What a scampering2 of feet is there, what a laughing and talking, what a jostling to be first; and what an immense number of manoeuvres are resorted to by some of the throng3 to distance others!
And mostly from Lincoln's-inn do these persons, young and old, but most certainly a majority of the former, come bustling4 and striving, although from the neighbouring legal establishments likewise there came not a few; the Temple contributes its numbers, and from the more distant Gray's-inn there came a goodly lot.
Now Bell-yard is almost choked up, and a stranger would wonder what could be the matter, and most probably stand in some doorway5 until the commotion was over.
Is it a fire? is it a fight? or anything else sufficiently6 alarming and extraordinary to excite the junior members of the legal profession to such a species of madness? No, it is none of these, nor is there a fat cause to be run for, which, in the hands of some clever practitioner8, might become quite a vested interest. No, the enjoyment9 is purely10 one of a physical character, and all the pacing and racing—all this turmoil11 and trouble—all this pushing, jostling, laughing, and shouting, is to see who will get first to Lovett's pie-shop.
Yes, on the left-hand side of Bell-yard, going down from Carey-street, was at the time we write of, one of the most celebrated12 shops for the sale of veal13 and pork pies that ever London produced. High and low, rich and poor, resorted to it; its fame had spread far and wide; it was because the first batch14 of these pies came up at twelve o'clock that there was such a rush of the legal profession to obtain them.
Their fame had spread even to great distances, and many persons carried them to the suburbs of the city as quite a treat to friends and relations there residing. And well did they deserve their reputation, those delicious pies! there was about them a flavour never surpassed, and rarely equalled; the paste was of the most delicate construction, and impregnated with the aroma15 of a delicious gravy16 that defies description. Then the small portions of meat which they contained were so tender, and the fat and the lean so artistically17 mixed up, that to eat one of Lovett's pies was such a provocative18 to eat another, that many persons who came to lunch stayed to dine, wasting more than an hour, perhaps, of precious time, and endangering—who knows to the contrary?—the success of some law-suit thereby19.
The counter in Lovett's shop was in the shape of a horseshoe, and it was the custom of the young bloods from the Temple and Lincoln's-inn to set in a row upon its edge while they partook of the delicious pies, and chatted gaily20 about one concern and another.
Many an appointment for the evening was made at Lovett's pie shop, and many a piece of gossiping scandal was there first circulated. The din7 of tongues was prodigious21. The ringing laugh of the boy who looked upon the quarter of an hour he spent at Lovett's as the brightest of the whole twenty-four, mingled22 gaily with the more boisterous23 mirth of his seniors; and, oh! with what rapidity the pies disappeared.
They were brought up on large trays, each of which contained about a hundred, and from these trays they were so speedily transferred to the mouths of Mrs. Lovett's customers that it looked quite like a work of magic.
And now we have let out some portion of the secret. There was a Mistress Lovett; but possibly our reader guessed as much, for what but a female hand, and that female buxom24, young, and good-looking, could have ventured upon the production of those pies. Yes, Mrs. Lovett was all that; and every enamoured young scion25 of the law, as he devoured26 his pie, pleased himself with the idea that the charming Mrs. Lovett had made that pie especially for him, and that fate or predestination had placed it in his hands.
And it was astonishing to see with what impartiality27 and with what tact28 the fair pastry-cook bestowed29 her smiles upon her admirers, so that none could say he was neglected, while it was extremely difficult for any one to say he was preferred.
This was pleasant, but at the same time it was provoking to all except Mrs. Lovett, in whose favour it got up a kind of excitement that paid extraordinarily30 well, because some of the young fellows thought, that he who consumed the most pies, would be in the most likely way to receive the greatest number of smiles from the lady.
Acting31 upon this supposition, some of her more enthusiastic admirers went on consuming the pies until they were almost ready to burst. But there were others, again, of a more philosophic32 turn of mind, who went for the pies only, and did not care one jot33 for Mrs. Lovett.
These declared that her smile was cold and uncomfortable—that it was upon her lips, but had no place in her heart—that it was the set smile of a ballet-dancer, which is about one of the most unmirthful things in existence.
Then there were some who went even beyond this, and, while they admitted the excellence34 of the pies, and went every day to partake of them, swore that Mrs. Lovett had quite a sinister35 aspect, and that they could see what a merely superficial affair her blandishments were, and that there was
that, if once roused, would be capable of achieving some serious things, and might not be so easily quelled37 again.
By five minutes past twelve Mrs. Lovett's counter was full, and the savoury steam of the hot pies went out in fragrant38 clouds into Bell-yard, being sniffed39 up by many a poor wretch40 passing by who lacked the means of making one in the throng that were devouring41 the dainty morsels42 within.
"Why, Tobias Ragg," said a young man, with his mouth full of pie, "where have you been since you left Mr. Snow's in Paper-buildings? I have not seen you for some days."
"No," said Tobias, "I have gone into another line; instead of being a lawyer, and helping43 to shave the clients, I am going to shave the lawyers now. A twopenny pork, if you please, Mrs. Lovett. Ah! who would be an emperor, if he couldn't get pies like these?—eh, Master Clift?"
"Well, they are good; of course we know that, Tobias; but do you mean to say you are going to be a barber?"
"Yes, I am with Sweeney Todd, the barber of Fleet-street, close to St. Dunstan's."
"The deuce you are! well, I am going to a party to-night, and I'll drop in and get dressed and shaved, and patronise your master."
Tobias put his mouth close to the ear of the young lawyer, and in a fearful sort of whisper said the one word—"Don't."
"Don't! what for?"
Tobias made no answer; and, throwing down his twopence, scampered44 out of the shop as fast as he could. He had only sent a message by Sweeney Todd in the neighbourhood; but, as he heard the clock strike twelve, and two penny pieces were lying at the bottom of his pocket, it was not in human nature to resist running into Lovett's and converting them into a pork pie.
"What an odd thing!" thought the young lawyer. "I'll just drop in at Sweeney Todd's now on purpose, and ask Tobias what he means. I quite forgot, too, while he was here, to ask him what all that riot was about a dog at Todd's door."
"A veal!" said a young man, rushing in; "a twopenny veal, Mrs. Lovett." When he got it he consumed it with voracity45, and then noticing an acquaintance in the shop, he whispered to him,—
"I can't stand it any more. I have cut the spectacle-maker—Johanna is faithless, and I know not what to do."
"Have another pie."
"But what's a pie to Johanna Oakley? You know, Dilki, that I only went there to be near the charmer. Damn the shutters46 and curse the spectacles! She loves another, and I'm a desperate individual! I should like to do some horrible and desperate act. Oh, Johanna, Johanna! you have driven me to the verge47 of what do you call it—I'll take another veal, if you please, Mrs. Lovett."
"Well, I was wondering how you got on," said his friend Dilki, "and thinking of calling upon you."
"Oh! it was all right—it was all right at first; she smiled upon me."
"You are quite sure she didn't laugh at you?"
"Sir! Mr. Dilki!"
"I say, are you sure that instead of smiling upon you she was not laughing at you!"
"Very good; now I am convinced that the girl has been having a bit of fun at your expense.—Are you not aware, Sam, that your nose turns up so much that it's enough to pitch you head over heels. How do you suppose that any girl under forty-five would waste a word upon you? Mind, I don't say this to offend you in any way, but just quietly, by way of asking a question."
Sam looked daggers49, and probably he might have attempted some desperate act in the pie-shop, if at the moment he had not caught the eye of Mrs. Lovett, and he saw by the expression of that lady's face, that anything in the shape of a riot would be speedily suppressed, so he darted50 out of the place at once to carry his sorrows and his bitterness elsewhere.
It was only between twelve and one o'clock that such a tremendous rush and influx51 of visitors came to the pie-shop, for although there was a good custom the whole day, and the concern was a money-making one from morning till night, it was at that hour principally that the great consumption of pies took place.
Tobias knew from experience that Sweeney Todd was a skilful52 calculator of the time it ought to take to go to different places, and accordingly since he had occupied some portion of that most valuable of all commodities at Mrs. Lovett's, he arrived quite breathless at his master's shop.
There sat the mysterious dog with the hat, and Tobias lingered for a moment to speak to the animal. Dogs are great physiognomists; and as the creature looked into Tobias's face he seemed to draw a favourable53 conclusion regarding him, for he submitted to a caress54.
"Poor fellow!" said Tobias. "I wish I knew what had become of your master, but it made me shake like a leaf to wake up last night and ask myself the question. You shan't starve, though, if I can help it. I haven't much for myself, but you shall have some of it."
As he spoke55, Tobias took from his pocket some not very tempting56 cold meat, which was intended for his own dinner, and which he had wrapped up in not the cleanest of cloths. He gave a piece to the dog, who took it with a dejected air, and then crouched57 down at Sweeney Todd's door again.
Just then, as Tobias was about to enter the shop, he thought he heard from within, a strange shrieking58 sort of sound. On the impulse of the moment he recoiled59 a step or two, and then, from some other impulse, he dashed forward at once, and entered the shop.
The first object that presented itself to his attention, lying upon a side table, was a hat with a handsome gold-headed walking cane60 lying across it.
The arm-chair in which customers usually sat to be shaved was vacant, and Sweeney Todd's face was just projected into the shop from the back parlour, and wearing a most singular and hideous61 expression.
"Well, Tobias," he said, as he advanced, rubbing his great hands together, "well, Tobias! so you could not resist the pie-shop?"
"How does he know?" thought Tobias. "Yes, sir, I have been to the pie-shop, but I didn't stay a minute."
"Hark ye, Tobias! the only thing I can excuse in the way of delay upon an errand is, for you to get one of Mrs. Lovett's pies; that I can look over, so think no more about it. Are they not delicious, Tobias?"
"Yes, sir, they are; but some gentleman seems to have left his hat and stick."
"Yes," said Sweeney Todd, "he has;" and lifting the stick he struck Tobias a blow with it that felled him to the ground. "Lesson the second to Tobias Ragg, which teaches him to make no remarks about what does not concern him. You may think what you like, Tobias Ragg, but you shall say only what I like."
"I won't endure it," cried the boy; "I won't be knocked about in this way, I tell you, Sweeney Todd, I won't."
"You won't! have you forgotten your mother?"
"You say you have a power over my mother; but I don't know what it is, and I cannot and will not believe it; I'll leave you, and, come of it what may, I'll go to sea or anywhere rather than stay in such a place as this."
"Oh, you will, will you? Then, Tobias, you and I must come to some explanation. I'll tell you what power I have over your mother, and then perhaps you will be satisfied. Last winter, when the frost had continued eighteen weeks, and you and your mother were starving, she was employed to clean out the chambers62 of a Mr. King, in the Temple, a cold-hearted, severe man, who never forgave anything in all his life, and never will."
"I remember," said Tobias; "we were starving and owed a whole guinea for rent; but mother borrowed it and paid it, and after that got a situation where she now is."
"Ah, you think so. The rent was paid; but, Tobias, my boy, a word in your ear—she took a silver candlestick from Mr. King's chambers to pay it. I know it. I can prove it. Think of that, Tobias, and be discreet63."
"Have mercy upon us," said the boy; "they would take her life!"
"Her life!" screamed Sweeney Todd; "ay, to be sure they would; they would hang her—hang her, I say; and now mind, if you force me by any conduct of your own, to mention this thing, you are your mother's executioner. I had better go and be deputy hangman at once, and turn her off."
"Horrible, horrible!"
"Oh, you don't like that? Indeed, that don't suit you, Master Tobias? Be discreet then, and you have nothing to fear. Do not force me to show a power which will be as complete as it is terrific."
"I will say nothing—I will think nothing."
"'Tis well; now go and put that hat and stick in yonder cupboard. I shall be absent for a short time; and if any one comes, tell them I am called out, and shall not return for an hour or perhaps longer, and mind you take good care of the shop."
Sweeney Todd took off his apron64, and put on an immense coat with huge lapels, and then, clapping a three-cornered hat on his head, and casting a strange withering65 kind of look at Tobias, he sallied forth66 into the street.
点击
收听单词发音
收听单词发音 |
1
commotion
|
|
| n.骚动，动乱 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
2
scampering
|
|
| v.蹦蹦跳跳地跑，惊惶奔跑( scamper的现在分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
3
throng
|
|
| n.人群，群众；v.拥挤，群集 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
4
bustling
|
|
| adj.喧闹的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
5
doorway
|
|
| n.门口，(喻)入门；门路，途径 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
6
sufficiently
|
|
| adv.足够地，充分地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
7
din
|
|
| n.喧闹声，嘈杂声 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
8
practitioner
|
|
| n.实践者，从事者；(医生或律师等)开业者 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
9
enjoyment
|
|
| n.乐趣；享有；享用 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
10
purely
|
|
| adv.纯粹地，完全地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
11
turmoil
|
|
| n.骚乱，混乱，动乱 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
12
celebrated
|
|
| adj.有名的，声誉卓著的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
13
veal
|
|
| n.小牛肉 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
14
batch
|
|
| n.一批(组，群)；一批生产量 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
15
aroma
|
|
| n.香气，芬芳，芳香 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
16
gravy
|
|
| n.肉汁；轻易得来的钱，外快 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
17
artistically
|
|
| adv.艺术性地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
18
provocative
|
|
| adj.挑衅的，煽动的，刺激的，挑逗的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
19
thereby
|
|
| adv.因此，从而 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
20
gaily
|
|
| adv.欢乐地，高兴地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
21
prodigious
|
|
| adj.惊人的，奇妙的；异常的；巨大的；庞大的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
22
mingled
|
|
| 混合，混入( mingle的过去式和过去分词 )； 混进，与…交往[联系] | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
23
boisterous
|
|
| adj.喧闹的，欢闹的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
24
buxom
|
|
| adj.（妇女）丰满的，有健康美的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
25
scion
|
|
| n.嫩芽，子孙 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
26
devoured
|
|
| 吞没( devour的过去式和过去分词 )； 耗尽； 津津有味地看； 狼吞虎咽地吃光 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
27
impartiality
|
|
| n. 公平, 无私, 不偏 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
28
tact
|
|
| n.机敏，圆滑，得体 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
29
bestowed
|
|
| 赠给，授予( bestow的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
30
extraordinarily
|
|
| adv.格外地；极端地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
31
acting
|
|
| n.演戏，行为，假装；adj.代理的，临时的，演出用的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
32
philosophic
|
|
| adj.哲学的，贤明的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
33
jot
|
|
| n.少量；vi.草草记下；vt.匆匆写下 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
34
excellence
|
|
| n.优秀，杰出，(pl.)优点，美德 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
35
sinister
|
|
| adj.不吉利的，凶恶的，左边的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
36
lurking
|
|
| 潜在 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
37
quelled
|
|
| v.（用武力）制止，结束，镇压( quell的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
38
fragrant
|
|
| adj.芬香的，馥郁的，愉快的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
39
sniffed
|
|
| v.以鼻吸气，嗅，闻( sniff的过去式和过去分词 )；抽鼻子（尤指哭泣、患感冒等时出声地用鼻子吸气）；抱怨，不以为然地说 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
40
wretch
|
|
| n.可怜的人，不幸的人；卑鄙的人 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
41
devouring
|
|
| 吞没( devour的现在分词 )； 耗尽； 津津有味地看； 狼吞虎咽地吃光 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
42
morsels
|
|
| n.一口( morsel的名词复数 )；（尤指食物）小块，碎屑 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
43
helping
|
|
| n.食物的一份&adj.帮助人的，辅助的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
44
scampered
|
|
| v.蹦蹦跳跳地跑，惊惶奔跑( scamper的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
45
voracity
|
|
| n.贪食，贪婪 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
46
shutters
|
|
| 百叶窗( shutter的名词复数 )； （照相机的）快门 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
47
verge
|
|
| n.边，边缘；v.接近，濒临 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
48
horrid
|
|
| adj.可怕的；令人惊恐的；恐怖的；极讨厌的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
49
daggers
|
|
| 匕首，短剑( dagger的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
50
darted
|
|
| v.投掷，投射( dart的过去式和过去分词 )；向前冲，飞奔 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
51
influx
|
|
| n.流入，注入 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
52
skilful
|
|
| (=skillful)adj.灵巧的，熟练的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
53
favourable
|
|
| adj.赞成的，称赞的，有利的，良好的，顺利的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
54
caress
|
|
| vt./n.爱抚，抚摸 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
55
spoke
|
|
| n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
56
tempting
|
|
| a.诱人的, 吸引人的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
57
crouched
|
|
| v.屈膝，蹲伏( crouch的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
58
shrieking
|
|
| v.尖叫( shriek的现在分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
59
recoiled
|
|
| v.畏缩( recoil的过去式和过去分词 )；退缩；报应；返回 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
60
cane
|
|
| n.手杖，细长的茎，藤条；v.以杖击，以藤编制的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
61
hideous
|
|
| adj.丑陋的，可憎的，可怕的，恐怖的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
62
chambers
|
|
| n.房间( chamber的名词复数 )；（议会的）议院；卧室；会议厅 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
63
discreet
|
|
| adj.(言行)谨慎的；慎重的；有判断力的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
64
apron
|
|
| n.围裙；工作裙 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
65
withering
|
|
| 使人畏缩的，使人害羞的，使人难堪的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
66
forth
|
|
| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
| 欢迎访问英文小说网 |