redgauntlet-第50部分

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'A　pretty　witness　you　have　brought　forward　in　your　favour；'　said　Mr。　Foxley。　　'Buthaaye…I'll　ask　him　a　question　or　two。　Pray；　friend；　will　you　take　your　oath　to　this　youth　being　a　runaway　apprentice？'

'Sir；'　said　Peter；　'I　will　make　oath　to　onything　in　reason；　when　a　case　comes　to　my　oath　it's　a　won　cause：　　But　I　am　in　some　haste　to　prie　your　worship's　good　cheer；'　for　Peter　had　become　much　more　respectful　in　his　demeanour　towards　the　Justice　since　he　had　heard　some　intimation　of　dinner。

'You　shall　haveehhumayea　bellyful；　if　it　be　possible　to　fill　it。　　First　let　me　know　if　this　young　man　be　really　what　he　pretends。　　Nick；　make　his　affidavit。'

'Ow；　he　is　just　a　wud　harum…scarum　creature；　that　wad　never　take　to　his　studies；　daft；　sir；　clean　daft。'

'Deft！'　　said　the　Justice；　'what　d'ye　mean　by　defteh？'

'Just　Fifish；'　replied　Peter；　'wowfa　wee　bit　by　the　East　Nook　or　sae；　it's　a　common　casethe　ae　half　of　the　warld　thinks　the　tither　daft。　　I　have　met　with　folk　in　my　day　that　thought　I　was　daft　mysell；　and；　for　my　part；　I　think　our　Court　of　Session　clean　daft；　that　have　had　the　great　cause　of　Peebles　against　Plainstanes　before　them　for　this　score　of　years；　and　have　never　been　able　to　ding　the　bottom　out　of　it　yet。'

'I　cannot　make　out　a　word　of　his　cursed　brogue；'　said　the　Cumbrian　justice；　'can　you；　neighboureh？　　What　can　he　mean　by　DEFT？'

'He　means　MAD；'　said　the　party　appealed　to；　thrown　off　his　guard　by　impatience　of　this　protracted　discussion。

'Ye　have　itye　have　it；'　said　Peter；　'that　is；　not　clean　skivie；　but'

Here　he　stopped；　and　fixed　his　eye　on　the　person　he　addressed　with　an　air　of　joyful　recognition。'Aye；　aye；　Mr。　Herries　of　Birrenswork；　is　this　your　ainsell　in　blood　and　bane？　　I　thought　ye　had　been　hanged　at　Kennington　Common；　or　Hairiebie；　or　some　of　these　places；　after　the　bonny　ploy　ye　made　in　the　Forty…five。'

'I　believe　you　are　mistaken；　friend；'　said　Herries；　sternly；　with　whose　name　and　designation　I　was　thus　made　unexpectedly　acquainted。

'The　deil　a　bit；'　answered　the　undaunted　Peter　Peebles；　I　mind　ye　weel；　for　ye　lodged　in　my　house　the　great　year　of　Forty…five；　for　a　great　year　it　was；　the　Grand　Rebellion　broke　out；　and　my　cause　the　great　causePeebles　against　Plainstanes；　ET　PER　CONTRA　was　called　in　the　beginning　of　the　winter　session；　and　would　have　been　heard；　but　that　there　was　a　surcease　of　justice；　with　your　plaids；　and　your　piping；　and　your　nonsense。'

'I　tell　you；　fellow；'　said　Herries；　yet　more　fiercely；　'you　have　confused　me　with　some　of　the　other　furniture　of　your　crazy　pate。'

'Speak　like　a　gentleman；　sir；'　answered　Peebles；　'these　are　not　legal　phrases；　Mr。　Herries　of　Birrenswork。　　Speak　in　form　of　law；　or　I　sall　bid　ye　gude　day；　sir。　　I　have　nae　pleasure　in　speaking　to　proud　folk；　though　I　am　willing　to　answer　onything　in　a　legal　way；　so　if　you　are　for　a　crack　about　auld　langsyne；　and　the　splores　that　you　and　Captain　Redgimlet　used　to　breed　in　my　house；　and　the　girded　cask　of　brandy　that　ye　drank　and　ne'er　thought　of　paying　for　it　（not　that　I　minded　it　muckle　in　thae　days；　though　I　have　felt　a　lack　of　it　sin　syne）；　why　I　will　waste　an　hour　on　ye　at　ony　time。and　where　is　Captain　Redgimlet　now？　　he　was　a　wild　chap；　like　yoursell；　though　they　arena　sae　keen　after　you　poor　bodies　for　these　some　years　bygane；　the　heading　and　hanging　is　weel　ower　nowawful　jobawful　jobwill　ye　try　my　sneeshing？'

He　concluded　his　desultory　speech　by　thrusting　out　his　large　bony　paw；　filled　with　a　Scottish　mull　of　huge　dimensions；　which　Herries；　who　had　been　standing　like　one　petrified　by　the　assurance　of　this　unexpected　address；　rejected　with　a　contemptuous　motion　of　his　hand；　which　spilled　some　of　the　contents　of　the　box。

'Aweel；　aweel；'　said　Peter　Peebles；　totally　unabashed　by　the　repulse；　'e'en　as　ye　like；　a　wilful　man　maun　hae　his　way；　but；'　he　added；　stooping　down　and　endeavouring　to　gather　the　spilled　snuff　from　the　polished　floor；　'I　canna　afford　to　lose　my　sneeshing　for　a'　that　ye　are　gumple…foisted　wi'　me。'

My　attention　had　been　keenly　awakened；　during　this　extraordinary　and　unexpected　scene。　　I　watched；　with　as　much　attention　as　my　own　agitation　permitted　me　to　command；　the　effect　produced　on　the　parties　concerned。　　It　was　evident　that　our　friend；　Peter　Peebles；　had　unwarily　let　out　something　which　altered　the　sentiments　of　Justice　Foxley　and　his　clerk　towards　Mr。　Herries；　with　whom；　until　he　was　known　and　acknowledged　under　that　name；　they　had　appeared　to　be　so　intimate。　　They　talked　with　each　other　aside；　looked　at　a　paper　or　two　which　the　clerk　selected　from　the　contents　of　a　huge　black　pocket…book；　and　seemed；　under　the　influence　of　fear　and　uncertainty；　totally　at　a　loss　what　line　of　conduct　to　adopt。

Herries　made　a　different；　and　far　more　interesting　figure。　However　little　Peter　Peebles　might　resemble　the　angel　Ithuriel；　the　appearance　of　Herries；　his　high　and　scornful　demeanour；　vexed　at　what　seemed　detection　yet　fearless　of　the　consequences；　and　regarding　the　whispering　magistrate　and　his　clerk　with　looks　in　which　contempt　predominated　over　anger　or　anxiety；　bore；　in　my　opinion；　no　slight　resemblance　to

　　　　　the　regal　port　　　And　faded　splendour　wan

with　which　the　poet　has　invested　the　detected　King　of　the　powers　of　the　air。

As　he　glanced　round；　with　a　look　which　he　had　endeavoured　to　compose　to　haughty　indifference；　his　eye　encountered　mine；　and；　I　thought；　at　the　first　glance　sank　beneath　it。　　But　he　instantly　rallied　his　natural　spirit；　and　returned　me　one　of　those　extraordinary　looks；　by　which　he　could　contort　so　strangely　the　wrinkles　on　his　forehead。　　I　started；　but；　angry　at　myself　for　my　pusillanimity；　I　answered　him　by　a　look　of　the　same　kind；　and　catching　the　reflection　of　my　countenance　in　a　large　antique　mirror　which　stood　before　me；　I　started　again　at　the　real　or　imaginary　resemblance　which　my　countenance；　at　that　moment；　bore　to　that　of　Herries。　　Surely　my　fate　is　somehow　strangely　interwoven　with　that　of　this　mysterious　individual。　　I　had　no　time　at　present　to　speculate　upon　the　subject；　for　the　subsequent　conversation　demanded　all　my　attention。

The　Justice　addressed　Herries；　after　a　pause　of　about　five　minutes；　in　which；　all　parties　seemed　at　some　loss　how　to　proceed。　　He　spoke　with　embarrassment；　and　his　faltering　voice；　and　the　long　intervals　which　divided　his　sentences；　seemed　to　indicate　fear　of　him　whom　he　addressed。

'Neighbour；'　he　said；　'I　could　not　have　thought　this；　or；　if　IehDID　thinkin　a　corner　of　my　own　mind　as　it　werethat　you；　I　saythat　you　might　have　unluckily　engaged　inehthe　matter　of　the　Forty…fivethere　was　still　time　to　have　forgot　all　that。'

'And　is　it　so　singular　that　a　man　should　have　been　out　in　the　Forty…five？'　　said　Herries；　with　contemptuous　composure；'your　father；　I　think；　Mr。　Foxley；　was　out　with　Derwentwater　in　the　Fifteen。'

'And　lost　half　of　his　estate；'　answered　Foxley；　with　more　rapidity　than　usual；　'and　was　very　nearhembeing　hanged　into　the　boot。　　But　this　isanother　guess　jobforehFifteen　is　not　Forty…five；　and　my　father　had　a　remission；　and　you；　I　take　it；　have　none。'

'Perhaps　I　have；'　said　Herries　indifferently；　'or　if　I　have　not；　I　am　but　in　the　case　of　half　a　dozen　others　whom　government　do　not　think　worth　looking　after　at　this　time　of　day；　so　they　give　no　offence　or　disturbance。'

'But　you　have　given　both；　sir；'　said　Nicholas　Faggot；　the　clerk；　who；　having　some　petty　provincial　situation；　as　I　have　since　understood；　deemed　himself　bound　to　be　zealous　for　government；　'Mr。　Justice　Foxley　cannot　be　answerable　for　letting　you　pass　free；　now　your　name　and　surname　have　been　spoken　plainly　out。　There　are　warrants　out　against　you　from　the　Secretary　of　State's　office。'

'A　proper　allegation；　Mr。　Attorney！　　that；　at　the　distance　of　so　many　years；　the　Secretary　of　State　should　trouble　himself　about　the　unfortunate　relics　of　a　ruined　cause；'　answered　Mr。　Herries。

'But　if　it　be　so；'　said　the　clerk；　who　seemed　to　assume　more　confidence　upon　the　composure　of　Herries's　demeanour；　'and　if　cause　has　been　given　by　the　conduct　of　a　gentleman　himself；　who　hath　been；　it　is　alleged；　raking　up　old　matters；　and　mixing　them　with　new　subjects　of　disaffectionI　say；　if　it　be　so；　I　should　advise　the　party；　in　his　wisdom；　to　surrender　himself　quietly　into　the　lawful　custody　of　the　next　Justice　of　PeaceMr。　Foxley；　supposewhere；　and　by　whom；　the　matter　should　be　regularly　inquired　into。　　I　am　only　putting　a　case；'　he　added；　watching　with　apprehension　the　effect　which　his　words　were　likely　to　produce　upon　the　party　to　whom　they　were　addressed。

'And　were　I　to　receive　such　advice；'　said　Herries；　with　the　same　composure　as　before'putting　the　case；　as　you　say；　Mr。　FaggotI　should　request　to　see　the　warrant　which　countenanced　such　a　scandalous　proceeding。'

Mr。　Nicholas；　by　way　of　answer；　placed　in　his　hand　a　paper；　and　seemed　anxiously　to　expect　the　consequences　which　were　to　ensue。　Mr。　Herries　looked　it　over　with　the　same　equanimity　as　before；　and　then　continued；　'And　were　such　a　scrawl　as　this　presented　to　me　in　my　own　house；　I　would　throw　it　into　the　chimney；　and　Mr。　Faggot　upon　the　top　of　it。'

Accordingly；　seconding　the　word　with　the　action；　he　flung　the　warrant　into　the　fire　with　one　hand；　and　fixed　the　other；　with　a　stern　and　irresistible　grip；　on　the　breast　of　the　attorney；　who；　totally　unable　to　contend　with　him；　in　either　personal　strength　or　mental　energy；　trembled　like　a　chicken　in　the　raven's　clutch。　He　got　off；　however；　for　the　fright；　for　Herries；　having　probably　made　him　fully　sensible　of　the　strength　of　his　grasp；　released　him；　with　a　scornful　laugh。

'Deforcementspulzie…stouthriefmasterful　rescue！'　　exclaimed　Peter　Peebles；　scandalized　at　the　resistance　offered　to　the　law　in　the　person　of　Nicholas　Faggot。　　But　his　shrill　exclamations　were　drowned　in　the　thundering　voice　of　Herries；　who；　calling　upon　Cristal　Nixon；　ordered　him　to　take　the　bawling　fool　downstairs；　fill　his　belly；　and　then　give　him　a　guinea；　and　thrust　him　out　of　doors。　　Under　such　injunctions；　Peter　easily　suffered　himself　to　be　withdrawn　from　the　scene。

Herries　then　turned　to　the　Justice；　whose　visage；　wholly　abandoned　by　the　rubicund　hue　which　so　lately　beamed　upon　it；　hung　out　the　same　pale　livery　as　that　of　his　dismayed　clerk。　'Old　fr