按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
Hunted Down
Hunted Down
by Charles Dickens
1
… Page 2…
Hunted Down
I。
Most of us see some romances in life。 In my capacity as Chief
Manager of a Life Assurance Office； I think I have within the last thirty
years seen more romances than the generality of men； however
unpromising the opportunity may； at first sight； seem。
As I have retired； and live at my ease； I possess the means that I used
to want； of considering what I have seen； at leisure。 My experiences
have a more remarkable aspect； so reviewed； than they had when they
were in progress。 I have come home from the Play now； and can recall
the scenes of the Drama upon which the curtain has fallen； free from the
glare； bewilderment； and bustle of the Theatre。
Let me recall one of these Romances of the real world。
There is nothing truer than physiognomy； taken in connection with
manner。 The art of reading that book of which Eternal Wisdom obliges
every human creature to present his or her own page with the individual
character written on it； is a difficult one； perhaps； and is little studied。 It
may require some natural aptitude； and it must require （for everything
does） some patience and some pains。 That these are not usually given to
it； … that numbers of people accept a few stock commonplace expressions
of the face as the whole list of characteristics； and neither seek nor know
the refinements that are truest； … that You； for instance； give a great deal of
time and attention to the reading of music； Greek； Latin； French； Italian；
Hebrew； if you please； and do not qualify yourself to read the face of the
master or mistress looking over your shoulder teaching it to you； … I
assume to be five hundred times more probable than improbable。
Perhaps a little self…sufficiency may be at the bottom of this； facial
expression requires no study from you； you think； it comes by nature to
2
… Page 3…
Hunted Down
you to know enough about it； and you are not to be taken in。
I confess； for my part； that I HAVE been taken in； over and over again。
I have been taken in by acquaintances； and I have been taken in （of course）
by friends； far oftener by friends than by any other class of persons。
How came I to be so deceived？ Had I quite misread their faces？
No
3
… Page 4…
Hunted Down
II。
The partition which separated my own office from our general outer
office in the City was of thick plate…glass。 I could see through it what
passed in the outer office； without hearing a word。 I had it put up in
place of a wall that had been there for years； … ever since the house was
built。 It is no matter whether I did or did not make the change in order
that I might derive my first impression of strangers； who came to us on
business； from their faces alone； without being influenced by anything
they said。 Enough to mention that I turned my glass partition to that
account； and that a Life Assurance Office is at all times exposed to be
practised upon by the most crafty and cruel of the human race。
It was through my glass partition that I first saw the gentleman whose
story I am going to tell。
He had come in without my observing it； and had put his hat and
umbrella on the broad counter； and was bending over it to take some
papers from one of the clerks。 He was about forty or so； dark；
exceedingly well dressed in black； … being in mourning； … and the hand he
extended with a polite air； had a particularly well…fitting black…kid glove
upon it。 His hair； which was elaborately brushed and oiled； was parted
straight up the middle； and he presented this parting to the clerk； exactly
（to my thinking） as if he had said； in so many words： 'You must take me； if
you please； my friend； just as I show myself。 Come straight up here；
follow the gravel path； keep off the grass； I allow no trespassing。'
I conceived a very great aversion to that man the moment I thus saw
him。
He had asked for some of our printed forms； and the clerk was giving
them to him and explaining them。 An obliged and agreeable smile was
on his face； and his eyes met those of the clerk with a sprightly look。 （I
4
… Page 5…
Hunted Down
have known a vast quantity of nonsense talked about bad men not looking
you in the face。 Don't trust that conventional idea。 Dishonesty will
stare honesty out of countenance； any day in the week； if there is anything
to be got by it。）
I saw； in the corner of his eyelash； that he became aware of my looking
at him。 Immediately he turned the parting in his hair toward the glass
partition； as if he said to me with a sweet smile； 'Straight up here； if you
please。 Off the grass！'
In a few moments he had put on his hat and taken up his umbrella； and
was gone。
I beckoned the clerk into my room； and asked； 'Who was that？'
He had the gentleman's card in his hand。 'Mr。 Julius Slinkton； Middle
Temple。'
'A barrister； Mr。 Adams？'
'I think not； sir。'
'I should have thought him a clergyman； but for his having no
Reverend here；' said I。
'Probably； from his appearance；' Mr。 Adams replied； 'he is reading for
orders。'
I should mention that he wore a dainty white cravat； and dainty linen
altogether。
'What did he want； Mr。 Adams？'
'Merely a form of proposal； sir； and form of reference。'
'Recommended here？ Did he say？'
'Yes； he said he was recommended here by a friend of yours。 He
noticed you； but said that as he had not the pleasure of your personal
acquaintance he would not trouble you。'
'Did he know my name？'
'O yes； sir！ He said； 〃There IS Mr。 Sampson； I see！〃'
'A well…spoken gentleman； apparently？'
'Remarkably so； sir。'
5
… Page 6…
Hunted Down
'Insinuating manners； apparently？'
'Very much so； indeed； sir。'
'Hah！' said I。 'I want nothing at present； Mr。 Adams。'
Within a fortnight of that day I went to dine with a friend of mine； a
merchant； a man of taste； who buys pictures and books； and the first man I
saw among the company was Mr。 Julius Slinkton。 There he was； standing
before the fire； with good large eyes and an open expression of face； but
still （I thought） requiring everybody to come at him by the prepared way
he offered； and by no other。
I noticed him ask my friend to introduce him to Mr。 Sampson； and my
friend did so。 Mr。 Slinkton was very happy to see me。 Not too happy；
there was no over…doing of the matter； happy in a thoroughly well…bred；
perfectly unmeaning way。
'I thought you had met；' our host observed。
'No；' said Mr。 Slinkton。 'I did look in at Mr。 Sampson's office； on
your recommendation； but I really did not feel justified in troubling Mr。
Sampson himself； on a point in the everyday； routine of an ordinary clerk。'
I said I should have been glad to show him any attention on our
friend's introduction。
'I am sure of that；' said he； 'and am much obliged。 At another time；
perhaps； I may be less delicate。 Only； however； if I have real business；
for I know； Mr。 Sampson； how precious business time is； and what a vast
number of impertinent people there are in the world。'
I acknowledged his consideration with a slight bow。 'You were
thinking；' said I； 'of effecting a policy on your life。'
'O dear no！ I am afraid I am not so prudent as you pay me the
complim