"Go away, we never give anything to beggars."
There came a flush of colour for the moment across the features of the stranger, and then he replied—
"Mistress Lovett, I do not come to ask alms of you, but to know if you can recommend me to any employment?"
"I am a ragged wretch, and, moreover, quite destitute9. In better times I have sat at your counter, and paid cheerfully for what I wanted, and then one of your softest smiles has ever been at my disposal. I do not say this as a reproach to you, because the cause of your smile was well known to be a self-interested one, and when that cause had passed away, I can no longer expect it; but I am so situated10, that I am willing to do anything for a mere11 subsistence."
"Oh, yes, and then when you get into a better case again, I have no doubt but you have quite sufficient insolence13 to make you unbearable14; besides, what employment can we have but pie-making, and we have a man already who suits us very well with the exception that he, as you would do if we were to exchange him, has grown insolent15, and fancies himself master of the place."
The Stranger At Mrs. Lovett's pie Shop.
The Stranger At Mrs. Lovett's Pie Shop.
"Well, well," said the stranger, "of course, there is always sufficient argument against the poor and destitute to keep them so. If you will assert that my conduct will be the nature you describe, it is quite impossible for me to prove the contrary."
He turned and was about to leave the shop, but Mrs. Lovett called after him saying—
"Come in again in two hours."
"I will if my strength permit me—water from the pumps in the street is but a poor thing for a man to subsist12 upon for twenty-four hours."
"You may take one pie."
"My name," he said, "is Jarvis Williams; I'll be here, never fear, Mrs. Lovett, in two hours; and, notwithstanding all you have said, you shall find no change in my behaviour because I may be well kept and better clothed; but if I should feel dissatisfied with my situation, I will leave it, and no harm done."
So saying, he walked from the shop, and when he was gone, a strange expression came across the countenance of Mrs. Lovett, and she said in a low tone to herself—
"He might suit for a few months, like the rest, and it is clear that we must get rid of the one we have; I must think of it."
There is a cellar of vast extent, and of dim and sepulchral20 aspect—some rough red tiles are laid upon the floor, and pieces of flint and large jagged stones have been hammered into the earthen walls to strengthen them; while here and there rough huge pillars made by beams of timber rise perpendicularly21 from the floor, and prop22 large flat pieces of wood against the ceiling, to support it. Here and there gleaming lights seem to be peeping out from furnaces, and there is a strange hissing23, simmering sound going on, while the whole air is impregnated with a rich and savoury vapour. This is Lovett's pie manufactory beneath the pavement of Bell-yard and at this time a night-batch of some thousands is being made for the purpose of being sent by carts the first thing in the morning all over the suburbs of London. By the earliest dawn of day a crowd of itinerant24 hawkers of pies would make their appearance, carrying off a large quantity to regular customers who had them daily, and no more thought of being without them, than of forbidding the milkman or the baker25 to call at their residences. It will be seen and understood, therefore, that the retail26 part of Mrs. Lovett's business, which took place principally between the hours of twelve and one, was by no means the most important or profitable portion of a concern which was really of immense magnitude, and which brought in a large yearly income. To stand in the cellar when this immense manufacture of what, at first sight, would appear such a trivial article was carried on, and to look about as far as the eye could reach, was by no means to have a sufficient idea of the extent of the place; for there were as many doors in different directions and singular low-arched entrances to different vaults27, which all appeared as black as midnight, that one might almost suppose the inhabitants of all the surrounding neighbourhood had, by common consent given up their cellars to Lovett's pie factory. There is but one miserable light, except the occasional fitful glare that comes from the ovens where the pies are stewing29, hissing, and spluttering in their own luscious30 gravy31. There is but one man, too, throughout all the place, and he is sitting on a low three-legged stool in one corner, with his head resting upon his hands, and gently rocking to and fro, as he utters scarcely audible moans. He is but lightly clad; in fact, he seems to have but little on him except a shirt and a pair of loose canvas trousers. The sleeves of the former are turned up beyond his elbows, and on his head he has a white night-cap. It seems astonishing that such a man, even with the assistance of Mrs. Lovett, could make so many pies as are required in a day; but then, system does wonders, and in those cellars there are various mechanical contrivances for kneading the dough32, chopping up the meat, &c., which greatly reduced the labour. But what a miserable object is that man—what a sad and soul-striken wretch he looks! His face is pale and haggard, his eyes deeply sunken; and, as he removes his hands from before his visage, and looks about him, a more perfect picture of horror could not have been found.
"I must leave to-night," he said, in coarse accents—"I must leave to-night. I know too much—my brain is full of horrors. I have not slept now for five nights, nor dare I eat anything but the raw flour. I will leave to-night if they do not watch me too closely. Oh! if I could but get into the streets—if I could but once again breathe the fresh air! Hush33! what's that? I thought I heard a noise."
He rose, and stood trembling and listening; but all was still, save the simmering and hissing of the pies, and then he resumed his seat with a deep sigh.
"All the doors fastened upon me," he said, "what can it mean? It's very horrible, and my heart dies within me. Six weeks only have I been here—only six weeks. I was starving before I came. Alas34, alas! how much better to have starved! I should have been dead before now, and spared all this agony."
"Skinner!" cried a voice, and it was a female one—"Skinner, how long will the ovens be?"
"A quarter of an hour—a quarter of an hour, Mrs. Lovett. God help me!"
"What is that you say?"
"I said, God help me!—surely a man may say that without offence."
A door slammed shut, and the miserable man was alone again.
"How strangely," he said, "on this night my thoughts go back to early days, and to what I once was. The pleasant scenes of my youth recur35 to me. I see again the ivy-mantled porch, and the pleasant village green. I hear again the merry ringing laughter of my playmates, and there, in my mind's eye, appears to me the bubbling stream, and the ancient mill, the old mansion-house, with its tall turrets36, and its air of silent grandeur37. I hear the music of the birds, and the winds making rough melody among the trees. 'Tis very strange that all those sights and sounds should come back to me at such a time as this, as if just to remind me what a wretch I am."
He was silent for a few moments, during which he trembled with emotion; then he spoke again, saying—
"Thus the forms of those whom I once knew, and many of whom have gone already to the silent tomb, appear to come thronging38 round me. They bend their eyes momentarily upon me, and, with settled expressions, show acutely the sympathy they feel for me. I see her, too, who first, in my bosom39, lit up the flame of soft affection. I see her gliding40 past me like the dim vision of a dream, indistinct, but beautiful; no more than a shadow—and yet to me most palpable. What am I now—what am I now?"
He resumed his former position, with his head resting upon his hands; he rocked himself slowly to and fro, uttering those moans of a tortured spirit, which we have before noticed. But see, one of the small arch doors open, in the gloom of those vaults, and a man, in a stooping posture41, creeps in—a half-mask is upon his face, and he wears a cloak; but both his hands are at liberty. In one of them he carries a double-headed hammer, with a powerful handle, of about ten inches in length. He has probably come out of a darker place than the one into which he now so cautiously creeps, for he shades the light from his eyes, as if it were suddenly rather too much for him, and then he looks cautiously round the vault28, until he sees the crouched-up figure of the man whose duty it is to attend the ovens. From that moment he looks at nothing else; but advances towards him, steadily42 and cautiously. It is evident that great secresy is his object, for he is walking on his stocking soles only; and it is impossible to hear the slightest sounds of his foot-steps. Nearer and nearer he comes, so slowly, and yet so surely, towards him, who still keeps up the low moaning sound, indicative of mental anquish. Now he is close to him, and he bends over him for a moment, with a look of fiendish malice43. It is a look which, despite his mask, glances full from his eyes, and then grasping the hammer tightly, in both hands, he raises it slowly above his head, and gives it a swinging motion through the air. There is no knowing what induced the man that was crouching44 on the stool to rise at that moment; but he did so, and paced about with great quickness. A sudden shriek45 burst from his lips, as he beheld46 so terrific an apparition47 before him; but, before he could repeat the word, the hammer descended48, crushing into his skull49, and he fell lifeless, without a moan.
"And so, Mr. Jarvis Williams, you have kept your word," said Mrs. Lovett to the emaciated, care-worn stranger, who had solicited50 employment of her, "and so, Jarvis Williams, you have kept your word, and come for employment?"
"I have, madam, and hope that you can give it to me: I frankly51 tell you that I would seek for something better, and more congenial to my disposition52, if I could; but who would employ one presenting such a wretched appearance as I do? You see that I am all in rags, and I have told you that I have been half starved, and therefore it is only some common and ordinary employment that I can hope to get, and that made me come to you."
"Well, I don't see why we should not make a trial of you, at all events, so if you like to go down into the bakehouse, I will follow you, and show you what you have to do. You remember that you have to live entirely53 upon the pies, unless you like to purchase for yourself anything else, which you may do if you can get the money. We give none, and you must likewise agree never to leave the bakehouse."
"Never to leave it?"
"Never, unless you leave it for good, and for all; if upon those conditions you choose to accept the situation, you may, and if not, you can go about your business at once, and leave it alone."
"Alas, madam, I have no resource; but you spoke of having a man already."
"Yes; but he has gone to his friends; he has gone to some of his very oldest friends, who will be quite glad to see him, so now say the word:—are you willing or are you not, to take the situation?"
"My poverty and my destitution54 consent, if my will be averse55, Mrs. Lovett; but, of course, I quite understand that I leave when I please."
"Oh, of course, we never think of keeping anybody many hours after they begin to feel uncomfortable. If you be ready, follow me."
"I am quite ready, and thankful for a shelter. All the brightest visions of my early life have long since faded away, and it matters little or indeed nothing what now becomes of me; I will follow you, madam, freely, upon the conditions you have mentioned."
Mrs. Lovett lifted up a portion of the counter which permitted him to pass behind it, and then he followed her into a small room, which was at the back of the shop. She then took a key from her pocket, and opened an old door which was in the wainscoting, and immediately behind which was a flight of stairs. These she descended, and Jarvis Williams followed her, to a considerable depth, after which she took an iron bar from behind another door, and flung it open, showing her new assistant the interior of that vault which we have already very briefly56 described.
"These," she said, "are the ovens, and I will proceed to show you how you can manufacture the pies, feed the furnaces, and make yourself generally useful. Flour will be always let down through a trap-door from the upper shop, as well as everything required for making the pies but the meat, and that you will always find ranged upon shelves either in lumps or steaks, in a small room through this door, but it is only at particular times you will find the door open; and whenever you do so, you had better always take out what meat you think you will require for the next batch."
"I understand all that, madam," said Williams, "but how does it get there?"
"That's no business of yours; so long as you are supplied with it, that is sufficient for you; and now I will go through the process of making one pie, so that you may know how to proceed, and you will find with what amazing quickness they can be manufactured if you set about them in the proper manner."
She then showed him how a piece of meat thrown into a machine became finely minced57 up, by merely turning a handle; and then how flour and water and lard were mixed up together, to make the crust of the pies, by another machine, which threw out the paste thus manufactured in small pieces, each just large enough for a pie. Lastly, she showed him how a tray, which just held a hundred, could be filled, and, by turning a windlass, sent up to the shop, through a square trap-door, which went right up to the very counter.
"And now," she said, "I must leave you. As long as you are industrious58 you will go on very well, but as soon as you begin to be idle, and neglect the orders which are sent to you by me, you will get a piece of information which will be useful, and which if you be a prudent59 man will enable you to know what you are about."
"What is that? you may as well give it to me now."
"No; we seldom find there is occasion for it at first, but, after a time, when you get well fed, you are pretty sure to want it."
So saying she left the place, and he heard the door by which he had entered, carefully barred after her. Suddenly then he heard her voice again, and so clearly and distinctly, too, that he thought she must have come back again; but upon looking up at the door, he found that that arose from her speaking through a small grating at the upper part of it, to which her mouth was closely placed.
"Remember your duty," she said, "and I warn you, that any attempt to leave here will be as futile60 as it will be dangerous."
"Except with your consent, when I relinquish61 the situation."
"Oh, certainly—certainly, you are quite right there, everybody who relinquishes62 the situation goes to his old friends, whom he has not seen for many years, perhaps."
"What a strange manner of talking she has!" said Jarvis Williams to himself, when he found he was alone. "There seems to be some singular and hidden meaning in every word she utters. What can she mean by a communication being made to me, if I neglect my duty! It is very strange; and what a singular looking place this is! I think it would be quite unbearable if it were not for the delightful63 odour of the pies, and they are indeed delicious—perhaps more delicious to me, who has been famished so long, and have gone through so much wretchedness; there is no one here but myself, and I am hungry now—frightfully hungry, and whether the pies be done or not, I'll have half a dozen of them at any rate, so here goes."
He opened one of the ovens, and the fragrant64 steam that came out was perfectly65 delicious, and he sniffed66 it up with a satisfaction such as he had never felt before, as regards anything that was eatable.
"Is it possible," he said "that I shall be able to make such delicious pies? At all events one can't starve here, and if it be a kind of imprisonment67, it's a pleasant one. Upon my soul, they are nice, even half-cooked—delicious! I'll have another half-dozen, there are lots of them—delightful! I can't keep the gravy from running out of the corners of my mouth. Upon my soul, Mrs. Lovett, I don't know where you get your meat, but it's all as tender as young chickens, and the fat actually melts away in one's mouth. Ah, these are pies, something like pies!—they are positively68 fit for the gods!"
Mrs. Lovett's new man ate twelve threepenny pies, and then he thought of leaving off. It was a little drawback not to have anything to wash them down with but cold water; but he reconciled himself to this.
"For," as he said, "after all it would be a pity to take the flavour of such pies out of one's mouth—indeed it would be a thousand pities, so I won't think of it, but just put up with what I have got and not complain. I might have gone further and fared worse with a vengeance69, and I cannot help looking upon it as a singular piece of good fortune that made me think of coming here in my deep distress70 to try and get something to do. I have no friends and no money; she whom I loved is faithless, and here I am, master of as many pies as I like, and to all appearance monarch71 of all I survey; for there really seems to be no one to dispute my supremacy72. To be sure my kingdom is rather a gloomy one; but then I can abdicate73 it when I like, and when I am tired of those delicious pies, if such a thing be possible, which I really very much doubt, I can give up my situation, and think of something else. If I do that, I will leave England for ever; it's no place for me after the many disappointments I have had. No friend left me—my girl false—not a relation but who would turn his back upon me! I will go somewhere where I am unknown and can form new connexions, and perhaps make new friendships of a more permanent and stable character than the old ones, which have all proved so false to me; and, in the meantime, I'll make and eat pies as fast as I can."
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1
batch
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| n.一批(组，群)；一批生产量 | |
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miserably
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| adv.痛苦地；悲惨地；糟糕地；极度地 | |
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spoke
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| 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 | |
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bland
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| adj.淡而无味的，温和的，无刺激性的 | |
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countenance
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| n.脸色，面容；面部表情；vt.支持，赞同 | |
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forestalled
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| v.先发制人，预先阻止( forestall的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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ragged
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| adj.衣衫褴褛的，粗糙的，刺耳的 | |
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wretch
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| n.可怜的人，不幸的人；卑鄙的人 | |
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destitute
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| adj.缺乏的；穷困的 | |
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situated
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| adj.坐落在...的，处于某种境地的 | |
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mere
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| adj.纯粹的；仅仅，只不过 | |
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subsist
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| vi.生存，存在，供养 | |
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insolence
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| n.傲慢；无礼；厚颜；傲慢的态度 | |
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unbearable
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| adj.不能容忍的；忍受不住的 | |
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insolent
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| adj.傲慢的，无理的 | |
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emaciated
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| adj.衰弱的，消瘦的 | |
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famished
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| adj.饥饿的 | |
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miserable
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| adj.悲惨的，痛苦的；可怜的，糟糕的 | |
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devoured
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| 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 | |
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sepulchral
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| adj.坟墓的，阴深的 | |
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perpendicularly
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| adv. 垂直地, 笔直地, 纵向地 | |
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prop
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| vt.支撑；n.支柱，支撑物；支持者，靠山 | |
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hissing
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itinerant
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| adj.巡回的；流动的 | |
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baker
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| n.面包师 | |
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retail
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| v./n.零售；adv.以零售价格 | |
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vaults
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| n.拱顶( vault的名词复数 )；地下室；撑物跳高；墓穴 | |
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vault
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| n.拱形圆顶，地窖，地下室 | |
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stewing
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| 炖 | |
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luscious
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| adj.美味的；芬芳的；肉感的，引与性欲的 | |
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gravy
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| n.肉汁；轻易得来的钱，外快 | |
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dough
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| n.生面团；钱，现款 | |
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hush
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| int.嘘，别出声；n.沉默，静寂；v.使安静 | |
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alas
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| int.唉(表示悲伤、忧愁、恐惧等) | |
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recur
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| vi.复发，重现，再发生 | |
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turrets
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| （六角）转台( turret的名词复数 )； （战舰和坦克等上的）转动炮塔； （摄影机等上的）镜头转台； （旧时攻城用的）塔车 | |
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grandeur
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| n.伟大，崇高，宏伟，庄严，豪华 | |
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thronging
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| v.成群，挤满( throng的现在分词 ) | |
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bosom
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| n.胸，胸部；胸怀；内心；adj.亲密的 | |
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gliding
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| v. 滑翔 adj. 滑动的 | |
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posture
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| n.姿势，姿态，心态，态度；v.作出某种姿势 | |
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steadily
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| adv.稳定地；不变地；持续地 | |
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malice
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| n.恶意，怨恨，蓄意；[律]预谋 | |
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crouching
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| v.屈膝，蹲伏( crouch的现在分词 ) | |
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shriek
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| v./n.尖叫，叫喊 | |
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46
beheld
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| v.看，注视( behold的过去式和过去分词 )；瞧；看呀；（叙述中用于引出某人意外的出现）哎哟 | |
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apparition
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| n.幽灵，神奇的现象 | |
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descended
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| a.为...后裔的，出身于...的 | |
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skull
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| n.头骨；颅骨 | |
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solicited
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| v.恳求( solicit的过去式和过去分词 )；（指娼妇）拉客；索求；征求 | |
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51
frankly
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| adv.坦白地，直率地；坦率地说 | |
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52
disposition
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| n.性情，性格；意向，倾向；排列，部署 | |
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53
entirely
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| ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地 | |
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54
destitution
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| n.穷困，缺乏，贫穷 | |
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55
averse
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| adj.厌恶的；反对的，不乐意的 | |
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briefly
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| adv.简单地，简短地 | |
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57
minced
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| v.切碎( mince的过去式和过去分词 )；剁碎；绞碎；用绞肉机绞（食物，尤指肉） | |
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58
industrious
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| adj.勤劳的，刻苦的，奋发的 | |
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prudent
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| adj.谨慎的，有远见的，精打细算的 | |
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futile
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| adj.无效的，无用的，无希望的 | |
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relinquish
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| v.放弃，撤回，让与，放手 | |
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relinquishes
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| 交出，让给( relinquish的第三人称单数 )； 放弃 | |
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delightful
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| adj.令人高兴的，使人快乐的 | |
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fragrant
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| adj.芬香的，馥郁的，愉快的 | |
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perfectly
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| adv.完美地，无可非议地，彻底地 | |
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sniffed
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| 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 | |
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imprisonment
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| n.关押，监禁，坐牢 | |
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positively
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| adv.明确地，断然，坚决地；实在，确实 | |
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vengeance
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| n.报复，报仇，复仇 | |
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distress
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| n.苦恼，痛苦，不舒适；不幸；vt.使悲痛 | |
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monarch
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| n.帝王，君主，最高统治者 | |
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supremacy
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| n.至上；至高权力 | |
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abdicate
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| v.让位，辞职，放弃 | |
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