guy mannering-第94部分

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teraick's　ankles　were　secured　within　shackles；　which　were　connected　by　a　chain　at　the　distance　of　about　four　feet；　with　a　large　iron　ring；　which　travelled　upon　the　bar　we　have　described。　Thus　a　prisoner　might　shuffle　along　the　length　of　the　bar　from　one　side　of　the　room　to　another；　but　could　not　retreat　farther　from　it　in　any　other　direction　than　the　brief　length　of　the　chain　admitted。　＇*This　mode　of　securing　prisoners　was　universally　practised　in　Scotland　after　condemnation。　When　a　man　received　sentence　of　death；　he　was　put　upon　the　Gad；　as　it　was　called；　that　is；　secured　to　the　bar　of　iron　in　the　manner　mentioned　in　the　text。　The　practice　subsisted　in　Edinburgh　till　the　old　jail　was　taken　down　some　years　since；　and　perhaps　may　be　still　in　use。＇　When　his　feet　had　been　thus　secured；　the　keeper　removed　his　handcuffs；　and　left　his　person　at　liberty　in　other　respects。　A　pallet…bed　was　placed　close　to　the　bar　of　iron；　so　that　the　shackled　prisoner　might　lie　down　at　pleasure；　still　fastened　to　the　iron　bar　in　the　manner　described。

Hatteraick　had　not　been　long　in　this　place　of　confinement　before　Glossin　arrived　at　the　same　prison…house。　In　respect　to　his　comparative　rank　and　education；　he　was　not　ironed；　but　placed　in　a　decent　apartment；　under　the　inspection　of　MacGuffog；　who；　since　the　destruction　of　the　Bridewell　of　Portanferry　by　the　mob；　had　acted　here　as　an　under…turnkey。　When　Glossin　was　enclosed　within　this　room；　and　had　solitude　and　leisure　to　calculate　all　the　chances　against　him　and　in　his　favour；　he　could　not　prevail　upon　himself　to　consider　the　game　as　desperate。

〃The　estate　is　lost；〃　he　said；　〃that　must　go；　and；　between　Pleydell　and　Mac…Morlan；　they'll　cut　down　my　claim　on　it　to　a　trifle。　My　characterbut　if　I　get　off　with　life　and　liberty；　I'll　win　money　yet；　and　varnish　that　over　again。　I　knew　not　the　gauger's　job　until　the　rascal　had　done　the　deed；　and　though　I　had　some　advantage　by　the　contraband；　that　is　no　felony。　But　the　kidnapping　of　the　boy…there　they　touch　me　closer。　Let　me　see。This　Bertram　was　a　child　at　the　time…his　evidence　must　be　imperfectthe　other　fellow　is　a　deserter；　a　gipsy；　and　an　outlawMeg　Merrilies；　d…n　her；　is　dead。　These　infernal　bills！　Hatteraick　brought　them　with　him；　I　suppose；　to　have　the　means　of　threatening　me；　or　extorting　money　from　me。　I　must　endeavour　to　see　the　rascal；must　get　him　to　stand　steady；　must　persuade　him　to　put　some　other　colour　upon　the　business。〃

His　mind　teeming　with　schemes　of　future　deceit　to　cover　former　villainy；　he　spent　the　time　in　arranging　and　combining　them　until　the　hour　of　supper。　Mac…Guffog　attended　as　turnkey　on　this　occasion。　He。　was；　as　we　know；　the　old　and　special　acquaintance　of　the　prisoner　who　was　now　under　his　charge。　After　giving　the　turnkey　a　glass　of　brandy；　and　sounding　him　with　one　or　two　cajoling　speeches；　Glossin　made　it　his　request　that　he　would　help　him；　to　an　interview　with　Dirk　Hatteraick。　〃Impossible！　utterly　impossible！　it's　contrary　to　the　express　orders　of　Mr。　Mac…Morlan；　and　the　captain〃　（as　the　head　jailor　of　a　county　jail　is　called　in　Scotland）〃　would　never　forgie　me。〃

〃But　why　should　he　know　of　it？〃　said　Glossin；　slipping　a　couple　of　guineas　into　Mac…Guffog's　hand。

The　turnkey　weighed　the　gold；　and　looked　sharp　at　Glossin。　〃Ay；　ay；　Mr。　Glossin；　ye　ken　the　ways　o'　this　place。Lookee；　at　lock…up　hour；　I'll　return　and　bring　ye　upstairs　to　himBut　ye　must　stay　a'　night　in　his　cell；　for　I　am　under　necessity　to　carry　the　keys　to　the　captain　for　the　night；　and　I　cannot　let　you　out　again　until　morningthen　I'll　visit　the　wards　half　an　hour　earlier　than　usual；　and　ye　may　get　out；　and　be　snug　in　your　ain　berth　when　the　captain　gangs　his　rounds。〃

When　the　hour　of　ten　had　pealed　from　the　neighbouring　steeple；　Mac…Guffog　came　prepared　with　a　small　dark　lantern。　He　said　softly　to　Glossin；　〃Slip　your　shoes　off；　and　follow　me。〃　When　Glossin　was　out　of　the　door；　Mac…Guffog；　as　if　in　the　execution　of　his　ordinary　duty；　and　speaking　to　a　prisoner　within；　called　aloud；　〃Good…night　to　you；　sir；〃　and　locked　the　door；　clattering　the　bolts　with　much　ostentatious　noise。　He　then　guided　Glossin　up　a　steep　and　narrow　stair；　at　the　top　of　which　was　the　door　of　the　condemned　ward；　he　unbarred　and　unlocked　it；　and；　giving　Glossin　the　lantern；　made　a　sign　to　him　to　enter；　and　locked　the　door　behind　him　with　the　same　affected　accuracy。

In　the　large　dark　cell　into　which　he　was　thus　introduced；　Glossin's　feeble　light　for　some　time　enabled　him　to　discover　nothing。　At　length　he　could　dimly　distinguish　the　pallet…bed　stretched　on　the　floor　beside　the　great　iron　bar　which　traversed　the　room；　and　on　that　pallet　reposed　the　figure　of　a　man。　Glossin　approached　him。　〃Dirk　Hatteraick！〃

〃Donner　and　hagel！　it　is　his　voice；〃　said　the　prisoner；　sitting　up；　and　clashing　his　fetters　as　he　rose；　〃then　my　dream　is　true！Begone；　and　leave　me　to　myselfit　will　be　your　best。〃

〃What！　my　good　friend；〃　said　Glossin；　〃will　you　allow　the　prospect　of　a　few　weeks'　confinement　to　depress　your　spirit？〃

〃Yes；〃　answered　the　ruffian　sullenly〃when　I　am　only　to　be　released　by　a　halter！Let　me　alonego　about　your　business；　and　turn　the　lamp　from　my　face！〃

〃Psha！　my　dear　Dirk；　don't　be　afraid；〃　said　Glossin〃I　have　a　glorious　plan　to　make　all　right。〃

〃To　the　bottomless　pit　with　your　plans！〃　replied　his　accomplice。　〃You　have　planned　me　out　of　ship；　cargo；　and　life；　and　I　dreamt　this　moment　that　Meg　Merrilies　dragged　you　here　by　the　hair；　and　gave　me　the　long　clasped　knife　she　used　to　wearyou　don't　know　what　she　said。　Sturm　wetter！　it　will　be　your　wisdom　not　to　tempt　me！〃

〃But；　Hatteraick；　my　good　friend；　do　but　rise　and　speak　to　me；〃　said　Glossin。

〃I　will　not！〃　answered　the　savage　doggedly〃you　have　caused　all　the　mischief；　you　would　not　let　Meg　keep　the　boy；　she　would　have　returned　him　after　he　had　forgot　all。〃

〃Why；　Hatteraick；　you　are　turned　driveller！〃

〃Wetter！　will　you　deny　that　all　that　cursed　attempt　at　Portanferry；　which　lost　both　sloop　and　crew；　was　your　device　for　your　own　job？〃

〃But　the　goods；　you　know〃

〃Curse　the　goods！〃　said　the　smuggler；〃we　could　have　got　plenty　more；　but；　der　deyvil！　to　lose　the　ship　and　the　fine　follows；　and　my　own　life；　for　a　cursed　coward　villain；　that　always　works　his　own　mischief　with　other　people's　hands！　Speak　to　me　no　moreI'm　dangerous。〃

〃But；　Dirkbut；　Hatteraick；　hear　me　only　a　few　words。〃

〃Hagel！　nein。〃

〃Only　one　sentence。〃

〃Tausand　cursesnein！〃

〃At　least　get　up　for　an　obstinate　Dutch　brute！〃　said　Glossin；　losing　his　temper；　and　pushing　Hatteraick　with　his　foot。

〃Donner　and　blitzen！〃　said　Hatteraick；　springing　up　and　grappling　with　him；　〃you　will　have　it　then？〃

Glossin　struggled　and　resisted；　but；　owing　to　his　surprise　at　the　fury　of　the　assault；　so　ineffectually；　that　he　fell：　under　Hatteraick；　the　back　part　of　his　neck　coming　full　upon　the　iron　bar　with　stunning　violence。　The　death…grapple　continued。　The　room　immediately　below　the　condemned　ward；　being　that　of　Glossin；　was；　of　course；　empty；　but　the　inmates　of　the　second　apartment　beneath　felt　the　shock　of　Glossin's　heavy　fall；　and　heard　a　noise　as　of　struggling　and　of　groans。　But　all　sounds　of　horror　were　too　congenial　to　this　place　to　excite　much　curiosity　or　interest。

In　the　morning；　faithful　to　his　promise；　Mac…Guffog　came〃Mr。　Glossin；〃　said　be；　in；　a　whispering　voice。

〃Call　louder；〃　answered　Dirk　Hatteraick。

〃Mr。　Glossin；　for　God's　sake　come　away！〃

〃He'll　hardly　do　that　without　help；〃　said　Hatteraick。

〃What　are　you　chattering　there　for；　Mac…Guffog？〃　called　out　the　captain　from　below。

〃Come　away；　for　God's　sake。　Mr。　Glossin！〃　repeated　the。　turnkey。

At　this　moment　the　jailor　made　his　appearance　with　a　light。　Great　was　his　surprise；　and　even　horror；　to　observe　Glossin's　body　lying　doubled　across　the　iron　bar；　in　a　posture　that　excluded　all　idea　of　his　being　alive。　Hatteraick　was　quietly　stretched　upon　his　pallet　within　a　yard　of　his　victim。　On　lifting　Glossin；　it　was　found　he　had　been　dead　for　some　hours。　His　body　bore　uncommon　marks　of　violence。　The　spine　where　it　joins　the　skull　had　received　severe　injury　by　his　first　fall。　There　were　distinct　marks　of　strangulation　about　the　throat；　which　corresponded　with　the　blackened　state　of　his　face。　The　head　was　turned　backward　over　the　shoulder；　as　if　the　neck　had　been　wrung　round　with　desperate　violence。　So　that　it　would　seem　that　his　inveterate　antagonist　had　fixed　a　fatal　gripe　upon　the　wretch's　throat；　and　never　quitted　it　while　life　lasted。　The　lantern；　crushed　and　broken　to　pieces；　lay　beneath　the　body。

Mac…Morlan　was　in　the　town；　and　came　instantly　to　examine　the　corpse。　〃What　brought　Glossin　here？〃　he　said　to　Hatteraick。

〃The　devil！〃　answered　the　ruffian。

〃And　what　did　you　do　to　him？〃

〃Sent　him　to　hell　before　me！〃　replied　the　miscreant。

〃Wretch；〃　said　Mac…Morlan；　〃you　have　crowned　a　life　spent　without　a　single　virtue；　with　the　murder　of　your　own　miserable　accomplice！〃

〃Virtue？〃　exclaimed　the　prisoner；　〃donner！　I　was　always　faithful　to　my　shipownersalways　accounted　for　cargo　to　the　last　stiver。　Hark　ye！　let　me　have　pen　and　ink；　and　I'll　write　an　account　of　the　whole　to　our　house；　and　leave　me　alone　a　couple　of　hours；　will　yeand　let　them　take　away　that　piece　of　carrion；　donner　wetter！〃

Mac…Morlan　deemed　it　the　best　way　to　humour　the　savage；　he　was　furnished　with　writing　materials　and　left　alone。　When　they　again　opened　the　door；　it　was　found　that　this　determined　villain　had　anticipated　justice。　He　had　adjusted　a　cord　taken　from　the　truckle…bed；　and　attached　it　to　a　bone；　the　relic　of　his　yesterday's　dinner；　which　he　had　contrived　to　drive　into　a　crevice　between　two　stones　in　the　wall　at　a　height　as　great　as　he　could　reach；　standing　upon　the　bar。　Having　fastened　the　noose；　he　had　the　resolution　to　drop　his　body　as　if　to　fall　on　his　knees；　and　to　retain　that　posture　until　resolution　was　no　longer　necessary。　The　letter　he　had　written　to　his　owners；　though　chiefly　upon　the　business　of　their　trade；　contained　many　allusions　to　the　younker　of　Ellangowan；　as　he　called　him；　and　afforded　absolute　confirmation　of　all　Meg　Merrilies　and　her　nephew　had　told。

To　dismiss　the　catastrophe　of　these　two　wretched　men；　I　shall　only　add；　that　Mac…Guffog　was　turned　out　of　office；　notwithstand