按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
last； I found a man with whom I could 〃do business。〃 There was no
hemming and hawing； no lifted brows； open incredulity； or blank
amazement。 In one minute I explained myself and my project； which he
6
… Page 7…
THE PEOPLE OF THE ABYSS
accepted as a matter of course。 In the second minute he asked my age；
height； and weight； and looked me over。 And in the third minute； as we
shook hands at parting； he said： 〃All right； Jack。 I'll remember you and
keep track。〃
I breathed a sigh of relief。 Having burnt my ships behind me； I was
now free to plunge into that human wilderness of which nobody seemed to
know anything。 But at once I encountered a new difficulty in the shape
of my cabby； a grey…whiskered and eminently decorous personage who
had imperturbably driven me for several hours about the 〃City。〃
〃Drive me down to the East End；〃 I ordered； taking my seat。
〃Where； sir？〃 he demanded with frank surprise。
〃To the East End； anywhere。 Go on。〃
The hansom pursued an aimless way for several minutes； then came to
a puzzled stop。 The aperture above my head was uncovered； and the
cabman peered down perplexedly at me。
〃I say；〃 he said； 〃wot plyce yer wanter go？〃
〃East End；〃 I repeated。 〃Nowhere in particular。 Just drive me
around anywhere。〃
〃But wot's the haddress； sir？〃
〃See here！〃 I thundered。 〃Drive me down to the East End； and at
once！〃
It was evident that he did not understand； but he withdrew his head；
and grumblingly started his horse。
Nowhere in the streets of London may one escape the sight of abject
poverty； while five minutes' walk from almost any point will bring one to
a slum； but the region my hansom was now penetrating was one unending
slum。 The streets were filled with a new and different race of people；
short of stature； and of wretched or beer…sodden appearance。 We rolled
along through miles of bricks and squalor； and from each cross street and
alley flashed long vistas of bricks and misery。 Here and there lurched a
drunken man or woman； and the air was obscene with sounds of jangling
and squabbling。 At a market； tottery old men and women were searching
in the garbage thrown in the mud for rotten potatoes； beans； and
vegetables； while little children clustered like flies around a festering mass
7
… Page 8…
THE PEOPLE OF THE ABYSS
of fruit； thrusting their arms to the shoulders into the liquid corruption； and
drawing forth morsels but partially decayed； which they devoured on the
spot。
Not a hansom did I meet with in all my drive； while mine was like an
apparition from another and better world； the way the children ran after it
and alongside。 And as far as I could see were the solid walls of brick； the
slimy pavements； and the screaming streets； and for the first time in my
life the fear of the crowd smote me。 It was like the fear of the sea； and
the miserable multitudes； street upon street； seemed so many waves of a
vast and malodorous sea； lapping about me and threatening to well up and
over me。
〃Stepney； sir； Stepney Station；〃 the cabby called down。
I looked about。 It was really a railroad station； and he had driven
desperately to it as the one familiar spot he had ever heard of in all that
wilderness。
〃Well；〃 I said。
He spluttered unintelligibly； shook his head； and looked very miserable。
〃I'm a strynger 'ere；〃 he managed to articulate。 〃An' if yer don't want
Stepney Station； I'm blessed if I know wotcher do want。〃
〃I'll tell you what I want；〃 I said。 〃You drive along and keep your eye
out for a shop where old clothes are sold。 Now； when you see such a
shop； drive right on till you turn the corner； then stop and let me out。〃
I could see that he was growing dubious of his fare； but not long
afterwards he pulled up to the curb and informed me that an old… clothes
shop was to be found a bit of the way back。
〃Won'tcher py me？〃 he pleaded。 〃There's seven an' six owin' me。〃
〃Yes；〃 I laughed； 〃and it would be the last I'd see of you。〃
〃Lord lumme； but it'll be the last I see of you if yer don't py me；〃 he
retorted。
But a crowd of ragged onlookers had already gathered around the cab；
and I laughed again and walked back to the old…clothes shop。
Here the chief difficulty was in making the shopman understand that I
really and truly wanted old clothes。 But after fruitless attempts to press
upon me new and impossible coats and trousers； he began to bring to light
8
… Page 9…
THE PEOPLE OF THE ABYSS
heaps of old ones； looking mysterious the while and hinting darkly。 This
he did with the palpable intention of letting me know that he had 〃piped
my lay；〃 in order to bulldose me； through fear of exposure； into paying
heavily for my purchases。 A man in trouble； or a high…class criminal
from across the water； was what he took my measure forin either case； a
person anxious to avoid the police。
But I disputed with him over the outrageous difference between prices
and values； till I quite disabused him of the notion； and he settled down to
drive a hard bargain with a hard customer。 In the end I selected a pair of
stout though well…worn trousers； a frayed jacket with one remaining button；
a pair of brogans which had plainly seen service where coal was shovelled；
a thin leather belt； and a very dirty cloth cap。 My underclothing and
socks； however； were new and warm； but of the sort that any American
waif； down in his luck； could acquire in the ordinary course of events。
〃I must sy yer a sharp 'un；〃 he said； with counterfeit admiration； as I
handed over the ten shillings finally agreed upon for the outfit。 〃Blimey；
if you ain't ben up an' down Petticut Lane afore now。 Yer trouseys is
wuth five bob to hany man； an' a docker 'ud give two an' six for the shoes；
to sy nothin' of the coat an' cap an' new stoker's singlet an' hother things。〃
〃How much will you give me for them？〃 I demanded suddenly。 〃I
paid you ten bob for the lot； and I'll sell them back to you； right now； for
eight！ Come； it's a go！〃
But he grinned and shook his head； and though I had made a good
bargain； I was unpleasantly aware that he had made a better one。
I found the cabby and a policeman with their heads together； but the
latter； after looking me over sharply； and particularly scrutinizing the
bundle under my arm； turned away and left the cabby to wax mutinous by
himself。 And not a step would he budge till I paid him the seven shillings
and sixpence owing him。 Whereupon he was willing to drive me to the
ends of the earth； apologising profusely for his insistence； and explaining
that one ran across queer customers in London Town。
But he drove me only to Highbury Vale； in North London； where my
luggage was waiting for me。 Here； next day； I took off my shoes （not
without regret for their lightness and comfort）； and my soft； grey travelling
9
… Page 10…
THE PEOPLE OF THE ABYSS
suit； and； in fact； all my clothing； and proceeded to array myself in the
clothes of the other and unimaginable men； who must have been indeed
unfortunate to have had to part with such rags for the pitiable sums
obtainable from a dealer。
Inside my stoker's singlet； in the armpit； I sewed a gold sovereign （an
emergency sum certainly of modest proportions）； and inside my stoker's
singlet I put myself。 And then I sat down and moralised upon the fair
years and fat； which had made my skin soft and brought the nerves close
to the surface； for the singlet was rough and raspy as a hair shirt； and I am
confident that the most rigorous of ascetics suffer no more than I did in the
ensuing twenty…four hours。
The remainder of my costume was