redgauntlet-第102节

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e　literally　meat　and　drink；dost　thou　not　think；　I　say；　that　these　men's　oaths　will　go　further　than　thy　Yea　and　Nay　in　this　matter？'

'I　will　swear　to　anything；'　said　Peter。　　'All　is　fair　when　it　comes　to　an　oath　AD　LITEM。'

'You　do　me　foul　wrong；'　said　the　Quaker；　undismayed　by　the　general　laugh。　　'I　encouraged　no　drawing　of　weapons；　though　I　attempted　to　move　an　unjust　man　by　some　use　of　argumentI　brandished　no　cudgel；　although　it　may　be　that　the　ancient　Adam　struggled　within　me；　and　caused　my　hand　to　grasp　mine　oaken　staff　firmer　than　usual；　when　I　saw　innocence　borne　down　with　violence。　But　why　talk　I　what　is　true　and　just　to　thee；　who　hast　been　a　man　of　violence　from　thy　youth　upwards？　　Let　me　rather　speak　to　thee　such　language　as　thou　canst　comprehend。　　Deliver　these　young　men　up　to　me；'　he　said；　when　he　had　led　Redgauntlet　a　little　apart　from　the　crowd；　'and　I　will　not　only　free　thee　from　the　heavy　charge　of　damages　which　thou　hast　incurred　by　thine　outrage　upon　my　property；　but　I　will　add　ransom　for　them　and　for　myself。　　What　would　it　profit　thee　to　do　the　youths　wrong；　by　detaining　them　in　captivity？'

'Mr。　Geddes；'　said　Redgauntlet；　in　a　tone　more　respectful　than　he　had　hitherto　used　to　the　Quaker；　'your　language　is　disinterested；　and　I　respect　the　fidelity　of　your　friendship。　　Perhaps　we　have　mistaken　each　other's　principles　and　motives；　but　if　so；　we　have　not　at　present　time　for　explanation。　　Make　yourself　easy。　　I　hope　to　raise　your　friend　Darsie　Latimer　to　a　pitch　of　eminence　which　you　will　witness　with　pleasure；nay；　do　not　attempt　to　answer　me。　　The　other　young　man　shall　suffer　restraint　a　few　days；　probably　only　a　few　hours；it　is　not　more　than　due　for　his　pragmatical　interference　in　what　concerned　him　not。　　Do　you；　Mr。　Geddes；　be　so　prudent　as　to　take　your　horse　and　leave　this　place；　which　is　growing　every　moment　more　unfit　for　the　abode　of　a　man　of　peace。　　You　may　wait　the　event　in　safety　at　Mount　Sharon。'

'Friend；'　replied　Joshua；　'I　cannot　comply　with　thy　advice；　I　will　remain　here；　even　as　thy　prisoner；　as　thou　didst　but　now　threaten；　rather　than　leave　the　youth　who　hath　suffered　by　and　through　me　and　my　misfortunes；　in　his　present　state　of　doubtful　safety。　　Wherefore　I　will　not　mount　my　steed　Solomon；　neither　will　I　turn　his　head　towards　Mount　Sharon；　until　I　see　an　end　of　this　matter。'

'A　prisoner；　then；　you　must　be；'　said　Redgauntlet。　　'I　have　no　time　to　dispute　the　matter　further　with　you。　　But　tell　me　for　what　you　fix　your　eyes　so　attentively　on　yonder　people　of　mine。'

'To　speak　the　truth；'　said　the　Quaker；　'I　admire　to　behold　among　them　a　little　wretch　of　a　boy　called　Benjie；　to　whom　I　think　Satan　has　given　the　power　of　transporting　himself　wheresoever　mischief　is　going　forward；　so　that　it　may　be　truly　said；　there　is　no　evil　in　this　land　wherein　he　hath　not　a　finger；　if　not　a　whole　hand。'

The　boy；　who　saw　their　eyes　fixed　on　him　as　they　spoke；　seemed　embarrassed；　slid　rather　desirous　of　making　his　escape；　but　at　a　signal　from　Redgauntlet　he　advanced；　assuming　the　sheepish　look　and　rustic　manner　with　which　the　jackanapes　covered　much　acuteness　and　roguery。

'How　long　have　you　been　with　the　party；　sirrah？'　　said　Redgauntlet。

'Since　the　raid　on　the　stake…nets；'　said　Benjie；　with　his　finger　in　his　mouth。

'And　what　made　you　follow　us？'

'I　dauredna　stay　at　hame　for　the　constables；'　replied　the　boy。

'And　what　have　you　been　doing　all　this　time？'

'Doing；　sir？　　I　dinna　ken　what　ye　ca'　doingI　have　been　doing　naething；'　said　Benjie；　then　seeing　something　in　Redgauntlet's　eye　which　was　not　to　be　trifled　with；　he　added；　'Naething　but　waiting　on　Maister　Cristal　Nixon。'

'Hum！ayeindeed？'　　muttered　Redgauntlet。　　'Must　Master　Nixon　bring　his　own　retinue　into　the　field？　　This　must　be　seen　to。'

He　was　about　to　pursue　his　inquiry；　when　Nixon　himself　came　to　him　with　looks　of　anxious　haste；　'The　Father　is　come；'　he　whispered；　'and　the　gentlemen　are　getting　together　in　the　largest　room　of　the　house；　and　they　desire　to　see　you。　　Yonder　is　your　nephew；　too；　making　a　noise　like　a　man　in　Bedlam。'

'I　will　look　to　it　all　instantly；'　said　Redgauntlet。　　'Is　the　Father　lodged　as　I　directed？'

Cristal　nodded。

'Now；　then；　for　the　final　trial；'　said　Redgauntlet。　　He　folded　his　handslooked　upwardscrossed　himselfand　after　this　act　of　devotion　（almost　the　first　which　any　one　had　observed　him　make　use　of）　he　commanded　Nixon　to　keep　good　watchhave　his　horses　and　men　ready　for　every　emergencelook　after　the　safe　custody　of　the　prisonersbut　treat　them　at　the　same　time　well　and　civilly。　And；　these　orders　given；　he　darted　hastily　into　the　house。




CHAPTER　XXII

NARRATIVE　CONTINUED

Redgauntlet's　first　course　was　to　the　chamber　of　his　nephew。　　He　unlocked　the　door；　entered　the　apartment；　and　asked　what　he　wanted；　that　he　made　so　much　noise。

'I　want　my　liberty；'　said　Darsie；　who　had　wrought　himself　up　to　a　pitch　of　passion　in　which　his　uncle's　wrath　had　lost　its　terrors。　'I　desire　my　liberty；　and　to　be　assured　of　the　safety　of　my　beloved　friend；　Alan　Fairford；　whose　voice　I　heard　but　now。'

'Your　liberty　shall　be　your　own　within　half　an　hour　from　this　periodyour　friend　shall　be　also　set　at　freedom　in　due　timeand　you　yourself　be　permitted　to　have　access　to　his　place　of　confinement。'

'This　does　not　satisfy　me；'　said　Darsie；　'I　must　see　my　friend　instantly；　he　is　here；　and　he　is　here　endangered　on　my　account　onlyI　have　heard　violent　exclamationsthe　clash　of　swords。　You　will　gain　no　point　with　me　unless　I　have　ocular　demonstration　of　his　safety。'

'Arthurdearest　nephew；'　answered　Redgauntlet；　'drive　me　not　mad！　　Thine　own　fatethat　of　thy　housethat　of　thousandsthat　of　Britain　herself；　are　at　this　moment　in　the　scales；　and　you　are　only　occupied　about　the　safety　of　a　poor　insignificant　pettifogger！'

'He　has　sustained　injury　at　your　hands；　then？'　　said　Darsie；　fiercely。　　'I　know　he　has；　but　if　so；　not　even　our　relationship　shall　protect　you。'

'Peace；　ungrateful　and　obstinate　fool！'　　said　Redgauntlet。　　Yet　staywill　you　be　satisfied　if　you　see　this　Alan　Fairford；　the　bundle　of　bombazinethis　precious　friend　of　yourswell　and　sound？　　Will　you；　I　say；　be　satisfied　with　seeing　him　in　perfect　safety　without　attempting　to　speak　to　or　converse　with　him？'　Darsie　signified　his　assent。　　'Take　hold　of　my　arm；　then；'　said　Redgauntlet；　'and　do　you；　niece　Lilias；　take　the　other；　and　beware；　Sir　Arthur；　how　you　bear　yourself。'

Darsie　was　compelled　to　acquiesce；　sufficiently　aware　that　his　uncle　would　permit　him　no　interview　with　a　friend　whose　influence　would　certainly　be　used　against　his　present　earnest　wishes；　and　in　some　measure　contented　with　the　assurance　of　Fairford's　personal　safety。

Redgauntlet　led　them　through　one　or　two　passages　（for　the　house；　as　we　have　before　said；　was　very　irregular；　and　built　at　different　times）　until　they　entered　an　apartment；　where　a　man　with　shouldered　carabine　kept　watch　at　the　door；　but　readily　turned　the　key　for　their　reception。　　In　this　room　they　found　Alan　Fairford　and　the　Quaker；　apparently　in　deep　conversation　with　each　other。　　They　looked　up　as　Redgauntlet　and　his　party　entered；　and　Alan　pulled　off　his　hat　and　made　a　profound　reverence；　which　the　young　lady；　who　recognized　him；though；　masked　as　she　was；　he　could　not　know　her；returned　with　some　embarrassment；　arising　probably　from　the　recollection　of　the　bold　step　she　had　taken　in　visiting　him。

Darsie　longed　to　speak；　but　dared　not。　　His　uncle　only　said；　'Gentlemen；　I　know　you　are　as　anxious　on　Mr。　Darsie　Latimer's　account　as　he　is　upon　yours。　　I　am　commissioned　by　him　to　inform　you；　that　he　is　as　well　as　you　areI　trust　you　will　all　meet　soon。　　Meantime；　although　I　cannot　suffer　you　to　be　at　large；　you　shall　be　as　well　treated　as　is　possible　under　your　temporary　confinement。'

He　passed　on；　without　pausing　to　hear　the　answers　which　the　lawyer　and　the　Quaker　were　hastening　to　prefer；　and　only　waving　his　hand　by　way　of　adieu；　made　his　exit；　with　the　real　and　the　seeming　lady　whom　he　had　under　his　charge；　through　a　door　at　the　upper　end　of　the　apartment；　which　was　fastened　and　guarded　like　that　by　which　they　entered。

Redgauntlet　next　led　the　way　into　a　very　small　room；　adjoining　which；　but　divided　by　a　partition；　was　one　of　apparently　larger　dimensions；　for　they　heard　the　trampling　of　the　heavy　boots　of　the　period；　as　if　several　persons　were　walking　to　and　fro　and　conversing　in　low　and　anxious　whispers。

'Here；'　said　Redgauntlet　to　his　nephew；　as　he　disencumbered　him　from　the　riding…skirt　and　the　mask；　'I　restore　you　to　yourself；　and　trust　you　will　lay　aside　all　effeminate　thoughts　with　this　feminine　dress。　　Do　not　blush　at　having　worn　a　disguise　to　which　kings　and　heroes　have　been　reduced。　　It　is　when　female　craft　or　female　cowardice　find　their　way　into　a　manly　bosom；　that　he　who　entertains　these　sentiments　should　take　eternal　shame　to　himself　for　thus　having　resembled　womankind。　　Follow　me；　while　Lilias　remains　here。　　I　will　introduce　you　to　those　whom　I　hope　to　see　associated　with　you　in　the　most　glorious　cause　that　hand　ever　drew　sword　in。'

Darsie　paused。　　'Uncle；'　he　said；　'my　person　is　in　your　hands；　but　remember；　my　will　is　my　own。　　I　will　not　be　hurried　into　any　resolution　of　importance。　　Remember