Холодный дом

A Morning Adventure

           Amongthemwasone,inthesamewriting,havingnothingtodowiththebusinessoftheshop,butannouncingthatarespectablemanagedforty-fivewantedengrossingorcopyingtoexecutewithneatnessanddispatch:AddresstoNemo,careofMr.Krook,within.Therewereseveralsecond-handbags,blueandred,hangingup.Alittlewaywithintheshop-doorlayheapsofoldcrackledparchmentscrollsanddiscolouredanddog’s-earedlaw-papers.Icouldhavefanciedthatalltherustykeys,ofwhichtheremusthavebeenhundredshuddledtogetherasoldiron,hadoncebelongedtodoorsofroomsorstrongchestsinlawyers’offices.Thelitterofragstumbledpartlyintoandpartlyoutofaone-leggedwoodenscale,hangingwithoutanycounterpoisefromabeam,mighthavebeencounsellors’bandsandgownstornup.Onehadonlytofancy,asRichardwhisperedtoAdaandmewhileweallstoodlookingin,thatyonderbonesinacorner,piledtogetherandpickedveryclean,werethebonesofclients,tomakethepicturecomplete.Asitwasstillfoggyanddark,andastheshopwasblindedbesidesbythewallofLincoln’sInn,interceptingthelightwithinacoupleofyards,weshouldnothaveseensomuchbutforalightedlanternthatanoldmaninspectaclesandahairycapwascarryingaboutintheshop.Turningtowardsthedoor,henowcaughtsightofus.Hewasshort,cadaverous,andwithered,withhisheadsunksidewaysbetweenhisshouldersandthebreathissuinginvisiblesmokefromhismouthasifhewereonfirewithin.

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