第43章(2/2)
ngfewgood
citizens,ifany.Sopowerfulisuse,andsodesirabletobegooduse
inthebeginning.Itwasfamous,too,forthepillory,awiseold
institution,thatinflictedapunishmentofwhichnoonecould
foreseetheextentalso,forthewhipping-post,anotherdearold
institution,veryhumanisingandsofteningtobeholdinaction
also,forextensivetransactionsinblood-money,anotherfragment
ofancestralwisdom,systematicallyleadingtothemostfrightful
mercenarycrimesthatcouldbecommittedunderHeaven.
Altogether,theOldBailey,atthatdate,wasachoiceillustrationof
thepreceptthat“Whateveris,isright”anaphorismthatwouldbe
asfinalasitislazy,diditnotincludethetroublesome
consequence,thatnothingthateverwas,waswrong.
Makinghiswaythroughthetaintedcrowd,dispersedupand
downthishideoussceneofaction,withtheskillofaman
accustomedtomakehiswayquietly,themessengerfoundoutthe
doorhesought,andhandedinhisletterthroughatrapinit.For,
peoplethenpaidtoseetheplayattheOldBailey,justastheypaid
toseetheplayinBedlamonlytheformerentertainmentwas
muchthedearer.Therefore,alltheOldBaileydoorswerewell
guardedexcept,indeed,thesocialdoorsbywhichthecriminals
gotthere,andthosewerealwaysleftwideopen.
Aftersomedelayanddemur,thedoorgrudginglyturnedonits
CharlesDickensElecBookClassics
hingesaverylittleway,andallowedMr.JerryCruncherto