"Now, my dear Mrs. Ragg," said Martha Jones, "you must not say No. It's got a beautiful head upon it, and will do you good."
"No—no. Really."
"Like cream."
"But, really, I—I—"
"Come, come, it ain't often you is in the Temple, and I knew very well he don't miss a bottle now and then; and 'twix you and me and the pump, I think we has as much a right to that beautiful bottled ale as Mr. Juggas has, for I'd take my bible oath, he don't mean to pay for it, Mrs. Ragg."
"You don't say so?"
"Yes, I does, Mrs. Ragg. Oh, he's a bad 'un, he is. Ah, Mrs. Ragg, you don't know, nor nobody else, what takes place in his chambers11 of a night."
"Is it possible?"
"Yes. I often say to myself what universal profundity12 he must be possessed13 with, for he was once intended, he says, for the church, and I heard him say he'd have stuck to it like bricks, if he could have heard of any church that was intended for him."
"Shocking!"
"Yes, Mrs. Ragg. There's profundity for you."
Did Martha Jones mean profanity?
"Ah," interposed Mrs. Ragg, "we live in a world."
"Yes, Mrs. Ragg, we does; but as you was a saying?"
"Eh?"
"As you was a saying about somebody being hung, if rights was rights, you know."
"Oh, dear, really you must not ask me. Indeed you must not."
"Well, I won't; but here we are, in Pump Court."
Todd darted15 into a door-way, and watched them up the staircase of No. 6, in that highly classic locality. He slunk into the door-way, and by taking a perspective glance up the staircase, he saw them stop upon the first floor. He saw that they turned to the right. He darted up a few stairs, and just caught sight of a black door. Then there was a sharp sound, as of some small latch16 closing suddenly, after which all was still. Todd ascended17 the stairs.
"Curses on them!" he muttered. "What can they mean by looking in such a manner at my shop? I thought the last time I saw that woman, Ragg, that she was cognizant of something. If now she, in her babbling18, would give me any news of Tobias—Pho! he is—he must be dead."
By this time Todd had got to the top of the first flight of stairs, and stood upon the landing, close to several open doors—that is to say, outer black heavy-looking doors—and within them were smaller ones, armed with knockers.
"To the right," he muttered. "They went to the right—this must be the door."
He paused at one and listened. Not a sound met his ears, and his impatience19 began to get extreme. That these two women were going to have a conference about him he fully believed; and that he should be so near at hand, and yet not near enough to listen to it, was indeed galling20. In a few moments it became insupportable.
"I must and will know what they mean," he said. "My threats may wring21 the truth from them; and if necessary, I should not scruple22 to silence them both. Dead men tell no tales, so goes the proverb, and it applies equally well to dead women."
"Yes," he muttered, "every circumstance says to me now in audible language, 'Go—go—go!' and go I will, far away from England. I feel that I have not now many hours to spare. This fracas24 with Mrs. Lovett expedites my departure wonderfully, and to-morrow's dawn shall not see me in London. But I will—I must ascertain25 what these women are about. Yes, and I will do so at all risks."
A glance showed him that the act of temerity26 was a safe one. The door opened upon a dingy27 sort of passage, in which were some mops, pails, and brooms. At its further extremity28 there was another door, but it was not quite shut, and from the room into which it opened, came the murmer of voices. There were other doors right and left, but Todd heeded29 only that one which conducted to the room inhabited. He crept along the passage at a snail's pace; and then having achieved a station exactly outside the door, he placed one of his hands behind one of his elephantine-looking ears, and while his countenance30 looked like that of some malignant31 demon32, he listened to what was going on within that apartment. Martha Jones was speaking.
Todd Listens And Learns A Dangerous Secret.
Todd Listens And Learns A Dangerous Secret.
"It is good, indeed, Mrs. Ragg, as you may well say, and the glasses sticks to the table, when they is left over-night, showing, as Mr. Juggus says, as it's a gluetenious quality this ale is."
"Sticks to the table?" said Mrs. Ragg.
"Yes, mum, sticks. But as you was a saying?"
"Well, Martha, in course I know that what goes to you goes no farther."
"Not a step."
"And you won't mention it to no one?"
"Not a soul. Another glass?"
"No, no."
"Only one. Nonsense! it don't get into your head. It's as harmless as milk, Mr. Juggus says."
"But ain't you afeard, Martha, he may come in?"
"Not he, Mrs. Ragg. Chambers won't see him agin till night. Oh, he's a shocking young man. Well, Mrs. Ragg, as you was a saying?"
"Well, it is good. As I was a saying, Martha, I don't feel uneasy now about Tobias, poor boy; for if ever a poor lad, as was a orphan33 in a half-and-half kind of way, seeing that I am his natural mother, and living, and thanking God for the same, and health, leastways, as far as it goes at this present moment of speakin, I—I—Bless me, where was I?"
"At Tobias."
"Oh, yes, I was at Tobias. As I was saying, if ever a poor body was well provided for, Tobias is. The colonel—"
"The who?"
"The colonel, Martha—the colonel as has took the care of him, and who, sooner or later, will have all the truth out of him about the Toddey Sween."
"Who? Who?"
"Bless my poor head, I mean Sweeney Todd. Dear me, what am I thinking of?"
"The barber?"
"Yes, Martha; that horrid34 barber in Fleet-street; and between you and me, there isn't in all the mortal world a more horrid wretch35 living than he is."
"I'm all of a shake."
"He—he—"
"Yes, yes. What—"
"He takes folks in and does for 'em."
"Kills 'em?"
"Kills 'em."
"What—why—what—? You don't mean to say—why—? Take another glass Mrs. Ragg. You don't mean to say that Tobias says, that Todd the barber is a murderer?—My dear Mrs. Ragg, take another glass, and tell us all about it; only look at the cream on the top of it."
"You'll excuse me, Mrs. Jones, but the truth is, I aught not to say more than I have said; and if the colonel only knew I'd said as much, I can tell you, I think he'd be like a roaring lion. But Tobias is quite a gentleman now, you see, and sleeps in as fine a bed as a nobleman could have for love or money. The colonel is very good to him; and there never was such a kind good—good—."
Mrs. Ragg began to run over with tears of ale.
"Bless me, and where does he live?"
"Who?"
"The colonel. The good, kind, colonel—colonel—a—a dear me, I forget what you said his name was."
"Jeffery, and may his end be peace. He will get the reward of all his good actions in another world than this, Martha. Ah, Martha, such men as he can afford to smile at their latter ends.—No—no, I couldn't."
"Only half a glass; look at the—"
"No—no—"
"Cream on it."
"I must go, indeed. In course the colonel, since I have been his cook, knows what cooking is, for though I say it, perhaps as should not, I am a cook, and not a spiler of folks' victuals36. Of course what's said, goes no further. I know I can trust you, Martha."
"Oh dear, yes, in course. I'll just put on my shawl and walk a little way with you, Mrs. Ragg. Dear me—dear me!"
"What is it, Martha?"
"Its a raining like cats and dogs, it is. Well, I never; what shall you do, Mrs. Ragg? What shall you do?"
"Call a coach, I shall, Martha. The last words the colonel said to me was, 'Mrs. Ragg, rather than there should be any delay in your return,' says he, 'as Tobias may want you, call a coach, and I will pay for it.'"
Todd had only just time to dart14 down the staircase before the two ladies made their appearance; and then hiding sometimes in doorways37, and sometimes behind columns and corners, he dodged38 them into Fleet-street. A coach was duly called, and Mrs. Ragg by the assistance of Martha Jones, was safely bestowed39 inside it. Todd heard distinctly the colonel's address given to the coachman, who would have it twice over, so that he should be sure he had it all right.
"That will do," said Todd.
He darted across the street, and made the best of his way to his shop again. He listened at the door for a few moments before he entered, and he thought he heard the sound of weeping. He listened more attentively40, and then he was sure. Some one was sobbing41 bitterly within the shop.
"It must be Charley," thought Todd.
He placed his ear quite close to the panel of the door, in the hope that the boy would speak. Todd was quite an adept42 at listening, but this time he was disappointed, for the sham43 Charley Green spoke44 not one word. Yet the deep sobs45 continued. Todd was not in the best of tempers. He could stand the delay no longer, and bouncing into the shop, he cried—
"What the devil is the meaning of all this? What is the meaning of it, you young rascal46? I suspect—"
"Yes, sir," said Johanna, looking Todd full in the face, "and so do I."
"You—you? suspect what?"
"That I shall have to have it out, for its aching distracts me. Did you ever have the tooth-ache, sir?"
"The tooth-ache?"
"Yes, sir. It's—it's worse than the heart-ache, and that I have had."
"Ah!—humph! Any one been?"
"One gentleman, sir, to be shaved; he says he will call again."
"Very good—very good."
Todd took from his pocket the key of the back-parlour—that key without which in his own possession he never left the shop; and then, after casting upon Johanna a somewhat sinister47 and threatening look, he muttered to himself—
"I suspect that boy. If he refuse to come into the parlour, I will cut his throat in the shop; but if he come in I shall be better satisfied. Charley? Come here."
"Yes, sir," said Johanna, and she walked boldly into the parlour.
"Shut the door."
She closed it.
"Humph," said Todd. "It is no matter. I will call you again when I want you."
点击收听单词发音
1 conjectures | |
推测,猜想( conjecture的名词复数 ) | |
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2 frail | |
adj.身体虚弱的;易损坏的 | |
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3 vessel | |
n.船舶;容器,器皿;管,导管,血管 | |
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4 begot | |
v.为…之生父( beget的过去式 );产生,引起 | |
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5 nay | |
adv.不;n.反对票,投反对票者 | |
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6 fully | |
adv.完全地,全部地,彻底地;充分地 | |
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7 dodging | |
n.避开,闪过,音调改变v.闪躲( dodge的现在分词 );回避 | |
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8 backwards | |
adv.往回地,向原处,倒,相反,前后倒置地 | |
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9 interfere | |
v.(in)干涉,干预;(with)妨碍,打扰 | |
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10 recesses | |
n.壁凹( recess的名词复数 );(工作或业务活动的)中止或暂停期间;学校的课间休息;某物内部的凹形空间v.把某物放在墙壁的凹处( recess的第三人称单数 );将(墙)做成凹形,在(墙)上做壁龛;休息,休会,休庭 | |
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11 chambers | |
n.房间( chamber的名词复数 );(议会的)议院;卧室;会议厅 | |
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12 profundity | |
n.渊博;深奥,深刻 | |
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13 possessed | |
adj.疯狂的;拥有的,占有的 | |
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14 dart | |
v.猛冲,投掷;n.飞镖,猛冲 | |
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15 darted | |
v.投掷,投射( dart的过去式和过去分词 );向前冲,飞奔 | |
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16 latch | |
n.门闩,窗闩;弹簧锁 | |
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17 ascended | |
v.上升,攀登( ascend的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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18 babbling | |
n.胡说,婴儿发出的咿哑声adj.胡说的v.喋喋不休( babble的现在分词 );作潺潺声(如流水);含糊不清地说话;泄漏秘密 | |
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19 impatience | |
n.不耐烦,急躁 | |
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20 galling | |
adj.难堪的,使烦恼的,使焦躁的 | |
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21 wring | |
n.扭绞;v.拧,绞出,扭 | |
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22 scruple | |
n./v.顾忌,迟疑 | |
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23 conceit | |
n.自负,自高自大 | |
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24 fracas | |
n.打架;吵闹 | |
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25 ascertain | |
vt.发现,确定,查明,弄清 | |
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26 temerity | |
n.鲁莽,冒失 | |
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27 dingy | |
adj.昏暗的,肮脏的 | |
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28 extremity | |
n.末端,尽头;尽力;终极;极度 | |
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29 heeded | |
v.听某人的劝告,听从( heed的过去式和过去分词 );变平,使(某物)变平( flatten的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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30 countenance | |
n.脸色,面容;面部表情;vt.支持,赞同 | |
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31 malignant | |
adj.恶性的,致命的;恶意的,恶毒的 | |
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32 demon | |
n.魔鬼,恶魔 | |
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33 orphan | |
n.孤儿;adj.无父母的 | |
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34 horrid | |
adj.可怕的;令人惊恐的;恐怖的;极讨厌的 | |
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35 wretch | |
n.可怜的人,不幸的人;卑鄙的人 | |
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36 victuals | |
n.食物;食品 | |
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37 doorways | |
n.门口,门道( doorway的名词复数 ) | |
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38 dodged | |
v.闪躲( dodge的过去式和过去分词 );回避 | |
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39 bestowed | |
赠给,授予( bestow的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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40 attentively | |
adv.聚精会神地;周到地;谛;凝神 | |
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41 sobbing | |
<主方>Ⅰ adj.湿透的 | |
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42 adept | |
adj.老练的,精通的 | |
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43 sham | |
n./adj.假冒(的),虚伪(的) | |
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44 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 | |
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45 sobs | |
啜泣(声),呜咽(声)( sob的名词复数 ) | |
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46 rascal | |
n.流氓;不诚实的人 | |
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47 sinister | |
adj.不吉利的,凶恶的,左边的 | |
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