guy mannering-第79节

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ckness　of　the　heart　which　induces　him　who　is　immured　already　in　a　living　grave；　to　wish　for　a　sepulchre　yet　more　calm　and　sequestered。

Mac…Guffog；　when　they　entered　the　courtyard；　suffered　Bertram　to　pause　for　a　minute；　and　look　upon　his　companions　in　affliction。　When　he　had　cast　his　eye　around；　on　faces　on　which　guilt；　and　despondence；　and　low　excess；　had　fixed　their　stigma；　upon　the　spendthrift；　and　the　swindler；　and　the　thief；　the　bankrupt　debtor；　the　〃moping　idiot；　and　the　madman　gay；〃　whom　a　paltry　spirit　of　economy　congregated　to　share　this　dismal　habitation；　he　felt　his　heart　recoil　with　inexpressible　loathing　from　enduring　the　contamination　of　their　society　even　for　a　moment。

〃I　hope；　sir；〃　he　said　to　the　keeper　〃you　intend　to　assign　me　a　place　of　confinement　apart？

〃And　what　should　I　be　the　better　of　that？〃

〃Why；　sir　I　can　but　be　detained　here　a　day　or　two；　and　it　would　be　very　disagreeable　to　me　to　mix　in　the　sort　of　company　this　place　affords。〃

〃And　what　do　I　care　for　that？〃

〃Why；　then；　sir；　to　speak　to　your　feelings；〃　said　Bertram；　〃I　shall　be　willing　to　make　you　a　handsome　compliment　for　this　indulgence。〃

〃Ay；　but　when；　Captain？　when　and　how？　that's　the　question；　or　rather；　the　twa　questions；〃　said　the　jailor。

〃When　I　am　delivered；　and　get　my　remittances　from　England；〃　answered　the　prisoner。

Mac…Guffog　shook　his　head　incredulously。　〃Why；　friend；　you　do　not　pretend　to　believe　that　I　am　really　a　malefactor？〃　said　Bertram。

〃Why；　I　no　ken；〃　said　the　fellow；　〃but　if　you　are　on　the　account；　ye're　nae　sharp　ane；　that's　the　daylight　o't。〃

〃And　why　do　you　say　I　am　no　sharp　one？〃

〃Why；　wha　but　a　crack…brained　greenhorn　wad　hae　let　them　keep　up　the　siller　that　ye　left　at　the　Gordon　Arms？〃　said　the　constable。　〃Deil　fetch　me；　but　I　wad　have　held　it　out　o'　their　wames　＇*Bellies　＇　Ye　had　nae　right　to　be　strippit　o'　your　money　and　sent　to　jail　without　a　mark　to　pay　your　fees；　they　might　have　keepit　the　rest　o'　the　articles　for　evidence。　But　why；　for　a　blind　bottle…head；　did　not　ye　ask　the　guineas？　and　I　kept　winking　and　nodding　a'　the　time；　and　the　donnert　＇*Stupid＇　deevil　wad　never　ance　look　my　way！〃

〃Well；　sir；〃　replied　Bertram；　〃if　I　have　a　title　to　have　that　property　delivered　up　to　me；　I　shall　apply　for　it；　and　there　is　a　good　deal　more　than　enough　to　pay　any　demand　you　can　set　up。〃

〃I　dinna　ken　a　bit　about　that；〃　said　Mac…Guffog；　〃ye　may　be　here　lang　eneugh。　And　then　the　giving　credit　maun　be　considered　in　the　fees。　But；　however；　as　ye　do　seem　to　be　a　chap　by　common；　though　my　wife　says　I　lose　by　my　good…nature；　if　ye　gie　me　an　order　for　my　fees　upon　that　moneyI　dare　say　Glossin　will　make　it　forthcomingl　ken　something　about　an　escape　from　Ellangowanay；　ay；　he'll　be　glad　to　carry　me　through；　and　be　neighbour…like。〃

〃Well；　sir；〃　replied　Bertram；〃　if　I　am　not　furnished　in　a　day　or　two　otherwise；　you　shall　have　suchan　order。〃

〃Weel；　weel；　then　ye　shall　be　put　up　like　a　prince；〃　said　Mac…Guffog。　〃But　mark　ye　me；　friend；　that　we　may　have　nae　colly…shangie　＇*Quarrel＇　afterhend；　these　are　the　fees　I　always　charge　a　swell　that　must　have　his　libken　to　himsellThirty　shillings　a　week　for　lodgings；　and　a　guinea　for　garnish；　half…a…guinea　a　week　for　a　single　bed；and　I　dinna　get　the　whole　of　it；　for　I　must　gie　half…a…crown　out　of　it　to　Donald　Laider　that's　in　for　sheep…stealing；　that　should　sleep　with　you　by　rule；　and　he'll　expect　clean　strae；　and　maybe　some　whisky　beside。　So　I　make　little　upon　that。〃

〃Well；　sir；　go　on。〃


〃Then　for　meat　and　liquor；　ye　may　have　the　best；　and　I　never　charge　abune　twenty　per　cent。　ower　tavern　price　for　pleasing　a　gentleman　that　wayand　that's　little　eneugh　for　sending　in　and　sending　out；　and　wearing　the　lassie's　shoon　out。　And　then　if　ye're　dowie；　I　will　sit　wi'　you　a　gliff　＇*Twinkling＇　in　the　evening　mysell；　man；　and　help　ye　out　wi'　your　bottle。I　have　drunk　mony　a　glass　wi'　Glossin；　man；　that　did　you　up；　though　he's　a　justice　now。　And　then　I'se　warrant　ye'll　be　for　fire　thir　cauld　nights；　or　if　ye　want　candle；　that's　an　expensive　article；　for　it's　against　the　rules。　And　now　I've　tell'd　ye　the　head　articles　of　the　charge；　and　I　dinna　think　there's　muckle　mair；　though　there　will　aye　be　some　odd　expenses　ower　and　abune。〃

〃Well；　sir；　I　must　trust　to　your　conscience；　if　ever　you　happened　to　hear　of　such　a　thingI　cannot　help　myself。〃

〃Na；　na；　sir；〃　answered　the　cautious　jailor；　〃I'll　no　permit　you　to　be　saying　thatI'm　forcing　naething　upon　ye；an　ye　dinna　like　the　price　ye　needna　take　the　articleI　force　no　man；　I　was　only　explaining　what　civility　was；　but　if　ye　like　to　take　the　common　run　of　the　house；　it's　a'　one　to　meI'll　be　saved　trouble；　that's　a'。〃

〃Nay；　my　friend；　I　have；　as　I　suppose　you　may　easily　guess；　no　inclination　to　dispute　your　terms　upon　such　a　penalty；〃　answered　Bertram。　〃Come；　show　me　where　I　am　to　be；　for　I　would　fain　be　alone　for　a　little　while。〃

〃Ay；　ay；　come　along　then；　Captain；〃　said　the　fellow；　with　a　contortion　of　visage　which　he　intended　to　be　a　smile；　〃and　I'll　tell　you　now；to　show　you　that　I　have　a　conscience；　as　ye　ca't；　d…n　me　if　I　charge　ye　abune　sixpence　a　day　for　the　freedom　o'　the　court；　and　ye　may　walk　in't　very　near　three　hours　a　day；　and　play　at　pitch…and…toss　and　handba'；　and　what　not。〃

With　this　gracious　promise；　he　ushered　Bertram　into　the　house；　and　showed　him　up　a　steep　and　narrow　stone　staircase；　at　the　top　of　which　was　a　strong　door；　clenched　with　iron　and　studded　with　nails。　Beyond　this　door　was　a　narrow　passage　or　gallery；　having　three　cells　on　each　side；　wretched　；vaults；　with　iron　bed…frames　and　straw　mattresses。　But　at　the　farther　end　was　a　small　apartment；　of　rather　a　more　decent　appearance；　that　is；　having　less　the　air　of　a　place　of　confinement；　since；　unless　for　the　large　lock　and　chain　upon　the　door；　and　the　crossed　and　ponderous　stanchions　upon　the　window；　it　rather　resembled　the　〃worst　inn's　worst　room。〃　It　was　designed　as　a　sort　of　infirmary　for　prisoners　whose　state　of　health　required　some　indulgence；　and；　in　fact；　Donald　Laider；　Bertram's　destined　chum；　had　been　just　dragged　out　of　one　of　the　two　beds　which　it　contained；　to　try　whether　clean　straw　and　whisky　might　not　have　a　better　chance　to　cure　his　intermitting　fever。　This　process　of　ejection　had　been　carried　into　force　by　Mrs。　Mac…Guffog　while　her　husband　parleyed　with　Bertram　in　the　courtyard；　that　good　lady　having　a　distinct　presentiment　of　the　manner　in　which　the　treaty　must　necessarily　terminate。　Apparently　the　expulsion　had　not　taken　place　without　some　application　of　the　strong　hand；　for　one　of　the　bed…posts　of　a　sort　of　tent…bed　was　broken　down；　so　that　the　tester　and　curtains　hung　forward　into　the　middle　of　the　narrow　chamber；　like　the　banner　of　a　chieftain；　half…sinking　amid　the　confusion　of　a　combat。

〃Never　mind　that　being　out　o'　sorts；　Captain；〃　said　Mrs。　Mac…Guffog；　who　now　followed　them　into　the　room；　then；　turning　her　back　to　the　prisoner；　with　as　much　delicacy　as　the　action　admitted；　she　whipped　from　her　knee　her　ferret　garter；　and　applied　it　to　splicing　and　fastening　the　broken　bed…postthen　used　more　pins　than　her　apparel　could　well　spare　to　fasten　up　the　bed…curtains　in　festoonsthen　shook　the　bed…clothes　into　something　like　formthen　flung　over　all　a　tattered　patchwork　quilt；　and　pronounced　that　things　were　now　〃something　purpose…like。〃

〃And　there's　your　bed；　Captain；〃　pointing　to　a　massy　four…posted　bulk；　which；　owing　to　the　inequality　of　the　floor　that　had　sunk　considerably　（the　house；　though　new；　having　been　built　by　contract）；　stood　on　three　legs；　and　held　the　fourth　aloft　as　if　pawing　the　air；　and　in　the　attitude　of　advancing　like　an　elephant　passant　upon　the　panel　of　a　coach〃There's　your　bed　and　the　blankets；　but　if　ye　want　sheets；　or　bowster；　or　pillow；　or　ony　sort　o'　nappery　for　the　table；　or　for　your　hands；　ye'll　hae　to　speak　to　me　about　it；　for　that's　out　o'　the　gudeman's　line　（Mac…Guffog　had　by　this　time　left　the　room；　to　avoid；　probably；　any　appeal　which　might　he　made　to　him　upon　this　new　exaction）；　and　he　never　engages　for　onything　like　that。〃

〃In　God's　name；〃　said　Bertram；　〃let　me　have　what　is　decent；　and　make　any　charge　you　please。〃

〃Aweel；　aweel；　that's　sune　settled；　we'll　no　excise　you　neither；　Though　we　live　sae　near　the　Custom…house。　And　I　maun　see　to　get　you　some　fire　and　some　dinner　too；　I'se　warrant；　but　your　dinner　will　be　but　a　puir　ane　the　day；　no　expecting　company　that　would　be　nice　and　fashious。〃So　saying；　and　in　all　haste；　Mrs。　Mac…Guffog　fetched　a　scuttle　of　live　coals；　and　having　replenished　〃the　rusty　grate；　unconscious　of　a　fire〃　for　months　before；　she　proceeded　with　unwashed　hands　to　arrange　the　stipulated　bed…linen　（alas；　how　different　from　Ailie　Dinmont's！）；　and　muttering　to　herself　as　she　discharged　her　task；　seemed；　in　inveterate　spleen　of　temper；　to　grudge　even　those　accommodations　for　which　she　was　to　receive　payment。　At　length；　however；　she　departed；　grumbling　between　her　teeth；　that　〃she　wad　rather　lock　up　a　haill　ward　than　be　fiking　about　thae　niff…naffy　＇*Fastidious＇　gentles　that　gae　sae　muckle　fash　＇*Trouble＇　wi'　their　fancies。〃

When　she　was　gone；　Bertram　found　himself　reduced　to　the　alternative　of　pacing　his　little　apartment　for　exercise；　or　gazing　out　upon　the　sea　in　such　p