登陆注册
19848400000089

第89章

I axed th' nurse to find out who she was, and where she lived. But what I'm more especial naming it now for is this,--for one thing I wanted you all to know why I weren't at my post this morning; for an other, I wish to say, that I, for one, ha' seen enough of what comes of attacking knob-sticks, and I'll ha' nought to do with it no more. There were some expressions of disapprobation, but John did not mind them. "Nay! I'm no coward," he replied, "and I'm true to th' backbone. What I would like, and what I would do, would be to fight the masters. There's one among yo called me a coward. Well! every man has a right to his opinion; but since I've thought on th' matter to-day, I've thought we han all on us been more like cowards in attacking the poor like ourselves; them as has none to help, but mun choose between vitriol and starvation. I say we're more cowardly in doing that than in leaving them alone. No! what I would do is this. Have at the masters!" Again he shouted, "Have at the masters!" He spoke lower; all listened with hushed breath. "It's the masters as has wrought this woe; it's the masters as shouldpay for it. Him as called me coward just now, may try if I am one or not. Set me to serve out the masters, and see if there's aught I'll stick at." "It would give th' masters a bit on a fright if one of them were beaten within an inch of his life," said one. "Aye! or beaten till no life were left in him, growled another. And so with words, or looks that told more than words, they built up a deadly plan. Deeper and darker grew the import of their speeches, as they stood hoarsely muttering their meaning out, and glaring, with eyes that told the terror their own thoughts were to them, upon their neighbours, Their clenched fists, their set teeth, their livid looks, all told the suffering which their minds were voluntarily undergoing in the contemplation of crime, and in familiarizing themselves with its details. Then came one of those fierce terrible oaths which bind members of Trades' Unions to any given purpose. Then, under the flaring gaslight, they met together to consult further. With the distrust of guilt, each was suspicious of his neighbour; each dreaded the treachery of another. A number of pieces of paper (the identical letter on which the caricature had been drawn that very morning) were torn up, and one was marked . Then all were folded up again, looking exactly alike. They were shuffled together in a hat.

The gas was extinguished; each drew out a paper. The gas was re-lighted.

Then each went as far as he could from his fellows, and examined the paper he hadwithout saying a word, and with a countenance as stony and immovable as he could make it. Then, still rigidly silent, they each took up their hats and went every one his own way. He who had drawn the marked paper had drawn the lot of the assassin! and he had sworn to act according to his drawing! But no one, save God and his own conscience, knew who was the appointed murderer.

同类推荐
  • 伤寒论纲目

    伤寒论纲目

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 北帝伏魔经法建坛仪

    北帝伏魔经法建坛仪

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 留东外史续集

    留东外史续集

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • STALKY & CO.

    STALKY & CO.

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 海运说

    海运说

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
热门推荐
  • 傻王爷的笨王妃

    傻王爷的笨王妃

    穿越醒来一句泥煤,坦然接受。自己做了那么久的特工,都是做别人的手下,这一世一定要自己做自己的老大。为了过的舒心,为了更好的隐藏自己的势力,也为了给自己个自由,把自己嫁给了一个傻王爷。自认为嫁了人,就可以安定,就可以发展自己的力量。却不曾想,自己掉进皇宫夺嫡大战。发现自己费尽心思保护的人,却是………………
  • 生活是最悲伤的喜剧

    生活是最悲伤的喜剧

    《生活是最悲伤的喜剧》故事讲述了主人公李梓荣,少年经历不平,年轻气盛经历磨难,阴差阳错的成为了一名三流演员,遭受的打击使他的生活一直郁郁寡欢,然而又将面临更多的新的生活困难,故事围绕李梓荣的故事以及其身边的朋友所经历的生活展开,从多个人的故事展现生活的喜与悲,现实的好与坏,人性的善与恶,感情的爱与恨,原原本本展现了生活的残酷面。故事里,每一个人的故事都是一场戏,一场名为生活的,悲伤喜剧。
  • 玄宗朝翻经三藏善无畏赠鸿胪卿行状

    玄宗朝翻经三藏善无畏赠鸿胪卿行状

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 石湖词

    石湖词

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 何如当初莫相识

    何如当初莫相识

    她的婚姻还不如一块嚼到没有味道的口香糖,苍白到没有一丝味道,到最后只剩下苦涩。可是口香糖是可以吐掉的,而婚姻,如何吐掉?别人都羡慕她有福气,嫁了个有钱人,年纪轻轻就过着奢华的贵妇生活,不用为生活而奔波劳苦。可是,谁看得见这奢华背后的苦楚?他的身上沾着陌生女人的香水味;他的手机里有数不清的暧昧短信;他对她说得最多的一句话是,“我很忙。”,还有一句,“明天出差。”空空的房子,冰冷的床被,她时常呆坐到天空,孤独一点一点侵蚀了她的灵魂……面对背叛,面对漠视,面对如坟墓一样的婚姻,她终于忍无可忍——谁说女人一定要忍受?
  • 御魔乾坤

    御魔乾坤

    弱肉强食实力为尊大神魔大陆旁的虚空内被气七星强行封印万年的魔族人欲要冲破封印席卷全大陆,一名高中青年不知是幸运还是不幸的从地球穿越而来,人品爆发巧遇两名牛叉师傅,从此他又被狗血的坑上了那漫漫修行之路……他本应平凡却不幸成为七星玉衡转世,寻找其余六星抵押魔族侵略拯救人族的重任便落于此肩之上……一年、两年、三年……多年过去了,魔族终于成功脱离虚空侵入大陆……七星汇聚,浴血搏杀,血色染红了天际……正当两族奋血厮杀之际,他们却丝毫没有感觉到危险现在才刚刚降临……命运的齿轮开始逆转…………
  • 中国企业力量:罗苏与兴发产品传奇

    中国企业力量:罗苏与兴发产品传奇

    本书是一部不可多得的好书,它是一部关于企业家与企业的成长史,又是一部农民运用科学知识脱贫致富的创业经。全书展示了罗苏多年的辛劳硕果,总结其一生奋斗的精辟体会,章章有学问,篇篇藏经典。罗苏的事迹和经验,已远远超越了生产销售铝型材的行业范围,它包含有:工业生产、企业管理、金融财贸、高新技术、信息运用、员工培训、人际关系、伦理道德、政治法律等方面的知识和智慧。这部书,记述完整,内容真实,情节感人,十分难得。我相信任何一个想获得成功的人士,不论是在校的学生还是从商从政者,只要想干一番事业,在读了《中国企业力量》这本书后,都可大获裨益。
  • 浅浅,你的爱

    浅浅,你的爱

    当病魔开始折磨我的时候,我释然了;当闭上眼睛那一刻,我释然了;当看着关心我的人哭的时候,我后悔了;当看着他哭喊着我的名字,叫我不要走的时候,我后悔了;最后我只能微笑着说:“忘了我,好好生活。”
  • 戏剧学院

    戏剧学院

    "一纸录取通知书,王凡这个富家公子就被喜爱戏剧的爷爷送进了戏剧学院。角色扮演,二次元,穿越!平静表面上的学校似乎隐藏着不为人知的秘密…请看富家公子如何在所谓的学院走下去,这将会是一段不归路…欢迎来到《戏剧学院》!
  • 十岁酋长

    十岁酋长

    本书是作者新近创作的作品,主要讲述了十岁小男孩初为酋长的传奇故事,作者匠心独具,步步涉险,悬疑丛生,既让读者体验了阅读快感,又能使读者对人性的美与丑进行深刻的反思。