redgauntlet-第63节

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　experience　was　unequal　to　the　exigency；　and　now；　when；　the　fate　of　Latimer　seeming　worse　than　doubtful；　Alan's　whole　prudence　and　energy　were　to　be　exerted　in　his　behalf；　an　adventure　which　might　have　seemed　perilous　to　most　youths　of　his　age　had　no　terrors　for　him。　He　was　well　acquainted　with　the　laws　of　his　country；　and　knew　how　to　appeal　to　them；　and；　besides　his　professional　confidence；　his　natural　disposition　was　steady；　sedate；　persevering；　and　undaunted。　　With　these　requisites　he　undertook　a　quest　which；　at　that　time；　was　not　unattended　with　actual　danger；　and　had　much　in　it　to　appal　a　more　timid　disposition。

Fairford's　first　inquiry　concerning　his　friend　was　of　the　chief　magistrate　of　Dumfries；　Provost　Crosbie；　who　had　sent　the　information　of　Darsie's　disappearance。　　On　his　first　application；　he　thought　he　discerned　in　the　honest　dignitary　a　desire　to　get　rid　of　the　subject。　　The　provost　spoke　of　the　riot　at　the　fishing　station　as　an　'outbreak　among　those　lawless　loons　the　fishermen；　which　concerned　the　sheriff；'　he　said；　'more　than　us　poor　town　council　bodies；　that　have　enough　to　do　to　keep　peace　within　burgh；　amongst　such　a　set　of　commoners　as　the　town　are　plagued　with。'

'But　this　is　not　all；　Provost　Crosbie；'　said　Mr。　Alan　Fairford；　'A　young　gentleman　of　rank　and　fortune　has　disappeared　amongst　their　handsyou　know　him。　　My　father　gave　him　a　letter　to　you　Mr。　Darsie　Latimer。'

'Lack…a…day；　yes！　　lack…a…day；　yes！'　　said　the　provost；　'Mr。　Darsie　Latimerhe　dined　at　my　houseI　hope　he　is　well？'

'I　hope　so　too；'　said　Alan；　rather　indignantly；　'but　I　desire　more　certainty　on　that　point。　　You　yourself　wrote　my　father　that　he　had　disappeared。'

'Troth；　yes；　and　that　is　true；'　said　the　provost。　　'But　did　he　not　go　back　to　his　friends　in　Scotland？　　it　was　not　natural　to　think　he　would　stay　here。'

'Not　unless　he　is　under　restraint；'　said　Fairford；　surprised　at　the　coolness　with　which　the　provost　seemed　to　take　up　the　matter。

'Rely　on　it；　sir；'　said　Mr。　Crosbie；　'that　if　he　has　not　returned　to　his　friends　in　Scotland；　he　must　have　gone　to　his　friends　in　England。'

'I　will　rely　on　no　such　thing；'　said　Alan；　'if　there　is　law　or　justice　in　Scotland；　I　will　have　the　thing　cleared　to　the　very　bottom。'

'Reasonable；　reasonable；'　said　the　provost；　'so　far　as　is　possible；　but　you　know　I　have　no　power　beyond　the　ports　of　the　burgh。'

'But　you　are　in　the　commission　besides；　Mr。　Crosbie；　a　justice　of　peace　for　the　county。'

'True；　very　truethat　is；'　said　the　cautious　magistrate；　'I　will　not　say　but　my　name　may　stand　on　the　list；　but　I　cannot　remember　that　I　have　ever　qualified。'　　＇By　taking　the　oaths　to　government。＇

'Why；　in　that　case；'　said　young　Fairford；　'there　are　ill…natured　people　might　doubt　your　attachment　to　the　Protestant　line；　Mr。　Crosbie。'

'God　forbid；　Mr。　Fairford！　　I　who　have　done　and　suffered　in　the　Forty…five。　　I　reckon　the　Highlandmen　did　me　damage　to　the　amount　of　100l。　Scots；　forby　all　they　ate　and　drankno；　no；　sir；　I　stand　beyond　challenge；　but　as　for　plaguing　myself　with　county　business；　let　them　that　aught　the　mare　shoe　the　mare。　　The　commissioners　of　supply　would　see　my　back　broken　before　they　would　help　me　in　the　burgh's　work；　and　all　the　world　kens　the　difference　of　the　weight　between　public　business　in　burgh　and　landward。　　What　are　their　riots　to　me？　　have　we　not　riots　enough　of　our　own？But　I　must　be　getting　ready；　for　the　council　meets　this　forenoon。　　I　am　blithe　to　see　your　father's　son　on　the　causeway　of　our　ancient　burgh；　Mr。　Alan　Fairford。　　Were　you　a　twelve…month　aulder；　we　would　make　a　burgess　of　you；　man。　　I　hope　you　will　come　and　dine　with　me　before　you　go　away。　　What　think　you　of　to…day　at　two　o'clockjust　a　roasted　chucky　and　a　drappit　egg？'

Alan　Fairford　resolved　that　his　friend's　hospitality　should　not；　as　it　seemed　the　inviter　intended；　put　a　stop　to　his　queries。　　'I　must　delay　you　for　a　moment；'　he　said；　'Mr。　Crosbie；　this　is　a　serious　affair；　a　young　gentleman　of　high　hopes；　my　own　dearest　friend；　is　missingyou　cannot　think　it　will　be　passed　over　slightly；　if　a　man　of　your　high　character　and　known　zeal　for　the　government　do　not　make　some　active　inquiry。　　Mr。　Crosbie；　you　are　my　father's　friend；　and　I　respect　you　as　suchbut　to　others　it　will　have　a　bad　appearance。'

The　withers　of　the　provost　were　not　unwrung；　he　paced　the　room　in　much　tribulation；　repeating；　'But　what　can　I　do；　Mr。　Fairford？　　I　warrant　your　friend　casts　up　againhe　will　come　back　again；　like　the　ill　shillinghe　is　not　the　sort　of　gear　that　tynesa　hellicat　boy；　running　through　the　country　with　a　blind　fiddler　and　playing　the　fiddle　to　a　parcel　of　blackguards；　who　can　tell　where　the　like　of　him　may　have　scampered　to？'

'There　are　persons　apprehended；　and　in　the　jail　of　the　town；　as　I　understand　from　the　sheriff…substitute；'　said　Mr。　Fairford；　'you　must　call　them　before　you；　and　inquire　what　they　know　of　this　young　gentleman。'

'Aye；　ayethe　sheriff…depute　did　commit　some　poor　creatures；　I　believewretched　ignorant　fishermen　bodies；　that　had　been　quarrelling　with　Quaker　Geddes　and　his　stake…nets；　whilk；　under　favour　of　your　gown　be　it　spoken；　Mr。　Fairford；　are　not　over　and　above　lawful；　and　the　town　clerk　thinks　that　they　may　be　lawfully　removed　VIA　FACTIbut　that　is　by　the　by。　　But；　sir；　the　creatures　were　a'　dismissed　for　want　of　evidence；　the　Quaker　would　not　swear　to　them；　and　what　could　the　sheriff　and　me　do　but　just　let　them　loose？　　Come　awa；　cheer　up；　Master　Alan；　and　take　a　walk　till　dinner…timeI　must　really　go　to　the　council。'

'Stop　a　moment；　provost；'　said　Alan；　'I　lodge　a　complaint　before　you　as　a　magistrate；　and　you　will　find　it　serious　to　slight　it　over。　　You　must　have　these　men　apprehended　again。'

'Aye；　ayeeasy　said；　but　catch　them　that　can；'　answered　the　provost；　'they　are　ower　the　march　by　this　time；　or　by　the　point　of　Cairn。Lord　help　ye！　　they　are　a　kind　of　amphibious　deevils；　neither　land　nor　water　beasts　neither　English　nor　Scotsneither　county　nor　stewartry；　as　we　saythey　are　dispersed　like　so　much　quicksilver。　　You　may　as　well　try　to　whistle　a　sealgh　out　of　the　Solway；　as　to　get　hold　of　one　of　them　till　all　the　fray　is　over。'

'Mr。　Crosbie；　this　will　not　do；'　answered　the　young　counsellor；　'there　is　a　person　of　more　importance　than　such　wretches　as　you　describe　concerned　in　this　unhappy　businessI　must　name　to　you　a　certain　Mr。　Herries。'

He　kept　his　eye　on　the　provost　as　he　uttered　the　name；　which　he　did　rather　at　a　venture；　and　from　the　connexion　which　that　gentleman；　and　his　real　or　supposed　niece；　seemed　to　have　with　the　fate　of　Darsie　Latimer；　than　from　any　distinct　cause　of　suspicion　which　he　entertained。　　He　thought　the　provost　seemed　embarrassed；　though　he　showed　much　desire　to　assume　an　appearance　of　indifference；　in　which　he　partly　succeeded。

'Herries！'　　he　said'What　Herries？There　are　many　of　that　name　not　so　many　as　formerly；　for　the　old　stocks　are　wearing　out；　but　there　is　Herries　of　Heathgill；　and　Herries　of　Auchintulloch；　and　Herries'

'To　save　you　further　trouble；　this　person's　designation　is　Herries　of　Birrenswork。'

'Of　Birrenswork？'　　said　Mr。　Crosbie；　'I　have　you　now；　Mr。　Alan。　Could　you　not　as　well　have　said；　the　Laird　of　Redgauntlet？'

Fairford　was　too　wary　to　testify　any　surprise　at　this　identification　of　names；　however　unexpected。　　'I　thought；'　said　he；　'he　was　more　generally　known　by　the　name　of　Herries。　　I　have　seen　and　been　in　company　with　him　under　that　name；　I　am　sure。'

'Oh　aye；　in　Edinburgh；　belike。　　You　know　Redgauntlet　was　unfortunate　a　great　while　ago；　and　though　he　was　maybe　not　deeper　in　the　mire　than　other　folk；　yet；　for　some　reason　or　other；　he　did　not　get　so　easily　out。'

'He　was　attainted；　I　understand；　and　has　no　remission；'　said　Fairford。

The　cautious　provost　only　nodded；　and　said；　'You　may　guess；　therefore；　why　it　is　so　convenient　he　should　hold　his　mother's　name；　which　is　also　partly　his　own；　when　he　is　about　Edinburgh。　To　bear　his　proper　name　might　be　accounted　a　kind　of　flying　in　the　face　of　government；　ye　understand。　　But　he　has　been　long　connived　atthe　story　is　an　old　storyand　the　gentleman　has　many　excellent　qualities；　and　is　of　a　very　ancient　and　honourable　househas　cousins　among　the　great　folkcounts　kin　with　the　advocate　and　with　the　sheriffhawks；　you　know；　Mr。　Alan；　will　not　pike　out　hawks'　eenhe　is　widely　connectedmy　wife　is　a　fourth　cousin　of　Redgauntlet's。'

HINC　ILLAE　LACHRYMAE！　　thought　Alan　Fairford　to　himself；　but　the　hint　presently　determined　him　to　proceed　by　soft　means　and　with　caution。　　'I　beg　you　to　understand；'　said　Fairford；　'that　in　the　investigation　I　am　about　to　make；　I　design　no　harm　to　Mr。　Herries；　or　Redgauntletcall　him　what　you　will。　　All　I　wish　is；　to　ascertain　the　safety　of　my　friend。　　I　know　that　he　was　rather　foolish　in　once　going　upon　a　mere　frolic；　in　disguise；　to　the　neighbourhood　of　this　same　gentleman's　house。　　In　his　circumstances；　Mr。　Redgauntlet　may　have　misinterpreted　the　motives；　and　considered　Darsie　Latimer　as　a　spy。　　His　influence；　I　believe；　is　great　among　the　disorderly　people　you　spoke　of　but　now？'

The　provost　answered　with　another　sagacious　shake　of　his　head；　that　would　have　done　honour　to　Lord　Burleigh　in　the　CRITIC。

'Well；　then；'　continued　Fairford；'　is　it　not　possib