At noon the injunction was served in Quartpot Alley, and was put into Mr Slide’s hands on his arrival at the office at three o’clock. That gentleman’s duties required his attendance from three till five in the afternoon, and then again from nine in the evening till any hour in the morning at which he might be able to complete the People’s Banner for that day’s use. He had been angry with Phineas when the Sunday night passed without a visit or letter at the office, as a promise had been made that there should be either a visit or a letter; but he had felt sure, as he walked into the city from his suburban16 residence at Camden Town, that he would now find some communication on the great subject. The matter was one of most serious importance. Such a letter as that which was in his possession would no doubt create much surprise, and receive no ordinary attention. A People’s Banner could hardly ask for a better bit of good fortune than the privilege of first publishing such a letter. It would no doubt be copied into every London paper, and into hundreds of provincial17 papers, and every journal so copying it would be bound to declare that it was taken from the columns of the People’s Banner . It was, indeed, addressed “To the Editor of the People’s Banner “ in the printed slip which Mr Slide had shown to Phineas Finn, though Kennedy himself had not prefixed to it any such direction. And the letter, in the hands of Quintus Slide, would not simply have been a letter. It might have been groundwork for, perhaps, some half-dozen leading articles, all of a most attractive kind. Mr Slide’s high moral tone upon such an occasion would have been qualified18 to do good to every British matron, and to add virtues19 to the Bench of Bishops21. All this he had postponed22 with some inadequately23 defined idea that he could do better with the property in his hands by putting himself into personal communication with the persons concerned. If he could manage to reconcile such a husband to such a wife — or even to be conspicuous24 in an attempt to do so; and if he could make the old Earl and the young Member of Parliament feel that he had spared them by abstaining26 from the publication, the results might be very beneficial. His conception of the matter had been somewhat hazy27, and he had certainly made a mistake. But, as he walked from his home to Quartpot Alley, he little dreamed of the treachery with which he had been treated. “Has Phineas Finn been here?” he asked as he took his accustomed seat within a small closet, that might be best described as a glass cage. Around him lay the debris28 of many past newspapers, and the germs of many future publications. To all the world except himself it would have been a chaos29, but to him, with his experience, it was admirable order. No; Mr Finn had not been there. And then, as he was searching among the letters for one from the Member for Tankerville, the injunction was thrust into his hands. To say that he was aghast is but a poor form of speech for the expression of his emotion.
He had been “done’ — “sold,” — absolutely robbed by that wretchedly-false Irishman whom he had trusted with all the confidence of a candid30 nature and an open heart! He had been most treacherously31 misused32! Treachery was no adequate word for the injury inflicted33 on him. The more potent35 is a man, the less accustomed to endure injustice36, and the more his power to inflict34 it — the greater is the sting and the greater the astonishment37 when he himself is made to suffer. Newspaper editors sport daily with the names of men of whom they do not hesitate to publish almost the severest words that can be uttered — but let an editor be himself attacked, even without his name, and he thinks that the thunderbolts of heaven should fall upon the offender38. Let his manners, his truth, his judgment39, his honesty, or even his consistency40 be questioned, and thunderbolts are forthcoming, though they may not be from heaven. There should certainly be a thunderbolt or two now, but Mr Slide did not at first quite see how they were to be forged.
He read the injunction again and again. As far as the document went he knew its force, and recognised the necessity of obedience14. He might, perhaps, be able to use the information contained in the letter from Mr Kennedy, so as to harass42 Phineas and Lady Laura and the Earl, but he was at once aware that it must not be published. An editor is bound to avoid the meshes43 of the law, which are always infinitely44 more costly45 to companies, or things, or institutions, than they are to individuals. Of fighting with Chancery he had no notion; but it should go hard with him if he did not have a fight with Phineas Finn. And then there arose another cause for deep sorrow. A paragraph was shown to him in a morning paper of that day which must, he thought, refer to Mr Kennedy and Phineas Finn. “A rumour46 has reached us that a member of Parliament, calling yesterday afternoon upon a right honourable gentleman, a member of a late Government, at his hotel, was shot at by the latter in his sitting room. Whether the rumour be true or not we have no means of saying, and therefore abstain25 from publishing names. We are informed that the gentleman who used the pistol was out of his mind. The bullet did not take effect.” How cruel it was that such information should have reached the hands of a rival, and not fallen in the way of the People’s Banner! And what a pity that the bullet should have been wasted! The paragraph must certainly refer to Phineas Finn and Kennedy. Finn, a Member of Parliament, had been sent by Slide himself to call upon Kennedy, a member of the late Government, at Kennedy’s hotel. And the paragraph must be true. He himself had warned Finn that there would be danger in the visit. He had even prophesied47 murder — and murder had been attempted! The whole transaction had been, as it were, the very goods and chattels48 of the People’s Banner, and the paper had been shamefully49 robbed of its property. Mr Slide hardly doubted that Phineas Finn had himself sent the paragraph to an adverse50 paper, with the express view of adding to the injury inflicted upon the Banner . That day Mr Slide hardly did his work effectively within his glass cage, so much was his mind affected51, and at five o’clock, when he left his office, instead of going at once home to Mrs Slide at Camden Town, he took an omnibus, and went down to Westminster. He would at once confront the traitor52 who had deceived him.
It must be acknowledged on behalf of this editor that he did in truth believe that he had been hindered from doing good. The whole practice of his life had taught him to be confident that the editor of a newspaper must be the best possible judge — indeed the only possible good judge — whether any statement or story should or should not be published. Not altogether without a conscience, and intensely conscious of such conscience as did constrain53 him, Mr Quintus Slide imagined that no law of libel, no injunction from any Vice-Chancellor, no outward power or pressure whatever was needed to keep his energies within their proper limits. He and his newspaper formed together a simply beneficent institution, any interference with which must of necessity be an injury to the public. Everything done at the office of the People’s Banner was done in the interest of the People — and, even though individuals might occasionally be made to suffer by the severity with which their names were handled in its columns, the general result was good. What are the sufferings of the few to the advantage of the many? If there be fault in high places, it is proper that it be exposed. If there be fraud, adulteries, gambling54, and lasciviousness55 — or even quarrels and indiscretions among those whose names are known, let every detail be laid open to the light, so that the people may have a warning. That such details will make a paper “pay” Mr Slide knew also; but it is not only in Mr Slide’s path of life that the bias56 of a man’s mind may lead him to find that virtue20 and profit are compatible. An unprofitable newspaper cannot long continue its existence, and, while existing, cannot be widely beneficial. It is the circulation, the profitable circulation — of forty, fifty, sixty, or a hundred thousand copies through all the arteries57 and veins58 of the public body which is beneficent. And how can such circulation be effected unless the taste of the public be consulted? Mr Quintus Slide, as he walked up Westminster Hall, in search of that wicked member of Parliament, did not at all doubt the goodness of his cause. He could not contest the Vice-Chancellor’s injunction, but he was firm in his opinion that the Vice-Chancellor’s injunction had inflicted an evil on the public at large, and he was unhappy within himself in that the power and majesty59 and goodness of the press should still be hampered60 by ignorance, prejudice, and favour for the great. He was quite sure that no injunction would have been granted in favour of Mr Joseph Smith and Mr John Jones.
He went boldly up to one of the policemen who sit guarding the door of the lobby of our House of Commons, and asked for Mr Finn. The Cerberus on the left was not sure whether Mr Finn was in the House, but would send in a card if Mr Slide would stand on one side. For the next quarter of an hour Mr Slide heard no more of his message, and then applied61 again to the Cerberus. The Cerberus shook his head, and again desired the applicant62 to stand on one side. He had done all that in him lay. The other watchful63 Cerberus standing64 on the right, observing that the intruder was not accommodated with any member, intimated to him the propriety65 of standing back in one of the corners. Our editor turned round upon the man as though he would bite him — but he did stand back, meditating66 an article on the gross want of attention to the public shown in the lobby of the House of Commons. Is it possible that any editor should endure any inconvenience without meditating an article? But the judicious67 editor thinks twice of such things. Our editor was still in his wrath68 when he saw his prey69 come forth41 from the House with a card — no doubt his own card. He leaped forward in spite of the policeman, in spite of any Cerberus, and seized Phineas by the arm. “I want just to have a few words,” he said. He made an effort to repress his wrath, knowing that the whole world would be against him should he exhibit any violence of indignation on that spot; but Phineas could see it all in the fire of his eye.
“Certainly,” said Phineas, retiring to the side of the lobby, with a conviction that the distance between him and the House was already sufficient.
“Can’t you come down into Westminster Hall?”
“I should only have to come up again. You can say what you’ve got to say here.”
“I’ve got a great deal to say. I never was so badly treated in my life — never.” He could not quite repress his voice, and he saw that a policeman looked at him. Phineas saw it also.
“Because we have hindered you from publishing an untrue and very slanderous70 letter about a lady!”
“You promised me that you’d come to me yesterday.”
“I think not. I think I said that you should hear from me — and you did.”
“You call that truth — and honesty!”
“Certainly I do. Of course it was my first duty to stop the publication of the letter.”
“You haven’t done that yet.”
“I’ve done my best to stop it. If you have nothing more to say I’ll wish you good evening.”
“I’ve a deal more to say. You were shot at, weren’t you?”
“I have no desire to make any communication to you on anything that has occurred, Mr Slide. If I stayed with you all the afternoon I could tell you nothing more. Good evening.”
“I’ll crush you,” said Quintus Slide, in a stage whisper; “I will, as sure as my name is Slide.”
Phineas looked at him and retired71 into the House, whither Quintus Slide could not follow him, and the editor of the People’s Banner was left alone in his anger.
“How a cock can crow on his own dunghill!” That was Mr Slide’s first feeling, as with a painful sense of diminished consequence he retraced72 his steps through the outer lobbies and down into Westminster Hall. He had been browbeaten73 by Phineas Finn, simply because Phineas had been able to retreat within those happy doors. He knew that to the eyes of all the policemen and strangers assembled Phineas Finn had been a hero, a Parliamentary hero, and he had been some poor outsider — to be ejected at once should he make himself disagreeable to the Members. Nevertheless, had he not all the columns of the People’s Banner in his pocket? Was he not great in the Fourth Estate — much greater than Phineas Finn in his estate? Could he not thunder every night so that an audience to be counted by hundreds of thousands should hear his thunder — whereas this poor Member of Parliament must struggle night after night for an opportunity of speaking; and could then only speak to benches half deserted74; or to a few Members half asleep — unless the Press should choose to convert his words into thunderbolts. Who could doubt for a moment with which lay the greater power? And yet this wretched Irishman, who had wriggled75 himself into Parliament on a petition, getting the better of a good, downright English John Bull by a quibble, had treated him with scorn — the wretched Irishman being for the moment like a cock on his own dunghill. Quintus Slide was not slow to tell himself that he also had an elevation76 of his own, from which he could make himself audible. In former days he had forgiven Phineas Finn more than once. If he ever forgave Phineas Finn again might his right hand forget its cunning, and never again draw blood or tear a scalp.
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1
peculiar
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| adj.古怪的，异常的；特殊的，特有的 | |
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affidavit
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| n.宣誓书 | |
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justified
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| a.正当的，有理的 | |
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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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honourable
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| adj.可敬的；荣誉的，光荣的 | |
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dingy
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| adj.昏暗的，肮脏的 | |
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potency
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| n. 效力，潜能 | |
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crumpled
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| adj. 弯扭的, 变皱的 动词crumple的过去式和过去分词形式 | |
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arrogant
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| adj.傲慢的，自大的 | |
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reverence
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| n.敬畏，尊敬，尊严；Reverence:对某些基督教神职人员的尊称；v.尊敬，敬畏，崇敬 | |
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alley
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| n.小巷，胡同；小径，小路 | |
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evasion
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| n.逃避，偷漏(税) | |
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13
crumpling
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| 压皱，弄皱( crumple的现在分词 )； 变皱 | |
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obedience
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| n.服从，顺从 | |
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chambers
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| n.房间( chamber的名词复数 )；（议会的）议院；卧室；会议厅 | |
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suburban
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| adj.城郊的，在郊区的 | |
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provincial
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| adj.省的，地方的；n．外省人，乡下人 | |
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qualified
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| adj.合格的，有资格的，胜任的，有限制的 | |
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virtues
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| 美德( virtue的名词复数 )； 德行； 优点； 长处 | |
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virtue
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| n.德行，美德；贞操；优点；功效，效力 | |
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bishops
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| （基督教某些教派管辖大教区的）主教( bishop的名词复数 )； （国际象棋的）象 | |
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22
postponed
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| vt.& vi.延期，缓办，（使）延迟vt.把…放在次要地位；[语]把…放在后面（或句尾）vi.（疟疾等）延缓发作（或复发） | |
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inadequately
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| ad.不够地；不够好地 | |
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conspicuous
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| adj.明眼的，惹人注目的；炫耀的，摆阔气的 | |
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25
abstain
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| v.自制，戒绝，弃权，避免 | |
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abstaining
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| 戒（尤指酒），戒除( abstain的现在分词 )； 弃权（不投票） | |
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hazy
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| adj.有薄雾的，朦胧的；不肯定的，模糊的 | |
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debris
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| n.瓦砾堆，废墟，碎片 | |
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chaos
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| n.混乱，无秩序 | |
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candid
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| adj.公正的，正直的；坦率的 | |
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treacherously
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| 背信弃义地； 背叛地； 靠不住地； 危险地 | |
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32
misused
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| v.使用…不当( misuse的过去式和过去分词 )；把…派作不正当的用途；虐待；滥用 | |
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inflicted
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| 把…强加给，使承受，遭受( inflict的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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inflict
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| vt.(on)把…强加给，使遭受，使承担 | |
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potent
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| adj.强有力的，有权势的；有效力的 | |
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injustice
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| n.非正义，不公正，不公平，侵犯（别人的）权利 | |
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astonishment
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| n.惊奇，惊异 | |
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38
offender
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| n.冒犯者，违反者，犯罪者 | |
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39
judgment
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| n.审判；判断力，识别力，看法，意见 | |
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40
consistency
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| n.一贯性，前后一致，稳定性；(液体的)浓度 | |
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forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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harass
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| vt.使烦恼，折磨，骚扰 | |
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meshes
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| 网孔( mesh的名词复数 )； 网状物； 陷阱； 困境 | |
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44
infinitely
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| adv.无限地，无穷地 | |
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costly
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| adj.昂贵的，价值高的，豪华的 | |
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rumour
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| n.谣言，谣传，传闻 | |
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prophesied
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| v.预告，预言( prophesy的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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chattels
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| n.动产，奴隶( chattel的名词复数 ) | |
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49
shamefully
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| 可耻地； 丢脸地； 不体面地； 羞耻地 | |
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adverse
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| adj.不利的；有害的；敌对的，不友好的 | |
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affected
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| adj.不自然的，假装的 | |
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traitor
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| n.叛徒，卖国贼 | |
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53
constrain
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| vt.限制，约束；克制，抑制 | |
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54
gambling
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| n.赌博；投机 | |
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lasciviousness
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bias
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| n.偏见，偏心，偏袒；vt.使有偏见 | |
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arteries
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| n.动脉( artery的名词复数 )；干线，要道 | |
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58
veins
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| n.纹理；矿脉( vein的名词复数 )；静脉；叶脉；纹理 | |
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59
majesty
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| n.雄伟，壮丽，庄严，威严；最高权威，王权 | |
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60
hampered
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| 妨碍，束缚，限制( hamper的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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61
applied
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| adj.应用的；v.应用，适用 | |
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applicant
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| n.申请人，求职者，请求者 | |
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watchful
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| adj.注意的，警惕的 | |
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64
standing
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| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
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65
propriety
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| n.正当行为；正当；适当 | |
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66
meditating
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| a.沉思的，冥想的 | |
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67
judicious
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| adj.明智的，明断的，能作出明智决定的 | |
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wrath
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| n.愤怒，愤慨，暴怒 | |
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prey
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| n.被掠食者，牺牲者，掠食；v.捕食，掠夺，折磨 | |
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70
slanderous
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| adj.诽谤的，中伤的 | |
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71
retired
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| adj.隐退的，退休的，退役的 | |
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72
retraced
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| v.折回( retrace的过去式和过去分词 )；回忆；回顾；追溯 | |
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browbeaten
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| v.（以言辞或表情）威逼，恫吓( browbeat的过去分词 ) | |
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74
deserted
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| adj.荒芜的，荒废的，无人的，被遗弃的 | |
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75
wriggled
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| v.扭动，蠕动，蜿蜒行进( wriggle的过去式和过去分词 )；（使身体某一部位）扭动；耍滑不做，逃避（应做的事等） | |
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76
elevation
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| n.高度；海拔；高地；上升；提高 | |
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