redgauntlet-第70节

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'Certainly；　certainly；'　said　the　wary　magistrate。　　'Well；　now；　you　see　one　may　love　the　kirk；　and　yet　not　ride　on　the　rigging　of　it；　and　one　may　love　the　king；　and　yet　not　be　cramming　him　eternally　down　the　throat　of　the　unhappy　folk　that　may　chance　to　like　another　king　better。　　I　have　friends　and　connexions　among　them；　Mr。　Fairford；　as　your　father　may　have　clientsthey　are　flesh　and　blood　like　ourselves；　these　poor　Jacobite　bodiessons　of　Adam　and　Eve；　after　all；　and　thereforeI　hope　you　understand　me？I　am　a　plain…spoken　man。'

'I　am　afraid　I　do　not　quite　understand　you；'　said　Fairford；　'and　if　you　have　anything　to　say　to　me　in　private；　my　dear　provost；　you　had　better　come　quickly　out　with　it；　for　the　Laird　of　Summertrees　must　finish　his　letter　in　a　minute　or　two。'

'Not　a　bit；　manPate　is　a　lang…headed　fellow；　but　his　pen　does　not　clear　the　paper　as　his　greyhound　does　the　Tinwald…furs。　　I　gave　him　a　wipe　about　that；　if　you　noticed；　I　can　say　anything　to　Pate…in…PerilIndeed；　he　is　my　wife's　near　kinsman。'

'But　your　advice；　provost；'　said　Alan；　who　perceived　that；　like　a　shy　horse；　the　worthy　magistrate　always　started　off　from　his　own　purpose　just　when　he　seemed　approaching　to　it。

'Weel；　you　shall　have　it　in　plain　terms；　for　I　am　a　plain　man。　Ye　see；　we　will　suppose　that　any　friend　like　yourself　were　in　the　deepest　hole　of　the　Nith；　sand　making　a　sprattle　for　your　life。　Now；　you　see；　such　being　the　case；　I　have　little　chance　of　helping　you；　being　a　fat；　short…armed　man；　and　no　swimmer；　and　what　would　be　the　use　of　my　jumping　in　after　you？'

'I　understand　you；　I　think；'　said　Alan　Fairford。　　'You　think　that　Darsie　Latimer　is　in　danger　of　his　life？'

'Me！I　think　nothing　about　it；　Mr。　Alan；　but　if　he　were；　as　I　trust　he　is　not；　he　is　nae　drap's　blood　akin　to　you；　Mr。　Alan。'

'But　here　your　friend；　Summertrees；'　said　the　young　lawyer；　'offers　me　a　letter　to　this　Redgauntlet　of　yoursWhat　say　you　to　that？'

'Me！'　ejaculated　the　provost；　'me；　Mr。　Alan？　　I　say　neither　buff　nor　stye　to　itBut　ye　dinna　ken　what　it　is　to　look　a　Redgauntlet　in　the　face；better　try　my　wife；　who　is　but　a　fourth　cousin；　before　ye　venture　on　the　laird　himselfjust　say　something　about　the　Revolution；　and　see　what　a　look　she　can　gie　you。'

I　shall　leave　you　to　stand　all　the　shots　from　that　battery；　provost。'　　replied　Fairford。　　'But　speak　out　like　a　manDo　you　think　Summertrees　means　fairly　by　me？'

'Fairlyhe　is　just　comingfairly？　　I　am　a　plain　man；　Mr。　Fairfordbut　ye　said　FAIRLY？'

'I　do　so；'　replied　Alan；　'and　it　is　of　importance　to　me　to　know；　and　to　you　to　tell　me　if　such　is　the　case；　for　if　you　do　not；　you　may　be　an　accomplice　to　murder　before　the　fact；　and　that　under　circumstances　which　may　bring　it　near　to　murder　under　trust。'

'Murder！who　spoke　of　murder？'　　said　the　provost；　no　danger　of　that；　Mr。　Alanonly；　if　I　were　youto　speak　my　plain　mind'　Here　he　approached　his　mouth　to　the　ear　of　the　young　lawyer；　and；　after　another　acute　pang　of　travail；　was　safely　delivered　of　his　advice　in　the　following　abrupt　words：'Take　a　keek　into　Pate's　letter　before　ye　deliver　it。'

Fairford　started；　looked　the　provost　hard　in　the　face；　and　was　silent；　while　Mr。　Crosbie；　with　the　self…approbation　of　one　who　has　at　length　brought　himself　to　the　discharge　of　a　great　duty；　at　the　expense　of　a　considerable　sacrifice；　nodded　and　winked　to　Alan；　as　if　enforcing　his　advice；　and　then　swallowing　a　large　glass　of　punch；　concluded；　with　the　sigh　of　a　man　released　from　a　heavy　burden；　'I　am　a　plain　man；　Mr。　Fairford。'

'A　plain　man？'　　said　Maxwell；　who　entered　the　room　at　that　moment；　with　the　letter　in　his　hand；'Provost；　I　never　heard　you　make　use　of　the　word　but　when　you　had　some　sly　turn　of　your　own　to　work　out。'

The　provost　looked　silly　enough；　and　the　Laird　of　Summertrees　directed　a　keen　and　suspicious　glance　upon　Alan　Fairford；　who　sustained　it　with　professional　intrepidity。There　was　a　moment's　pause。

'I　was　trying；'　said　the　provost；　'to　dissuade　our　young　friend　from　his　wildgoose　expedition。'

'And　I；'　said　Fairford；　'am　determined　to　go　through　with　it。　Trusting　myself　to　you；　Mr。　Maxwell；　I　conceive　that　I　rely；　as　I　before　said；　on　the　word　of　a　gentleman。'

'I　will　warrant　you；'　said　Maxwell；　'from　all　serious　consequencessome　inconveniences　you　must　look　to　suffer。'

'To　these　I　shall　be　resigned；'　said　Fairford；　'and　stand　prepared　to　run　my　risk。'

'Well　then；'　said　Summertrees；　'you　must　go'

'I　will　leave　you　to　yourselves；　gentlemen；'　said　the　provost；　rising；　'when　you　have　done　with　your　crack；　you　will　find　me　at　my　wife's　tea…table。'

'And　a　more　accomplished　old　woman　never　drank　catlap；'　said　Maxwell；　as　he　shut　the　door；　'the　last　word　has　him；　speak　it　who　willand　yet　because　he　is　a　whillywhaw　body；　and　has　a　plausible　tongue　of　his　own；　and　is　well　enough　connected；　and　especially　because　nobody　could　ever　find　out　whether　he　is　Whig　or　Tory；　this　is　the　third　time　they　have　made　him　provost！But　to　the　matter　in　hand。　　This　letter；　Mr。　Fairford；'　putting　a　sealed　one　into　his　hand；　'is　addressed；　you　observe；　to　Mr。　H　of　B；　and　contains　your　credentials　for　that　gentlemen；　who　is　also　known　by　his　family　name　of　Redgauntlet；　but　less　frequently　addressed　by　it；　because　it　is　mentioned　something　invidiously　in　a　certain　Act　of　Parliament。　　I　have　little　doubt　he　will　assure　you　of　your　friend's　safety；　and　in　a　short　time　place　him　at　freedomthat　is；　supposing　him　under　present　restraint。　　But　the　point　is；　to　discover　where　he　isand；　before　you　are　made　acquainted　with　this　necessary　part　of　the　business；　you　must　give　me　your　assurance　of　honour　that　you　will　acquaint　no　one；　either　by　word　or　letter；　with　the　expedition　which　you　now　propose　to　yourself。'

'How；　sir？'　　answered　Alan；　'can　you　expect　that　I　will　not　take　the　precaution　of　informing　some　person　of　the　route　I　am　about　to　take；　that　in　case　of　accident　it　may　be　known　where　I　am；　and　with　what　purpose　I　have　gone　thither？'

'And　can　you　expect；'　answered　Maxwell；　in　the　same　tone；　'that　I　am　to　place　my　friend's　safety；　not　merely　in　your　hands；　but　in　those　of　any　person　you　may　choose　to　confide　in；　and　who　may　use　the　knowledge　to　his　destruction？　　NanaI　have　pledged　my　word　for　your　safety；　and　you　must　give　me　yours　to　be　private　in　the　mattergiff…gaff；　you　know。'

Alan　Fairford　could　not　help　thinking　that　this　obligation　to　secrecy　gave　a　new　and　suspicious　colouring　to　the　whole　transaction；　but；　considering　that　his　friend's　release　might　depend　upon　his　accepting　the　condition；　he　gave　it　in　the　terms　proposed；　and　with　the　purpose　of　abiding　by　it。

'And　now；　sir；'　he　said；　'whither　am　I　to　proceed　with　this　letter？　　Is　Mr。　Herries　at　Brokenburn？'

'He　is　not；　I　do　not　think　he　will　come　thither　again　until　the　business　of　the　stake…nets　be　hushed　up；　nor　would　I　advise　him　to　do　sothe　Quakers；　with　all　their　demureness；　can　bear　malice　as　long　as　other　folk；　and　though　I　have　not　the　prudence　of　Mr。　Provost；　who　refuses　to　ken　where　his　friends　are　concealed　during　adversity；　lest；　perchance；　he　should　be　asked　to　contribute　to　their　relief；　yet　I　do　not　think　it　necessary　or　prudent　to　inquire　into　Redgauntlet's　wanderings；　poor　man；　but　wish　to　remain　at　perfect　freedom　to　answer；　if　asked　at；　that　I　ken　nothing　of　the　matter。　　You　must；　then；　go　to　old　Tom　Trumbull's　at　Annan；Tam　Turnpenny；　as　they　call　him；and　he　is　sure　either　to　know　where　Redgauntlet　is　himself；　or　to　find　some　one　who　can　give　a　shrewd　guess。　　But　you　must　attend　that　old　Turnpenny　will　answer　no　question　on　such　a　subject　without　you　give　him　the　passport；　which　at　present　you　must　do；　by　asking　him　the　age　of　the　moon；　if　he　answers；　〃Not　light　enough　to　land　a　cargo；〃　you　are　to　answer；　〃Then　plague　on　Aberdeen　Almanacks；〃　and　upon　that　he　will　hold　free　intercourse　with　you。　　And　now；　I　would　advise　you　to　lose　no　time；　for　the　parole　is　often　changedand　take　care　of　yourself　among　these　moonlight　lads；　for　laws　and　lawyers　do　not　stand　very　high　in　their　favour。'

'I　will　set　out　this　instant；'　said　the　young　barrister；　'I　will　but　bid　the　provost　and　Mrs。　Crosbie　farewell；　and　then　get　on　horseback　so　soon　as　the　ostler　of　the　George　Inn　can　saddle　him；as　for　the　smugglers；　I　am　neither　gauger　nor　supervisor；　and；　like　the　man　who　met　the　devil；　if　they　have　nothing　to　say　to　me；　I　have　nothing　to　say　to　them。'

'You　are　a　mettled　young　man；'　said　Summertrees；　evidently　with　increasing　goodwill；　on　observing　an　alertness　and　contempt　of　danger；　which　perhaps　he　did　not　expect　from　Alan's　appearance　and　profession；'a　very　mettled　young　fellow　indeed！　　and　it　is　almost　a　pity'Here　he　stopped　abort。

'What　is　a　pity？'　　said　Fairford。

'It　is　almost　a　pity　that　I　cannot　go　with　you　myself；　or　at　least　send　a　trusty　guide。'

They　walked　together　to　the　bedchamber　of　Mrs。　Crosbie；　for　it　was　in　that　asylum　that　the　ladies　of　the　period　dispensed　their　tea；　when　the　parlour　was　occupied　by　the　punch…bowl。

'You　have　been　good　bairns　to…night；　gentlemen；'　said　Mrs。　Crosbie；　'I　am　afraid；　Summertrees；　that　the　provost　has　given　you　a　bad　browst；　you　are　not　used　to　quit　the　lee…side　of　the　punch…bowl　in　such　a　hurry。　　I　say　nothing　to　you；　Mr。　Fairford；　for