Лавка древностей

Chapter 70

           

           Itwasacross-countryroad,full,afterthefirstthreeorfourmiles,ofholesandcart-ruts,which,beingcoveredbythesnow,weresomanypitfallstothetremblinghorses,andobligedthemtokeepafootpace.Asitwasnexttoimpossibleformensomuchagitatedastheywerebythistime,tositstillandmovesoslowly,allthreegotoutandploddedonbehindthecarriage.Thedistanceseemedinterminable,andthewalkwasmostlaborious.Aseachwasthinkingwithinhimselfthatthedrivermusthavelosthisway,achurchbell,closeathand,struckthehourofmidnight,andthecarriagestopped.Ithadmovedsoftlyenough,butwhenitceasedtocrunchthesnow,thesilencewasasstartlingasifsomegreatnoisehadbeenreplacedbyperfectstillness.

           ‘Thisistheplace,gentlemen,’saidthedriver,dismountingfromhishorse,andknockingatthedoorofalittleinn.‘Halloa!Pasttwelveo’clockisthedeadofnighthere.’

           Theknockingwasloudandlong,butitfailedtorousethedrowsyinmates.Allcontinueddarkandsilentasbefore.Theyfellbackalittle,andlookedupatthewindows,whichweremereblackpatchesinthewhitenedhousefront.Nolightappeared.Thehousemighthavebeendeserted,orthesleepersdead,foranyairoflifeithadaboutit.

           Theyspoketogetherwithastrangeinconsistency,inwhispers;unwillingtodisturbagainthedrearyechoestheyhadjustnowraised.

           ‘Letusgoon,’saidtheyoungerbrother,‘andleavethisgoodfellowtowakethem,ifhecan.IcannotrestuntilIknowthatwearenottoolate.

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