登陆注册
15458700000059

第59章 CHAPTER XIV - CHAMBERS(1)

Having occasion to transact some business with a solicitor who occupies a highly suicidal set of chambers in Gray's Inn, I afterwards took a turn in the large square of that stronghold of Melancholy, reviewing, with congenial surroundings, my experiences of Chambers.

I began, as was natural, with the Chambers I had just left. They were an upper set on a rotten staircase, with a mysterious bunk or bulkhead on the landing outside them, of a rather nautical and Screw Collier-like appearance than otherwise, and painted an intense black. Many dusty years have passed since the appropriation of this Davy Jones's locker to any purpose, and during the whole period within the memory of living man, it has been hasped and padlocked. I cannot quite satisfy my mind whether it was originally meant for the reception of coals, or bodies, or as a place of temporary security for the plunder 'looted' by laundresses; but I incline to the last opinion. It is about breast high, and usually serves as a bulk for defendants in reduced circumstances to lean against and ponder at, when they come on the hopeful errand of trying to make an arrangement without money - under which auspicious circumstances it mostly happens that the legal gentleman they want to see, is much engaged, and they pervade the staircase for a considerable period. Against this opposing bulk, in the absurdest manner, the tomb-like outer door of the solicitor's chambers (which is also of an intense black) stands in dark ambush, half open, and half shut, all day. The solicitor's apartments are three in number; consisting of a slice, a cell, and a wedge. The slice is assigned to the two clerks, the cell is occupied by the principal, and the wedge is devoted to stray papers, old game baskets from the country, a washing-stand, and a model of a patent Ship's Caboose which was exhibited in Chancery at the commencement of the present century on an application for an injunction to restrain infringement. At about half-past nine on every week-day morning, the younger of the two clerks (who, I have reason to believe, leads the fashion at Pentonville in the articles of pipes and shirts) may be found knocking the dust out of his official door-key on the bunk or locker before mentioned; and so exceedingly subject to dust is his key, and so very retentive of that superfluity, that in exceptional summer weather when a ray of sunlight has fallen on the locker in my presence, I have noticed its inexpressive countenance to be deeply marked by a kind of Bramah erysipelas or small-pox.

This set of chambers (as I have gradually discovered, when I have had restless occasion to make inquiries or leave messages, after office hours) is under the charge of a lady named Sweeney, in figure extremely like an old family-umbrella: whose dwelling confronts a dead wall in a court off Gray's Inn-lane, and who is usually fetched into the passage of that bower, when wanted, from some neighbouring home of industry, which has the curious property of imparting an inflammatory appearance to her visage. Mrs.

Sweeney is one of the race of professed laundresses, and is the compiler of a remarkable manuscript volume entitled 'Mrs. Sweeney's Book,' from which much curious statistical information may be gathered respecting the high prices and small uses of soda, soap, sand, firewood, and other such articles. I have created a legend in my mind - and consequently I believe it with the utmost pertinacity - that the late Mr. Sweeney was a ticket-porter under the Honourable Society of Gray's Inn, and that, in consideration of his long and valuable services, Mrs. Sweeney was appointed to her present post. For, though devoid of personal charms, I have observed this lady to exercise a fascination over the elderly ticker-porter mind (particularly under the gateway, and in corners and entries), which I can only refer to her being one of the fraternity, yet not competing with it. All that need be said concerning this set of chambers, is said, when I have added that it is in a large double house in Gray's Inn-square, very much out of repair, and that the outer portal is ornamented in a hideous manner with certain stone remains, which have the appearance of the dismembered bust, torso, and limbs of a petrified bencher.

同类推荐
  • 关汉卿元曲集

    关汉卿元曲集

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 壬学琐记

    壬学琐记

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 灵宝施食法

    灵宝施食法

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 白石道人歌曲疏证

    白石道人歌曲疏证

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 金阙帝君三元真一经

    金阙帝君三元真一经

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
热门推荐
  • 涅火重生之女王归来

    涅火重生之女王归来

    她,异世纪的慵懒死神。被渣男贱女合伙杀死,一朝穿越,变成了同样被奸夫淫妇所害的白家九小姐身上。一朝重生。她变成了人人惧怕的血凤凰,神挡杀神,佛挡杀佛。她将自己内心封闭,从此了无感情。可事实不是这样的!!!!tmd,谁来告诉她,这个死抱自己大腿叫自己”媳妇“的魂淡是哪个葱?!!!从此血凤凰的生活就是能跑就跑,能躲就躲.........
  • 惊世言

    惊世言

    谁说百无一用是书生?在这大争的世界里百舸争流,神魔乱舞。言语有幸穿越重生在这个黄金大世,且看他如何激流勇进,山登绝顶!
  • 至尊神狱

    至尊神狱

    一个原本高高在上的神狱宗主却中了人家的圈套,残魂觉醒重生到一个不能修炼的废物身上,再世为人,红云决定此生只为报仇。不能正常修炼武功,那么就借鉴魔道心法,学习魔攻版的武功。气海被毁,不能修炼,那就么就用妖修法决来弥补!且看身怀神狱五宗:地狱宗,妖神宗,魔神宗,鬼神宗,邪神宗五宗绝顶法决的红云是如何玩转异世。
  • 神翼幻境

    神翼幻境

    一万年前的天空之神,一万年后的帝国公主,一个秋天的邂逅,生死的相依、生死的相许。风裹凝爱的凄伤,振飞银白色的羽翼,在地裂般的心碎中,回归神的天堂,再次成为万城山的神之王。一段旅程、一段冒险,水神七十二刃冰寒,太阳十二色灿烂,幻术漫战辉煌大陆,剑指苍天,为神而战,向着如云山,做最后的决断。风神阿尔唯美斯万城柔,一个被世人忘却一万年的上苍之神,一个被光之神封印了一万年的风之神,临于诺澜湖的静水之岸,你将听到她的灵魂在沉死的孤独中,悲凄的哭喊。
  • 入魔封天

    入魔封天

    一个少年发现了所谓的神仙府邸,当他再次出现在世人面前,发现世界巨变,神仙菩萨,漫天飞舞,他该何去何从,现在我们跟随李峰开启一段奇幻之旅。。。。
  • 符腾

    符腾

    兽分两类,人仍是人。结符印,召图腾,一人一兽,冠绝洲区。解阳谋,破阴诡,五重身份,天大地大,任我逍遥......
  • 谁给了我鬼瞳

    谁给了我鬼瞳

    从小就酷爱看闲书的明小伍在清明节去给爷爷扫墓的时候不小心在墓地睡着了,醒来后发现自己竟莫名地出现在医院里,而且拥有了一双能看见鬼的眼睛。妈呀,太吓人了,谁说鬼怕医生呀,他清清楚楚地看到一个浑身血肉糊糊的婴孩坐在一个女医生的脖子上,用类似胎盘样的膜状物蒙住了她的眼睛……
  • 恶魔学长我要当明星

    恶魔学长我要当明星

    他众人所知,他的身份很高,她是胡家千金,有一天他和他相遇了
  • 大唐御史台精舍题名考

    大唐御史台精舍题名考

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 纯阳传说

    纯阳传说

    万载修行,一朝悟道;一朝悟道,万载孤独。我本站在巅峰,但我想走的更远,他却说没有过程的结果是空洞乏味的。于是,我回来了,在自己的天,走一条自己没有走过的路!纯阳归来!自巅峰归来,走向巅峰,一样的巅峰,不一样的故事!感谢腾讯文学书评团提供书评支持!