Ever since they had taken him he had been oppressed by this plague of galloping7 thought, with few intervals8 of rest, when he could consider immediate9 concerns. But of these he made little trouble. The thing was done. Very well then, he would take his gruel10 like a man. He had done many a worse thing, he said, that had been thought less of.
The evidence was a nuisance. What was the good of it all? Over and over and over again. At the inquest, at the police court, and now here. Repeated, laboriously11 taken down, and repeated again. And now it was worse than ever, for the judge insisted on making a note of everything, and wrote it down slowly, a word at a time. The witnesses were like barrel-organs, producing the same old tune12 mechanically, without changing a note. There was the policeman who was in Meakin Street at twelve-thirty on the morning of the fourth of the month, when he heard cries of Murder, and proceeded to the coffee-shop. There was the other policeman who also 'proceeded' there, and recognised the prisoner, whom he knew, at the first-floor window. And there was the sergeant13 who had found him in the cellar, and the doctor who had made an examination, and the knife, and the boots, and all of it. It was Murder, Murder, Murder still. Why? Wasn't it plain enough? He felt some interest in what was coming—in the sentence, and the black cap, and so on—never having seen a murder trial before. But all this repetition oppressed him vaguely14 amid the innumerable things he had to think of, one thing leading to another.
Hannah and Dicky were there, sitting together behind the glass partition that rose at the side of the dock. Hannah's face was down in her hands, and Dicky's face was thin and white, and he sat with his neck stretched, his lips apart, his head aside to catch the smallest word. His eyes, too, were red with strained, unwinking attention. Josh felt vaguely that they might keep a bolder face, as he did himself. His sprained15 foot was still far from well, but he stood up, putting his weight on the other. He might have been allowed to sit if he had asked, but that would look like weakness.
There was another judge this time, an older one, with spectacles. He had come solemnly in, after lunch, with a bunch of flowers in his hand, and Josh thought he made an odd figure in his long red gown. Why did he sit at the end of the bench, instead of in the middle, under the long sword? Perhaps the old gentleman, who sat there for a little while and then went away, was the Lord Mayor. That would account for it. There was another room behind the bedroom at Weech's, which he had never thought about. Perhaps the money was there, after all. Could they have missed any hiding place in the shop parlour? No: there was the round table, with the four chairs about it, and the little sideboard; besides the texts on the wall, and two china figures on the mantel-piece—that was all. There was a copper16 in the wash-house, but there was nothing in it. The garret was a very good place to keep things in; but there was a strong smell of stale pickles17. He could smell it now—he had smelt18 it ever since.
The judge stopped a witness to speak of a draught19 from a window. Josh Perrott watched the shutting of the window—they did it with a cord. He had not noticed a draught himself. But pigeons were flying outside the panes20 and resting on the chimney-stacks. Pud Palmer tried to keep pigeons in Jago Row, but one morning the trap was found empty. A poulterer gave fourpence each for them. They were ticketed at eighteenpence a pair in the shop, and that was fivepence profit apiece for the poulterer. Tenpence a pair profit on eleven pairs was nearly ten shillings—ten shillings all but tenpence. They wouldn't have given any more in Club Row. A man had a four-legged linnet in Club Row, but there was a show in Bethnal Green Road with a two-headed sheep. It was outside there that Ginger21 Stagg was pinched for lob-crawling. And so on, and so on, till his head buzzed again.
His counsel was saying something. How long had he been talking? What was the good of it? He had told him that he had no defence. The lawyer was enlarging on the dead man's iniquities22, talking of provocation23, and the heat of passion, and the like. He was aiming desperately24 at a recommendation to mercy. That was mere25 foolery.
But presently the judge began to sum up. They were coming to something at last. But it was merely the thrice-told evidence once more. The judge blinked at his notes, and went at it again; the policeman with his whistle, and the other with his lantern, and the doctor, and the sergeant, and the rest. It was shorter this time, though. Josh Perrott turned and looked at the clock behind him, with the faces over it, peering from the gallery. But when he turned to face the judge again he had forgotten the time, and crowded trivialities were racing26 through the narrow gates of his brain once more.
There was a cry for silence, and then a fresh voice spoke27. 'Gentlemen of the jury, have you agreed upon your verdict?'
'Do you find the prisoner at the bar guilty, or not guilty?'
'Guilty.'
Yes, that was right; this was the real business. His head was clear and ready now.
'And is that the verdict of you all?'
'Yes.'
A pale parson in his black gown came walking along by the bench, and stood like a tall ghost at the judge's side, his eyes raised and his hands clasped. The judge took a black thing from the seat beside him, and arranged it on his head. It was a sort of soft mortarboard, Josh noted31 curiously32, with a large silk tassel33 hanging over one side, giving the judge, with his wig34 and his spectacles and his red gown, a horribly jaunty35 look. No brain could be clearer than Josh Perrott's now.
'Prisoner at the bar, have you anything to say why sentence of death should not be passed on you according to law?'
'No sir—I done it. On'y 'e was a worse man than me!'
'Joshua Perrott, you have been convicted, on evidence that can leave no doubt whatever of your guilt29 in the mind of any rational person, of the horrible crime of wilful37 murder. The circumstances of your awful offence there is no need to recapitulate38, but they were of the most brutal39 and shocking character. You deliberately40, and with preparation, broke into the house of the man whose death you have shortly to answer for in a higher court than this: whether you broke in with a design of robbery as well as of revenge by murder I know not, nor is it my duty to consider: but you there, with every circumstance of callous41 ferocity, sent the wretched man to that last account which you must shortly render for yourself. Of the ill-spent life of that miserable42 man, your victim, it is not for me to speak, nor for you to think. And I do most earnestly beseech43 you to use the short time yet remaining to you on this earth in true repentance44, and in making your peace with Almighty45 God. It is my duty to pronounce sentence of that punishment which not I, but the law of this country, imposes for the crime which you have committed. The sentence of the Court is: that you be taken to the place whence you came, and thence to a place of execution: and that you be there Hanged by the Neck till you be Dead: and may the Lord have Mercy on your Soul!'
'Amen!' It was from the tall black figure.
Well, well, that was over. The gaoler touched his arm. Right. But first he took a quick glance through the glass partition. Hannah was falling over, or something,—a mere rusty46 swaying bundle,—and Dicky was holding her up with both arms. Dicky's face was damp and grey, and twitching47 lines were in his cheeks. Josh took a step toward the partition, but they hurried him away.
该作者的其它作品
《The Hole in the Wall》
该作者的其它作品
《The Hole in the Wall》
点击
收听单词发音
收听单词发音 |
1
unicorn
|
|
| n.(传说中的)独角兽 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
2
gilt
|
|
| adj.镀金的；n.金边证券 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
3
dummy
|
|
| n.假的东西；(哄婴儿的)橡皮奶头 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
4
tug
|
|
| v.用力拖(或拉)；苦干；n.拖；苦干；拖船 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
5
forefinger
|
|
| n.食指 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
6
throbbing
|
|
| a. 跳动的,悸动的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
7
galloping
|
|
| adj. 飞驰的, 急性的 动词gallop的现在分词形式 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
8
intervals
|
|
| n.[军事]间隔( interval的名词复数 )；间隔时间；[数学]区间；（戏剧、电影或音乐会的）幕间休息 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
9
immediate
|
|
| adj.立即的；直接的，最接近的；紧靠的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
10
gruel
|
|
| n.稀饭，粥 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
11
laboriously
|
|
| adv.艰苦地；费力地；辛勤地；（文体等）佶屈聱牙地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
12
tune
|
|
| n.调子；和谐，协调；v.调音，调节，调整 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
13
sergeant
|
|
| n.警官，中士 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
14
vaguely
|
|
| adv.含糊地，暖昧地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
15
sprained
|
|
| v.&n. 扭伤 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
16
copper
|
|
| n.铜；铜币；铜器；adj.铜(制)的；(紫)铜色的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
17
pickles
|
|
| n.腌菜( pickle的名词复数 )；处于困境；遇到麻烦；菜酱 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
18
smelt
|
|
| v.熔解，熔炼；n.银白鱼，胡瓜鱼 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
19
draught
|
|
| n.拉，牵引，拖；一网（饮，吸，阵)；顿服药量，通风；v.起草，设计 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
20
panes
|
|
| 窗玻璃( pane的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
21
ginger
|
|
| n.姜，精力，淡赤黄色；adj.淡赤黄色的；vt.使活泼，使有生气 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
22
iniquities
|
|
| n.邪恶( iniquity的名词复数 )；极不公正 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
23
provocation
|
|
| n.激怒，刺激，挑拨，挑衅的事物，激怒的原因 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
24
desperately
|
|
| adv.极度渴望地，绝望地，孤注一掷地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
25
mere
|
|
| adj.纯粹的；仅仅，只不过 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
26
racing
|
|
| n.竞赛，赛马；adj.竞赛用的，赛马用的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
27
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： |
|
|
|
|
28
agitated
|
|
| adj.被鼓动的，不安的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
29
guilt
|
|
| n.犯罪；内疚；过失，罪责 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
30
sobbing
|
|
| <主方>Ⅰ adj.湿透的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
31
noted
|
|
| adj.著名的，知名的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
32
curiously
|
|
| adv.有求知欲地；好问地；奇特地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
33
tassel
|
|
| n.流苏，穗；v.抽穗， （玉米）长穗须 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
34
wig
|
|
| n.假发 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
35
jaunty
|
|
| adj．愉快的，满足的；adv.心满意足地，洋洋得意地；n.心满意足；洋洋得意 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
36
arraigns
|
|
| v.告发( arraign的第三人称单数 )；控告；传讯；指责 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
|
37
wilful
|
|
| adj.任性的，故意的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
38
recapitulate
|
|
| v.节述要旨，择要说明 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
39
brutal
|
|
| adj.残忍的，野蛮的，不讲理的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
40
deliberately
|
|
| adv.审慎地；蓄意地；故意地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
41
callous
|
|
| adj.无情的，冷淡的，硬结的，起老茧的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
42
miserable
|
|
| adj.悲惨的，痛苦的；可怜的，糟糕的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
43
beseech
|
|
| v.祈求，恳求 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
44
repentance
|
|
| n.懊悔 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
45
almighty
|
|
| adj.全能的，万能的；很大的，很强的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
46
rusty
|
|
| adj.生锈的；锈色的；荒废了的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
47
twitching
|
|
| n.颤搐 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
| 欢迎访问英文小说网 |