guy mannering-第70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！


ay　with　me　indeed；　ay；　and　a　day　of　grief　hard　to　be　bornebut　He　giveth　strength　who　layeth　on　the　load。〃

Colonel　Mannering　took　this　opportunity　to　request　Mr。　Pleydell　to　inform　him　of　the　particulars　attending　the　loss　of　the　boy；　and　the　counsellor；　who　was　fond　of　talking　upon　subjects　of　criminal　jurisprudence；　especially　when　connected　with　his　own　experience；　went　through　the　circumstances　at　full　length。　〃And　what　is　your　opinion　upon　the　result　of　the　whole？〃

〃Oh；　that　Kennedy　was　murdered：　it's　an　old　case　which　has　occurred　on　that　coast　before　nowthe　case　of　Smuggler　versus　Exciseman。〃

〃What　then　is　your　conjecture　concerning　the　fate　of　the　child？

〃Oh；　murdered　too；　doubtless；〃　answered　Pleydell。　〃He　was　old　enough　to　tell　what　he　had　seen；　and　these　ruthless　scoundrels　would　not　scruple　committing　a　second　Bethlehem　massacre　if　they　thought　their　interest　required　it。〃

The　Dominie　groaned　deeply；　and　ejaculated；　〃Enormous！〃

〃'Yet　there　was　mention　of　gipsies　in　the　business　too；　counsellor；〃　said　Mannering；　〃and　from　what　that　vulgar…looking　fellow　said　after　the　funeral〃

〃Mrs。　Margaret　Bertram's　idea　that　the　child　was　alive　was　founded　upon　the　report　of　a　gipsy；〃　said　Pleydell；　catching　at　the　half…spoken　hint〃I　envy　you　the　concatenation；　Colonelit　is　a　shame　to　me　not　to　have　drawn　the　same　conclusion。　We'll　follow　this　business　tip　instantlyHere；　hark　ye；　waiter；　go　down　to　Luckie　Wood's　in　the　Cowgate；　ye'll　find　my　clerk　Driver；　he'll　be　set　down　to　High…jinks　by　this　time　（for　we　and　our　retainers；　Colonel；　are　exceedingly　regular　in　our　irregularities）；　tell　him　to　come　here　instantly；　and　I　will　pay　his　forfeits。〃

〃He　won't　appear　in　character；　will　he？〃　said　Mannering。

〃Ah！　no　more　of　that；　Hal；　an　thou　lovest　me；〃　said　Pleydell。　〃But　we　must　have　some　news　from　the　land　of　Egypt；　if　possible。　Oh；　if　I　had　but　hold　of　the　slightest　thread　of　this　complicated　skein；　you　should　see　how　I　would　unravel　it！I　would　work　the　truth　out　of　your　Bohemian；　as　the　French　call　them；　better　than　a　Monitoire；　or　a　Plainte　de　Tournelle；　I　know　how　to　manage　a　refractory　witness。〃

While　Mr。　Pleydell　was　thus　vaunting　his　knowledge　of　his　profession；　the　waiter　re…entered　with　Mr。　Driver；　his　mouth　still　greasy　with　mutton　pies；　and　the　froth　of　the　last　draught　of　twopenny　yet　unsubsided　on　his　upper　lip；　with　such　speed　had　he　obeyed　the　commands　of　his　principal。〃Driver；　you　must　go　instantly　and　find　out　the　woman　who　was　old　Mrs。　Margaret　Bertram's　maid。　Inquire　for　her　everywhere；　but　if　you　find　it　necessary　to　have　recourse　to　Protocol；　Quid　the　tobacconist；　or　any　other　of　these　folks；　you　will　take　care　not　to　appear　yourself；　but　send　some　woman　of　your　acquaintanceI　dare　say　you　know　enough　that　may　be　so　condescending　as　to　oblige　you。　When　you　have　found　her　out；　engage　her　to　come　to　my　chambers　to…morrow　at　eight　o'clock　precisely。〃

〃What　shall　I　say　to　make　her　forthcoming？〃　asked　the　aide…de…camp。

〃Anything　you　choose；〃　replied　the　lawyer。　〃Is　it　my　business　to　make　lies　for　you；　do　you　think？　But　let　her　be　in　praesentia　by　eight　o'clock；　as　I　have　said　before。〃　The　clerk　grinned；　made　his　reverence；　and　exit。

〃That's　a　useful　fellow；〃　said　the　counsellor　〃I　don't　believe　his　match　ever　carried　a　process。　He'll　write　to　my　dictating　three　nights　in　the　week　without　sleep；　or；　what's　the　same　thing；　he　writes　as　well　and　correctly　when　he's　asleep　as　when　he's　awake。　Then　he's　such　a　steady　fellowsome　of　them　are　always　changing　their　alehouses；　so　that　they　have　twenty　cadies　sweating　after　them；　like　the　bare…headed　captains　traversing　the　taverns　of　East…Cheap　in　search　of　Sir　John　Falstaff。　But　this　is　a　complete　fixture…he　has　his　winter　seat　by　the　fire；　and　his　summer　seat　by　the　window；　in　Luckie　Wood's；　betwixt　which　seats　are　his　only　migrations；　there　he's　to　be　found　at　all　times　when　he　is　off　duty。　It　is　my　opinion　he　never　puts　off　his　clothes　or　goes　to　sleepsheer　ale　supports　him　under　everything。　It　is　meat；　drink；　and　clothing；　bed；　board；　and　washing。〃

〃And　is　he　always　fit　for　duty　upon　a　sudden　turn…out？　I　should　distrust　it；　considering　his　quarters。〃

〃Oh；　s　drink　never　disturbs　him；　Colonel；　he　can　write　for　hours　after　he　cannot　speak。　I　remember　being　called　suddenly　to　draw　an　appeal　case。　I　had　been　dining；　and　it　was　Saturday　night；　and　I　had　ill　will　to　begin　to　ithowever；　they　got　me　down　to　Clerihugh's；　and　there　we　sat　birling　till　I　had　a　fair　tappit　hen；　＇*See　Note　VI。　Tappit　Hen。　＇　under　my　belt；　and　then　they　persuaded　me　to　draw　the　paper。　Then　we　had　to　seek　Driver；　and　it　was　all　that　two　men　could　do　to　bear　him　in；　for；　when　found；　he　was；　as　it　happened；　both　motionless　and　speechless。　But　no　sooner　was　his　pen　put　between　his　fingers；　his　paper　stretched　before　him；　and　he　heard　my　voice；　than　he　began　to　write　like　a　scrivenerand；　excepting　that　we　were　obliged　to　have　somebody　to　dip　his　pen　in　the　ink；　for　he　could　not　see　the　standish；　I　never　saw　a　thing　scrolled　more　handsomely。〃

〃But　how　did　your　joint　production　look　the　next　morning？〃　said　the　Colonel。

〃Wheugh！　capitalnot　three　words　required　to　be　altered；　＇*　See　Note　VII。　Convivial　Habits　of　the　Scottish　Bar。　＇　it　was　sent　off　by　that　day's　post。　But　you'll　come　and　breakfast　with　me　to…morrow；　and　hear　this　woman's　examination？〃

〃Why；　your　hour　is　rather　early。〃

〃Can't　make　it　later。　If　I　were　not　on　the　boards　of　the　Outer　House　precisely　as　the　nine…hours　bell　rings；　there　would　be　a　report　that　I　had　got　an　apoplexy；　and　I　should　feel　the　effects　of　it　all　the　rest　of　the　session。〃

〃Well；　I　will　make　an　exertion　to　wait　upon　you。〃

Here　the　company　broke　up　for　the　evening。

In　the　morning　Colonel　Mannering　appeared　at　the　counsellor's　chambers；　although　cursing　the　raw　air　of　a　Scottish　morning　in　December。　Mr。　Pleydell　had　got　Mrs。　Rebecca　installed　on　one　side　of　his　fire；　accommodated　her　with　a　cup　of　chocolate；　and　was　already　deeply　engaged　in　conversation　with　her。　〃Oh　no；　I　assure　you；　Mrs。　Rebecca；　there　is　no　intention　to　challenge　your　mistress's　will；　and　I　give　you　my　word　of　honour　that　your　legacy　is　quite　safe。　You　have　deserved　it　by　your　conduct　to　your　mistress；　and　I　wish　it　had　been　twice　as　much。〃

〃Why；　to　be　sure；　sir；　it's　no　right　to　mention　what　is　said　before　aneye　heard　how　that　dirty　body　Quid　cast　up　to　me　the　bits　o'　compliments　he　gied　me；　and　tell'd　owre　again　ony　loose　cracks　＇*Gossip　＇　I　might　hae　had　wi'　him；　now　if　ane　was　talking　loosely　to　your　honour；　there's　nae　saying　what　might　come　o't。〃

〃I　assure　you；　my　good　Rebecca；　my　character　and　your　own　age　and　appearance　are　your　security；　if　you　should　talk　as　loosely　as　an　amatory　poet。〃

〃Aweel；　if　your　honour　thinks　I　am　safe…the　story　is　just　this。Ye　see；　about　a　year　ago；　or　no　just　sae　lang；　my　leddy　was　advised　to　go　to　Gilsland　for　a　while　for　her　spirits　were　distressing　her　sair。　Ellangowan's　troubles　began　to　be　spoken　o'　publicly；　and　sair　vexed　she　wasor　she　was　proud　o'　her　family。　For　Ellangowan　himsell　and　her；　they　sometimes　'greed；　and　sometimes　nobut　at　last　they　didna　'gree　at　a'　for　twa　or　three　yearfor　he　was　aye　wanting　to　borrow　siller；　and　that　was　what　she　couldna　bide　at　no　hand；　and　she　was　aye　wanting　it　paid　back　again；　and　that　the　Laird　he　liked　as　little。　So；　at　last；　they　were　clean　aff　thegither。　And　then　some　of　the　company　at　Gilsland　tells　her　that　the　estate　was　to　be　sell'd；　and　ye　wad　hae　thought　she　had　taen　an　ill　will　at　Miss　Lucy　Bertram　frae　that　moment；　for　mony　a　time　she　cried　to　me；　'O　Becky；　O　Becky；　if　that　useless　peenging　thing　o'　a　lassie　there；　at　Ellangowan；　that　canna　keep　her　ne'er…do…weel　father　within　boundsif　she　had　been　but　a　lad…bairn；　they　couldna　hae　sell'd　the　auld　inheritance　for　that　fool…body's　debt；'and　she　would　rin　on　that　way　till　I　was　just　wearied　and　sick　to　hear　her　ban　the　puir　lassie；　as　if　she　wadna　hae　been　a　lad…bairn；　and　keepit　the　land；　if　it　had　been　in　her　will　to　change　her　sect。　And　ae　day　at　the　spae…well　below　the　craig　at　Gilsland；　she　was　seeing　a　very　bonny　family　o'　bairnsthey　belonged　to　ane　MacCroskyand　she　broke　out'Is　not　it　an　odd　like　thing　that　ilka　waf　carlfe　＇*Every　insignificant　churl＇　in　the　country　has　a　son　and　heir；　and　that　the　house　of　Ellangowan　is　without　male　succession？'　There　was　a　gipsy　wife　stood　ahint　and　heard　hera　muckle　sture　＇*Strong＇　fearsome…looking　wife　she　was　as　ever　I　set　een　on。'Wha　is　it；'　says　she；　'that　dare　say　the　house　of　Ellangowan　will　perish　without　male　succession？'　My　mistress　just　turned　on　hershe　was　a　high…spirited　woman；　and　aye　ready　wi'　an　answer　to　a'　body。　'It's　me　that　says　it；'　says　she；　'that　may　say　it　with　a　sad　heart。'　Wi'　that　the　gipsy　wife　gripped　till　her　hand；　'I　ken　you　weel　eneugh；'　said　she；　'though　ye　kenna　meBut　as　sure　as　that　sun's　in　heaven；　and　as　sure　as　that　water's　rinning　to　the　sea；　and　as　sure　as　there's　an　ee　that　sees；　and　an　ear　that　hears　us　baithHarry　Bertram；　that　was　thought　to　perish　at　Warroch　Point；　never　did　die　therehe　was　to　have　a　weary　weird　＇*Cruel　fate＇　o't　till　his　ane…an…twentieth　year；　that　was　aye　said　o'　himbut　if　ye　live　and　I　live；　ye'll　hear　mair