guy mannering-第70部分

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　that　weapon。〃

〃That　question；　sir；〃　said　Bertram；　〃I　shall　also　leave　unanswered。〃

〃There　is　yet　another　circumstance　to　be　inquired　into；　always　under　Sir　Robert's　leave；〃　insinuated　Glossin。　〃This　prisoner　put　into　the　hands　of　Mrs。　Mac…Candlish　of　Kippletringan　a　parcel　containing　a　variety　of　gold　coins　and　valuable　articles　of　different　kinds。　Perhaps；　Sir　Robert；　you　might　think　it　right　to　ask；　how　he　came　by　property　of　a　description　which　seldom　occurs？〃

〃You；　sir；　Mr；　Vanbeest　Brown；　sir；　you　hear　the　question；　sir；　which　the　gentleman　asks　you？〃

〃I　have　particular　reasons　for　declining　to　answer　that　question；〃　answered　Bertram。

〃Then　I　am　afraid；　sir；〃　said　Glossin；　who　had　brought　matters　to　the　point　he　desired　to　reach；　〃our　duty　must　lay　us　under　the　necessity　to　sign　a　warrant　of　committal。〃

〃As　you　please；　sir；〃　answered　Bertram；　〃take　care；　however；　what　you　do。　Observe　that　I　inform　you　that　I　am　a　captain　in　his　Majesty'sregiment；　and　that　I　am　just　returned　from　India；　and　therefore　cannot　possibly　be　connected　with　any　of　those　contraband　traders　you　talk　of；　that　my　Lieutenant…Colonel　is　now　at　Nottingham；　the　Major；　with　the　officers　of　my　corps；　at　Kingston…upon…Thames。　I　offer　before　you　both　to　submit　to　any　degree　of　ignominy；　if；　within　the　return　of　the　Kingston　and　Nottingham　posts；　I　am　not　able　to　establish　these　points。　Or　you　may　write　to　the　agent　for　the　regiment；　if　you　please；　and〃

〃This　is　all　very　well；〃　said　Glossin；　beginning　to　fear　lest　the　firm　expostulation　of　Bertram　should　make　some　impression　on　Sir　Robert；　who　would　almost　have　died　of　shame　at　committing　such　a　solecism　as　sending　a　captain　of　horse　to　jail〃This　is　all　very　well；　sir；　but　is　there　no　person　nearer　whom　you　could　refer　to？〃

〃There　are　only　two　persons　in　this　country　who　know　anything　of　me；〃　replied　the　prisoner。　〃One　is　a　plain　Liddesdale　sheep…farmer；　called　Dinmont　of　Charlies…hope；　but　he　knows　nothing　more　of　me　than　what　I　told　him；　and　what　I　now　tell　you。〃

〃Why；　this　is　well　enough；　Sir　Robert！〃　said　Glossin；　〃I　suppose　he　would　bring　forward　this　thick…skulled　fellow　to　give　his　oath　of　credulity；　Sir　Robert；　ha；　ha；　ha！〃

〃And　what　is　your　other　witness；　friend？〃　said　the　Baronet。

〃A　gentleman　whom　I　have　some　reluctance　to　mention；　because　of　certain　private　reasons；　but　under　whose　command　I　served　some　time　in　India；　and　who　is　too　much　a　man　of　honour　to　refuse　his　testimony　to　my　character　as　a　soldier　and　gentleman。〃

〃And　who　is　this　doughty　witness；　pray；　sir？〃　said　Sir　Robert；〃some　half…pay　quarter…master　or　sergeant；　I　suppose？〃

〃Colonel　Guy　Mannering；　late　of　tileregiment；　in　which；　as　I　told　you；　I　have　a　troop。〃

〃Colonel　Guy　Mannering！〃　thought　Glossin；〃who　the　devil　could　have　guessed　this？〃

〃Colonel　Guy　Mannering！〃　echoed　the　Baronet；　considerably　shaken　in　his　opinion；〃My　good　sir；〃apart　to　Glossin；　〃the　young　man　with　a　dreadfully　plebeian　name；　and　a　good　deal　of　modest　assurance；　has　nevertheless　something　of　the　tone；　and　manners；　and　feeling　of　a　gentleman；　of　one　at　least　who　has　lived　in　good　societythey　do　give　commissions　very　loosely；　and　carelessly；　and　inaccurately；　in　IndiaI　think　we　had　better　pause　till　Colonel　Mannering　shall　return；　he　is　now；　I　believe；　at　Edinburgh。〃

〃You　are　in　every　respect　the　best　judge；　Sir　Robert；〃　answered　Glossin；　〃in　every　possible　respect。　I　would　only　submit　to　you；　that　we　are　certainly　hardly　entitled　to　dismiss　this　man　upon　an　assertion　which　cannot　be　satisfied　by　proof；　and　that　we　shall　incur　a　heavy　responsibility　by　detaining　him　in　private　custody；　without　committing　him　to　a　public　jail。　Undoubtedly；　however；　you　are　the　best　judge；　Sir　Robert；and　I　would　only　say；　for　my　own　part；　that　I　very　lately　incurred　severe　censure　by　detaining　a　person　in　a　place　which　I　thought　perfectly　secure；　and　under　the　custody　of　the　proper　officers。　The　man　made　his　escape；　and　I　have　no　doubt　my　own　character　for　attention　and　circumspection　as　a　magistrate　has　in　some　degree　sufferedI　only　hint　thisI　will　join　in　any　step　you；　Sir　Robert；　think　most　advisable。〃　But　Mr。　Glossin　was　well　aware　that　such　a　hint　was　of　power　sufficient　to　decide　the　motions　of　his　self…important；　but　not　self…relying　colleague。　So　that　Sir　Robert　Hazlewood　summed　up　the　business　in　the　following　speech；　which　proceeded　partly　upon　the　supposition　of　the　prisoner　being　really　a　gentleman；　and　partly　upon　the　opposite　belief　that　he　was　a　villain　and　an　assassin。

〃Sir；　Mr。　Vanbeest　BrownI　would　call　you　Captain　Brown　if　there　was　the　least　reason；　or　cause；　or　grounds　to　suppose　that　you　are　a　captain；　or　had　a　troop　in　the　very　respectable　corps　you　mention；　or　indeed　in　any　other　corps　in　his　Majesty's　service；　as　to　which　circumstance　I　beg　to　be　understood　to　give　no　positive；　settled；　or　unalterable　judgment；　declaration；　or　opinion。　I　say　therefore；　sir；　Mr。　Brown；　we　have　determined；　considering　the　unpleasant　predicament　in　which　you　now　stand；　having　been　robbed；　as　you　say；　an　assertion　as　to　which　I　suspend　my　opinion；　and　being　possessed　of　much　and　valuable　treasure；　and　of　a　brass…handled　cutlass　besides；　as　to　your　obtaining　which　you　will　favour　us　with　no　explanationI　say；　sir；　we　have　determined　and　resolved；　and　made　up　our　minds；　to　commit　you　to　jail；　or　rather　to　assign　you　an　apartment　therein；　in　order　that　you　may　be　forthcoming　upon　Colonel　Mannering's　return　from　Edinburgh。〃

〃With　humble　submission；　Sir　Robert；〃　said　Glossin；　〃may　I　inquire　if　it　is　your　purpose　to　send　this　young　gentleman　to　the　county　jail？for　if　that　were　not　your　settled　intention；　I　would　take　the　liberty　to　hint；　that　there　would　be　less　hardship　in　sending　him　to　the　Bridewell　at　Portanferry；　where　he　can　be　secured　without　public　exposure；　a　circumstance　which；　on　the　mere　chance　of　his　story　being　really　true；　is　much　to　be　avoided。〃

〃Why；　there　is　a　guard　of　soldiers　at　Portanferry；　to　be　sure；　for　protection　of　the　goods　in　the　Custom…house；　and　upon　the　whole；　considering　everything；　and　that　the　place　is　comfortable　for　such　a　place；　I　say　all　things　considered；　we　will　commit　this　person；　I　would　rather　say　authorise　him　to　be　detained；　in　the　workhouse　at　Portanferry。〃

The　warrant　was　made　out　accordingly；　and　Bertram　was　informed　he　was　next　morning　to　be　removed　to　his　place　of　confinement；　as　Sir　Robert　had　determined　he　should　not　be　taken　there　under　cloud　of　night；　for　fear　of　rescue。　He　was；　during　the　interval；　to　be　detained　at　Hazlewood　House。

〃It　cannot　be　so　hard　as　my　imprisonment　by　the　Looties　in　India；〃　he　thought；　〃nor　can　it　last　so　long。　But　the　deuce　take　the　old　formal　dunderhead；　and　his　more　sly　associate；　who　speaks　always　under　his　breath；they　cannot　understand　a　plain　man's　story　when　it　is　told　them。〃

In　the　meanwhile　Glossin　took　leave　of　the　Baronet；　with　a　thousand　respectful　bows　and　cringing　apologies　for　not　accepting　his　invitation　to　dinner；　and　venturing　to　hope　he　might　be　pardoned　in　paying　his　respects　to　him；　Lady　Hazlewood；　and　young　Mr。　Hazlewood；　on　some　future　occasion。

〃Certainly；　sir；〃　said　the　Baronet；　very　graciously。　I　hope　our　family　was　never　at　any　time　deficient　in　civility　to　our　neighbours；　and　when　I　ride　that　way；　good　Mr。　Glossin；　I　will　convince　you　of　this　by　calling　at　your　house　as　familiarly　as　is　consistentthat　is；　as　can　be　hoped　or　expected。〃

〃And　now；〃　said　Glossin　to　himself；　〃to　find　Dirk　Hatteraick　and　his　people；to　get　the　guard　sent　off　from　the　Custom…house；and　then　for　the　grand　cast　of　the　dice。　Everything　must　depend　upon　speed。　How　lucky　that　Mannering　has　betaken　himself　to　Edinburgh！　His　knowledge　of　this　young　fellow　is　a　most　perilous　addition　to　my　dangers；〃here　he　suffered　his　horse　to　slacken　his　pace〃What　if　I　should　try　to　compound　with　the　heir？It's　likely　he　might　be　brought　to　pay　a　round　sum　for　restitution；　and　I　could　give　up　HatteraickBut　no；　no；　no！　there　were　too　many　eyes　on　me；　Hatteraick　himself；　and　the　gipsy　sailor；　and　that　old　hagNo；　no！　I　must　stick　to　my　original　plan。　〃And　with　that　he　struck　his　spurs　against　his　horse's　flanks；　and　rode　forward　at　a　hard　trot　to　put　his　machines　in　motion。



CHAPTER　XLIV。

　　A　prison　is　a　house　of　care；　A　place　where　none　can　thrive；　　　A　touchstone　true　to　try　a　friend；　A　grave　for　one　alive。　　　Sometimes　a　place　of　right；　Sometimes　a　place　of　wrong；　　　Sometimes　a　place　of　rogues　and　thieves；　And　honest　men　　　among。　　　　Inscription　on　Edinburgh　Tollbooth。

Early　on　the　following　morning；　the　carriage　which　had　brought　Bertram　to　Hazlewood　House；　was；　with　his　two　silent　and　surly　attendants；　appointed　to　convey　him　to　his　place　of　confinement　at　Portanferry。　This　building　adjoined　to　the　Custom…house　established　at　that　little　seaport；　and　both　were　situated　so　close　to　the　sea…beach　that　it　was　necessary　to　defend　the　back　part　with　a　large　and　strong　rampart　or　bulwark　of　huge　stones；　disposed　in　a　slope　towards　the　surf；　which　often　reached　and　broke　upon　them。　The　front　was　surrounded　by　a　high　wall；　enclosing　a　small　courtyard；　within　which　the　miserable　inmates　of　the　mansion　were　occasionally　permitted　to　take　exercise　and　air。　The　prison　was　used　as　a　House　of　Correction；　and　sometimes　as　a　chapel　of　case　to　the　county　jail；　which　was　old；　and　far　from　being　conveniently　situated　with　reference　to　the　Kippletringan　district　of　the　county。　Mac…Guffog；　the　officer　by　whom　Bertram　had　at　first　been　apprehended；　and　who　was　now　in　attendance　upon　him；　was　keeper　of　this　palace　of　little…ease。　He　caused　the　carriage　to　be　drawn　close　up　to　the　outer　gate；　and　got　out　himself　to　summon　the　warders。　The　noise　of　his　rap　alarmed　some　twenty　or　thirty　ragged　boys；　who　left　off　sailing　their　mimic　sloops　and　frigates　in　the　little　pools　of　salt　water　left　by　the　receding　tide；　and　hastily　crowded　round　the　vehicle　to　see　what　luckless　being　was　to　be　delivered　to　the　prison…house　out　of　〃Glossin's　braw　new　carriage。〃　The　door　of　the　courtyard；　after　the　heavy　clanking　of　many　chains　and　bars；　was　opened　by　Mrs。　MacGuffog；　an　awful　spectacle；　being　a　woman　for　strength　and　resolution　capable　of　maintaining　order　among　her　riotous　inmates；　and　of　administer