第12章(1/2)
theforenoon,theheaddrawerattheRoyalGeorge
Hotelopenedthecoach-doorashiscustomwas.Hedid
itwithsomeflourishofceremony,foramailjourneyfromLondon
inwinterwasanachievementtocongratulateanadventurous
travellerupon.
Bythattime,therewasonlyoneadventuroustravellerlefttobe
congratulated:forthetwoothershadbeensetdownattheir
respectiveroadsidedestinations.Themildewyinsideofthecoach,
withitsdampanddirtystraw,itsdisagreeablesmell,andits
obscurity,wasratherlikealargerdog-kennel.Mr.Lorry,the
passenger,shakinghimselfoutofitinchainsofstraw,atangleof
shaggywrapper,flappinghat,andmuddylegs,wasratherlikea
largersortofdog.
“TherewillbeapackettoCalais,tomorrow,drawer?”
“Yes,sir,iftheweatherholdsandthewindsetstolerablefair.
Thetidewillserveprettynicelyatabouttwointheafternoon,sir.
Bed,sir?”
“IshallnotgotobedtillnightbutIwantabedroom,anda
barber.”
“Andthenbreakfast,sir?Yes,sir,Thatway,sir,ifyouplease.
ShowConcord!Gentleman’svaliseandhotwatertoConcord.Pull
offgentleman’sbootsinConcord.(Youwillfindafinesea-coalfire,
sir.)FetchbarbertoConcord.Stiraboutthere,now,forConcord!”
CharlesDickensElecBookClassics
TheConcordbed-chamberbeingalwaysassignedtoa
passengerbythemail,andpassengersbythemailbeingalways
heavilywrappedupfromheadtofoot,thero