redgauntlet-第43节
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'Amen； amen；' answered his learned brother； 'for some of us have but few to spare。'
The court then arose； and the audience departed； greatly wondering at the talent displayed by Alan Fairford at his first appearance in a case so difficult and so complicated； and assigning a hundred conjectural causes； each different from the others； for the singular interruption which had clouded his day of success。 The worst of the whole was； that six agents； who had each come to the separate resolution of thrusting a retaining fee into Alan's hand as he left the court； shook their heads as they returned the money into their leathern pouches； and said； 'that the lad was clever； but they would like to see more of him before they engaged him in the way of businessthey did not like his lowping away like a flea in a blanket。'
CHAPTER II
Had our friend Alexander Fairford known the consequences of his son's abrupt retreat from the court； which are mentioned in the end of the last chapter； it might have accomplished the prediction of the lively old judge； and driven him utterly distracted。 As it was； he was miserable enough。 His son had risen ten degrees higher in his estimation than ever by his display of juridical talents； which seemed to assure him that the applause of the judges and professors of the law； which； in his estimation； was worth that of all mankind besides； authorized to the fullest extent the advantageous estimate which even his parental partiality had been induced to form of Alan's powers。 On the other hand； he felt that he was himself a little humbled； from a disguise which he had practised towards this son of his hopes and wishes。
The truth was； that on the morning of this eventful day； Mr。 Alexander Fairford had received from his correspondent and friend； Provost Crosbie of Dumfries； a letter of the following tenor：
'DEAR SIR； 'Your respected favour of 25th ultimo； per favour of Mr。 Darsie Latimer； reached me in safety； and I showed to the young gentleman such attention as he was pleased to accept of。 The object of my present writing is twofold。 First； the council are of opinion that you should now begin to stir in the thirlage cause； and they think they will be able； from evidence NOVITER REPERTUM； to enable you to amend your condescendence upon the use and wont of the burgh； touching the GRANA INVECTA ET ILLATA。 So you will please consider yourself as authorized to speak to Mr。 Pest； and lay before him the papers which you will receive by the coach。 The council think that a fee of two guineas may be sufficient on this occasion； as Mr。 Pest had three for drawing the original condescendence。
'I take the opportunity of adding that there has been a great riot among the Solway fishermen； who have destroyed； in a masterful manner； the stake…nets set up near the mouth of this river； and have besides attacked the house of Quaker Geddes； one of the principal partners of the Tide…net Fishing Company； and done a great deal of damage。 Am sorry to add； young Mr。 Latimer was in the fray and has not since been heard of。 Murder is spoke of； but that may be a word of course。 As the young gentleman has behaved rather oddly while in these parts； as in declining to dine with me more than once； and going about the country with strolling fiddlers and such…like； I rather hope that his present absence is only occasioned by a frolic； but as his servant has been making inquiries of me respecting his master； I thought it best to acquaint you in course of post。 I have only to add that our sheriff has taken a precognition； and committed one or two of the rioters。 If I can be useful in this matter； either by advertising for Mr。 Latimer as missing； publishing a reward； or otherwise； I will obey your respected instructions； being your most obedient to command； 'WILLIAM CROSBIE。'
When Mr。 Fairford received this letter； and had read it to an end；' his first idea was to communicate it to his son； that an express might be instantly dispatched； or a king's messenger sent with proper authority to search after his late guest。
The habits of the fishers were rude； as he well knew； though not absolutely sanguinary or ferocious； and there had been instances of their transporting persons who had interfered in their smuggling trade to the Isle of Man and elsewhere； and keeping them under restraint for many weeks。 On this account； Mr。 Fairford was naturally led to feel anxiety concerning the fate of his late inmate； and； at a less interesting moment； would certainly have set out himself； or licensed his son to go in pursuit of his friend。
But； alas！ he was both a father and an agent。 In the one capacity； he looked on his son as dearer to him than all the world besides； in the other； the lawsuit which he conducted was to him like an infant to its nurse； and the case of Poor Peter Peebles against Plainstanes was； he saw； adjourned； perhaps SINE DIE； should this document reach the hands of his son。 The mutual and enthusiastical affection betwixt the young men was well known to him； and he concluded that if the precarious state of Latimer were made known to Alan Fairford； it would render him not only unwilling； but totally unfit； to discharge the duty of the day to which the old gentleman attached such ideas of importance。
On mature reflection； therefore； he resolved； though not without some feelings of compunction； to delay communicating to his son the disagreeable intelligence which he had received； until the business of the day should be ended。 The delay； he persuaded himself； could be of little consequence to Darsie Latimer； whose folly； he dared to say； had led him into some scrape which would meet an appropriate punishment in some accidental restraint； which would be thus prolonged for only a few hours longer。 Besides； he would have time to speak to the sheriff of the countyperhaps to the King's Advocateand set about the matter in a regular manner； or； as he termed it； as summing up the duties of a solicitor； to AGE AS ACCORDS。 ＇A Scots law phrase； of no very determinate import； meaning； generally； to do what is fitting。＇
The scheme； as we have seen； was partially successful； and was only ultimately defeated； as he confessed to himself with shame； by his own very unbusiness…like mistake of shuffling the provost's letter； in the hurry and anxiety of the morning； among some papers belonging to Peter Peebles's affairs； and then handing it to his son； without observing the blunder。 He used to protest； even till the day of his death； that he never had been guilty of such an inaccuracy as giving a paper out of his hand without looking at the docketing； except on that unhappy occasion； when； of all others； he had such particular reason to regret his negligence。
Disturbed by these reflections； the old gentleman had； for the first time in his life； some disinclination； arising from shame and vexation； to face his own son； so that to protract for a little the meeting； which he feared would be a painful one； he went to wait upon the sheriff…depute； who he found had set off for Dumfries in great haste to superintend in person the investigation which had been set on foot by his substitute。 This gentleman's clerk could say little on the subject of the riot； excepting that it had been serious； much damage done to property； and some personal violence offered to individuals； but； as far as he had yet heard； no lives lost on the spot。
Mr。 Fairford was compelled to return home with this intelligence； and on inquiring at James Wilkinson where his son was； received for answer； that 'Maister Alan was in his own room； and very busy。'
'We must have our explanation over；' said Saunders Fairford to himself。 'Better a finger off； as ay wagging；' and going to the door of his son's apartment； he knocked at first gentlythen more loudlybut received no answer。 Somewhat alarmed at this silence； he opened the door of the chamber it was emptyclothes lay mixed in confusion with the law…books and papers； as if the inmate had been engaged in hastily packing for a journey。 As Mr。 Fairford looked around in alarm； his eye was arrested by a sealed letter lying upon his son's writing…table； and addressed to himself。 It contained the following words：
'MY DEAREST FATHER； 'You will not； I trust； be surprised； nor perhaps very much displeased； to learn that I am on my way to Dumfriesshire； to learn； by my own personal investigation； the present state of my dear friend； and afford him such relief as may be in my power； and which； I trust； will be effectual。 I do not presume to reflect upon you； dearest sir； for concealing from me information of so much consequence to my peace of mind and happiness； but I hope your having done so will be； if not an excuse； at least some mitigation of my present offence； in taking a step of consequence without consulting your pleasure； and； I must further own； under circumstances which perhaps might lead to your disapprobation of my purpose。 I can only say； in further apology； that if anything unhappy； which Heaven forbid！ shall have occurred to the person who； next to yourself； is dearest to me in this world； I shall have on my heart； as a subject of eternal regret； that being in a certain degree warned of his danger
