redgauntlet-第51部分

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ry　as　that　of　his　dismayed　clerk。　'Old　friend　and　acquaintance；'　he　said；　'you　came　here　at　my　request　on　a　friendly　errand；　to　convince　this　silly　young　man　of　the　right　which　I　have　over　his　person　for　the　present。　　I　trust　you　do　not　intend　to　make　your　visit　the　pretext　of　disquieting　me　about　other　matters？　　All　the　world　knows　that　I　have　been　living　at　large；　in　these　northern　counties；　for　some　months；　not　to　say　years；　and　might　have　been　apprehended　at　any　time；　had　the　necessities　of　the　state　required；　or　my　own　behaviour　deserved　it。　　But　no　English　magistrate　has　been　ungenerous　enough　to　trouble　a　gentleman　under　misfortune；　on　account　of　political　opinions　and　disputes　which　have　been　long　ended　by　the　success　of　the　reigning　powers。　　I　trust；　my　good　friend；　you　will　not　endanger　yourself　by　taking　any　other　view　of　the　subject　than　you　have　done　ever　since　we　were　acquainted？'

The　Justice　answered　with　more　readiness；　as　well　as　more　spirit　than　usual；　'Neighbour　Ingoldsbywhat　you　sayisehin　some　sort　true；　and　when　you　were　coming　and　going　at　markets；　horse…　races；　and　cock…fights；　fairs；　hunts；　and　such…likeit　waseh　neither　my　business　nor　my　wish　to　dispelI　sayto　inquire　into　and　dispel　the　mysteries　which　hung　about　you；　for　while　you　were　a　good　companion　in　the　field；　and　over　a　bottle　now　and　thenI　did　notehthink　it　necessary　to　askinto　your　private　affairs。　　And　if　I　thought　you　wereahemsomewhat　unfortunate　in　former　undertakings；　and　enterprises；　and　connexions；　which　might　cause　you　to　live　unsettledly　and　more　private；　I　could　haveehvery　little　pleasureto　aggravate　your　case　by　interfering；　or　requiring　explanations；　which　are　often　more　easily　asked　than　given。　　But　when　there　are　warrants　and　witnesses　to　namesand　those　names；　christian　and　surname；　belong　toehan　attainted　personchargedI　trust　falsely　withahem…taking　advantage　of　modern　broils　and　heart…burnings　to　renew　our　civil　disturbances；　the　case　is　altered；　and　I　must　ahemdo　my　duty。'

The　Justice；　got　on　his　feet　as　he　concluded　this　speech；　and　looked　as　bold　as　he　could。　　I　drew　close　beside　him　and　his　clerk；　Mr。　Faggot；　thinking　the　moment　favourable　for　my　own　liberation；　and　intimated　to　Mr。　Foxley　my　determination　to　stand　by　him。　　But　Mr。　Herries　only　laughed　at　the　menacing　posture　which　we　assumed。　　'My　good　neighbour；'　said　he；　'you　talk　of　a　witness。　　Is　yon　crazy　beggar　a　fit　witness　in　an　affair　of　this　nature？'

'But　you　do　not　deny　that　you　are　Mr。　Herries　of　Birrenswork；　mentioned　in　the　Secretary　of　State's　warrant？'　　said　Mr。　Foxley。

'How　can　I　deny　or　own　anything　about　it？'　　said　Herries；　with　a　sneer。　　'There　is　no　such　warrant　in　existence　now；　its　ashes；　like　the　poor　traitor　whose　doom　it　threatened；　have　been　dispersed　to　the　four　winds　of　heaven。　　There　is　now　no　warrant　in　the　world。'

'But　you　will　not　deny；'　said　the　Justice；　'that　you　were　the　person　named　in　it；　and　thatehyour　own　act　destroyed　it？'

'I　will　neither　deny　my　name　nor　my　actions；　Justice；'　replied　Mr。　Herries；　'when　called　upon　by　competent　authority　to　avow　or　defend　them。　　But　I　will　resist　all　impertinent　attempts　either　to　intrude　into　my　private　motives；　or　to　control　my　person。　　I　am　quite　well　prepared　to　do　so；　and　I　trust　that　you；　my　good　neighbour　and　brother　sportsman；　in　your　expostulation；　and　my　friend　Mr。　Nicholas　Faggot　here；　in　his　humble　advice　and　petition　that　I　should　surrender　myself；　will　consider　yourselves　as　having　amply　discharged　your　duty　to　King　George　and　government。'

The　cold　and　ironical　tone　in　which　he　made　this　declaration；　the　look　and　attitude；　so　nobly　expressive　of　absolute　confidence　in　his　own　superior　strength　and　energy；　seemed　to　complete　the　indecision　which　had　already　shown　itself　on　the　side　of　those　whom　he　addressed。

The　Justice　looked　to　the　clerkthe　clerk　to　the　Justice；　the　former　HA'D；　EH'D；　without　bringing　forth　an　articulate　syllable；　the　latter　only　said；　'As　the　warrant　is　destroyed；　Mr。　Justice；　I　presume　you　do　not　mean　to　proceed　with　the　arrest？'

'Humayewhy；　noNicholasit　would　not　be　quite　advisable　and　as　the　Forty…five　was　an　old　affairandhemas　my　friend　here　will；　I　hope；　see　his　errorthat　is；　if　he　has　not　seen　it　alreadyand　renounce　the　Pope；　the　Devil；　and　the　PretenderI　mean　no　harm；　neighbourI　think　weas　we　have　no　POSSE；　or　constables；　or　the　likeshould　order　our　horsesand；　in　one　word；　look　the　matter　over。'

'Judiciously　resolved；'　said　the　person　whom　this　decision　affected；　'but　before　you　go；　I　trust　you　will　drink　and　be　friends？'

'Why；'　said　the　Justice；　rubbing　his　brow；　'our　business　has　beenhemrather　a　thirsty　one。'

'Cristal　Nixon；'　said　Mr。　Herries；　'let　us　have　a　cool　tankard　instantly；　large　enough　to　quench　the　thirst　of　the　whole　commission。'

While　Cristal　was　absent　on　this　genial　errand；　there　was　a　pause；　of　which　I　endeavoured　to　avail　myself　by　bringing　back　the　discourse　to　my　own　concerns。　　'Sir；'　I　said　to　Justice　Foxley；　'I　have　no　direct　business　with　your　late　discussion　with　Mr。　Herries；　only　just　thus　farYou　leave　me；　a　loyal　subject　of　King　George；　an　unwilling　prisoner　in　the　hands　of　a　person　whom　you　have　reason　to　believe　unfriendly　to　the　king's　cause。　　I　humbly　submit　that　this　is　contrary　to　your　duty　as　a　magistrate；　and　that　you　ought　to　make　Mr。　Herries　aware　of　the　illegality　of　his　proceedings；　and　take　steps　for　my　rescue；　either　upon　the　spot；　or；　at　least；　as　soon　as　possible　after　you　have　left　this　case'

'Young　man；'　said　Mr。　Justice　Foxley；　'I　would　have　you　remember　you　are　under　the　power；　the　lawful　powerahemof　your　guardian。'

'He　calls　himself　so；　indeed；'　I　replied；　'but　he　has　shown　no　evidence　to　establish　so　absurd　a　claim；　and　if　he　had；　his　circumstances；　as　an　attainted　traitor　excepted　from　pardon；　would　void　such　a　right　if　it　existed。　　I　do　therefore　desire　you；　Mr。　Justice；　and　you；　his　clerk；　to　consider　my　situation；　and　afford　me　relief　at　your　peril。'

'Here　is　a　young　fellow　now；'　said　the　Justice；　with　much…　embarrassed　looks；　'thinks　that　I　carry　the　whole　statute　law　of　England　in　my　head；　and　a　POSSE　COMITATUS　to　execute　them　in　my　pocket！　　Why；　what　good　would　my　interference　do？buthumeh　I　will　speak　to　your　guardian　in　your　favour。'

He　took　Mr。　Herries　aside；　and　seemed　indeed　to　urge　something　upon　him　with　much　earnestness；　and　perhaps　such　a　species　of　intercession　was　all　which；　in　the　circumstances；　I　was　entitled　to　expect　from　him。

They　often　looked　at　me　as　they　spoke　together；　and　as　Cristal　Nixon　entered　with　a　huge　four…pottle　tankard；　filled　with　the　beverage　his　master　had　demanded；　Herries　turned　away　from　Mr。　Foxley　somewhat　impatiently；　saying　with　emphasis；　'I　give　you　my　word　of　honour；　that　you　have　not　the　slightest　reason　to　apprehend　anything　on　his　account。'　　He　then　took　up　the　tankard；　and　saying　aloud　in　Gaelic；　'SLAINT　AN　REY；'　＇The　King's　health。＇　just　tasted　the　liquor；　and　handed　the　tankard　to　Justice　Foxley；　who；　to　avoid　the　dilemma　of　pledging　him　to　what　might　be　the　Pretender's　health；　drank　to　Mr。　Herries's　own；　with　much　pointed　solemnity；　but　in　a　draught　far　less　moderate。

The　clerk　imitated　the　example　of　his　principal；　and　I　was　fain　to　follow　their　example；　for　anxiety　and　fear　are　at　least　as　thirsty　as　sorrow　is　said　to　be。　　In　a　word；　we　exhausted　the　composition　of　ale；　sherry；　lemon…juice；　nutmeg；　and　other　good　things；　stranded　upon　the　silver　bottom　of　the　tankard　the　huge　toast；　as　well　as　the　roasted　orange；　which　had　whilom　floated　jollily　upon　the　brim；　and　rendered　legible　Dr。　Byrom's　celebrated　lines　engraved　thereon

　　God　bless　the　King！God　bless　the　Faith's　defender！　　　God　blessNo　harm　in　blessingthe　Pretender。　　　Who　that　Pretender　is；　and　who　that　King；　　　God　bless　us　all！is　quite　another　thing。

I　had　time　enough　to　study　this　effusion　of　the　Jacobite　muse；　while　the　Justice　was　engaged　in　the　somewhat　tedious　ceremony　of　taking　leave。　　That　of　Mr。　Faggot　was　less　ceremonious；　but　I　suspect　something　besides　empty　compliment　passed　betwixt　him　and　Mr。　Herries；　for　I　remarked　that　the　latter　slipped　a　piece　of　paper　into　the　hand　of　the　former；　which　might　perhaps　be　a　little　atonement　for　the　rashness　with　which　he　had　burnt　the　warrant；　and　imposed　no　gentle　hand　on　the　respectable　minion　of　the　law　by　whom　it　was　exhibited；　and　I　observed　that　he　made　this　propitiation　in　such　a　manner　as　to　be　secret　from　the　worthy　clerk's　principal。

When　this　was　arranged；　the　party　took　leave　of　each　other　with　much　formality　on　the　part　of　Squire　Foxley；　amongst　whose　adieus　the　following　phrase　was　chiefly　remarkable：　　'I　presume　you　do　not　intend　to　stay　long　in　these　parts？'

'Not　for　the　present；　Justice；　you　may　be　sure；　there　are　good　reasons　to　the　contrary。　　But　I　have　no　doubt　of　arranging　my　affairs　so　that　we　shall　speedily　have　sport　together　again。'

He　went　to　wait　upon　the　Justice　to　the　courtyard；　and；　as　he　did　so；　commanded　Cristal　Nixon　to　see　that　I　returned　into　my　apartment。　　Knowing　it　would　be　to　no　purpose　to　resist　or　tamper　with　that　stubborn　functionary；　I　obeyed　in　silence；　and　was　once　more　a　prisoner　in　my　former　quarters。




CHAPTER　VIII

LATIMER'S　JOURNAL；　IN　CONTINUATION

I　spent　more　than　an　hour；　after　returning　to　the　apartment　which　I　may　call　my　prison；　in　reducing　to　writing　the　singular　circumstances　which　I　had　just　witnessed。　　Methought　I　could　now　form　some　guess　at　the　character　of　Mr。　Herries；　upon　whose　name　and　situation　the　late　scene　had　thrown　considerable　lightone　of　those　fanatical　Jacobites；　doubtless；　whose　arms；　not　twenty　years　since；　had　shaken　the　British　throne；　and　some　of　whom；　though　their　party　daily　diminished　in　numbers；　energy；　and　power；　retained　still　an　inclination　to　renew　the　attempt　they　had　found　so　desperate。　　He　was　indeed　perfectly　different　from　the　sort　of　zealous　Jacobites　whom　it　had　been　my　luck　hitherto　to　meet　with。　　Old　ladies　of　family　over　their　hyson；　and　grey…　haired　lairds　over　their　punch；　I　had　often　heard　utter　a　little　harmless　treason；　while　the　former　remembered　having　led　down　a　dance　with　the　Chevalier；　and　the　latter　recounted　the　feats　they　had　performed　at　Preston；　Clifton；　and　Falkirk。

The