redgauntlet-第71节

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。　Fairford；　for　you　are　too　young　a　man　yet　for　stoup　and　bicker；　but　I　hope　you　will　not　tell　the　Edinburgh　fine　folk　that　the　provost　has　scrimped　you　of　your　cogie；　as　the　sang　says？'

'I　am　much　obliged　for　the　provost's　kindness；　and　yours；　madam；'　replied　Alan；　'but　the　truth　is；　I　have　still　a　long　ride　before　me　this　evening　and　the　sooner　I　am　on　horse…back　the　better。'

'This　evening？'　　said　the　provost；　anxiously；　'had　you　not　better　take　daylight　with　you　to…morrow　morning？'

'Mr。　Fairford　will　ride　as　well　in　the　cool　of　the　evening；'　said　Summertrees；　taking　the　word　out　of　Alan's　mouth。

The　provost　said　no　more；　nor　did　his　wife　ask　any　questions；　nor　testify　any　surprise　at　the　suddenness　of　their　guest's　departure。

Having　drunk　tea；　Alan　Fairford　took　leave　with　the　usual　ceremony。　　The　Laird　of　Summertrees　seemed　studious　to　prevent　any　further　communication　between　him　and　the　provost；　and　remained　lounging　on　the　landing…place　of　the　stair　while　they　made　their　adieusheard　the　provost　ask　if　Alan　proposed　a　speedy　return；　and　the　latter　reply　that　his　stay　was　uncertain；　and　witnessed　the　parting　shake　of　the　hand；　which；　with　a　pressure　more　warm　than　usual；　and　a　tremulous；　'God　bless　and　prosper　you！'　　Mr。　Crosbie　bestowed　on　his　young　friend。　　Maxwell　even　strolled　with　Fairford　as　far　as　the　George；　although　resisting　all　his　attempts　at　further　inquiry　into　the　affairs　of　Redgauntlet；　and　referring　him　to　Tom　Trumbull；　alias　Turnpenny；　for　the　particulars　which　he　might　find　it　necessary　to　inquire　into。

At　length　Alan's　hack　was　producedan　animal　long　in　neck；　and　high　in　bone；　accoutred　with　a　pair　of　saddle…bags　containing　the　rider's　travelling　wardrobe。　　Proudly　surmounting　his　small　stock　of　necessaries；　and　no　way　ashamed　of　a　mode　of　travelling　which　a　modern　Mr。　Silvertongue　would　consider　as　the　last　of　degradations；　Alan　Fairford　took　leave　of　the　old　Jacobite；　Pate…　in…Peril；　and　set　forward　on　the　road　to　the　loyal　burgh　of　Annan。　　His　reflections　during　his　ride　were　none　of　the　most　pleasant。　　He　could　not　disguise　from　himself　that　he　was　venturing　rather　too　rashly　into　the　power　of　outlawed　and　desperate　persons；　for　with　such　only；　a　man　in　the　situation　of　Redgauntlet　could　be　supposed　to　associate。　　There　were　other　grounds　for　apprehension；　Several　marks　of　intelligence　betwixt　Mrs。　Crosbie　and　the　Laird　of　Summertrees　had　not　escaped　Alan's　acute　observation；　and　it　was　plain　that　the　provost's　inclinations　towards　him；　which　he　believed　to　be　sincere　and　good；　were　not　firm　enough　to　withstand　the　influence　of　this　league　between　his　wife　and　friend。　　The　provost's　adieus；　like　Macbeth's　amen；　had　stuck　in　his　throat；　and　seemed　to　intimate　that　he　apprehended　more　than　he　dared　give　utterance　to。

Laying　all　these　matters　together；　Alan　thought；　with　no　little　anxiety　on　the　celebrated　lines　of　Shakespeare；

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　A　drop；　　　That　in　the　ocean　seeks　another　drop；　&c。

But　pertinacity　was　a　strong　feature　in　the　young　lawyer's　character。　　He　was；　and　always　had　been；　totally　unlike　the　'horse　hot　at　hand；'　who　tires　before　noon　through　his　own　over　eager　exertions　in　the　beginning　of　the　day。　　On　the　contrary；　his　first　efforts　seemed　frequently　inadequate　to　accomplishing　his　purpose；　whatever　that　for　the　time　might　be；　and　it　was　only　as　the　difficulties　of　the　task　increased；　that　his　mind　seemed　to　acquire　the　energy　necessary　to　combat　and　subdue　them。　　If；　therefore；　he　went　anxiously　forward　upon　his　uncertain　and　perilous　expedition；　the　reader　must　acquit　him　of　all　idea；　even　in　a　passing　thought；　of　the　possibility　of　abandoning　his　search；　and　resigning　Darsie　Latimer　to　his　destiny。

A　couple　of　hours'　riding　brought　him　to　the　little　town　of　Annan；　situated　on　the　shores　of　the　Solway；　between　eight　and　nine　o'clock。　　The　sun　had　set；　but　the　day　was　not　yet　ended；　and　when　he　had　alighted　and　seen　his　horse　properly　cared　for　at　the　principal　inn　of　the　place；　he　was　readily　directed　to　Mr。　Maxwell's　friend；　old　Tom　Trumbull；　with　whom　everybody　seemed　well　acquainted。　　He　endeavoured　to　fish　out　from　the　lad　that　acted　as　a　guide；　something　of　this　man's　situation　and　profession；　but　the　general　expressions　of　'a　very　decent　man'　'a　very　honest　body''weel　to　pass　in　the　world；'　and　such　like；　were　all　that　could　be　extracted　from　him；　and　while　Fairford　was　following　up　the　investigation　with　closer　interrogatories；　the　lad　put　an　end　to　them　by　knocking　at　the　door　of　Mr。　Trumbull；　whose　decent　dwelling　was　a　little　distance　from　the　town；　and　considerably　nearer　to　the　sea。　　It　was　one　of　a　little　row　of　houses　running　down　to　the　waterside；　and　having　gardens　and　other　accommodations　behind。　　There　was　heard　within　the　uplifting　of　a　Scottish　psalm；　and　the　boy　saying；　'They　are　at　exercise；　sir；'　gave　intimation　they　might　not　be　admitted　till　prayers　were　over。

When；　however；　Fairford　repeated　the　summons　with　the　end　of　his　whip；　the　singing　ceased；　and　Mr。　Trumbull　himself；　with　his　psalm…book　in　his　hand；　kept　open　by　the　insertion　of　his　forefinger　between　the　leaves；　came　to　demand　the　meaning　of　this　unseasonable　interruption。

Nothing　could　be　more　different　than　his　whole　appearance　seemed　to　be　from　the　confidant　of　a　desperate　man；　and　the　associate　of　outlaws　in　their　unlawful　enterprises。　　He　was　a　tall；　thin；　bony　figure；　with　white　hair　combed　straight　down　on　each　side　of　his　face；　and　an　iron…grey　hue　of　complexion；　where　the　lines；　or　rather；　as　Quin　said　of　Macklin；　the　cordage；　of　his　countenance　were　so　sternly　adapted　to　a　devotional　and　even　ascetic　expression；　that　they　left　no　room　for　any　indication　of　reckless　daring　or　sly　dissimulation。　　In　short；　Trumbull　appeared　a　perfect　specimen　of　the　rigid　old　Covenanter；　who　said　only　what　he　thought　right；　acted　on　no　other　principle　but　that　of　duty；　and；　if　he　committed　errors；　did　so　under　the　full　impression　that　he　was　serving　God　rather　than　man。

'Do　you　want　me；　sir？'　　he　said　to　Fairford；　whose　guide　had　slunk　to　the　rear；　as　if　to　escape　the　rebuke　of　the　severe　old　man；'We　were　engaged；　and　it　is　the　Saturday　night。'

Alan　Fairford's　preconceptions　were　so　much　deranged　by　this　man's　appearance　and　manner；　that　he　stood　for　a　moment　bewildered；　and　would　as　soon　have　thought　of　giving　a　cant　password　to　a　clergyman　descending　from　the　pulpit；　as　to　the　respectable　father　of　a　family　just　interrupted　in　his　prayers　for　and　with　the　objects　of　his　care。　　Hastily　concluding　Mr。　Maxwell　had　passed　some　idle　jest　on　him；　or　rather　that　he　had　mistaken　the　person　to　whom　he　was　directed；　he　asked　if　he　spoke　to　Mr。　Trumbull。

'To　Thomas　Trumbull；'　answered　the　old　man'What　may　be　your　business；　sir？'　　And　he　glanced　his　eye　to　the　book　he　held　in　his　hand；　with　a　sigh　like　that　of　a　saint　desirous　of　dissolution。

'Do　you　know　Mr。　Maxwell　of　Summertrees？'　　said　Fairford。

'I　have　heard　of　such　a　gentleman　in　the　country…side；　but　have　no　acquaintance　with　him；'　answered　Mr。　Trumbull；　'he　is；　as　I　have　heard；　a　Papist；　for　the　whore　that　sitteth　on　the　seven　hills　ceaseth　not　yet　to　pour　forth　the　cup　of　her　abomination　on　these　parts。'

'Yet　he　directed　me　hither；　my　good　friend；'　said　Alan。　　'Is　there　another　of　your　name　in　this　town　of　Annan？'

'None；'　replied　Mr。　Trumbull；　'since　my　worthy　father　was　removed；　he　was　indeed　a　shining　light。I　wish　you　good　even；　sir。'

'Stay　one　single　instant；'　said　Fairford；　'this　is　a　matter　of　life　and　death。'

'Not　more　than　the　casting　the　burden　of　our　sins　where　they　should　be　laid；'　said　Thomas　Trumbull；　about　to　shut　the　door　in　the　inquirer's　face。

'Do　you　know；'　said　Alan　Fairford；　'the　Laird　of　Redgauntlet？'

'Now　Heaven　defend　me　from　treason　and　rebellion！'　exclaimed　Trumbull。　　'Young　gentleman；　you　are　importunate。　　I　live　here　among　my　own　people；　and　do　not　consort　with　Jacobites　and　mass…　mongers。'

He　seemed　about　to　shut　the　door；　but　did　NOT　shut　it；　a　circumstance　which　did　not　escape　Alan's　notice。

'Mr。　Redgauntlet　is　sometimes；'　he　said；　'called　Herries　of　Birrenswork；　perhaps　you　may　know　him　under　that　name。'

'Friend；　you　are　uncivil；'　answered　Mr。　Trumbull；　'honest　men　have　enough　to　do　to　keep　one　name　undefiled。　　I　ken　nothing　about　those　who　have　two。　　Good　even　to　you；　friend。'

He　was　now　about　to　slam　the　door　in　his　visitor's　face　without　further　ceremony；　when　Alan；　who　had　observed　symptoms　that　the　name　of　Redgauntlet　did　not　seem　altogether　so　indifferent　to　him　as　he　pretended；　arrested　his　purpose　by　saying；　in　a　low　voice；　'At　least　you　can　tell　me　what　age　the　moon　is？'

The　old　man　started；　as　if　from　a　trance；　and　before　answering；　surveyed　the　querist　with　a　keen　penetrating　glance；　which　seemed　to　say；　'Are　you　really　in　possession　of　this　key　to　my　confidence；　or　do　you　speak　from　mere　accident？'

To　this　keen　look　of　scrutiny；　Fairford　replied　by　a　smile　of　intelligence。

The　iron　muscles　of　the　old　man's　face　did　not；　however；　relax；　as　he　dropped；　in　a　careless　manner；　the　countersign；　'Not　light　enough　to　land　a　cargo。'

'Then　plague　of　all　Aberdeen　Almanacks！'

'And　plague　of　all　fools　that　waste　time；'　said　T