"Now, madam," said the colonel, "you quite understand, I hope, that you are not to mention to any living soul the fact of your son Tobias being with me."
"Oh, dear me, no, sir. Who should I mention it to?"
"That we can't tell," interrupted the captain, "you are simply desired not to tell it."
"I'm sure I don't see anybody once in a week, sir."
"Good God! woman," cried the colonel, "does that mean that when you do see any one you will tell it?"
"Lord love you, sir, it's few people as comes to see you when you are down in the world. I'm sure it's seldom enough a soul taps at my door with a 'Mrs. Ragg, how are you?'"
"Now was there ever such an incorrigible5 woman as this?"
"If you were to talk to her for a month," said Sir Robert Blunt, "you would not get a direct answer from her. Allow me to try something else—Mrs. Ragg."
"Yes, sir—humbly at your service, sir."
"If you tell any one that Tobias is here, or indeed anywhere within your knowledge, I will apprehend6 you about a certain candlestick."
"Goodness gracious, deliver us."
"Do you understand that, Mrs. Ragg? You keep silence about Tobias, and I keep silence about the candlestick. You speak about Tobias, and I speak about the candlestick."
Mrs. Ragg shook her head and let fall a torrent7 of tears, which the magistrate8 took as sufficient evidence that she did understand him and would act accordingly, so he added—
"Shall we all proceed up stairs? for a great deal will depend upon the boy's first impression when he awakens—and in this case we should not lose a chance."
In pursuance of this sound advice they all proceeded to poor Tobias's bed-room, and there he lay in that profound repose9 which the powerful opiate administered to him had had the effect of producing. It did not seem as though he had moved head or foot since they had left him. His face was very pale, and when Mrs. Ragg saw him she burst into tears, exclaiming—
"He is dead—he is dead!"
"No such thing, madam," said Colonel Jeffery. "He only sleeps."
"But, oh deary me, what makes him look so old and so strange now? He was bad enough when I saw him last, poor fellow, but not like this."
"He has received ill-usage from someone, and that is precisely10 what we want to find out. If you can get from him the particulars of what he has suffered, we will take care those who have made him suffer shall not escape."
"Bless you, gentlemen, what's the use of that if my poor boy is killed?"
There was a good home truth in these words from Mrs. Ragg, although, upon the score of general social policy, they might well be answered. An argument with Mrs. Ragg, however, upon such a subject was not very a-propos. The colonel made her sit down by Tobias's bed-side, and he was then upon the point of remarking to his friend, the captain, that it would be as well, since so many hours had passed, to send for the medical man, when that personage made his appearance.
"No—not yet."
"Oh, I see you have a nurse."
"It is his mother. We hope that she, by talking to him familiarly, may produce a good effect, and possibly rid him of that bewilderment of intellect under which he now labours. What think you, sir?"
"That it is a good thought. Let us darken the room as much as possible, as twilight12 will be most grateful to him upon awakening13, which he must do shortly."
The curtains of the window were so arranged that the room was in a state of semi-darkness, and then they all waited with no small anxiety for Tobias to recover from the deep and death-like sleep that had come over him. After about five minutes he moved uneasily and uttered a low moan.
"Speak to him, Mrs. a—a—what's your name?"
"Ragg, sir."
"Aye, Ragg, just speak to him; of course he is well acquainted with your voice, and it may have the effect of greatly rousing him from his lethargic14 condition."
Poor Mrs. Ragg considered that she had some very extraordinary post to perform, and accordingly she collected to her aid all her learning, which, interrupted by her tears, and now and then by a sob15, which she had to gulp16 down like a large globule of castor oil, had certainly rather a droll17 effect.
"My dear Tobias—my dear—lie a bed, sluggard18, you know—well, I never—Put the kettle on, Polly, and let's all have tea. Tobias, my dear—bless us and save us, are you going to stay in bed all day?"
"Well, my dear, perhaps you won't mind getting up and just running towards the corner for a bunch of water cresses? Dear heart alive, there goes the muffin-man like a lamplighter!"
It was by such domestic themes that Mrs. Ragg sought to recall the wandering senses of poor Tobias to a cognizance of the present. But alas20! his thoughts were still in the dim and misty21 land of visions. Suddenly he spoke—
Tobias's Delirium.
"Hush23—hush! There they come!—elephants!—elephants!—on—on—on. Now for the soldiers, and all mad—mad—mad! Hide me in the straw—deep in a world of straw. Hush! He comes. Sing, oh sing again!—and he—he will not suspect."
The surgeon made a sign to Mrs. Ragg to speak again.
"Why, Tobias, my dear, what are you talking about? Do you mean the Elephant and Castle?"
"Call to his remembrance," said the surgeon, "some old scenes."
"Yes, sir, but when one's heart and all that sort of thing is in one's mouth it's very difficult to recollect24 things oneself. Tobias!"
"Yes—yes. Ha-ha!"
It was a low, plaintive25, strange laugh that, that came from the poor boy whose mind had been so overthrown26, and it jarred upon the feelings of all who heard it.
"Tobias, do you recollect the little cottage down the lane at Holloway, where we lived, and the cock roaches, and the strange cat, you know, Tobias, that would not go away? Don't you recollect, Tobias, how the coals there were all slates27, and how your poor father, as is dead and gone—"
"Yes, I see him now."
Mrs. Ragg gave a faint scream.
"Father!—father!" said Tobias, as he held out his arms, and the big tears rolled down his cheeks. "Father—father, Todd has not got me now. Don't cry so, father. Stand out of the way of the elephants."
"My dear! my dear!" cried Mrs. Ragg, "do you want to break my heart?"
Tobias rose to a sitting position in the bed, and looked his mother in the face—
"Are you, too, mad?" he said. "Are you, too, mad? Did you tell of Todd?"
"Yes, the only way," said Colonel Jeffery, "for people not to be mad, is to tell of Todd."
"Yes—yes."
"And so you, Tobias, will tell us all you know. That is what we want you to do, and then you will be quite happy and comfortable for the remainder of your days, and live with your mother again far from any apprehension28 from Todd. Do you understand me?"
Tobias opened his mouth several times in an eager, gasping29 sort of manner, as though he would have said something rapidly, but he could not. He placed his hands upon his brain, and rocked to and fro for a few moments, and then he broke out into the same low, peculiar4 laugh that had before so strangely affected30 Colonel Jeffery and the others who were there present in that room. The surgeon shook his head as he said, mournfully—
"It is of no use!"
"Do you really think so?" said the colonel.
"For the present, I am convinced that it is of no use to attempt to recall his wandering senses. Time will do wonders, and he has the one grand element of youth in his favour. That, as well as time, will do wonders. The case is a bad one, and the shock the brain of this lad has received must be a most fearful one."
"Do not," said Sir Richard Blunt, "give up so readily, Mrs. Ragg; I would have you try him again. Speak to him again of his father—that seemed to be the topic that most moved him."
"Tobias, do you recollect when your father bought you the rabbit, and out of vexation, the creature eat its way out of a willow-work cage in the night? Do you remember your poor father's funeral, Tobias, and how we went, you and I, my poor boy, to take the last look at the only one who—who—who—"
Mrs. Ragg could get no further.
"Ha—ha—ha!" laughed Tobias, "who told of Todd?"
"Who is this Todd," said the surgeon, "that he continually speaks of, and shudders32 at the very name of?"
Colonel Jeffery glanced at Sir Richard Blunt, and the latter, who wished the affair by no means to transpire33, merely said—
"We are quite as much in the dark as you, sir. It is just what we should like to know, who this Todd is, whose very name seems to hold the imagination of this poor boy in a grasp of iron. I begin to think that nothing more can be done now."
"Nothing, gentlemen, you may depend," said the surgeon. "How old is the lad?"
"Sixteen as never was," replied Mrs. Ragg, "and a hard time I had of it, sir, as you may suppose."
The surgeon did not exactly see how he was called upon to suppose anything of the sort; however he made no further remark to Mrs. Ragg, but continued in conversation for some time with Colonel Jeffery, who informed him that Tobias should remain for a time where he was, so that there should be every possible chance given for his recovery.
"I wish you to continue attending upon him, sir," he added, "for I would spare nothing that medical advice can suggest to restore him. He has, I am convinced, been a great sufferer."
"That is sufficiently34 clear, sir. You may rely upon my utmost attention."
"Mrs. Ragg," said the colonel, "can you cook?"
"Cook, sir? Lord bless you, sir. I can cook as well as here and there a one, though I say it that oughtn't, and if poor Tobias was but all right, I should not go to be after making myself miserable35 now about bygones. What's to be cured must be endured—it's a long lane as hasn't a turning. As poor Mr. Ragg often used to say when he was alive—'Grizzling ain't fattening36.'"
"I should think it was not. It so happens, Mrs. Ragg, that there is a vacancy37 in my house for a cook, and if you like to come and take the place, you can look after Tobias as well, you know, for I intend him to remain here for the present. Only remember, you tell this to no one."
"Me, sir! Lord bless you, sir, who do I see?"
The colonel was by no means anxious to convince himself a second time of the impossibility of bringing Mrs. Ragg to a precise answer, so he changed the subject, and it was finally arranged that without a word to any one upon the subject, that very night Mrs. Ragg was to take up her abode38 with Tobias. After this had been all arranged, the three gentlemen proceeded to the dining room, and held a consultation39.
"Of the guilt40 of Todd," said the magistrate, "I entertain no doubt, but I own that I am extremely anxious to bring the crime legally home to him."
"Exactly," said the colonel, "and I can only say that every plan you can suggest will be cheerfully acquiesced41 in by me and my friend here."
"Be assured, gentlemen," added Sir Richard Blunt, "that something shall be done of a decisive character before many days are past. I have seen the higher powers upon the subject, and have full authority, and you may rest satisfied that I shall not mind running a little personal risk to unravel43 the mysteries that surround the career of Sweeney Todd. I think one thing may be done conveniently."
"What is that, sir?"
"Why, It seems to be pretty well understood that no one resides in Todd's house but himself, and as now he has no boy—unless he has provided himself with one already—he must go out sometimes and leave the place to itself, and upon one of those occasions an opportunity might be found of thoroughly44 searching the upper part, at all events, of his house."
"Could that be done with safety?"
"I think so. At all events, I feel inclined to try it. If I do so, and make any discovery, you may depend upon my letting you know without an hour's delay, and I sincerely hope that all that will take place may have the effect of setting your mind at rest regarding your friend, Mr. Ingestrie."
"But not of restoring him to us?"
The magistrate shook his head.
"I think, sir," he said, "that you ought to consider that he has, if any one has, fallen a victim to Sweeney Todd."
"Alas! I fear so."
"All the evidence points that way, and we can only take measures in the best way possible to bring his murderer to justice—that that murderer is Sweeney Todd, I cannot for one moment of time bring myself to doubt."
Sir Richard Blunt shortly afterwards left Colonel Jeffery's house and proceeded to the execution of a plan of proceeding45, with the particulars of which he had not thought proper to entrust46 to the colonel, and his friend the captain. Long habits of caution had led the magistrate—who was not one of the fancy magistrates47 of the present day, but a real police officer—active, cool, and determined—to trust no one but himself with his secrets, and so he kept to himself what he meant to do that night. When he was gone, Colonel Jeffery had a long talk with his friend, and the subject gradually turned to Johanna, whom the colonel yet hoped, he said, to be able one day to call his own.
"No one," he remarked, "would be more truly rejoiced than I to restore Mark Ingestrie to her whom he loves, and whose affection for him is of so enduring and remarkable48 a character, but if, as Sir Richard Blunt supposes, he is really no more, I think Johanna, by being mine, would stand a better chance of recovering her serenity49, if not of enjoying all the happiness in this world that she deserves."
"Hope for the best," said the captain, "and recollect what the surgeon said as regarded Tobias, that time works wonders."
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1
remains
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| n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹 | |
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expiration
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| n.终结，期满，呼气，呼出物 | |
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peculiarity
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| n.独特性，特色；特殊的东西；怪癖 | |
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peculiar
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| adj.古怪的，异常的；特殊的，特有的 | |
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incorrigible
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| adj.难以纠正的，屡教不改的 | |
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apprehend
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| vt.理解，领悟，逮捕，拘捕，忧虑 | |
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torrent
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| n.激流，洪流；爆发，(话语等的)连发 | |
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magistrate
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| n.地方行政官，地方法官，治安官 | |
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repose
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| v.(使)休息；n.安息 | |
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precisely
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| adv.恰好，正好，精确地，细致地 | |
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11
awakened
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| v.（使）醒( awaken的过去式和过去分词 )；（使）觉醒；弄醒；（使）意识到 | |
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twilight
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| n.暮光，黄昏；暮年，晚期，衰落时期 | |
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13
awakening
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| n.觉醒，醒悟 adj.觉醒中的；唤醒的 | |
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14
lethargic
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| adj.昏睡的，懒洋洋的 | |
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15
sob
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| n.空间轨道的轰炸机；呜咽，哭泣 | |
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gulp
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| vt.吞咽，大口地吸（气）；vi.哽住；n.吞咽 | |
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droll
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| adj.古怪的，好笑的 | |
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sluggard
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| n.懒人；adj.懒惰的 | |
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groan
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| vi./n.呻吟，抱怨；(发出)呻吟般的声音 | |
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alas
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| int.唉(表示悲伤、忧愁、恐惧等) | |
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misty
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| adj.雾蒙蒙的，有雾的 | |
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delirium
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| n. 神智昏迷,说胡话;极度兴奋 | |
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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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recollect
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| v.回忆，想起，记起，忆起，记得 | |
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plaintive
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| adj.可怜的，伤心的 | |
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overthrown
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| adj. 打翻的，推倒的，倾覆的 动词overthrow的过去分词 | |
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slates
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| （旧时学生用以写字的）石板( slate的名词复数 )； 板岩； 石板瓦； 石板色 | |
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apprehension
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| n.理解，领悟；逮捕，拘捕；忧虑 | |
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gasping
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| adj. 气喘的, 痉挛的 动词gasp的现在分词 | |
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affected
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| adj.不自然的，假装的 | |
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stammer
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| n.结巴，口吃；v.结结巴巴地说 | |
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32
shudders
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| n.颤动，打颤，战栗( shudder的名词复数 )v.战栗( shudder的第三人称单数 )；发抖；（机器、车辆等）突然震动；颤动 | |
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33
transpire
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| v.(使)蒸发，(使)排出 ；泄露，公开 | |
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sufficiently
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| adv.足够地，充分地 | |
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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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fattening
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| adj.（食物）要使人发胖的v.喂肥( fatten的现在分词 )；养肥（牲畜）；使（钱）增多；使（公司）升值 | |
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vacancy
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| n.（旅馆的）空位，空房，（职务的）空缺 | |
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abode
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| n.住处，住所 | |
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consultation
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| n.咨询；商量；商议；会议 | |
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guilt
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| n.犯罪；内疚；过失，罪责 | |
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acquiesced
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| v.默认，默许( acquiesce的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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assent
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| v.批准，认可；n.批准，认可 | |
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43
unravel
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| v.弄清楚（秘密）；拆开，解开，松开 | |
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thoroughly
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| adv.完全地，彻底地，十足地 | |
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proceeding
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| n.行动，进行，(pl.)会议录，学报 | |
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entrust
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| v.信赖，信托，交托 | |
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47
magistrates
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| 地方法官，治安官( magistrate的名词复数 ) | |
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48
remarkable
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| adj.显著的，异常的，非凡的，值得注意的 | |
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49
serenity
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| n.宁静，沉着，晴朗 | |
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