，onthemorningthatwould--butHeavenwilledotherwise--havemadehermyyoungwife；itisbecausemysearedheartclungtohim，fromthattimeforth，throughallhistrialsanderrors，tillhedied；itisbecauseoldrecollectionsandassociationsfilledmyheart，andeventhesightofyoubringswithitoldthoughtsofhim；itisbecauseofallthesethingsthatIammovedtotreatyougentlynow--yes，EdwardLeeford，evennow--andblushforyourunworthinesswhobearthename。‘

‘Whathasthenametodowithit？’askedtheother，aftercontemplating，halfinsilence，andhalfindoggedwonder，theagitationofhiscompanion。‘Whatisthenametome？’

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