redgauntlet-第47部分

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　burned　in　the　first；　drafts　of　my　letter；　and　endeavoured　to　assume　a　tone　more　conciliating。　　I　mentioned　the　two　occasions　on　which　he　had　certainly　saved　my　life；　when　at　the　utmost　peril；　and　I　added；　that　whatever　was　the　purpose　of　the　restraint；　now　practised　on　me；　as　I　was　given　to　understand；　by　his　authority；　it　could　not　certainly　be　with　any　view　to　ultimately　injuring　me。　　He　might；　I　said；　have　mistaken　me　for　some　other　person；　and　I　gave　him　what　account　I　could　of　my　situation　and　education；　to　correct　such　an　error。　　I　supposed　it　next　possible；　that　he　might　think　me　too　weak　for　travelling；　and　not　capable　of　taking　care　of　myself；　and　I　begged　to　assure　him；　that　I　was　restored　to　perfect　health；　and　quite　able　to　endure　the　fatigue　of　a　journey。　　Lastly；　I　reminded　him；　in　firm　though　measured　terms；　that　the　restraint　which　I　sustained　was　an　illegal　one；　and　highly　punishable　by　the　laws　which　protect　the　liberties　of　the　subject。　　I　ended　by　demanding　that　he　would　take　me　before　a　magistrate；　or；　at　least；　that　he　would　favour　me　with　a　personal　interview　and　explain　his　meaning　with　regard　to　me。

Perhaps　this　letter　was　expressed　in　a　tone　too　humble　for　the　situation　of　an　injured　man；　and　I　am　inclined　to　think　so　when　I　again　recapitulate　its　tenor。　　But　what　could　I　do？　　I　was　in　the　power　of　one　whose　passions　seem　as　violent　as　his　means　of　gratifying　them　appear　unbounded。　　I　had　reason；　too；　to　believe　（this　to　thee；　Alan）　that　all　his　family　did　not　approve　of　the　violence　of　his　conduct　towards　me；　my　object；　in　fine；　was　freedom；　and　who　would　not　sacrifice　much　to　attain　it？

I　had　no　means　of　addressing　my　letter　excepting　'For　the　Squire's　own　hand。'　　He　could　be　at　no　great　distance；　for　in　the　course　of　twenty…four　hours　I　received　an　answer。　　It　was　addressed　to　Darsie　Latimer；　and　contained　these　words：　　'You　have　demanded　an　interview　with　me。　　You　have　required　to　be　carried　before　a　magistrate。　　Your　first　wish　shall　be　granted　perhaps　the　second　also。　　Meanwhile；　be　assured　that　you　are　a　prisoner　for　the　time；　by　competent　authority；　and　that　such　authority　is　supported　by　adequate　power。　　Beware；　therefore；　of　struggling　with　a　force　sufficient　to　crush　you；　but　abandon　yourself　to　that　train　of　events　by　which　we　are　both　swept　along；　and　which　it　is　impossible　that　either　of　us　can　resist。'

These　mysterious　words　were　without　signature　of　any　kind；　and　left　me　nothing　more　important　to　do　than　to　prepare　myself　for　the　meeting　which　they　promised。　　For　that　purpose　I　must　now　break　off；　and　make　sure　of　the　manuscriptso　far　as　I　can；　in　my　present　condition；　be　sure　of　anythingby　concealing　it　within　the　lining　of　my　coat；　so　as　not　to　be　found　without　strict　search。




CHAPTER　VI

LATIMER'S　JOURNAL；　IN　CONTINUATION

The　important　interview　expected　at　the　conclusion　of　my　last　took　place　sooner　than　I　had　calculated；　for　the　very　day　I　received　the　letter；　and　just　when　my　dinner　was　finished；　the　squire；　or　whatever　he　is　called；　entered　the　room　so　suddenly　that　I　almost　thought　I　beheld　an　apparition。　　The　figure　of　this　man　is　peculiarly　noble　and　stately；　and　his　voice　has　that　deep　fullness　of　accent　which　implies　unresisted　authority。　　I　had　risen　involuntarily　as　he　entered；　we　gazed　on　each　other　for　a　moment　in　silence；　which　was　at　length　broken　by　my　visitor。

'You　have　desired　to　see　me；'　he　said。　　'I　am　here；　if　you　have　aught　to　say　let　me　hear　it；　my　time　is　too　brief　to　be　consumed　in　childish　dumb…show。'

'I　would　ask　of　you；'　said　I；　'by　what　authority　I　am　detained　in　this　place　of　confinement；　and　for　what　purpose？'

'I　have　told　you　already；'　said　he；　'that　my　authority　is　sufficient；　and　my　power　equal　to　it；　this　is　all　which　it　is　necessary　for　you　at　present　to　know。'

'Every　British　subject　has　a　right　to　know　why　he　suffers　restraint；'　I　replied；　'nor　can　he　be　deprived　of　liberty　without　a　legal　warrant。　　Show　me　that　by　which　you　confine　me　thus。'

'You　shall　see　more；'　he　said；　'you　shall　see　the　magistrate　by　whom　it　is　granted；　and　that　without　a　moment's　delay。'

This　sudden　proposal　fluttered　and　alarmed　me；　I　felt；　nevertheless；　that　I　had　the　right　cause；　and　resolved　to　plead　it　boldly；　although　I　could　well　have　desired　a　little　further　time　for　preparation。　　He　turned；　however；　threw　open　the　door　of　the　apartment；　and　commanded　me　to　follow　him。　　I　felt　some　inclination；　when　I　crossed　the　threshold　of　my　prison…chamber；　to　have　turned　and　run　for　it；　but　I　knew　not　where　to　find　the　stairshad　reason　to　think　the　outer　doors　would　be　secured　and；　to　conclude；　so　soon　as　I　had　quitted　the　room　to　follow　the　proud　step　of　my　conductor；　I　observed　that　I　was　dogged　by　Cristal　Nixon；　who　suddenly　appeared　within　two　paces　of　me；　and　with　whose　great　personal　strength；　independent　of　the　assistance　he　might　have　received　from　his　master；　I　saw　no　chance　of　contending。　　I　therefore　followed；　unresistingly　and　in　silence；　along　one　or　two　passages　of　much　greater　length　than　consisted　with　the　ideas　I　had　previously　entertained　of　the　size　of　the　house。　　At　length　a　door　was　flung　open；　and　we　entered　a　large；　old…fashioned　parlour；　having　coloured　glass　in　the　windows；　oaken　panelling　on　the　wall；　a　huge　grate；　in　which　a　large　faggot　or　two　smoked　under　an　arched　chimney…piece　of　stone　which　bore　some　armorial　device；　whilst　the　walls　were　adorned　with　the　usual　number　of　heroes　in　armour；　with　large　wigs　instead　of　helmets；　and　ladies　in　sacques；　smelling　to　nosegays。

Behind　a　long　table；　on　which　were　several　books；　sat　a　smart　underbred…looking　man；　wearing　his　own　hair　tied　in　a　club；　and　who；　from　the　quire　of　paper　laid　before　him；　and　the　pen　which　he　handled　at　my　entrance；　seemed　prepared　to　officiate　as　clerk。　As　I　wish　to　describe　these　persons　as　accurately　as　possible；　I　may　add；　he　wore　a　dark…coloured　coat；　corduroy　breeches；　and　spatterdashes。　　At　the　upper　end　of　the　same　table；　in　an　ample　easy…chair　covered　with　black　leather；　reposed　a　fat　personage；　about　fifty　years　old；　who　either　was　actually　a　country　justice；　or　was　well　selected　to　represent　such　a　character。　　His　leathern　breeches　were　faultless　in　make；　his　jockey　boots　spotless　in　the　varnish；　and　a　handsome　and　flourishing　pair　of　boot…garters；　as　they　are　called；　united　the　one　part　of　his　garments　to　the　other；　in　fine；　a　richly…laced　scarlet　waistcoat　and　a　purple　coat　set　off　the　neat　though　corpulent　figure　of　the　little　man；　and　threw　an　additional　bloom　upon　his　plethoric　aspect。　　I　suppose　he　had　dined；　for　it　was　two　hours　past　noon；　and　he　was　amusing　himself；　and　aiding　digestion；　with　a　pipe　of　tobacco。　There　was　an　air　of　importance　in　his　manner　which　corresponded　to　the　rural　dignity　of　his　exterior；　and　a　habit　which　he　had　of　throwing　out　a　number　of　interjectional　sounds；　uttered　with　a　strange　variety　of　intonation　running　from　bass　up　to　treble　in　a　very　extraordinary　manner；　or　breaking　off　his　sentences　with　a　whiff　of　his　pipe；　seemed　adopted　to　give　an　air　of　thought　and　mature　deliberation　to　his　opinions　and　decisions。　Notwithstanding　all　this；　Alan；　it　might　be　DOOTED；　as　our　old　Professor　used　to　say；　whether　the　Justice　was　anything　more　then　an　ass。　　Certainly；　besides　a　great　deference　for　the　legal　opinion　of　his　clerk；　which　might　be　quite　according　to　the　order　of　things；　he　seemed　to　be　wonderfully　under　the　command　of　his　brother　squire；　if　squire　either　of　them　were；　and　indeed　much　more　than　was　consistent　with　so　much　assumed　consequence　of　his　own。

'Hohaayesosohumhumphthis　is　the　young　man；　I　supposehumayeseems　sickly。　　Young　gentleman；　you　may　sit　down。'

I　used　the　permission　given；　for　I　had　been　much　more　reduced　by　my　illness　than　I　was　aware　of；　and　felt　myself　really　fatigued；　even　by　the　few　paces　I　had　walked；　joined　to　the　agitation　I　suffered。

'And　your　name；　young　man；　ishumphayehawhat　is　it？'

'Darsie　Latimer。'

'Rightayehumphvery　right。　　Darsie　Latimer　is　the　very　thinghaayewhere　do　you　come　from？'

'From　Scotland；　sir；'　I　replied。

'A　native　of　Scotlandahumphehhow　is　it？'

'I　am　an　Englishman　by　birth；　sir。'

'Rightayeyes；　you　are　so。　　But　pray；　Mr。　Darsie　Latimer；　have　you　always　been　called　by　that　name；　or　have　you　any　other？　Nick；　write　down　his　answers；　Nick。'

'As　far　as　I　remember；　I　never　bore　any　other；'　was　my　answer。

'How；　no？　　well；　I　should　not　have　thought　so；　Hey；　neighbour；　would　you？'

Here　he　looked　towards　the　other　squire；　who　had　thrown　himself　into　a　chair；　and；　with　his　legs　stretched　out　before　him；　and　his　arms　folded　on　his　bosom；　seemed　carelessly　attending　to　what　was　going　forward。　　He　answered　the　appeal　of　the　Justice　by　saying；　that　perhaps　the　young　man's　memory　did　not　go　back　to　a　very　early　period。

'Ahehhayou　hear　the　gentleman。　　Pray；　how　far　may　your　memory　be　pleased　to　run　back　to？umph？'

'Perhaps；　sir；　to　the　age　of　three　years；　or　a　little　further。'

'And　will　you　presume　to　say；　sir；'　said　the　squire；　drawing　himself　suddenly　erect　in　his　seat；　and　exerting　the　strength　of　his　powerful　voice；　'that　you　then　bore　your　present　name？'

I　was　startled　at　the　confidence　with　which　this　question　was　put；　and　in　vain　rummaged　my　memory　for　the　means　of　replying。　'At　least；'　I　said；　'I　always　remember　being　called　Darsie；　children；　at　that　early　age；　seldom　get　more　than　their　Christian　name。'

'Oh；　I　thought　so；'　he　replied；　and　again　stretched　himself　on　his　seat；　in　the　same　lounging　posture　as　before。

'So　you　were　called　Darsie　in　your　infancy；'　said　the　Justice；　'andhumayewhen　did　you　first　take　the　name　of　Latimer？'

'I　did　not　take　it；　sir；　it　was　given　to　me。'

'I　ask　you；'　said　the　lord　of　the　mansion；　but　with　less　severity　in　his　voice　than　formerly；　'whether　you　can　remember　that　you　were　ever　called　Latimer；　until　you　had　that　name　given　you　in　Scotland？'

'I　will　be　candid：　　I　cannot　recollect　an　instance　that　I　was　so　called　when　in　England；　but　neither　can　I　recollect　when　the　name　was　first　given　me；　and　if　anything　is　to　be　founded　on　these　queries　and　my　answers；　I　desire　my　early　childhood　may　be　taken　into　consideration。'

'Humayeyes；'　said　the　Justice；　'all　that　requires　consi