redgauntlet-第83节

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


which　did　not　surprise　Fairford；　who　knew　that　a　military　disguise　was　very　often　assumed　by　the　seminary　priests；　whose　visits　to　England；　or　residence　there；　subjected　them　to　legal　penalties。

As　this　stately　person　entered　the　apartment；　the　two　ladies　facing　inward；　like　soldiers　on　their　post　when　about　to　salute　a　superior　officer；　dropped　on　either　hand　of　the　father　a　curtsy　so　profound　that　the　hoop　petticoats　which　performed　the　feat　seemed　to　sink　down　to　the　very　floor；　nay；　through　it；　as　if　a　trap…door　had　opened　for　the　descent　of　the　dames　who　performed　this　act　of　reverence。

The　father　seemed　accustomed　to　such　homage；　profound　as　it　was；　he　turned　his　person　a　little　way　first　towards　one　sister；　and　then　towards　the　other；　while；　with　a　gracious　inclination　of　his　person；　which　certainly　did　not　amount　to　a　bow；　he　acknowledged　their　curtsy。　　But　he　passed　forward　without　addressing　them；　and　seemed　by　doing　so　to　intimate　that　their　presence　in　the　apartment　was　unnecessary。

They　accordingly　glided　out　of　the　room；　retreating　backwards；　with　hands　clasped　and　eyes　cast　upwards；　as　if　imploring　blessings　on　the　religious　man　whom　they　venerated　so　highly。　The　door　of　the　apartment　was　shut　after　them；　but　not　before　Fairford　had　perceived　that　there　were　one　or　two　men　in　the　gallery；　and　that；　contrary　to　what　he　had　before　observed；　the　door；　though　shut；　was　not　locked　on　the　outside。

'Can　the　good　souls　apprehend　danger　from　me　to　this　god　of　their　idolatry？'　　thought　Fairford。　　But　he　had　no　time　to　make　further　observations；　for　the　stranger　had　already　reached　the　middle　of　his　apartment。

Fairford　rose　to　receive　him　respectfully；　but　as　he　fixed　his　eyes　on　the　visitor；　he　thought　that　the　father　avoided　his　looks。　　His　reasons　for　remaining　incognito　were　cogent　enough　to　account　for　this；　and　Fairford　hastened　to　relieve　him；　by　looking　downwards　in　his　turn；　but　when　again　he　raised　his　face；　he　found　the　broad　light　eye　of　the　stranger　so　fixed　on　him　that　he　was　almost　put　out　of　countenance　by　the　steadiness　of　his　gaze。　　During　this　time　they　remained　standing；

'Take　your　seat；　sir；'　said　the　father；　'you　have　been　an　invalid。'

He　spoke　with　the　tone　of　one　who　desires　an　inferior　to　be　seated　in　his　presence；　and　his　voice　was　full　and　melodious。

Fairford；　somewhat　surprised　to　find　himself　overawed　by　the　airs　of　superiority；　which　could　be　only　properly　exercised　towards　one　over　whom　religion　gave　the　speaker　influence；　sat　down　at　his　bidding；　as　if　moved　by　springs；　and　was　at　a　loss　how　to　assert　the　footing　of　equality　on　which　he　felt　that　they　ought　to　stand。　　The　stranger　kept　the　advantage　which　he　had　obtained。

'Your　name；　sir；　I　am　informed；　is　Fairford？'　　said　the　father。

Alan　answered　by　a　bow。

'Called　to　the　Scottish　bar；'　continued　his　visitor；　'There　is；　I　believe；　in　the　West；　a　family　of　birth　and　rank　called　Fairford　of　Fairford。'

Alan　thought　this　a　strange　observation　from　a　foreign　ecclesiastic；　as　his　name　intimated　Father　Buonaventure　to　be；　but　only　answered　he　believed　there　was　such；　a　family；

'Do　you　count　kindred　with　them；　Mr。　Fairford？'　　continued　the　inquirer。

'I　have　not　the　honour　to　lay　such　a　claim；'　said　Fairford。

'My　father's　industry　has　raised　his　family　from　a　low　and　obscure　situationI　have　no　hereditary　claim　to　distinction　of　any　kind。　　May　I　ask　the　cause　of　these　inquiries？'

'You　will　learn　it　presently；'　said　Father　Buonaventure；　who　had　given　a　dry　and　dissatisfied　HEM　at　the　young　man's　acknowledging　a　plebeian　descent。　　He　then　motioned　to　him　to　be　silent；　and　proceeded　with　his　queries。

'Although　not　of　condition；　you　are；　doubtless；　by　sentiments　and　education；　a　man　of　honour　and　a　gentleman？'

'I　hope　so；　sir；'　said　Alan；　colouring　with　displeasure。　　'I　have　not　been　accustomed　to　have　it　questioned。'

'Patience；　young　man；'　said　the　unperturbed　querist'we　are　on　serious　business；　and　no　idle　etiquette　must　prevent　its　being　discussed　seriously。　　You　are　probably　aware　that　you　speak　to　a　person　proscribed　by　the　severe　and　unjust　laws　of　the　present　government？'

'I　am　aware　of　the　statute　1700；　chapter　3；'　said　Alan；　'banishing　from　the　realm　priests　and　trafficking　Papists；　and　punishing　by　death；　on　summary　conviction；　any　such　person　who　being　so　banished　may　return。　　But　I　have　no　means　of　knowing　you；　sir；　to　be　one　of　those　persons；　and　I　think　your　prudence　may　recommend　to　you　to　keep　your　own　counsel。'

'It　is　sufficient；　sir；　and　I　have　no　apprehensions　of　disagreeable　consequences　from　your　having　seen　me　in　this　house；'　said　the　priest。

'Assuredly　no；'　said　Alan。　　'I　consider　myself　as　indebted　for　my　life　to　the　mistresses　of　Fairladies；　and　it　would　be　a　vile　requital　on　my　part　to　pry　into　or　make　known　what　I　may　have　seen　or　heard　under　this　hospitable　roof。　　If　I　were　to　meet　the　Pretender　himself　in　such　a　situation；　he　should；　even　at　the　risk　of　a　little　stretch　to　my　loyalty；　be　free　from　any　danger　from　my　indiscretion。'

'The　Pretender！'　　said　the　priest；　with　some　angry　emphasis；　but　immediately　softened　his　tone　and　added；　'No　doubt；　however；　that　person　is　a　pretender；　and　some　people　think　his　pretensions　are　not　ill　founded。　　　But；　before　running　into　politics；　give　me　leave　to　say；　that　I　am　surprised　to　find　a　gentleman　of　your　opinions　in　habits　of　intimacy　with　Mr。　Maxwell　of　Summertrees　and　Mr。　Redgauntlet；　and　the　medium　of　conducting　the　intercourse　betwixt　them。'

'Pardon　me；　sir；'　replied　Alan　Fairford；　'I　do　not　aspire　to　the　honour　of　being　reputed　their　confidant　or　go…between。　　My　concern　with　those　gentlemen　is　limited　to　one　matter　of　business；　dearly　interesting　to　me；　because　it　concerns　the　safetyperhaps　the　lifeof　my　dearest　friend。'

'Would　you　have　any　objection　to　entrust　me　with　the　cause　of　your　journey？'　　said　Father　Buonaventure。　　'My　advice　may　be　of　service　to　you；　and　my　influence　with　one　or　both　these　gentlemen　is　considerable。'

Fairford　hesitated　a　moment；　and；　hastily　revolving　all　circumstances；　concluded　that　he　might　perhaps　receive　some　advantage　from　propitiating　this　personage；　while；　on　the　other　hand；　he　endangered　nothing　by　communicating　to　him　the　occasion　of　his　journey。　　He；　therefore；　after　stating　shortly　that　he　hoped　Mr。　Buonaventure　would　render　him　the　same　confidence　which　he　required　on　his　part；　gave　a　short　account　of　Darsie　Latimer　of　the　mystery　which　hung　over　his　familyand　of　the　disaster　which　had　befallen　him。　　Finally；　of　his　own　resolution　to　seek　for　his　friend；　and　to　deliver　him；　at　the　peril　of　his　own　life。

The　Catholic　priest；　whose　manner　it　seemed　to　be　to　avoid　all　conversation　which　did　not　arise　from　his　own　express　motion；　made　no　remarks　upon　what　he　had　heard；　but　only　asked　one　or　two　abrupt　questions；　where　Alan's　narrative　appeared　less　clear　to　him；　then　rising　from　his　seat；　he　took　two　turns　through　the　apartment；　muttering　between　his　teeth；　with　emphasis；　the　word　'madman！'　　But　apparently　he　was　in　the　habit　of　keeping　all　violent　emotions　under　restraint；　for　he　presently　addressed　Fairford　with　the　most　perfect　indifference。

'If；'　said　he；　'you　thought　you　could　do　so　without　breach　of　confidence；　I　wish　you　would　have　the　goodness　to　show　me　the　letter　of　Mr。　Maxwell　of　Summertrees。　　I　desire　to　look　particularly　at　the　address。'

Seeing　no　cause　to　decline　this　extension　of　his　confidence；　Alan；　without　hesitation；　put　the　letter　into　his　hand。　　Having　turned　it　round　as　old　Trumbull　and　Nanty　Ewart　had　formerly　done；　and；　like　them；　having　examined　the　address　with　much　minuteness；　he　asked　whether　he　had　observed　these　words；　pointing　to　a　pencil…writing　upon　the　under　side　of　the　letter。　Fairford　answered　in　the　negative；　and；　looking　at　the　letter；　read　with　surprise；　'CAVE　NE　LITERAS　BELLEROPHONTIS　ADFERRES'；　a　caution　which　coincided　so　exactly　with　the　provost's　admonition；　that　he　would　do　well　to　inspect　the　letter　of　which　he　was　bearer；　that　he　was　about　to　spring　up　and　attempt　an　escape；　he　knew　not　wherefore；　or　from　whom。

'Sit　still；　young　man；'　said　the　father；　with　the　same　tone　of　authority　which　reigned　in　his　whole　manner；　although　mingled　with　stately　courtesy。　　'You　are　in　no　dangermy　character　shall　be　a　pledge　for　your　safety。　　By　whom　do　you　suppose　these　words　have　been　written？'

Fairford　could　have　answered；　'By　Nanty　Ewart；'　for　he　remembered　seeing　that　person　scribble　something　with　a　pencil；　although　he　was　not　well　enough　to　observe　with　accuracy　where　or　upon　what。　But　not　knowing　what　suspicions；　or　what　worse　consequences　the　seamen's　interest　in　his　affairs　might　draw　upon　him；　he　judged　it　best　to　answer　that　he　knew　not　the　hand。

Father　Buonaventure　was　again　silent　for　a　moment　or　two；　which　he　employed　in　surveying　the　letter　with　the　strictest　attention；　then　stepped　to　the　window；　as　if　to　examine　the　address　and　writing　of　the　envelope　with　the　assistance　of　a　stronger　light；　and　Alan　Fairford　beheld　him；　with　no　less　amazement　than　high　displeasure；　coolly　and　deliberately　break　the　seal；　open　the　letter；　and　peruse　the　contents。

'Stop；　sir；　hold！'　　he　exclaimed；　so　soon　as　his　astonishment　permi